Extracting funds for K-12
Crandell’s overhaul of school finance plan attracts skepticism and support
It’s a puzzle that has vexed policymakers, education leaders and business groups for decades, but it’s one that Sen. Chester Crandell hopes to solve: How can the state revamp education funding to be both fair and simple?
1 fresh, 2 familiar Republicans gun for Sinema’s CD9 seat
The three Republicans aiming for the chance to take on Democratic freshman Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema are beginning to craft their message and try to raise enough money to compete with the incumbent’s massive campaign war chest.
Lesko to challenge Murphy in LD21, senator says he is “disappointed and hurt”
Rep. Debbie Lesko will challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Rick Murphy in Legislative District 21, citing concerns that his ongoing “personal struggles” could cost the GOP a seat in the Arizona Senate.
McCain sets fundraiser for possible ’16 Senate run
Sen. John McCain said last month he's considering running for a sixth term in 2016 and now the Arizona Republican is taking a step toward doing that.
Defeated ‘solar team’ weighs in: ‘Chickens coming home to roost’
A year before the Arizona Corporation Commission began formally considering reductions to rooftop solar panel incentives, Arizona voters rejected three Democratic commission candidates who billed themselves as the “solar team.”
Group runs TV ads on Horne campaign finance woes
An organization that got involved in several 2012 campaigns and recently sued the Maricopa County Special Health Care District now has its sights set on Attorney General Tom Horne.
Small cadre of attorneys share spotlight where law and politics collide
Bush v. Gore is the ultimate example of politics and law intersecting and it shows how lawyers can affect an election in a dramatic way. But in Arizona, every election cycle brings its own set of controversies to be settled in the courtroom.
Reforming election reform
Debate over HB2305 continues after opponents gather enough signatures to put it on the ballot
Groups opposing the state’s election reform law rejoiced on Oct. 29 when the secretary of state concluded the referendum against the law has enough signatures to appear on the 2014 ballot.
Targeted Democrats continue stockpiling funds for congressional re-election bids
WASHINGTON – With a year until the next election, Democratic freshmen in three competitive Arizona congressional districts are continuing to stockpile cash for their re-election bids, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
Ex-AZ congressman Rick Renzi gets 3-year prison term for corruption
A federal judge on Monday sentenced former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi to three years in prison for convictions on public corruption, money laundering and other charges, capping a corruption case prosecutors said began more than a decade ago.
Defining Courage
In handling many of the state’s most politically-charged cases, Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk has drawn on lessons from the Nazis’ rise to power.
Badly Wounded
Horne could face bloody, expensive battle in 2014 attorney general race
Tom Horne has long maintained that he’s innocent of the campaign finance allegations against him, but he may not get a chance to prove it until after voters have decided whether to give him a second term as attorney general.