Hobbs negotiating with GOP lawmakers to try to ask voters to extend transportation tax
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is directly negotiating with Republican lawmakers who control the Arizona Legislature to try to craft a deal to ask Maricopa County voters to extend a half-cent sales tax that for nearly 40 years has paid for new freeways, bus routes and light rail transportation projects.
More GOP PCs are censuring their lawmakers
A recent trend is growing among Arizona Republican precinct committees of censuring their state elected Republicans after the expulsion of a former Republican lawmaker.
Bill keeps home addresses secret, impact unclear
Citing death threats, lawmakers passed a bill May 3 meant to seal their home addresses from the public if a judge agrees, but it’s not clear how the new legislation will work in practice or if anyone will still be able to check that lawmakers live in the districts they represent.
Senate passes bipartisan homelessness mitigation measure
The Senate passed a homelessness mitigation bill today with overwhelming support, much to the happiness of sponsor Sen. Catherine Miranda, D-Laveen, who has made this her main effort.
New ‘No Labels’ party qualifies to run candidates in 2024
A new political party is set to field candidates in Arizona in next year’s elections and its name says something about its view of traditional party politics: the newcomer is called the No Labels Party.
Panel kills Prop 400 plan – but resurrection seems likely
After much deliberation, senators could not agree on a half-cent sales tax extension proposal to send to the voters, and killed the version proposed to a transportation committee.
Senate committee approves measure prohibiting public from accessing lawmakers’ addresses
State lawmakers voted Wednesday to make it a lot harder to find out where they live. But they said that threats they face make the move necessary.
Farnsworth’s story of homelessness prompts Senate committee chair to pull Kavanagh’s proposal
A Republican state senator from Mesa's personal experience with mental illness and homelessness derailed a bid by another GOP lawmaker, this one a former cop, to make sleeping on a sidewalk a state crime. Sen. David Farnsworth's extended comments about his struggles led the chairman of a Senate committee to pull Republican Fountain Hills Sen. John Kavanagh's proposal from consideration during a he[...]
Senators mull penalizing absent state officials
Senators are considering legislation that would tighten absence rules for several state entities, including the Legislature.
Biden honors Bowers, others, on second anniversary of Jan. 6 insurrection
Former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers was honored with 11 others by President Joe Biden on Friday for their “contributions to democracy” during and after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Senate Republicans select new leadership team led by Petersen
The Senate Republicans selected a new leadership team headed by Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, but allowed candidates currently losing their races to vote.
Arizona House Speaker Bowers censured, says he wouldn’t change a thing
House Speaker Rusty Bowers was censured by the Arizona Republican Party this week as retaliation for his testimony to the January 6 committee, but he said if he could go back, he wouldn’t do anything differently.