New Faces: Aaron Marquez
Aaron Márquez of Phoenix will be Legislative District 5’s newest House representative. Márquez is an Army veteran who served two deployments in Afghanistan. He said education and reproductive rights are […]
Petersen and Toma trying to torpedo deal that would lead to state’s obligation to pay for gender-affirming surgery
Top Republican lawmakers are trying to torpedo a deal that would result in a court order that would forever obligate the state to pay for gender-affirming surgery for its employees and dependents.
Let’s unpack the debate of local control, it deserves scrutiny
For the most part, the proponents of “local control” for cities and counties hang their hat on the explanation that the superior government is always the one closer to the people. This argument it is rarely explored, explained, or expounded upon further than a convenient slogan meant to excuse government overreach and conflate the idea of federalism with granting more power to local government[...]
Lawmakers are introducing bills aimed at more than 1,000 things they want to change
The Legislature is back in session, and lawmakers have already filed more than 350 bills. That number will swell to more than 1,000 in the coming weeks, as members of the House and Senate begin the rush to push their bills through both chambers, and up to the governor’s desk.
Redistricting panel urges US Supreme Court to reject challenge from state lawmakers
A bid by state lawmakers to take back the power to draw congressional lines is legally flawed and should be rejected, the lead attorney for the Independent Redistricting Commission told the nation’s high court.
Senate gives initial OK to fall ballot measures
The Arizona Senate has given preliminary approval to a states' rights measure and another possible referendum being considered for placement on the state's November general election.
Lawmakers pick fight with feds over public lands
Some Western lawmakers are pushing for a showdown with Washington over federally-controlled land, picking a fight on an issue that they say puts an economic stranglehold on their states.
Senate kills state ‘nullification’ bill again
Advocates for a more direct action against federal overreach suffered a major setback on Tuesday when the Senate once again rejected a proposal that would have allowed Arizona to nullify a federal law by a simple vote of its Legislature.
Senate says ‘no” to state nullification bill
The Arizona Senate has rejected a states' rights measure to create a nullification process for the state to declare a federal law unconstitutional.
Evan Wyloge on bills bucking the feds
Arizona Capitol Times reporter Evan Wyloge discusses the way Arizona lawmakers are working to write laws that prohibit federal oversight on a number of fronts.
Arizona Senate approves states’ rights measures
Vowing to push back against Washington, the state Senate's majority Republicans want Arizona to join other states in a compact to challenge the federal health care overhaul and its mandates on individuals.
Arizona ready to challenge federal authority
Gov. Jan Brewer and some members of the Legislature are ready to challenge the federal government's authority over the state.