Pearce recall is about politics – and personality 

Senate President Russell Pearce characterizes the massive recall effort against him as a product of liberal citizens who unpatriotically share zero interest in his politics, which is seemingly limited to the topic of curtailing illegal immigration by any means necessary. 

Unions sue over picketing, ‘paycheck protection’ bills

The Arizona Education Association is suing the state over what it says are unconstitutional restrictions on the way unions can use money that is automatically deducted from its members paychecks.

Arizona hospitality industry fears more immigration backlash in 2011

According to data released by Smith Travel Research, an independent firm serving the hospitality industry, hotels all across Arizona lost significant business while news coverage and commentary about SB1070 roared across the country.

Now industry insiders fear the latest slate of immigration bills will trigger another jolt of negative nationwide publicity, and lead to a second big decline[...]

Latest Ariz. immigration bills have tougher path

Fatigue with the illegal immigration issue could stand in the way of new legislation being considered by Arizona lawmakers, including a sweeping bill championed by the same senator whose law last year prompted nationwide protests.

Senate panel passes birthright bills

After a rocky start, the birthright legislation finally received committee approval on Feb. 22, overcoming the initial hurdle before the full Senate can debate and vote on the measure that is stirring so much raw emotion and is solidifying Arizona’s reputation as ground zero in the struggle to confront illegal immigration.

Ariz. may require hospitals to check citizenship

Arizona lawmakers are trying to widen the state's illegal immigration crackdown with a proposal to require hospitals to confirm whether patients are in the country legally.

Birthright bills bring out the best in debate

Those who watched the public hearing on the birthright bills in the Judiciary Committee on Feb. 7 were treated to a brilliant exposition of the 14th Amendment, its meaning and its history.

Constitutional obstacle course: the challenges facing the birthright citizenship bill backers

Frustrated by the federal government's refusal to solve illegal immigration, some lawmakers want the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve who exactly is an American citizen.

In trying to define citizenship, birthright busters will have to navigate not only through the U.S. Supreme Court, but the U.S. Senate, other states and even their own caucus.

Birthright proposal not on the majority agenda

For the most powerful man in the Senate, denying American citizenship to children born to undocumented aliens is the next step in the Arizona-led crusade to confront illegal immigration in the country. But a majority of Senate President Russell Pearce’s colleagues don’t see it as a priority, and they may not go along if the so-called birthright citizenship bill is voted on before the Legislatu[...]

Arizona lawmakers to target birthright citizenship

Arizona lawmakers are again wading into the national debate over illegal immigration by proposing a bill that challenges automatic U.S. citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.

Filing of birthright citizenship bills set for Thursday

Sponsors of legislation targeting automatic citizenship granted to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants say they plan to formally introduce their bills in the Arizona House and Senate on Thursday.

Q&A with House Speaker with Kirk Adams

Kirk Adams begins his second term in the House’s top post with a host of challenges that range from a budget deficit of $825 million to getting a “jobs bill” through and the inevitable rancor birthright-citizenship legislation would bring, but much of his first week on the job was driven by the shooting in Tucson in which six were killed and 13 wounded, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords[...]