Biggs, Crane join Democrats in historic vote to oust McCarthy as speaker
Arizona U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs and Eli Crane were among the eight conservative Republicans who voted with all House Democrats Tuesday to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the first time in history a sitting speaker has been removed.
Q&A with Senate President Warren Petersen
Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, reflected on the 2023 legislative session.
Cook becomes Freedom Caucus spoiler
House and Senate Freedom Caucus members started the legislative session with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs as their prime nemesis, but soon found a new foe in a rural Republican.
Lawmakers move successful tax extension over far-right opposition
Established Republicans and Democrats worked together to pass a controversial tax extension on Monday, raising questions about whether the far-right Freedom Caucus will be as effective next session after the caucus failed to kill the deal.
Kaiser cites putting ‘family first’ for resignation
Sen. Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix, is resigning at the end of the week, as first reported by ABC15’s Dennis Welch. He said Wednesday that he’s made this decision to spend time with his family, and he would have resigned regardless of whether his housing bills passed this week.
Partisan tax extension plan poised for veto
On Tuesday evening the Legislature passed a partisan, controversial half-cent sales tax extension, which Democrats called a “slap in the face” and the governor said she will veto.
Final housing reform effort dies
After two years of effort, the last in a series of attempts to reform housing laws has failed in the Legislature. Sen. Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix, started the session with a substantive housing bill, which was killed in the Senate, but revived in three other pieces of legislation – all of which died on Monday afternoon.
Rumor of late legislative session floats through capitol
Could the legislature stay in session into the fall, or until the end of the year? The rumor that lawmakers won’t adjourn sine die anytime soon has been spreading through the state capitol for weeks, even if nobody is ready to publicly endorse the idea.
Hobbs, GOP lawmakers tout wins in budget as battle to define spending ahead
Two media events on Monday highlighted the coming political battle to define the $17.8 billion budget that lawmakers passed, and the governor signed last week.
House Republicans push asylum restrictions, border security
House Republicans for months have railed against the Biden administration's handling of the U.S. border with Mexico, holding hearings, visiting border communities and promising to advance legislation to clamp down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Hobbs, GOP lawmakers off to shaky start
While Gov. Katie Hobbs said Jan. 9 her door “will always be open” for anyone ready to make progress for Arizona, many Republicans think she slammed it on them.