Biggs heading up committee to support Senate Republicans
Senate President Andy Biggs has created an independent expenditure group to help Republicans defend their seats and capture new ones in next year’s elections.
Livingston scores a perfect legislative batting average
The award for best legislative batting average for the session — the calculation of bills introduced versus bills signed into law — goes to Rep. David Livingston, a freshman Republican lawmaker from Peoria who has been vocally critical of the governor.
Senate approves sales tax reform compromise
By a 29-0 vote, the state Senate late Thursday approved Gov. Jan Brewer’s sales tax overhaul proposal after she obtained the buy-in of Arizona cities and towns.
Bills often fail to get past COW
The Committee of the Whole, the last chance to amend measures in either chamber before bills go to the floor for a third read, can represent a tremendous hurdle for lawmakers guiding their legislation through the process.
Telemedicine services cut back in Cochise and 96 other U.S. counties
Medicare will no longer cover telemedicine in Cochise County and 96 other U.S. counties because they are now considered urban areas, instead of rural ones. Because of the realignment of standard metropolitan statistical areas, about 1 million Medicare beneficiaries located in rural areas across the country will be affected, many who have been receiving healthcare with the help of telemedicine.
It’s ‘striker’ season at the Arizona Capitol
Watch out, it's striker season. No, that's not some obscure reference to spring training or a new term for haboobs, but a favorite subversive tactic of Arizona lawmakers at the Capitol this time of year.
Senate kills anti-union bill – three times
Reversing its stance just a year ago, the Senate today rejected – three times – a proposal to prohibit automatic paycheck deductions for union dues.
Tobin: Union dues bills not moving in House
Arizona’s Republican congressmen recently sent a joint letter to House Speaker Andy Tobin asking him to push forward legislation barring automatic deductions of union dues from public employees’ paychecks.
Teen drivers face cellphone ban under Senate bill
Arizona lawmakers are going after teenage drivers who use wireless devices. A Senate committee advanced a bill Wednesday seeking to prohibit teenagers from using cellphones and other wireless devices while they have their learner's permit and during the first six months of their license.
Environmentalists say lawmakers limiting testimony at EPA pollution hearing
House and Senate lawmakers are scheduled to hold a joint hearing Monday to hear testimony on the impact of a recent federal order instructing Arizona power companies to install pricey pollution control equipment at coal plants.
Arizona legislators tone down their spirit of rebellion
For the most part, Arizona lawmakers appear to have stepped back from the trenches of the states’ rights issue after years of incessant fighting with the federal government.
New Senate committees have narrower partisan split
Reflecting the new political reality at the Capitol, incoming Republican leaders have created a dozen Senate committees with a narrower partisan split.