AZ Chamber: Wong’s utility plan a cheap stunt, dangerous

A Republican running for the Arizona Corporation Commission says people here illegally should not have use of utilities like power, gas and phones.

Business groups move to center

Arizona’s business community has sent a message to legislative candidates: Commit to a pro-business agenda, and stop wasting time with kooky stuff like “birther” bills.

In exchange, candidates who cooperate may get tons of cash for their campaigns and the support of chambers of commerce across the state.

Capitol Quotes: April 23, 2010

“If he doesn’t have the courage to vote his conscience, that’s Konopnicki’s problem, not mine.” — Sen. Russell Pearce, on Rep. Bill Konopnicki’s comments that he had problems with S1070, but felt obligated to vote for it nonetheless.

Ballot measure would ban ‘taxpayer money’ for political campaigns

The system that allows Arizona residents to use government money to campaign for political office is teetering after a federal judge ruled earlier this year that a major component of the scheme is unconstitutional. Many powerful special interest groups, nonetheless, are hoping to deliver the knockout blow at the ballot box this fall, rather than wait for it to collapse on its own.

Demonstrators: Health care funding cuts would hurt business

A plan to cut $800 million next fiscal year from state programs providing health care would cost tens of thousands of jobs, and the losses would extend far beyond those in the health care field, business leaders said Feb. 24.

Lobbyists lower expectations, mainly look to protect clients  

So far this year, some lobbyists haven't even bothered to ask lawmakers to introduce a bill on their behalf. Others have big goals, despite the widespread perception that lawmakers will be focused almost entirely on the budget deficit.

Supporters of sanctions law seek subpoena power

For the second straight year, advocates for tougher immigration enforcement plan to return to the Arizona Legislature in the coming days to push for greater power for prosecutors who investigate employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Brewer’s office: No word on regulatory reform

Eleven months after vowing to slash regulations on Arizona businesses, Gov. Jan Brewer still isn’t saying what existing regulations she will strike down.

Klein billed as right person for wrong time

When Eileen Klein moved into her new office as Gov. Jan Brewer's chief of staff, the first decoration she put up was a Kachina. In Hopi lore, upon realizing her village was under attack, she grabbed her father's bow and arrows and rushed to the defense of her people, defeating the enemy at the village's edge. It's symbolic, in a way, of Klein's new role.

Brewer’s in, but she may lack critical support from GOP

For months, the big question at the Capitol was whether Gov. Jan Brewer would run in 2010. Now that she has announced she will, the big question is how much support she’ll find among a fractured Republican establishment.

The way out of Arizona’s economic mess

Improving Arizona's job-creating climate is the best long-term strategy for dealing with the state's fiscal woes. There is ferocious competition among states to attract new jobs. One timely story illustrates this point: At a U.S./China economic cooperation event the Arizona Chamber sponsored last week, we heard from other states about the attractiveness of their economic climate.

Don’t bully Arizona

President Obama should immediately rebuke the members of his Cabinet who are threatening the State of Arizona over stimulus money as a result of U.S. Senator Jon Kyl's declaration that stimulus spending should be halted and redirected to more worthwhile purposes such as health care.