Evangelical Christian lobby suffers major setback in Brewer’s final year
The leader of lobbying powerhouse Center for Arizona Policy insisted that her group is stronger than ever despite the defeat of its flagship legislation, SB1062, and even though only one of the three bills it drafted was enacted in the recently-concluded session.
Brewer modest but successful in last session
Gov. Jan Brewer’s agenda in her final regular legislative session lacked the blockbuster policies, drag-out fights and frayed nerves of 2013. Instead, the governor proposed a far more modest agenda in 2014. Relatively small spending increases in a few key areas, two low-profile economic development bills and legislation strengthening the state’s human trafficking laws were among the biggest po[...]
How the 2014 session unfolded
Week of January 6-10 Known as “hell week” around the Capitol, the week before the legislative session was when lawmakers were focused on raising campaign contributions and held at least... […]
Lawmakers say the darndest things
Arizona lawmakers finished one of the fastest sessions in recent memory this April, but still found time for behavior that amazes, amuses and sometimes embarrasses the state’s legislative body.
Governor asks for nearly $60 million to help solve child welfare problems
Gov. Jan Brewer is asking for nearly $60 million in a special session to begin May 27 to overhaul the state’s child-welfare agency and to close out a backlog of 14,777 abuse and neglect cases.
Lots of child welfare ideas, but lawmakers still working out details of overhaul
A group of lawmakers and Capitol staffers racing to create a new child safety and welfare agency in a matter of weeks must still iron out a few details, including how to handle criminal conduct investigations and provide oversight of the department, according to documents obtained by the Arizona Capitol Times.
Ducey releases policy “roadmap”
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Doug Ducey’s “roadmap” of policies he would pursue as governor includes lower income taxes, expanded school choice and reduced government waste.
Overwhelmed child abuse specialists relinquish cases to less-skilled workers
Child welfare investigators specializing in cases of sexual and physical abuse are relinquishing thousands of cases to ordinary caseworkers, who are already overburdened, a practice that is possibly in violation of the law.
DuVal unveils plan for job growth
Presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee Fred DuVal unveiled a plan for spurring job growth in Arizona that includes improving K-12 and higher education, expanding tax credits for research and development, reducing regulatory burdens and giving preference to in-state companies that compete for government contracts.
Jan Brewer signs bill easing scholarship rules
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has signed a bill that would remove a key requirement for students who want to participate in the state's scholarship tuition organization program.
Child welfare work group poised to pitch ideas for new agency
A small group of lawmakers and Capitol staffers will begin making their pitch for a new child safety organization to the Legislature next week.
Brewer signs Yarnell Hill memorial site plan
A bill creating a memorial site honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died in the Yarnell Hill Fire last year has been signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.