Few contested primaries for independents to influence
Independent voters don’t have many contested races in Maricopa County in which they can sway the outcome with Arizona primary elections roughly two months away.
Senate abruptly adjourns, House bills go down without vote
The Arizona Senate abruptly ended the 2020 legislative session today, catapulting leaders into planning for a special session an hour or so earlier than they expected. Senators, who already... […]
GOP lawmakers quash Dems effort to boost jobless benefits
Arizona’s jobless rate spiked last month to 12.6%, a figure that may be a record. And it’s certain to go higher as the figures reflect the number of people out... […]
Legislature to pass bare-bones budget this week
GOP leaders announced today the Legislature plans to pass a basic spending plan and a series of “noncontroversial” bills before they may recess or adjourn as a way to mitigate... […]
Arizona lawmakers mull shutting down session to prevent coronavirus spread
A House Democrat has announced he’ll be stepping back from most lawmaking duties for the remainder of the session amid calls from some legislators to temporarily suspend the session to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19.
Republican senators paying this year for 2019 budget holdout
Cancer-stricken firefighters, low-income pregnant women who need dental care and students pursuing careers as teachers or nurses stand to pay the political costs for two state senators who bucked their party leadership nearly a year ago.
Demise of sanctuary cities measure a mixed bag of politics, protests
The death of the referral marks the end of a two-month saga that began in Ducey’s January State of the State Address, in which it was unveiled as one of several policy proposals that the governor would push through the legislature. Shope received a glowing shoutout. Republicans rose to their feet.
Senate leaders not interested in investigating sexual harassment allegation against Ugenti-Rita
Republican leadership in the Arizona state Senate has no interest in investigating allegations of sexual harassment made against Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, and Senate Democrats are not pushing the issue.
Bill to cover more cancers for firefighters gets OK from Senate panel
Carter’s bill seeks to build on work the Legislature did in 2017, with a law that listed several types of cancers, heart diseases and respiratory illnesses as illnesses that could be presumed to have been caused by fighting fires.
Lawmakers push for more protections for firefighters with cancer
Clumps of dark brown hair littered the Arizona Senate lawn on January 16 as Sen. Heather Carter ran an electric shaver over Sen. Paul Boyer’s head, surrounded by the cancer-stricken firefighters.
Attorney General files suit against vaping companies
Attorney General Mark Brnovich filed suit Tuesday against two companies that make vaping products, charging that they have illegally targeted teens and mislead consumers about the amount of addictive nicotine in their products.
Proposed law protects unconscious women from non-consensual pelvic exams
A state lawmaker wants to prevent doctors in Arizona from using unconscious women to help train interns in how to perform pelvic exams.