Budget bills advance through the Senate and House
Republicans in the state Legislature are closing in on sending a budget that is likely dead on arrival to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs next week.
Legislation to override AEL passes House panel
Lawmakers in the state House of Representatives took the first steps in waiving a spending limit that would require each K-12 school in Arizona to cut 17% of its operating budget.
Rain, snow won’t be enough to end West’s drought
The West has been slammed by wet weather this winter: An “atmospheric river” has pummeled California with weeks of heavy rain and the Rocky Mountains are getting buried with snow. That’s good news for the Colorado River, but climate scientists say the 40 million people who use the river’s water should take the good news with a grain of salt.
Arizona Republicans pick DeWit to lead party
Former Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWit is the new chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, scoring a decisive victory in a crowded race.
Dems elect vice-chair Bejarano to head state party
Arizona Democrats have elected Yolanda Bejarano to chair the party. Bejarano won 70.2% of the vote on Jan. 28, receiving 440 votes to her opponent, Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo’s 186 for the top job in the Arizona Democratic Party.
Election-denying lawmakers hold key election oversight roles
Republican lawmakers who have spread election conspiracy theories and falsely claimed that the 2020 presidential outcome was rigged are overseeing legislative committees charged with setting election policy in two major political battleground states. Divided government in Arizona and Pennsylvania means that any voting restrictions those GOP legislators propose is likely to fail.
Governor targets results-based funding for schools
Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs proposed the end of results-based funding in her budget, effectively untying additional per-pupil funding from achievement determined by the school letter grade system.
Lawmakers back Rio Verde in water dispute
State legislators are prepared to intervene in a conflict between Scottsdale and Rio Verde over dwindling water supply that Scottsdale says it is not required to share with the community.
Arizona gets failing grades in Lung Association tobacco report card
Arizona lags behind in policies that prevent and reduce tobacco use, according to the American Lung Association’s annual “State of Tobacco Control” report. The state received failing grades in three of five categories and did not improve on any of its grades from last year.
Arizonans can be optimistic about the future
With Republicans and Democrats working together, we can take Arizona to greater economic heights.
Top two GOP lawmakers want Hobbs to return inaugural money to state
The top two Republican lawmakers want Katie Hobbs to put money left over from the inaugural celebration into a state account -- where it can't be used to elect more Democrats.
Hobbs establishes prison oversight commission to recommend reforms
Gov. Katie Hobbs is calling for a top-to-bottom review of the Arizona prison system, where inmates and their families have complained about a wide range of issues and a federal judge recently found medical care to be “plainly grossly inadequate.” The governor issued an executive order on Wednesday establishing an “independent prison oversight commission” to review problems in the prison sy[...]