House passes bill to clear up confusion over control of Cragin Dam

The House on Monday approved a bill aimed at clearing up six years of what one Arizona lawmaker called a “ridiculous jurisdictional battle” over control of the C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir Project in Coconino County.

Expectations low as second day of special session begins

With both sides digging in, the hope of extending unemployment aid to jobless Arizonans appears to be fading.

Lawmakers are expected to resume the special session this afternoon, but the Legislature is more apt to close down the session without acting on the legislation than it is to approve the bills.

Senate passes anti-abortion bill

Pro-life lawmakers looking to chip away at groups that help women get abortion services passed a bill Tuesday that essentially wipes away the ability to make tax-deductible contributions to organizations like Planned Parenthood Arizona.

Backers defended the legislation by saying Arizona law already prohibits the use of public funds for abortion. The bill, for them, reinforces this [...]

Major makeover for Senate, but still quite conservative

Half of the Senate is being replaced next year, but its tone and ideological temperament aren’t likely to change much from the group that was elected two years ago.

Allen’s Escape

Sen. Carolyn Allen, a Republican from Scottsdale, will retire from the Arizona Legislature after this year. Her rise and fall within the GOP illustrates either the Legislature’s shift to the right on the political spectrum — or Allen’s gradual move to the center during her 16-year career in the Legislature.

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.

Name ID abounds in crowded House primaries

This affluent district that takes in most of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and parts of the northeast Valley boasts a crowded Republican field for the two House seats.

Legislature deserves a scolding from Mother Nature

It has been awhile since the environment had a good session at the Arizona Legislature, but it has also been awhile since we have seen anything quite as awful as the 2010 Legislature.

Senate president points out weak link on jobs bill

After two decades of legislating, Bob Burns is calling it quits. Burns presided as Senate president during the worst of times. Lawmakers under his leadership battled multibillion-dollar deficits and were... […]

Film tax credits, ‘jobs bill,’ texting-while-driving ban among 900 bills that failed this year

Lawmakers carved out a new path for Arizona on everything from immigration enforcement to health care, making this year’s session one of the most significant in state history.

Siné die: Several lawmakers say final goodbyes after contentious session

The Arizona Legislature’s push to adjourn siné die began April 26 when Republican senators rejected a bill that was a top priority for House Speaker Kirk Adams.

Pearce pushed, prodded and pandered to pass his ‘legacy bill’

Pearce, a veteran lawmaker who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, had a lot of tools at his disposal to ratchet up the pressure on people to support his bill, but none was more powerful than public opinion.