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2012 session one of the most successful in years
It is often said that nothing — or at least nothing good — gets done in an election year. You can’t say that about the Arizona state Capitol in 2012.
A rare GOP-Dem budget that almost happened
The most remarkable thing about Republican leaders’ decision to explore a budget compromise with the minority party this year is that it happened at all — much less that the two sides came within a hair’s breadth of striking what would have been a rare bargain.
She’s not all bad: Dems find silver lining in some Brewer vetoes
Democrats aren’t exactly viewing Gov. Jan Brewer as the second coming of Janet Napolitano, but they’re taking solace that her vetoes included bills that they viewed as some of the most onerous of the 2012 session.
Andy Tobin’s leadership lessons learned the hard way
Andy Tobin was elected speaker of the House just days after Kirk Adams’ resigned to run for Congress at the end of the 2011 legislative session.
While his seven or so months as speaker during the interim could hardly prepare him for the rigors of leading a chamber during a regular session, it’s clear that he learned some lessons for the task ahead. As is often the case, some of thos[...]
Arizona mortgage settlement fund sweep challenged in court
A lawsuit filed by public interest law firms on behalf of homeowners tries to block Arizona from using part of a foreclosure settlement to help balance the next state budget.
Jan Brewer begins trade mission to Germany, France
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is leading a state delegation that will travel to Germany and France for a trade promotion trip that runs into early June.
Arizona Commerce Authority transparency criticized by PIRG
The Arizona Public Interest Research Group yesterday released a report critiquing the Arizona Commerce Authority’s transparency practices, calling on the agency to make more information about subsidy programs available online and to fight for legislative change in areas where the ACA is prohibited by law from disclosing information.
Russell Pearce, Joe Arpaio fundraising effort under fire from immigration activists
Two of Arizona's most prominent advocates for tougher border enforcement are seeking financial contributions to counter potential legislation that would prevent states and cities from enforcing immigration laws.
Legislature passes job-creating reforms in taxes, regulations, civil justice and education
The two years of the 50th Arizona Legislature will go down in the history books as the years when the Legislature hit reboot on the Arizona economy and turned what was a basket case into a best case.
Last-minute amendments make big changes to tax bill
The last bill that the Legislature approved before adjourning for the year underwent major changes in the waning hours of the session that could be worth as much as $30 million in tax credits to some companies.
Morning-after pill avoids spotlight in new contraception law
While a bill allowing religiously motivated employers to deny contraception coverage to workers spurred heated debate on its path to becoming law this session, one of its provisions was largely overlooked.
