The Breakdown: Session Wrap Edition
Our reporters sat down with Gov. Doug Ducey as well as Republican and Democratic leaders in both chambers to reflect on the last five months - and what this session's events may hold for the future.
Big push on ballot referrals ends with just 2 passed
The Arizona Legislature referred two measures to the ballot this year, more than lawmakers referred in 2016 when they instead focused their attention on trying to defeat several citizen initiatives.
School districts, lawmakers clash over teacher pay
Arizona lawmakers, roundly criticized this year over poorly funded public schools, want to make one thing clear: They’re not the ones responsible for giving teachers raises.
Lasting effect of grassroots movements at Capitol questioned
It was the year of the protests at the Arizona Capitol, but lawmakers and a professor disagree on whether the political movements that took hold this year will have a lasting effect.
Suit filed to block plan to restrict power of Clean Elections
The author of Arizona's Citizens Clean Elections Act wants a judge to block vote on a plan by Republican lawmakers to take away some of the power of the commission that administers the program of public financing of candidates.
Pay raise gives political boost to teachers, Ducey
Putting aside the adversarial relationship between the Governor’s Office and leaders of the teacher pay movement, both Ducey and Arizona teachers have benefitted from the “Red for Ed” momentum that swept through Arizona this legislative session.
Teachers strike likely to continue into Thursday
The longest statewide teacher strike is going to drag into another day Thursday, at least for some of those who have been out of work now since last Thursday.
Ducey, Legislature scrape together revenues for $10.4 billion budget proposal
State lawmakers are moving to adopt a $10.4 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year, balancing the books -- and finding the dollars for a teacher pay hike plan -- at least in part by passing along expenses to some local taxpayers.
Pay hike flap leaves rank and file lawmakers with little to do
As teachers around the state prepared to strike, legislators sat nearly idle for four days as they got into a stand-off with Gov. Doug Ducey over how to give teachers pay raises.
Ducey to teachers: Pay demand ‘delivered on’
Saying he won't be offering anything more, Gov. Doug Ducey said Wednesday the teacher strike will end when they realize he's made them a good offer and they all go back to work.
Top Republicans meet to work out deal on teacher pay
Top Republicans are huddling to see if they can reach an accord over the issue of teacher pay ahead of Thursday's strike deadline, potentially forestalling or at least undermining the walkout.
GOP lawmakers support governor’s teacher pay raise
Legislative Republicans support Gov. Doug Ducey’s plan to give teachers a raise this fall, and further raises for the following two years. But they won’t so easily relinquish their own budget priorities to finance the governor’s proposal.