Stakes are huge as judge ponders decision over new campaign contribution limits
After a 2½-hour hearing Tuesday, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge has two days to decide whether he’ll let new campaign contribution limits go into effect, potentially transforming Arizona politics in a major way.
Challenge to new contribution limits filed in Superior Court
Opponents of a law that dramatically raises Arizona’s campaign contribution limits filed suit in Maricopa County Superior Court after the Arizona Supreme Court declined to take the case.
High court won’t weigh in on new campaign limits
The Arizona Supreme Court declined to accept a case challenging the state’s new campaign contribution limits.
In a Tuesday afternoon order, Justice Robert Brutinel wrote that the court would not accept a petition for special action filed by opponents of HB2593, who hoped to bypass the lower courts and go straight to the Supreme Court. Brutinel did not elaborate on the high court’s rea[...]
Campbell recall shows huge campaign finance loophole
If the recall effort against Rep. Chad Campbell is unsuccessful, organizers may end up doing a lot more good than harm to the House minority leader and prospective gubernatorial candidate, thanks to a unique loophole in Arizona’s campaign finance laws.
Redistricting commission almost out of money as legal fees stack up
The state’s redistricting commission will run out of money before legal fees accrued in multiple lawsuits can be paid, the commission’s staff said Thursday. The commission’s director has begun negotiating with the Legislature over another supplemental appropriation.
Bennett agrees: Brewer can’t seek a third term
The state’s highest election official concluded that Gov. Jan Brewer can’t seek another term, an idea she has floated a few times.
IRC split on cooperating with AG investigation
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission could stumble into another partisan divide, but this time it involves whether members will cooperate with Attorney General Tom Horne’s investigation into whether the commission violated open meeting and procurement laws when it hired a mapping consultant in June.
Redistricting commission’s attorney selection prompts criticism from Republicans
Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commissioners split along party lines Friday over who will serve as the group’s legal counsel, with the commission’s independent chair siding with the Democrats to select the firms Ballard Spahr and Osborn Maledon.
Kanefield: This lawsuit is legitimate…and cheap
Gov. Jan Brewer's chief counsel, Joe Kanefield, seems to be somewhat of an unusual choice to lead the state's charge against the federal health care legislation. Kanefield, a registered Democrat, told YS that the criticism of the lawsuit coming from detractors, including Terry Goddard, appears to be baseless political sniping.
AZ high court weighs ‘legislative prerogative,’ state shutdown
A crucial element of the tense budget showdown between Governor Jan Brewer and the Legislature’s Republican leadership was argued in front of the Arizona Supreme Court this morning, but right... […]