Teachers in Arizona are getting second jobs not because they’re struggling to survive on their low pay, but because they want to enjoy the finer things in life, like boats, according to House Majority Leader John Allen.

Laura Knaperek, a 10-year member of the House and staunch supporter of a law giving terminally ill patients new rights, died today after a three-year battle with cancer. She was 60.

Prosecutors dropped charges against Republican Rep. Bob Robson of Chandler for allegedly stealing a roadside political sign that was critical of him during the Republican primary, but one of his fellow GOP lawmakers isn’t letting the issue die.

J Allen is taking aim at Robson with H2002 (political signs; removal), which he introduced today. The bill removes the language in ARS 16-1019 that makes it a misdemeanor to remove, alter or deface a political sign “of any candidate for public office” and instead defines a political sign as “a sign that is intended to influence the outcome of an election.”

Former Republican lawmaker David Burnell Smith lost his campaign to take out Republican Rep. John Allen for the GOP nomination to the second House seat in Legislative District 15.

If you think your vote can’t make a difference, think again. In three of Arizona’s legislative primary races, the difference between the winning and losing candidates is only a handful of votes.

Despite being one of the top targets of conservative Republicans for her role pushing Medicaid expansion through the House, Republican Rep. Heather Carter of Cave Creek coasted to an easy victory in Legislative District 15.

Democratic Sen. Ed Ableser of Tempe regained his title of most absentee lawmaker this year, showing up for only 62 percent of Senate floor sessions, though he voted on 70 percent of all the bills put before the chamber.

Amid warnings of a potential lawsuit, the House Education Committee on Monday killed a bill designed to ensure funding for all students in the state empowerment scholarship account program.

Gov. Jan Brewer is hitting the fundraising trail again for an independent expenditure committee that is expected to help the Republican lawmakers who backed her Medicaid expansion plan.