Gov. Jan Brewer is going to get the last word on whether Arizona business owners can cite their religion as a reason to turn away gays -- and maybe others.

Two years ago, the Republican-controlled Legislature sought to get voters to kill the Citizens Clean Elections Act, claiming it is wrong for politicians to use public money for campaigns. Now, some of those same GOP lawmakers want to belly up to the bar and get handouts of public dollars for everything from sending out communications to constituents to buying tickets for special events.

Republican Rep. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills was one of two legislators (along with Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson) to receive the honor of Humane Lawmaker of the Year from the Humane Society this week at its annual rally to encourage lawmakers to enact more animal-friendly legislation.

A Scottsdale city councilman says he will run for the state House of Representatives this year.

This week's most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances from Arizona's political scene

Arizona is spending too much money providing a university education to students who really do not need it, according to the head of the House Appropriations Committee.

While Brewer boasted of Arizona’s economic turnaround of the past few years and the attention the state has received nationally for its improved business climate, the governor said Arizona’s work is not done.

Gov. Jan Brewer’s plan to turn Child Protective Services into a standalone division that reports directly to her office received broad support following her State of the State address. But advocates, experts and lawmakers warned it is only a first step in reforming the troubled agency.

An Arizona lawmaker wants the state constitution amended to allow cuts to public employee pensions and increases in employee contributions if the systems are badly underfunded.

A senior Republican legislator wants to use tobacco-tax dollars to help fund the embattled Child Protective Services, which was recently rocked by revelations that it ignored more than 6,000 cases of abuse and neglect over several years.