Lawmakers consider buying back state buildings as cash flow improves

Now that Arizona’s fiscal picture is rosier, with projected surpluses instead of staggering deficits, lawmakers are looking at undoing one of the state’s more embarrassing budget gimmicks.

Capitol Quotes: Nov. 11, 2011

This week's most outstanding quips, jibes and utterances.

Court: Land Dept. funding illegal

The Arizona Court of Appeals struck another blow Thursday to the Land Department’s effort to fund its budget by using proceeds from the sale of state trust land. The court unanimously upheld a lower-court ruling that found the Trust Land Management Fund, established in 2009, to be unconstitutional.

Capitol quotes: November 4, 2011

This week's most outstanding quips, utterances and gibes.

Taking the funds out of HURF

County officials tie highway projects to economic development prospects

Rocky start for Commerce Authority has fiscal hawks looking to rein in power

Outraged by what they see as exorbitant spending and questions of transparency, some lawmakers are considering taking back some of the power they gave the Arizona Commerce Authority last session.

Former Phoenix mayor presses for ‘open’ primaries in Arizona

A citizens group wants Arizonans to decide in November 2012 whether to scrap partisan primaries in favor of open elections that would send the highest-polling candidates, regardless of party affiliation, on to the general election.

Lawmakers cool to Regents’ 17.5% budget increase

The Arizona Board of Regents agreed at a recent meeting to request from the Legislature a 17.5 percent increase in funding, but lawmakers appear to have other budget priorities.

Arizona Democrats tout plan to stimulate state, federal economy

A plan to revitalize the U.S. economy put forward by liberal groups would create jobs in Arizona and help the poor move to the middle class, a Democratic state lawmaker said Wednesday. “The American dream is for any American, no matter where they start in life, to be able to accomplish their full goals,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix.

Visitors to Arizona prisons hit with $25 fee

Under a new state law, some adults who want to visit incarcerated inmates must pay the fee, with the money raised going toward maintaining 10 state-run prisons.

AHCCCS freeze: Putting a face on the insurance dilemma

Jacqueline Duhame, 45, noticed a large lump in her breast in April 2009. Doctors diagnosed it as an aggressive form of cancer that needed to be removed immediately before it spread to her lymph nodes.

Regents to pursue ‘risky at best’ university-funding proposal

Some members of the Arizona Board of Regents are worried that a proposal to equalize the student funding for each of the three state universities is going to be used as political justification for spending cuts.