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Republicans rail against all-mail elections, but they vote by mail
Saying it is ripe for fraud, many Arizona Republican lawmakers oppose the idea of sending mail ballots to all voters during the COVID-19 crisis, but 79% of the GOP caucus opts for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver their vote.
Repubican Party opposes use of online system for ballot measures
The attorney for the Arizona Republican Party says a system that allows people to sign petitions online -- the same one used by political candidates -- is "highly susceptible to fraud.''
Legislature won’t return April 13
The worsening COVID-19 pandemic has sidelined the state Legislature’s plans to reconvene on April 13, according to internal emails from top lawmakers shared with the Arizona Capitol Times.
Hobbs won’t contest legal challenge to put initiative signature gathering online
The state's chief elections officer said she won't oppose legal efforts to allow initiative drives to gather the remaining signatures they need online.
Legislature passes $11.8B budget, $50M for COVID-19 aid
The Arizona Legislature will adjourn until April 13 after lawmakers in the House passed a $50 million deal Monday intended to mitigate the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Old tactics, new territory as lawmakers embrace partisan COVID-19 framing
In any other week, Rep. Anthony Kern’s dinner choices wouldn’t have mattered to anyone but the most fervent crusader against lobbyist influence. This week, depending on who you ask, he’s either a hero fighting government overreach or the face of irresponsibility.
Legislature to pass bare-bones budget this week
GOP leaders announced today the Legislature plans to pass a basic spending plan and a series of “noncontroversial” bills before they may recess or adjourn as a way to mitigate... […]
Progressives call for worker protections as legislature mulls recess
Democratic lawmakers and progressive activists presented a list of demands they say are necessary for the safety of the state’s workers amid the COVID-19 outbreak on Monday, encouraging party leadership to mitigate the economic fallout of a virus that has already kneecapped tourism and hospitality in Arizona.
Arizona lawmakers mull shutting down session to prevent coronavirus spread
A House Democrat has announced he’ll be stepping back from most lawmaking duties for the remainder of the session amid calls from some legislators to temporarily suspend the session to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19.
Government bodies should drop the prayers and get to work
The sheer controversy that surrounds public prayer and the petty theatrics it seems to attract testify to the fact that Arizona can do better. Arizona’s humanists and atheists will show up and speak up for equal representation as long as our government opens official meetings with prayer, but we could all get along a lot better if we cut out the prayer and got down to business instead.
Fate of most 2020 bills met at Legislature’s deadline
Silent death has come for about two-thirds of the 1,842 bills and resolutions introduced this year in the Legislature.
Demise of sanctuary cities measure a mixed bag of politics, protests
The death of the referral marks the end of a two-month saga that began in Ducey’s January State of the State Address, in which it was unveiled as one of several policy proposals that the governor would push through the legislature. Shope received a glowing shoutout. Republicans rose to their feet.
