Teacher’s union seeks court intervention in policy changes
Arizona’s largest teachers’ union has asked the state Supreme Court to overturn laws that affect the pay and retention of public school teachers. In a 32-page petition for special action,... […]
Will legislative PACs be used to corral votes?
A pair of political committees created by top legislative Republicans will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend in next year's elections, which is causing some to wonder if it's appropriate for them to wield that kind of power.
Special session to begin today, Brewer drops by GOP caucus
Legislative leaders have said a special legislative session to address part of the state's $2 billion deficit will begin today (Nov. 17), but Senate Republicans might have to rely on a vote or two from Democrats to pass all of the legislation on tap.
Lawmakers getting hammered in court; resources strained
Arizona's 49th Legislature has been tasked with keeping the state financially afloat during the most troubling economic times in state history. But the choices lawmakers made this year in an effort to balance the budget have led to six lawsuits challenging the state's use of fund sweeps to fill in deficits.
GOP pushing for 1-day special session
Barring any surprises, Gov. Jan Brewer is expected to call the Legislature into special session in the next few days. But her 1-cent sales tax hike won't be on the table - at least not this time. Still up in the air is the possibility of doing a second special session, possibly in December, for another round of cuts and potentially approving revenue generating options.
Special Session: Get ready for Thursday
Gov. Jan Brewer and GOP leaders are expected to meet this week to discuss a special session, which is still being penciled in for Nov. 17-19. House Speaker Kirk Adams and Senate President Bob Burns both told our reporter that they were speaking with members about the budget changes that would be voted on and both were upbeat about the possibility of the session happening.
Adams fires back via Twitter after League vote to sue state
A recent vote by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns to sue the Legislature in an attempt to undo provisions passed in the most recent special session could have broader effects on the lobbying group for local governments.
Brewer’s in, but she may lack critical support from GOP
For months, the big question at the Capitol was whether Gov. Jan Brewer would run in 2010. Now that she has announced she will, the big question is how much support she’ll find among a fractured Republican establishment.
Burns mum on special session meeting with Brewer
Republican leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer are slated to meet this afternoon to discuss the provisions of a possible special legislative session to address budget issues.
Allen: Fraud plan was ‘pat on the head’ for Seel
Rep. Carl Seel may think that Sen. Carolyn Allen tried to run his fraud reduction scheme through the ringer last spring, but the Scottsdale Republican now says it was actually legislative leadership who put her up to the task.
Lawmakers say limits on impact fees legal, despite threat of lawsuit
Lawmakers and the governor said legislation passed earlier this year that limits development-impact fees is legal, despite threats of a lawsuit from municipalities. A spokesman for Brewer said she wasn't concerned about a lawsuit. "I think the governor's comfortable with the legality of what she's signed," Paul Senseman said.
No agreement when, or if, special session will begin
Once again, lawmakers adjourned, only to see Gov. Jan Brewer veto parts of the budget they passed. And once again, Brewer announced her intention to bring them back into special session to deal with the consequences.