Despite not officially announcing as a candidate, Vernon Parker led the GOP field in Arizona’s 9th Congressional District primary fundraising.

It was still a workday Tuesday for many staffers in Arizona’s congressional offices, even as other parts of the government were shut down by a budget impasse – and even though there’s no guarantee they will get paid for this time.

Gov. Jan Brewer is asking the Federal Emergency Management Administration to reconsider its denial of disaster aid for the Yarnell Hill fire, saying new information proves that it’s needed and that the deadly-but-relatively-small blaze was destructive enough to warrant federal assistance.

The House on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that would retroactively lower interest rates on federal student loans, which doubled from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent after Congress failed to act before July 1.

More than 420,000 Arizonans will get health insurance rebates under Obamacare, the White House said Thursday, as President Barack Obama went on the offensive for his beleaguered health-care plan.

A conservative political action group representing the interests of senior citizens that is known most for targeting Democratic campaigns has entered the fight over how Arizona rooftop solar incentives should be restructured.

The election season is barely behind them, but freshmen Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Flagstaff, and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, have both raised more than $300,000 toward possible re-election bids in 2014, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

If the recall effort against Rep. Chad Campbell is unsuccessful, organizers may end up doing a lot more good than harm to the House minority leader and prospective gubernatorial candidate, thanks to a unique loophole in Arizona’s campaign finance laws.

As 2012 comes to a close, some Arizona politicos have reached new heights of prominence and power. Others saw once-promising careers hit the wall.

Jeff Flake and Kyrsten Sinema gained influence and stature in the nation’s capital, while Andy Biggs reached the pinnacle of power in the Arizona Senate.

Meanwhile, former Senate President Russell Pearce and his successor, Sen. Steve Pierce, fell from grace, while a slew of Republican candidates once again failed in their bids to reach the halls of Congress.

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