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Few lawmakers chalk up perfect attendance and voting records
Only 24 Arizona legislators managed to both attend work on all of the days they were expected during the 122-day session, and push a button each time there was a vote. Two of those perfect record-holders were Speaker of the House J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, and Senate President Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler.
A raft of bills would make Arizona’s initiative process more difficult
More than a century after Arizona’s voters gave themselves a Constitution and the right to write laws, legislators still can’t quite accept the fact that they have competition.
Ducey’s PAC spreads the love among GOP incumbents
Gov. Doug Ducey used his political action committee to contribute $84,500 to Republican candidates in this year’s primary, writing most of those checks to the GOP’s incumbent lawmakers.
Lawmakers sent 32 percent of bills to Ducey, Yee had best ‘batting average’
Gov. Doug Ducey has finished acting on all the bills lawmakers sent him this year – and the legislative batting averages have been tallied.
Arizona gets D on government accountability and transparency
The Grand Canyon State received an overall score of 64 – a D grade – in a new State Integrity Investigation, a data-driven assessment of government accountability and transparency in all 50 states by the Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity. Despite the low grade, Arizona ranked 22nd among all the states.
Splitting the House
Shope eyes smaller districts for state representatives
Rep. T.J. Shope wants to cut Arizona’s massive House of Representatives districts in half.
The first-term lawmaker hasn’t completed his plans yet, but is strongly leaning toward a proposal that would split the House districts in half. Rather than have each legislative district elect two House members at large[...]
Reforming election reform
Debate over HB2305 continues after opponents gather enough signatures to put it on the ballot
Groups opposing the state’s election reform law rejoiced on Oct. 29 when the secretary of state concluded the referendum against the law has enough signatures to appear on the 2014 ballot.
Forget apps: In Congress, there’s a caucus for that, and Arizonans join up
WASHINGTON – Shipbuilding may not seem like a vital issue for arid, landlocked Arizona, but Rep. Trent Franks, R-Glendale, joined the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus – along with 23 other caucuses and working groups.
Donor fatigue
Higher contribution limits don’t translate into avalanche of cash
Legislators who approved a controversial election law this year and are hoping to get a serious bump in their fundraising efforts should not expect to see an avalanche of hefty checks coming their way.
Rejected ballots reflect continuing problems in Arizona’s elections
Tens of thousands of ballots cast in Arizona’s 2012 election were rejected by elections officials, indicating continued communication and voter education problems in the state, according to an analysis by the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting.
Tax-reform pledge takers becoming a dwindling breed
The pledge that for years has been a holy grail of anti-tax conservatism is dwindling in popularity at the Copper Dome.
Only 11 lawmakers, including just one of 17 Republicans in the Senate, have signed the Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Only two of the 14 new Republican lawmakers this session have signed.
Arizona legislators again say yes to free tickets
It's been a year since the Fiesta Bowl scandal embarrassed legislators, but at least some Arizona lawmakers still like their perks. The Arizona Diamondbacks have again offered free tickets to legislators for the baseball team's first game of the season, and a team executive said Tuesday that at least 40 of the 90 senators and representatives have accepted so far.
