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Veteran senator keeps win streak alive
Sen. Lela Alston continues a four-decade streak of never losing legislative races, easily fending off a Democratic primary challenge in Legislative District 24 from an opponent who sought to make the race about her age.
Few contested primaries for independents to influence
Independent voters don’t have many contested races in Maricopa County in which they can sway the outcome with Arizona primary elections roughly two months away.
Lawmakers seek additional funding for child welfare programs
At least two state senators want Gov. Doug Ducey to call a special session to address child welfare issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate calls it quits, leaves House to decide what’s next
The Senate notified the House early Friday afternoon that it had ended its legislative work, ending the session and killing hundreds of bills. The lower chamber has yet to accede to the request, leaving senators in an indefinite recess.
Lobbyists navigate lawmakers’ bad behavior, professional relationships
In 2018, at the height of the Me Too movement, investigators for the House of Representatives dismissed a lobbyist’s allegations of harassment against a state representative because the lobbyist sent friendly text messages after the alleged incident occurred.
Legislative Democrats unveil ‘the people’s’ budget proposal
Democrats in the House and Senate released their $12.5 billion budget proposal Monday morning, insisting that it’s not too late for the minority party to get a seat at the negotiating table even as crossover week approaches.
State to reopen closed prison to house booming female population
The Department of Corrections will reopen a shuttered prison in Douglas to deal with the fact that women are being locked up at a higher rate. “We’re simply out of... […]
Impact of student population in downtown nil at ballot
Arizona-based universities have increasingly focused on downtown Phoenix in the past decade, with all three state universities bringing satellite campuses to the area between Roosevelt and Van Buren streets.
Shelter for seniors, seriously mentally ill top advocates’ wish list
After a one-time windfall from the Legislature, affordable housing supporters who’ve advocated for restoring the State Housing Trust Fund to pre-recession levels are looking at how to best stretch the new money and make the case for more.
Lawmakers look to 2020 as ink dries on this year’s bills
The legislative session wasn’t even done before lawmakers started announcing bills they planned to introduce next session.
Who killed mall commission remains a mystery
The Legislative Governmental Mall Commission was given a name bureaucracies dream of and a death Sen. Lela Alston described as “snakey” even by political standards.
Bill to strengthen regulation of care facilities gets initial approval
The Senate took the first legislative step toward better protecting some of the state’s vulnerable adults today.
