A lawmaker wants to make it clear that state officials can notify licensing boards when medical professionals are suspected of improperly recommending marijuana for patients. Rep. Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix, said clarifying in law that the Arizona Department of Health Services ...

A Republican legislative attorney claimed today that the state’s redistricting commission gerrymandered its maps to benefit certain Democratic incumbents and harm GOP politicians.

Democratic leadership from both chambers of the Legislature promised to file a complaint that the testimony to the committee represents a violation of the prohibition against state employees being involved in partisan political or election-related activity.

Rep. Matt Heinz said he sees more and more patients who are unable to afford treatment for their catastrophic health conditions. He called for the Legislature to restore funding to the Medical Expense Deduction program.

At the end of a forum on healthcare this morning, an emergency room doctor raised his hand to ask a question. “How many on the panel believe the primary reason for the high cost of care is government?” he asked. Of the four speakers, only one raised their hand — Sen. Nancy Barto, a Phoenix Republican and the chairwoman of the Senate Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform Committee.

Gabrielle Giffords’ surprising and emotional return to Congress sparked a new wave of speculation about 2012, but her political future is no clearer now than it was before she walked in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Andy Tobin is gregarious, fiery, funny and, above all else, loyal to the core — attributes that all led to his ascension to speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives late last month.

Now, Tobin has been chosen by his caucus as speaker of the House, following the departure of former Speaker Kirk Adams.

Based on legislative batting averages — or the ratio of bills introduced to bills passed by the Legislature — rookie lawmakers were able to secure a few MVP trophies this year.

The most outstanding quotes of the whole session.

House Minority Whip Matt Heinz suddenly resigned his leadership post this afternoon, citing a need to spend more time and energy on legislation.

Restoring hospice care to Medicaid-covered services in Arizona would provide better and more cost-effective care for dying patients, a lawmaker said.