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Heinz elected whip by coin flip; Campbell wins top Dem post in House
Reps. Matt Heinz and Ed Ableser were still tied after two votes in the House Democrats' Nov. 4 leadership vote, so the caucus decided to flip a coin to break the stalemate. Heinz, a second-term Tucson Democrat, won the leadership post after picking tails.
Lawmaker considers bill to regulate sales of herb with marijuana-like effects
Spice is a mixture of herbs varying by the brand and sprayed with a chemical, JWH 018, that mimics the effect of tetrahydrocannibol, or THC, in marijuana. It is sold under brands including K2, Black Mamba, Wicked X. Rep. Matt Heinz said he is considering legislation that would have Arizona take steps to regulate spice once federal and state health officials offer guidance.
Court perfect at the plate in 2010 – 5 of 5 bills signed
To say the 2010 regular legislative session was different than the 2009 session would be an understatement of epic proportions. Gone was the Senate’s 2009 moratorium on hearing bills until after the budget work was completed. Gone, too, was the combative relationship between legislative leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer.
Capitol Quotes 3/26/2010
"I wouldn't bet a whole lot of money on those lawsuits being successful. I think most of these arguments were settled as a result of the Civil War." - John Rivers, president of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, on the lawsuit being filed by 13 state attorneys general against the federal health care bill.
Capitol Quotes 3/12/2010
"All they are really doing is securing traditional family values. These are the traditional values that were upheld for 6,000 years and when homosexual activists essentially decided they were going to use the courts to try to normalize their relationships in statute, then social conservatives began putting traditional family values in statute also." - Sen. Ron Gould, a Lake Havasu City Rep[...]
Capitol Quotes 3/5/10
"I get out-voted in the House and family reunions all the same." - Rep. Matt Heinz, a Tucson Democrat, speaking on the House floor March 2 and introducing some of his family members who are Republican.
Capitol Quotes 2/26/10
"I support this bill because I'm pleased to see Rep. (Andy) Biggs finally regulating something." - House Speaker Kirk Adams, a Republican from Mesa, speaking on the House floor Feb. 23 in support of H2246, which would allow the regulation and sale of some fireworks to the general public in Arizona. Right now, selling fireworks is banned statewide. The bill was approved 40-17 and has been s[...]
Covert, bipartisan budget plan unveiled
Secret plotting to balance Arizona's wildly out-of-whack budget got started in an east Phoenix restaurant best described as a hole-in-the- wall. What better place than a hole-in-the-wall to work on a budget full of holes?
Long session led to many missed votes
The Arizona House of Representatives held 382 floor votes during the 2009 regular session, which stretched into July as lawmakers struggled with the budget deficit. Rep. Rich Crandall, a Mesa Republican, didn't participate in 254 of them, nearly two-thirds of the total.
House Approps passes repeal of equalization tax
The same day Arizona counties were required by law to adopt property tax rates, a House panel gave its approval to a measure that would eliminate a statewide property tax.... […]
Fewer lawmakers may be present for special session
Fewer lawmakers are likely to be present for the special session July 20. About a third of senators and representatives planned to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures summit in Philadelphia City this week, according to the Senate and the House.
