Reagan files exploratory committee for secretary of state’s race
Sen. Michele Reagan filled in the blank on her months-old exploratory committee with an announcement that she’s eying a long-expected run for secretary of state.
Reagan, R-Scottsdale, formed an exploratory committee in December but did not indicate which office she was seeking in order to avoid running afoul of Arizona’s resign-to-run law. But Reagan, who has been well-known for her[...]
Political groups try to keep HB2305 from becoming law
When lawmakers rolled several controversial elections changes into one jam-packed omnibus bill and approved it in the final moments of the legislative session, a coalition of disparate political groups coalesced around a single goal: to stop the bill from becoming law.
Elections law supporters start second committee to defend it
The referendum effort against the state’s controversial new election law is now facing a two-pronged opposition, as a second political action committee filed paperwork this week to fight the referendum.
Backers of elections bill create committee to head off challenge
Supporters of a controversial elections bill formed a campaign committee to combat a referendum drive aimed at putting it on the 2014 ballot.
Protect Our Secret Ballot was filed with the Secretary of State’s Office on Monday to defend HB2305. Sen. Michele Reagan, who sponsored several bills that were later included in the omnibus elections, is the group’s chair.
Lawmaker resignations down in 2013, but likely to pick up soon
One marked difference in 2013 was the lack of legislative mid-session resignations, particularly following lawmaker scandals.
Livingston scores a perfect legislative batting average
The award for best legislative batting average for the session — the calculation of bills introduced versus bills signed into law — goes to Rep. David Livingston, a freshman Republican lawmaker from Peoria who has been vocally critical of the governor.
Election bill foes join forces, eye referendum
There’s plenty for a broad array of opponents to hate in an omnibus election bill passed at the end of the session, and a diverse coalition is now banding together for a probable citizen referendum drive against HB2305.
Brewer gets her way
House and Senate approve Medicaid expansion, ending months of debate
After a bitter and prolonged debate that ripped apart Republican majorities in the House and Senate, Arizona lawmakers approved Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion proposal and sent it to her for her signature.
Early voting bills revived — but only temporarily
Just when it appeared the controversial election bills involving the Permanent Early Voting List were dead, they received new life last week after Senate leadership introduced an elections omnibus bill incorporating five measures. Then they stalled again.
When bills get hung up, is it policy or personal?
Bills die for a variety of reasons at the Arizona Capitol, but none go down in a more explosive manner than when personal politics outweigh the merits of legislation in the eyes of bill sponsors and lawmakers who vote on the measures.
Pulling out the race card
The GOP primary race for secretary of state is heating up early with Montenegro and campaign consultant Constantin Querard demanding that a consultant working for Kyle Moyer, who represents Reagan, retract a tweet they said was racially insensitive.
Fixes for consolidated elections stall, leaving cities in dark about when to hold elections
When voters in Tucson and Phoenix went to the polls to elect their mayors in 2011, voters elected them for four years. But a bill passed last year by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer may extend the mayors’ time in office by a year. Or it may shorten their terms by a year. Nobody is sure which one it will be.