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200-day school year measure advances, but faces obstacles
A bill that provides more money for longer school years was supported almost unanimously in the House Education Committee on Feb. 10, but faces a tough road to final passage.
Beyond 2305: Lawmakers consider new election law changes
The attempt to repeal last year’s big election law has taken up much of the spotlight so far this session, but it’s far from the only election issue lawmakers are tackling before they hit the campaign trail this year.
AZ lawmakers hint at what’s in store for 2014
One lawmaker will be targeting aggressive panhandling and “vexatious’’ litigants. Another has his sights set on people who aim lasers at airplanes. Two legislators hope to make the roads a safer... […]
Shutdown blues: Arizona reacts to government shutdown
Social media has seen a flurry of reactions to the #shutdown over #Obamacare, the #debtceiling, or whatever lawmakers, pundits and political observers choose to blame for the federal government closing its doors since Oct. 1.
Gay and Conservative
Push for same-sex marriage initiative comes from the right
Erin Ogletree Simpson has been a Republican her whole life, but a year and a half ago, she had a realization that put her at odds with her party.
Simpson discovered that she is gay.
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.
Abortion issues divide Brewer, Center for Arizona Policy
A relationship that has seen Gov. Jan Brewer and the Center for Arizona Policy in nearly perfect agreement for four years is showing signs of strain after the social conservative powerhouse took aim at the governor’s prized Medicaid expansion plan.
CAP opposes Medicaid expansion without abortion safeguard
The Center for Arizona Policy is opposed to Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan unless the Legislature ensures that funds from the program don’t indirectly subsidize abortions.
Advocates say measure could kill Clean Elections system
Several bills introduced at the Legislature this year have taken swipes at Clean Elections, but not so boldly as Rep. Paul Boyer’s concurrent resolution to swipe all monies from the Clean Elections system in favor of funding the state’s education needs.
Rep. Boyer explains why he changed his mind, now opposes Medicaid expansion
When the argument over Medicaid expansion turned into a debate over public funds going to abortion providers, Republican Rep. Paul Boyer, one of a handful of lawmakers who stood with the governor on the Capitol lawn when she announced her plan, took a trip to the Grand Canyon to clear his head.
Bills often fail to get past COW
The Committee of the Whole, the last chance to amend measures in either chamber before bills go to the floor for a third read, can represent a tremendous hurdle for lawmakers guiding their legislation through the process.
