Crandall threatens lawmaker’s bills in sign feud
In a voicemail message left on the cell phone of a legislator he says harassed his daughter last week, Sen. Rich Crandall suggested that he would work to kill her bills next year.
“I’m furious at you right now,” Crandall said in the July 12 message for Rep. Brenda Barton, R-Payson. “You better not try to run any education legislation next year.”
(Plus, listen t[...]
Kyl, McCain warn that Cardon could hurt GOP’s chances in November
Arizona’s two longtime U.S. senators lambasted political newcomer Wil Cardon for what they described as inaccurate attack ads that they say will hurt Republican frontrunner Jeff Flake’s chances against a formidable Democratic opponent in the race for an open Senate seat in November.
Crandall, Fillmore spar over sign removal
Two Republican legislators running for the same Senate seat are accusing each other of lying after a third GOP lawmaker caught Sen. Rich Crandall’s daughter taking down one of Rep. John Fillmore’s campaign signs.
Politics is not the place for religious evangelism
Our presidential election campaign is picking up steam, and money is being raised as never before, mostly to convince voters that the other party’s guy is a very poor choice to be president. Most voters have already dug in and need little convincing that their views are a kind of political light that must prevail over the opposing darkness. It’s as if we have brought religious sectarianism int[...]
Brewer decries Obama “backdoor amnesty” policy
Gov. Jan Brewer decried President Barack Obama’s new DREAM Act-style immigration policy as “backdoor amnesty” intended to undermine SB1070 and bolster his political support for his re-election bid.
Speaking to reporters during a rare press conference in the Executive Tower, Brewer, one of Obama’s most nationally prominent critics on immigration and border security policy, said t[...]
GOP lawmakers sue to draw congressional maps
The GOP-led Legislature is suing the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, arguing that the voter approved change to the state constitution that created the mapping body violates the U.S. Constitution.
Arizona 1-cent sales tax initiative backers cite progress
Supporters of a proposed Arizona ballot initiative for a 1-cent sales tax increase are reporting success in getting signatures to put the measure on the November ballot.
Maricopa County’s early voter list tops 1 million
More than half of the 1.9 million registered voters in Arizona's most populous county are now signed up to automatically receive ballots for early voting.
Republican challenge to legislative map drops request for interim 2012 plan
Lawyers for Arizona Republicans challenging the state's new legislative district map are dropping their effort to have a federal court draw an interim set of districts for use in this year's elections.
Trans-Pacific trade agreement must protect U.S. intellectual property
As an Arizonan, when you hear about trade agreements, you might not automatically think about jobs in the great Copper State. However, as the most populous landlocked state in the U.S., we should. Trade is a huge driver of our economy, not only as a nation, but also of our state economies.
Brewer signs consolidated elections bill over objections by cities
Despite a flood of letters from cities and towns opposing the bill, Gov. Jan Brewer today signed legislation requiring municipalities to consolidate their elections with the state.
Brewer signs bill letting ‘religiously oriented’ employers opt out of contraception coverage
Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill Friday that relaxes Arizona's requirement for health plans to cover contraception, legislation that supporters called a protection for religious freedom and that critics called an attack on women.