Mesa to be in national spotlight as it hosts GOP debate
In 2009, this city had so many foreclosures that President Barack Obama appeared at one of its high schools to speak about the national housing crisis. In 2011, a Mesa district recalled its state senator and anti-immigration leader Russell Pearce in a historic election. A month ago, Gov. Jan Brewer shook her finger at Obama at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
Campus guns bill struggling in Senate
A proposal to allow guns on university and college campuses is stuck in the Senate.
The bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said he’s so far only corralled 13 “yes” votes for the proposal.
Landrum Taylor’s 14-year career was nearly over soon after it started
As Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor discusses her 14-year career in the House and Senate with pride in her accomplishments, she reveals that it all almost didn’t happen. She nearly quit after her first term.
SRP’s Greene shuns aggressiveness for solid arguments in lobbying Legislature
When Rep. Russ Jones moved into his office in the Arizona House of Representatives, his predecessor, Rep. Jim Carruthers, told him to beware of the “trains” that he could see, but perhaps would not hear coming.
‘Parent empowerment’ bill has roots in Democratic, Republican circles
The Goldwater Institute looked to a group of community organizers and Democratic operatives for inspiration for its latest school choice idea.
The institute helped draft and is advocating for SB1204, which would allow parents of students attending failing schools to close down the school, convert it to a charter school or remove the principal.
Uranium mining in the Grand Canyon region is unwise
I’m not an environmentalist and I don’t understand all of the environmental issues, but I do understand that we get 5 million people coming to the Grand Canyon every year. Tourism is not compatible with mining or with the mining trucks transporting uranium to be processed in Utah, and generally running the risk of despoiling this national treasure.
Tort measures having mixed success
Conservative Republicans who dominate the Legislature say the timing is right to overhaul Arizona’s civil justice system, arguing the changes are needed to improve the state’s business climate.
But so far, their success has been mixed.
Potty mouth legislation ignores deeper problems
It's hard to believe the Arizona Legislature is spending its time on a bill to limit indecent speech by teachers. Of course, nearly everyone would agree teachers should not be foul or crass. But nearly no teachers are.
Legislature’s reputation for tort reform continues to grow
Two bills last week took one more step down the path to bolstering our state’s reputation for enjoying a legal environment that is welcoming to business. One bill got the headlines, but they’re both an important component of Arizona’s ongoing civil justice reform efforts.
Arizona at 100 A high-tech powerhouse of scenic vistas, natural resources and recreation
From the day that Arizona became a state on Feb. 14, 1912, its boundaries have remained unchanged, but if not for some political gamesmanship, today’s Grand Canyon State would have had a remarkably different portrait.
Bill would bar medical marijuana on campus
The Arizona House has given preliminary approval to a bill that bars medical marijuana cardholders from possessing or using marijuana on school campuses.
Measure to change recall elections fails committee
A state House committee has shot down a proposal giving voters the option to change recall elections in a way that could make it more difficult to vote an incumbent out of office.