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Andy Biggs: From stubborn no-voter to Senate leader
After 14 years as a state legislator, Senate President Andy Biggs won’t be returning to the Capitol next January, and instead seeks higher office in Congress. The Gilbert Republican has much to reflect on after another chaotic session and years in the Legislature, where he went from a stubborn no-voter in the House to the leader of a Senate chamber that’s grown more conservative over the past [...]
Doug Ducey: Not looking for a fight
Gov. Doug Ducey’s second legislative session did not go quite as smoothly as his first. Whereas 2015 was the shortest session in decades and a budget agreement was reached with legislative leadership in record time, 2016 dragged on into May as Ducey and lawmakers negotiated the budget.
Cap Times Q&A: Former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith reflects on politicians, big game hunting and life’s lessons
A few hours before he sat down for a Q&A one humid August afternoon at a coffee shop, former Mesa mayor and one-time gubernatorial candidate Scott Smith had flown a plane, delivering a supply of blood to northern Arizona.
2015 Session Wrap Q&A: Senate Minority Leader Katie Hobbs
Sen. Katie Hobbs was one of many new leaders at the Capitol this session. She was tasked with leading an entirely-new Democratic leadership team in the Senate while dealing with a new governor and a veteran Senate president in Andy Biggs.
David Schapira: Keeping spotlight on GOP helped block anti-labor bills
The most challenging task for Democrats at the state Capitol is to stay relevant in a place where you’re greatly outnumbered.
That job fell to Senate Minority Leader David Schapira, whose caucus shrank to only nine members following the 2010 elections.
On second thought…
Sitting for an interview can often be an uncomfortable situation, especially if you're talking about yourself. A lot of questions can run through your mind. Is the reporter going to ask fair questions? Am I going to be portrayed fairly? Am I going to sound stupid?
GOP leader hopes to persuade, not ‘twist arms’
Bob Burns' first year as Senate president was trouble-ridden, to put it mildly. His task was to balance a budget that was billions of dollars in the red by rounding up 16 votes for a spending plan that nobody was going to like.
No more ‘feeling our way in the dark’
Despite the challenge of erasing budget deficits estimated at $5 billion for the next two fiscal years, House Speaker Kirk Adams said lawmakers now are more fully equipped to handle the problems.
Democratic leader won’t rule out voting for GOP budget
In all probability, Republican legislative leadership and the governor will need Democratic votes in the Senate to pass a referral to increase the state sales tax. If bipartisan talks take place, the job of negotiating the terms will fall on Jorge Luis Garcia, the Democratic minority leader from Tucson.
Democrats won’t float budget bills without GOP assurances
Democratic state lawmakers are hoping 2010 is a better year than 2009.
Garcia says he needed 1 more Dem in Senate
This year, Democrats occasionally helped to pass time-sensitive legislation, including measures that ensured Arizona would get federal stimulus money. But, for the most part, Senate Minority Leader Jorge Luis Garcia and his fellow Democrats watched from the sidelines as Republicans unilaterally crafted budget bills and other legislation.
