Arizona delegation seeks reimbursement for Grand Canyon opening
Arizona’s congressional delegation urged the National Park Service to issue the state a full refund for payments made to open Grand Canyon National Park while the government shut down during bitter budget fights in Washington, D.C. in October.
Visa backlog from shutdown could cause shortage of farm labor
This month’s federal government shutdown caused a backup in seasonal farmworkers’ visa applications that some groups say could lead to a labor shortage during the coming winter vegetable harvest.
Grijalva among scores arrested at Capitol in immigration rally
Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva was arrested Tuesday with nearly 200 other protesters outside the Capitol after a daylong rally to demand congressional action on comprehensive immigration reform.
US House committee OKs bill to block planned casino in Glendale
A House committee gave overwhelming approval Wednesday to a bill that would block development of a Tohono O’odham casino on land the tribe bought inside Glendale.
Lawmakers, citing Yarnell, press forestry officials on wildfire prevention
Arizona lawmakers invoked the memory of the 19 fallen Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters at a hearing Thursday where they urged bureaucrats to improve forest management to prevent such fires in the future.
Advocates reach out to older Hispanics as health law takes effect
With the health insurance marketplace created by the federal Affordable Care Act set to open in October, advocates are out to make sure that the message reaches Arizonans who are older or Spanish-speaking.
Arizona lawmakers split – sharply – over State of the Union address
For Arizona lawmakers, President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday was either an urgent national call to arms or a ruinous plan for big government, depending on which side of the aisle they sit on.
Flake raises hopes for hearing on judicial nominee after 19-month wait
Freshman Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said he met with Rosemary Marquez and will review her writing, giving hope to her supporters that the long-delayed judicial nominee will finally get a hearing after 19 months.
Tide changing in Arizona’s immigration politics
At the recent Republican statewide meeting in a north central Phoenix church, pews were packed with party loyalists listening to elected officials speak about issues facing the state and the nation.
But the topic that would have dominated the conversation in past years — illegal immigration — was scarcely mentioned.
Arizona lawmakers ignore party lines, join House in vote to extend debt limit
Arizona’s congressional delegation voted 7-2 Wednesday to raise the nation’s debt limit, crossing party lines to do so and creating some unusual alliances in the process.
Interior Secretary Grijalva? Lawmaker cool to effort pushing him for Cabinet
A coalition of 238 groups urged President Barack Obama on Monday to nominate Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson, for the position of Interior Secretary should the job become open.
Arizona delegation follows party line on vote to repeal health care act
WASHINGTON – Arizona lawmakers split straight down party lines Wednesday as the House voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, less than two weeks after it was upheld by the Supreme Court.