Sign In
Free Newsletter
Report: Eliminating partisan primaries would engage all voters
Changing legislative primaries so the top vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election would cut down on polarizing legislation, make districts more competitive and further engage Arizona’s growing number of independent voters, according to a report by a nonpartisan research group.
The risks of defiance: What will GOP senators’ ‘no’ votes on immigration bills cost them?
Advocates of stricter state-level immigration laws hinted at dire political repercussions for the 12 Republicans who voted against some or all of five controversial immigration measures on March 17.
Immigration reform needs to offer accountability, not amnesty
Recently, five bills dealing with various aspects of immigration failed to be approved by the Arizona Senate. One of these bills contained provisions requiring hospital emergency room workers to verify citizenship. This and other provisions contained in the defeated bills would have certainly raised constitutionality questions at a time when the state is already burdened with federal litigation.
Voter mandate an issue in Arizona’s budget debate
Voters overwhelmingly approved a temporary sales tax increase last May to help balance the state budget, with the sales pitch emphasizing that approval would help protect funding for education and other services.
Wisconsin’s Senate Republicans won’t turn page
As if pending litigation and recall elections weren’t enough to choke Wisconsin’s government to a halt, state Republicans have decided to prolong the volatile Senate relations sparked by Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill and antagonized by the Democrats’ multi-week stay in Illinois.
Heinz resigns as House minority whip
House Minority Whip Matt Heinz suddenly resigned his leadership post this afternoon, citing a need to spend more time and energy on legislation.
Senate approves bill prohibiting sex-selection abortions
The Senate passed legislation on Monday to prohibit abortion based on the sex or race of the fetus, or the race of a parent – but not until amending it to criminalize violations.
Capitol Quotes: March 18, 2011
“My first impression is, ‘Wow.’” — Rep. Bob Robson, R-Chandler, reacting to the Senate’s budget proposal.
Senate cuts $118M, OKs unbalanced budget
The Senate budget’s most novel aspect is the clearest indication of the chamber’s ideological moorings yet.
Senate Republicans finally pass budget
In a move that potentially sets the stage for a showdown with Gov. Jan Brewer, the Senate late Wednesday passed a budget proposal that cuts more than what the governor called for in January and rejects many of her accounting maneuvers to erase the fiscal deficit.
Critics say partisan fights take new shape in ‘independent’ redistricting
Placing the “I” word in front of Redistricting Commission doesn’t mean it’s really independent.
Now that the commission is fully constituted, they'll soon begin redrawing the state's legislative and congressional lines. At stake is the state's political landscape for the next ten years. And while most everyone agrees on the gravity of task, disagreements abound on just how "inde[...]
Brewer committed to small K-12 cuts
Some Republican lawmakers are predicting that they’ll have a budget on Gov. Jan Brewer’s desk by the time the 2011 session hits the 60-day mark, but first, someone will have to budge on K-12 spending and rollovers.
