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Budget deal saves courts from ‘virtual shut down’ of system
The Arizona Supreme Court was able to work out a deal allowing the Legislature to take money from a variety of smaller accounts rather than a larger, more critical one that lawmakers were targeting.
Democrats choose partisan zeal over participating in the great Arizona recovery
Republicans passed a budget this week and, as usual, we did so without the help of Democrats. Despite the fact that we made no cuts in essential services while providing $150 million for statewide K-12 education funding, $21 million for universities and $100 million for health & welfare programs, there never seems to be enough spending to satisfy all their demands.
Sine die: Conservative agenda dominates session
Lawmakers wrapped up their work at 8:25 p.m. on May 3 after nearly four months in session, having stashed away money for anticipated rainy days ahead, approved a sweeping measure that allows state workers to be more easily fired and fought on the unending battlefronts of abortion, taxation and border security.
And like the year before, lawmakers with conservative leanings shaped the age[...]
Arizona Senate OKs tax cuts as session nears end
Arizona lawmakers advanced tax cut legislation Thursday as they pushed to end their regular session, despite complaints that they courted danger by moving forward with proposals put on their desks just hours earlier.
GOP lawmakers seek to overturn redistricting commission’s authority to create maps
Republican lawmakers today authorized the Legislature to file a lawsuit challenging the state redistricting commission’s authority to draw congressional and legislative maps.
Religious Rights: Bills target broad range of perceived attacks on beliefs
Already steeped in the battle over abortion and contraception in health plans, social conservatives have also ramped up their efforts to advance religious expression in the public square, taking advantage of the dominance of policymakers at the state Capitol with similar impulses.
AZ Supreme Court unanimous in decision to reinstate redistricting chair
The Arizona Supreme Court acted unanimously last fall to reinstate Colleen Mathis to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, finding that Gov. Jan Brewer’s stated reasons for removing her did not rise to the legal standards required.
House passes narrowed-down contraception bill
State representatives today passed a scaled-back bill that would allow religious-based employers to deny contraception coverage to their workers.
The amended bill, HB2625, passed the Arizona House by a vote of 36-21, and will need to go back to the Senate for final approval there. If approved there, it will be delivered to Gov. Jan Brewer for either a signature or a veto.
Compromise cooking on contraception bill
Legislators are advancing a compromise to scale back a controversial bill on health plan coverage for contraception.
Bill seeks to stop Planned Parenthood funding
The Republican-controlled Senate today gave preliminary approval to a bill targeting Planned Parenthood’s funding.
The measure, HB2800, still needs the chamber’s full vote, which is likely to take place next week.
Group spends $40K on mailers against ‘Obamacare’
The local chapter of Americans for Prosperity has rolled out an expensive campaign to oppose the establishment of a health care exchange in Arizona, a move that puzzled some Republicans who noted there’s no legislation advancing at the state Capitol to set it up here.
