The long and short of 100 days: Faced with vetoes, some GOP lawmakers question quality of bills in fast-paced session
As legislators were filing into their offices in January, preparing for the start of the 50th Legislature, Republican leaders set a lofty goal: to be finished in 100 days.
A few ‘bad actors’ cost all police officers, firefighters and teachers big time
State government in Arizona in the past three years has made massive cuts to education, given away our money to big corporations, chose to do nothing about foreclosures and hasn’t created a single job. Arizona’s middle-class families are struggling, and Republicans, who control all of state government, went even further to harm middle-class police officers, firefighters and teachers.
Lawsuit aims to block AHCCCS cuts
Attorney Tim Hogan on Monday filed a request for a special action with Arizona Supreme Court aimed at blocking cuts to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, a move that could unbalance the fiscal year 2012 budget by hundreds of millions of dollars.
The world definitely isn’t ready for that
The Pima County Dem Party taunted Tucson's Republican city council candidates in a press release yesterday afternoon, taking swipes at Pearce and Antenori in the process.
Lawmakers tout Tobin’s accessibility, diligent work and sometimes-fiery demeanor
Andy Tobin is gregarious, fiery, funny and, above all else, loyal to the core — attributes that all led to his ascension to speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives late last month.
Now, Tobin has been chosen by his caucus as speaker of the House, following the departure of former Speaker Kirk Adams.
Brewer, leadership meet, but no word on special session
Gov. Jan Brewer, Senate President Russell Pearce and House Speaker Andy Tobin met for an hour Tuesday to discuss some of the biggest issues facing the state during the legislative off-session, but made no decisions on calling lawmakers back to the Capitol for a special session.
Republicans not steering clear of Arpaio
The most-recent black eye for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has done little, if anything, to cause Republicans to distance themselves from Arpaio.
A renewed focus on dynamic, decisive action
Having worked around the state Capitol for many years before being elected in November, I witnessed the prosperous years when legislators fought over take-home projects for their districts. And I also saw the lean years when legislators shook every penny out of the state’s piggy bank and used debt financing and fancy accounting gimmicks just to get by.Â
This year was very different.Â[...]
Republicans lining up to replace Adams
LD19 Republicans will meet May 19 at Mesa Community College to vote on replacements for Adams' vacant seat.
Many undocumented students’ hopes riding on DREAM Act
For many undocumented students, the only realistic hope of becoming legal U.S. residents is Congress passing legislation dubbed the DREAM Act, short for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. As proposed last year, the act would offer undocumented students without criminal records a path to citizenship if they complete two years of post-secondary education or military service.
Politicos salivate as Adams challenges mentor for Congress
With the legislative session over, Kirk Adams was finally able to do what he’d wanted to do for months, and what some have expected him to do for years: run for Congress.
Bill would ax protections for county workers
A bill awaiting action by Gov. Jan Brewer would lift merit-system protections for new employees hired by all Arizona counties except Maricopa.