Legislature approves $1M in immigration enforcement money for Babeu
Despite a festering budget deficit, lawmakers have found a way to grant Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu’s request for funds for border-related immigration enforcement.
Republican lawmakers eager to take on merit system
While the battles Wisconsin Republicans waged against their state’s teachers unions dominated news coverage in a made-for-television drama, their legislative counterparts in Arizona moved against government employees with far less fanfare.
Pearce amends disclosure reports, repays Fiesta Bowl for tickets
Senate President Russell Pearce amended several years’ worth of financial disclosure reports to include Fiesta Bowl-sponsored trips, and repaid the bowl for several tickets.
Dems hopeful about Pearce recall
One Dem lawmaker told our reporter yesterday that the effort to recall Pearce was doing far better than most political observers expected, and predicted its backers would file signatures by mid-May.
Legislature approves money for Babeu, undoes Pima prohibition on immigration enforcement money
Despite a festering budget deficit, lawmakers have found a way to grant Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's request for funds for border-related immigration enforcement.
Budget-cutting Legislature wraps up session
Conservative lawmakers who rose to power following the last election set the tone for this session and left significant marks on major pieces of legislation that have come to define the achievements and failures of Arizona’s 50th Legislature, which wrapped up the annual legislative session just as the sun was rising this morning.
Outline reveals details of Brewer personnel plan
A proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer would uncover employees from the state’s merit system, remove terms of office for agency heads, and alter the way employees may appeal disciplinary actions, according to a summary of a 300-page-plus bill that the governor wanted the Legislature to pass this session.
Major pension reform bill headed to Governor’s Office
The Senate beat the sine die clock on Monday to pass legislation that contains major changes to the state’s pension systems.
The measure, which backers said would head off a collapse of the public pension programs, advanced on a party-line vote, 21-9.
Pearce: Last day of session may be tomorrow
The Legislature is likely to wrap up its work on Tuesday, Senate President Russell Pearce indicated today.
JP prepares for his own redistricting process
Judges in the state’s justice courts are redrawing their precinct boundaries, a process that attracts little public attention but carries a full measure of political drama and intensity.
And Justice of the Peace Lester Pearce oversees the politically-partisan process of redrawing Maricopa County’s justice court districts.
Merit selection of judges facing possible revamp
Merit selection proponents had to give ground this year in the annual struggle to do away with the state’s system of choosing judges.
Legislators making last-ditch pitch for ‘going home’ bills
With the budget out of the way, many legislators are getting anxious to wrap up their work and get back to their districts. For some, however, their focus turns to getting serious consideration for their own legislation before the session ends. Traditionally, these remaining measures are referred to as “going-home” bills.