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Pearce pushed, prodded and pandered to pass his ‘legacy bill’
Pearce, a veteran lawmaker who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, had a lot of tools at his disposal to ratchet up the pressure on people to support his bill, but none was more powerful than public opinion.
Arizona Chamber stayed neutral, removing a big roadblock
Sen. Russell Pearce’s battles with Arizona’s business community over immigration policy have become legendary, but the Mesa Republican this year secured a ceasefire with the state’s largest business association by... […]
Biggs was Pearce’s S1070 emissary in House
Biggs changed the section allowing civil suits against governments and agencies that use sanctuary policies to require the courts to award legal fees to those entities if they prevail in their lawsuits. Another provision was added to protect Child Protective Service workers and emergency medical technicians from legal action as a result of the bill.
Law enforcement backs down after years of opposition
Whether due to the absence of Janet Napolitano or the diligence of Russell Pearce, several important factions of Arizona’s law enforcement community abandoned their resistance to the provisions included in S1070 and allowed it to coast through the Legislature.
‘Trespassing’ removed from bill at Brewer aide’s insistence
After years of watching his anti-illegal-immigration bills crumble in a heap of vetoes, Sen. Russell Pearce took steps this time to ensure that S1070 would pass muster with Gov. Jan Brewer.
Senate passes bill requiring equal treatment for churches in zoning
The Senate passed legislation on April 21 aimed at allowing churches to be anywhere that non-religious groups are permitted to operate.
Chained Capitol protesters freed – then arrested
Nine Arizona State University students were arrested today as a crowd of about 100 people gathered at the Capitol to protest a polarizing anti-illegal-immigration bill, which is now just Gov. Jan Brewer's signature away from becoming state law.
Arizona Legislature passes multi-pronged immigration bill
In the final moments before passing a sweeping immigration overhaul, Sen. Russell Pearce, a Republican from Mesa, made some predictions about his bill, S1070. "We'll have less crime. We'll have lower taxes. We'll have safer neighborhoods. We'll have shorter lines in the emergency rooms. We'll have smaller classrooms," the Mesa Republican said on the Senate floor on April 19.
Capitol Quotes 4/16/2010
"I think they've probably exhausted everything." - Sen. Paula Aboud, a Democrat from Tucson, on the payday loan industry's multiple attempts to get legislative approval to continue operating past its June 30 sunset date.
Wide open contest shaping up for Senate president
Three of four Senate leaders will leave the chamber next year, taking with them decades of legislative experience and clearing the way for new leadership.
Sweeping immigration bill headed for Senate OK
A bill that would significantly ratchet up local law enforcement’s ability to pursue illegal immigrants moved forward last week amid exultation, protest and deal-making.
Pearce’s controversial immigration enforcement bill morphs again
As the Arizona Legislature inches closer to passing Sen. Russell Pearce's immigration bill, some lawmakers want a couple more changes before it receives final approval.
