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Bill requires dedicated funding for city ballot measures
Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2004 to require a dedicated funding stream for voter-approved programs. Now lawmakers want the same requirement at the municipal level.
Panel approves ballot measure to repeal voter protection on spending
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a ballot measure Feb. 2 that will ask voters to repeal a state constitutional amendment limiting lawmakers' ability to amend voter-mandated spending.
Day 2: Tracking the special session
UPDATE: 4:35 p.m. Senate President Bob Burns acknowledged it took a significant effort by Republicans and Democrats to pass all six special session budget bills out of his chamber, even though he wouldn’t “put it in the fiscally responsible plan category.”
Two gun bills passed by Senate panel
A bill that makes significant changes to the state’s laws regarding concealed weapons was passed by a party-line vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 1 Republicans on the... […]
House bill banning ‘sanctuary cities’ advances
A House panel has approved a bill that would prevent cities, counties and police departments from prohibiting law enforcement officers from enforcing federal immigration laws.
Panel OKs mandatory residency checks, ban on day labor
A Senate committee approved a bill on Jan. 20 that would force law enforcement officials across the state to check the residency status of people with whom they come in contact, penalize activities such as seeking day labor, and allow residents to sue local governments that provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants.
Pearce’s bill would increase county costs, eliminate accountability
Sen. Russell Pearce has introduced a bill that would make elected county offices totally dysfunctional and far more expensive.
Pearce aims to freeze salaries for local officials
Sen. Russell Pearce, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has filed a bill prohibiting pay increases for local elected officials for two years.
Supporters of sanctions law seek subpoena power
For the second straight year, advocates for tougher immigration enforcement plan to return to the Arizona Legislature in the coming days to push for greater power for prosecutors who investigate employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Lawmakers’ first duty: Show up and vote
Here’s the simple mathematics of representative government: Arizona taxpayers pay for lawmakers to show up and vote on every bill in the Legislature. Now here’s the flaw in that equation: Lawmakers get paid whether they show up or not. Unfortunately, many Arizona residents were underrepresented at the Capitol during last year’s regular legislative session.
Capitol Quotes 12/25
"It appears to be a flagrant abuse of power." - Felecia Rotellini, Democrat candidate for attorney general, on Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' decision to file a federal lawsuit that alleges several county judges have conspired to thwart his investigations.
Confusion, delays, frustration dominate special session No. 5
After a shaky start, the Senate finally passed a $200 million spending reduction plan just as the sun was setting in Arizona. The work, however, is not over.
