McComish won’t seek re-election, will support Dial for Senate seat
The Arizona Senate GOP’s second in command won’t seek re-election this fall. Senate Majority Leader John McComish announced Monday afternoon he’ll leave the state Legislature when his term expires in January 2015.
Brewer announces nine more days of Grand Canyon funding
Gov. Jan Brewer announced that Arizona will use state funds to keep Grand Canyon National Park open for an additional nine days if the federal shutdown persists.
Lew warns of debt-limit catastrophe; Schweikert says that’s not so
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew warned Thursday of a “potentially catastrophic” hit to the economy if the nation reaches the debt limit next week and defaults on its obligations.
Majority leader takes the heat for sponsoring Medicaid amendment
Quiet about his thoughts on Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid proposal for most of the session, Senate Majority Leader John McComish emerged late as a key player in the push for AHCCCS expansion in the Senate.
Coalition formed to fight Navajo power plant retrofits
A group of Arizona business leaders say they have until Aug. 5 to tell the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency why forcing the Navajo Generating Station to spend as much as $1 billion on retrofits to the coal-powered plant would have dire consequences on the state economy and residents’ pocketbooks.
Medicaid debate should remain focused on the merits of expansion
Senate approval of the governor’s Medicaid expansion bill clearly reflects the will of the people. Senate Majority Leader John McComish led the charge, breaking rank from Republican colleagues who opposed the bill.
Brewer changes Medicaid plan to ease critics’ concerns
Some of the concerns raised in the Legislature regarding Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan haven’t fallen on deaf ears.
In the amendment that included Brewer’s expansion plan in the Senate’s budget on May 16, the Ninth Floor included several changes aimed at alleviating concerns over her proposal.
Arizona Senate kills recall overhaul bill
The Arizona Senate has struck down an effort that would make it harder for voters to recall unpopular incumbents in a rare move that saw Republicans join Democrats against a GOP priority designed to protect lawmakers, and possibly, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Capitol Quotes: March 15, 2013
This week's most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances.
Senate moves to arm Arizona school employees
A bill to allow school employees to carry guns in schools received the preliminary approval of the state Senate today, while another Republican gun measure appears to lack the votes to clear the chamber.
Gun bill advances despite concerns it may be unconstitutional
Sen. Kelli Ward’s bill to prohibit the enforcement of any new federal gun laws in Arizona cleared the Senate Rules Committee despite lawmakers’ strong concerns that the legislation, as written, is unconstitutional.
Vandalism, intimidation and cyber threats plagued Maricopa Elections Department during vote counting
In the days following the election, the Maricopa County Elections Department endured harassment, vandalism and a possible cyber attack – all while the office was trying to count a record number of votes left over from Election Day.