A bunch of cash and the ‘B’ word and the ‘C’ word
Carmona’s big fundraising number – $570,000 in just six weeks – had Dem tongues wagging about the U.S. Senate race.
Dems call for bipartisan cooperation, funding restoration, business tax reform
Democratic lawmakers today outlined their goals for the 2012 legislative session, stressing a need for bipartisan cooperation, while also ripping Republican-led legislation of recent years.
Teen-driver cell phone ban moves forward in Senate
A panel of lawmakers today unanimously approved legislation to prohibit teenagers from using mobile phones while driving. The prohibition applies to minors who have been granted an instruction permit or a limited driver license.
Lawmakers cast wary eyes on rosy surplus projections
While they’re uncomfortable with Gov. Jan Brewer’s higher revenue forecast in two years, Republican lawmakers aren’t rejecting her spending plan outright.
In fact, many are agreeable to some of the expenditures Brewer is seeking.
Q&A with Senate Minority Leader David Schapira
A year ago, first-term Sen. David Schapira surprisingly cinched the position of Democratic leader.
Now in his second year as minority leader, Schapira is considering another challenge — running for Congress. In this interview, Schapira reiterated he won’t resign from the Legislature should he join that race and assured his constituents he can ably multitask.
Lujan sworn in as newest state Senator
Former state lawmaker David Lujan has returned to the state Capitol to fill the seat left vacant by Kyrsten Sinema.
Lujan was sworn in as the Senate’s newest member in a brief ceremony today, one day after the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed the former House minority leader to the position.
Pierce says AZ is ‘bootstraps’ state; Dems working on ‘jobs’ plan
Shortly after he was formally installed as Senate President, Steve Pierce set the tone for the work ahead by telling fellow lawmakers it’s time to pull up their bootstraps.
Group sings, prays for lawmakers in legislative chambers
The Center for Arizona Policy isn’t just lobbying lawmakers, it’s also praying for them. About 50 people associated with the socially conservative lobbying organization gathered Monday before sunrise for its annual Prayer Walk, a tour of the Capitol where they ask for wisdom, health and righteousness to be bestowed upon lawmakers, the governor and judiciary during the 2012 Legislature.
Timing of the resignation of Scott Bundgaard
For two days, I watched Scott Bundgaard listen to witness after witness give testimony that contradicted what he said happened during a freeway fight he had with his then-girlfriend in February of last year. But what baffled me, and no doubt many other reporters who covered the ethics investigation into his conduct that night, was not that he ultimately decided to resign his seat.
Lawmakers return to Capitol amid major changes
Expect more of the same substance from the Arizona Legislature during lawmakers' regular session this year — but maybe not as much sound and fury.
Bundgaard to take witness stand in ethics trial
Sen. Scott Bundgaard is scheduled to take the witness stand today in what has become the biggest fight of his political life.
Ballard bombshell: Bundgaard beat me before
The way Aubry Ballard described it, the Feb. 25 scuffle that’s at the core of Sen. Scott Bundgaard’s woes wasn’t the first time that the senator manhandled her.
It first occurred roughly two months before — at his home after a New Year’s Eve party.