McCain, Flake vote to ban workplace discrimination for sexual orientation
WASHINGTON – Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake joined an overwhelming majority of senators Thursday to pass a bill banning workplace discrimination based on an employee’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Some panel members say Arizona’s income tax system is fine after all
Members of a panel tasked with studying Arizona’s personal income tax system said that while flattening or doing away with the income tax may be a popular talking point, the state’s current system is reasonably fair and may not need a major overhaul.
Senator McCain plans town halls in Phoenix, Tucson
U.S. Senator John McCain plans town hall meetings in Phoenix and Tucson to discuss issues affecting constituents in Arizona.
NFIB not choosing between friends… mostly
NFIB Arizona today released its list of legislative candidate endorsements, choosing to give its backing to 42 candidates in the primary.
Arizona Senate OKs tax cuts as session nears end
Arizona lawmakers advanced tax cut legislation Thursday as they pushed to end their regular session, despite complaints that they courted danger by moving forward with proposals put on their desks just hours earlier.
Legislation will inject $425 million into economy for growth-stage businesses
During the past few years, Arizona has done more than any state to position itself for strong economic growth once the national economy recovers. In particular, the broad-based tax reforms and new economic development tools contained in last year’s competitiveness package laid a strong foundation on which to grow the state’s economy.
Cardon announces $18.2 million fed grant to ACA for small business loans
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has awarded an $18.2 million grant to the Arizona Commerce Authority, which President and CEO Don Cardon said the authority plans to use as the foundation of a revolving loan fund for small businesses.
Groups push for affordable, consumer-driven health exchange
Consumer and health groups are pushing for a state-run health insurance exchange that they say should be transparent and not dominated by the insurance industry.
Small-business leader: Arizona needs law giving state contract preference to local firms
Dollars spent with local businesses have a far greater impact on Arizona’s economy, tax revenues and jobs, and that applies even when state government puts out contracts for bid, the head of a small-business group said Friday.
Brewer asks feds for fire disaster declarations
Gov. Jan Brewer is asking the U.S. Small Business Administration for wildfire disaster declarations for Cochise and Apache counties.
Brewer was right to veto health insurance bill
I suspected Gov. Jan Brewer would veto SB1593 and applaud her for doing so.
This bill was yet another example of a misguided Legislature embracing a feel-good piece of legislation that was promoted by health insurance reform advocates, such as Dr. Eric Novack.
Small business’ top 10 legislative victories in 2011
The 50th Arizona Legislature has boldly staked its claim to being the most pro-small business Legislature in Arizona’s history. On issue after issue, legislators advanced measures to relieve the tax and regulatory burdens on the engines of our economic recovery, Arizona’s small businesses. Even in instances where lawmakers mistakenly pursued bad policy, they did so with the right motive in min[...]








