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GOP lawmakers’ anger at Brewer may not last
The rage and indignation that many GOP lawmakers directed at Gov. Jan Brewer at the end of the legislative session may be nothing but a bad memory when the Legislature reconvenes next year.
Lawmakers prepare to adjourn as Medicaid expansion moves toward approval
Lawmakers are prepared to sine die Thursday afternoon and leave what’s become an increasingly toxic atmosphere at the Capitol as bipartisan coalitions in each chamber have seized control and began systematically approving Gov. Jan Brewer’s budget proposal in special session.
The special session that wasn’t
The special session on the top-two primary fizzled out Friday evening after the Senate couldn’t muster the votes for a proposed ballot measure that would force candidates in a “top-two” primary to list their party affiliations. Less than three hours after emailing reporters to say that a special session call was still expected, Brewer spokesman Matthew Benson spread the word Friday evening t[...]
Talking points memo
It appears that GOP lawmakers were at least considering some kind of competing proposal in recent days. In a July 3 email that a source provided to our reporter, Senate Chief of Staff Wendy Baldo told GOP senators that an alternative proposal was in the works.
Lawmakers preparing for special session on ‘top-2’ primary (UPDATED)
Gov. Jan Brewer wants lawmakers to refer a measure to the ballot to correct what she views as the most glaring problem with a proposal to create a “top-two” primary election system in Arizona.
But while many lawmakers have talked for months about referring a competing ballot measure that could potentially sink the Open Elections/Open Government Act in November, Brewer wants to keep [...]
Of course there’s already talk of a special session
The work of the 50th Legislature is officially completed, but rumors were circulating last week that some Republicans are – or will be – working on a referral to compete with the Open Government initiative, which seeks to overhaul the state’s elections system by allowing everybody to vote in an open primary with the top two winners, regardless of party, competing in a runoff.
Lawmakers, Brewer looking past rocky 2011
The road from the end of the last legislative session to the beginning of the new one was full of potholes for Gov. Jan Brewer and the Legislature.
Both sides say there’s nothing unusual about the two branches butting heads, and say they’ve moved past the disagreements of 2011. But there was no shortage of feuds between Brewer and the Legislature.
Brewer: No special session without “clear path to victory” at the ballot
Gov. Jan Brewer today said she won’t call a special legislative session to either repeal or reform the independent redistricting process, despite calls from some lawmakers that she do so this week.
The governor’s emphatic statement, which was released after she met with House Speaker Andy Tobin and Senate President Steve Pierce, means the chances of lawmakers convening by tomorrow t[...]
Special session over reinstalling redistricting commission chairwoman?
With the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, don’t think lawmakers are content with taking the week off. It appears Gov. Jan Brewer and key lawmakers are planning – or at least strongly considering – a special session as early as this week to deal with the fallout from Thursday’s court decision to re-install the embattled chairwoman of the state’s redistricting commission.
Special session appears imminent; Dems outraged
A special session to deal with the Independent Redistricting Commission appears imminent. House members were informed this morning to expect a special session call at 1 p.m. today. And multiple Republican senators said a special session is very likely.
Last-ditch attempt for special session today
Late yesterday afternoon, Brewer’s office said it would not be issuing a special session call to remove Mathis from the IRC.
Democrats donate special session paychecks to nonprofit organization
A handful of Democratic lawmakers held a press conference today to announce they are donating their special session paychecks to a nonprofit employment assistance organization and chastise their Republican colleagues for not extending federal unemployment benefits.
