A law that allows the state to withhold the revenues from communities that don’t do as Arizona lawmakers please has been called illegal coercion. Sen. Steve Smith wants to expand it.

The League of Arizona Cities and Towns has revoked its Champion of the Cities award from Republican Rep. Paul Boyer of Phoenix after the lawmaker asked the attorney general to investigate one of Arizona’s cities.

A group representing municipalities has conferred on Rep. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix, the tile of “champion” of cities, primarily because he was one of only four Republican lawmakers to vote against a bill that threatens a big portion of cities’ operating budget.

Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill that would punish cities by withholding revenue if they pass ordinances or policies that violate state law or the Arizona Constitution.

The Arizona Senate has approved a proposal that would cut state shared revenue from cities or towns that pass regulations conflicting with state law.

An Arizona Senate panel has voted to advance a proposal that would cut off their state shared revenue if cities or town passed regulations that conflict with state law.

So far, lawmakers and the Governor's Office have avoided conjuring the greatest fear of local governments - changing the formula that determines who gets what from the collective pot of money they all share.