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Business community digs deep for Pierce’s PAC
As noted last month, Pierce’s Senate Republican PAC is flush with cash heading into the summer. The committee has nearly $157,000 on hand and raised almost $168,000, thanks largely to the president’s outreach to the business community – and, presumably, his commitment to focusing his chamber’s efforts on pro-business legislation, not immigration.
Rio Nuevo shakeup fosters conspiracy theories
Word broke Tuesday that Pierce ousted two members of the Rio Nuevo board, including its chairwoman. Letters dated May 31 were sent to Chairwoman Jodi Bain and fellow board member Rick Grinnell. The three-sentence letters merely thank them for their service and say that Pierce intends to appoint new members to the panel, but do not give a reason.
Steve Pierce: Keeping GOP out of the news was biggest challenge
Extraordinary events put Steve Pierce at the helm of the Arizona Senate — and those same events made the job of leading the chamber, which is already difficult by itself, even more challenging.
The Prescott rancher was elected as Senate president following the ouster of Russell Pearce, who lost a November recall election to a rival Republican. While some of Pearce’s colleagues had n[...]
As new Senate president, rancher Pierce deftly stepped through political minefields
Senate President Steve Pierce, a rancher from Prescott, has a habit of walking into difficult situations.
He did it once three years ago, when he became the de facto majority whip, and he did it again last year, when he vied for the position and became Senate president after Russell Pearce was ousted in a special recall election in November.
Hard-pressed: Reporters find increasing number of roadblocks to legislative access during 50th
During the two sessions of the 50th Legislature, members of the press increasingly had to think twice about where they were and were not allowed to go.
All stocked up on crazy here
Pierce yesterday went on KJZZ’s “Here and Now” to praise the budget and describe another of his key session objectives: Keep crazy to a minimum.
GOP lawmakers seek to overturn redistricting commission’s authority to create maps
Republican lawmakers today authorized the Legislature to file a lawsuit challenging the state redistricting commission’s authority to draw congressional and legislative maps.
GOP lawmakers approve $8.6B spending plan (updated)
Republican leaders quickly consolidated support behind an $8.6 billion budget plan and gave it final approval today, less than a week after finally reaching a deal with Gov. Jan Brewer.
The spending plan is a product of a session-long negotiation between Brewer and legislative leaders, and the give-and-take between the two sides is palpable throughout the budget document.
Republican lawmakers begin fine-tuning budget plan
A budget deal between Gov. Jan Brewer and GOP leaders received quick approval in the Senate Rules committee this afternoon.
But Republican leaders indicated they’re open to tweaking the budget proposal before they vote on it, which could take place as early as Tuesday.
Budget doc reveals money stashed for ‘rainy days’ ahead
Lawmakers and the governor plan to set aside $450 million to offset anticipated deficits in the state budget in two years.
That’s money that won’t be available for critical needs now, but depositing it in the state’s “rainy day” fund reaffirms a fiscally conservative outlook that has dominated the Capitol following the fiscal crisis that led to several years of incessant budge[...]
GOP compromise budget gives $450M to rainy day fund, $7M to tourism
As Republican lawmakers begin to receive briefings on the budget deal that GOP leaders and the Governor’s Office agreed to in principle April 25, details are beginning to emerge.
The major sticking point between the two sides has been revenue projections — not just for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, but also for the following two years. Though Gov. Jan Brewer had bee[...]
Despite Brewer’s demand for a budget, lawmakers passing – and holding – other bills
The Legislature is sitting on at least a dozen measures it has already approved instead of sending them to the governor, a decision that follows Gov. Jan Brewer’s threat of a blanket veto of all bills that land on her desk before a budget is adopted.
