House limits service times for photo tickets
The Arizona House is making it harder for process servers to find people who are avoiding photo enforcement tickets.
AZ House panel rejects bill banning photo enforcement
An Arizona House committee on Thursday refused to approve a bill ending the ability of cities and towns to use photo radar and red light cameras, rebuffing opponents who argued electronic enforcement is used to raise money from fines, doesn't save lives and can actually increase dangers on the roads when drivers slam on the brakes to avoid a ticket.
‘English only’ measure could cost the state federal money
A state lawmaker’s plan to save the state money by sending government materials only in English may run afoul of the Civil Rights Act and federal guidelines, and could cost state agencies billions per year in federal dollars.
House panel OKs English-only government document requirement
An Arizona bill to prohibit state agencies from mailing out some government documents in any language but English has cleared an initial hurdle.
Tide changing in Arizona’s immigration politics
At the recent Republican statewide meeting in a north central Phoenix church, pews were packed with party loyalists listening to elected officials speak about issues facing the state and the nation.
But the topic that would have dominated the conversation in past years — illegal immigration — was scarcely mentioned.
Arizona lawmakers struggle to stay on priorities
It's early on in the Arizona legislative session, but so far the proposals described by one top Republican as "esoteric" and criticized by Democrats as unconstitutional have dominated the headlines — despite promises from GOP leaders to focus on top-tier issues such as balancing the state budget and improving education.
Deep split among GOP lawmakers to AHCCCS expansion
When Gov. Jan Brewer announced her proposal to expand Medicaid to the full amount advocated by the federal health care law, Republican leadership in the House and Senate received a fight they didn’t ask for, and one they didn’t know was coming.
Wild West moments of 2012
While the mood at the state Capitol this past year might be best described as riotous, 2012 — the Chinese Year of the Dragon — was marked with fewer gaffes, catfights and over-the-top name calling among Arizona’s political elite.
Border business backers finally getting lawmakers’ attention
Arizona is missing out on huge economic opportunities by not reaching out to its southern neighbor, owners of businesses near the Arizona-Mexico border say, and that message hasn't been taken seriously by state lawmakers.
House sets committee rosters, Dems stronger on Appropriations
The House of Representatives released its committee assignments yesterday, leaving Democrats, who control 40 percent of the seats in the chamber, with 35.8 percent of the committee assignments. But Minority Leader Chad Campbell said the margins are still better than in previous years.
Andy Biggs wins bid for Senate president
Incoming Senate President Andy Biggs, a conservative Republican from Gilbert, promised to be inclusive and immediately refrained from weighing in on some of the biggest issues facing Arizona without first consulting his caucus.
Maricopa Republican Smith runs stealth campaign for House speaker
When Pinal County Republicans drafted Sen. Steve Smith to run for House speaker next session, they cited reasons why current House Speaker Andy Tobin isn’t conservative enough for the job.