Lawmaker wants referendum on future of public financing for campaigns

A state lawmaker wants Arizona voters to decide whether to eliminate public funding for political campaigns, a change that would do away with the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

Ariz. Senate to consider takeover of federal land

The Arizona Senate on Wednesday is scheduled to consider a bill to give the state legal authority to go to court to take ownership of land owned by the federal government.

Senate panel passes birthright bills

After a rocky start, the birthright legislation finally received committee approval on Feb. 22, overcoming the initial hurdle before the full Senate can debate and vote on the measure that is stirring so much raw emotion and is solidifying Arizona’s reputation as ground zero in the struggle to confront illegal immigration.

Clean Elections requires candidates to buy or return equipment

The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission approved a rule change Thursday that would require candidates to turn over laptops and other fixed assets exceeding $200 or purchase them at half of the original price.

Birthright bills won’t be heard this week

The birthright legislation has taken a backseat after lawmakers convened in a special session Monday to tackle a bill that aims to cut taxes as a way to attract businesses to Arizona.

Birthright bills bring out the best in debate

Those who watched the public hearing on the birthright bills in the Judiciary Committee on Feb. 7 were treated to a brilliant exposition of the 14th Amendment, its meaning and its history.

Constitutional obstacle course: the challenges facing the birthright citizenship bill backers

Frustrated by the federal government's refusal to solve illegal immigration, some lawmakers want the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve who exactly is an American citizen.

In trying to define citizenship, birthright busters will have to navigate not only through the U.S. Supreme Court, but the U.S. Senate, other states and even their own caucus.

Court ruling upholds Arizona’s execution protocol

Arizona's protocol for three-drug injection executions has cleared another legal hurdle.

Bill would require return of equipment bought with Clean Elections money

A Democratic lawmaker wants to require publicly funded candidates to give computers, printers, cameras and other fixed assets purchased with Clean Elections money to the state or buy them at a reduced price.

Man convicted of murder in self-defense case granted new trial

The Legislature can retroactively apply a 2006 law that shifted the burden of proof in self-defense claims from defendants to prosecutors, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

Republicans get two new choices for redistricting commission

An apologetic screening commission not only chose two new nominees for Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission on Jan. 21, but it also sought to satisfy Republican legislative leaders by choosing one from outside Maricopa County.

Redistricted into a corner: Republicans had too many Maricopa County residents for boundary-drawing panel

Unaccustomed to losing, Arizona Republicans are pointing fingers in all different directions to explain how they have found themselves in the middle of a desperate last-ditch struggle to influence who will be responsible for redrawing the state’s legislative and congressional districts.