Another day, another AZ law goes before SCOTUS

News this morning that the U.S. Supreme Court would hear an appeal of Arizona's employer sanctions law (Laws 2007, Chapter 279) was hailed as a minor victory by both proponents and critics of the law. Pearce told our reporter he believes the high court, by a 6-3 or 5-4 vote, will uphold the law as constitutional. "We've won at every level," he said, adding that upholding the law will allow for emp[...]

Arizona’s immigration bill: Which level of scrutiny and what is government’s interest?

Among the arguments put forth by supporters and critics of Arizona's immigration bill, S1070, most lie upon constitutionality, the thrust of the arguments lying in the sphere of equal protection.

Educators accuse state of short changing K-12

Education advocates say Arizona is failing to fully fund its K-12 system for the coming budget year in violation of the state Constitution.

Russell Pearce has gone too far

I am saddened and outraged by Russell Pearce’s latest efforts to legislate bigotry and discrimination into Arizona law. As first reported in the Arizona Capitol Times, Sen. Pearce is now attempting to deny citizenship to American-born children if their parents are illegal immigrants, and to deny public education to undocumented children by requiring them to pay tuition or be forced out of sch[...]

Martin caught in a case of political hypocrisy

The cloud of irony surrounding Dean Martin on June 8 was so thick that it must have been difficult for him to see how quickly his campaign was swirling down the drain.

Independent committees now have blank-check power

Without additional campaign cash to fend off better-funded opponents, some Clean Elections candidates will be in dire need of help from their allies.

Ripple effect

Arizona’s matching funds system for publicly financed campaigns may be going down, but it probably won’t go alone.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to block Arizona’s Clean Elections system from distributing matching funds is a bad omen for similar systems in other states, and could portend their end if the court rules that matching funds are unconstitutional, according to legal [...]

You keep saying that, but…

Questions about what is and is not fair for candidates were of primary importance to CCEC staff and commissioners yesterday, but in court, their attorneys appear to have made a conscious effort recently to dodge those terms. Before yesterday's emergency meeting, Commissioner Gary Scaramazzo told our reporter he was upset by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to stop matching funds from being distri[...]

Munger: No regret on ending gov campaign

Tucson attorney John Munger says he doesn't regret his decision to drop out of the governor's race now that the U.S. Supreme Court has blocked matching funds for publicly funded candidates.

Pearce seeks to deny citizenship to children of illegals

Pearce’s proposal, which has yet to be drafted as legislation, may target the right of citizenship now granted to children born here under a wide set of circumstances. His goal, he said, was to stop wasting taxpayer money on people who shouldn’t be classified as citizens and, therefore, don’t deserve the services of the government.

Kagan needs to explain stance on military recruitment

Shortly after becoming dean of Harvard Law School, Elena Kagan kicked the military out of the school’s recruitment office while our troops were putting their lives on the line in two wars overseas. Now that President Obama has nominated Kagan to the Supreme Court, her actions at Harvard must be closely examined.

Officials say Quelland’s seat now vacant

Arizona officials say the state House seat held by Republican Doug Quelland of Phoenix is officially vacant because of a court ruling upholding Quelland's removal from office. But Quelland's lawyer says that isn't so and the state is acting prematurely.