Sign In
Free Newsletter
Ducey could have sole discretion over a large pot of state, federal aid funds
The passage of a federal stimulus package to help state and local governments weather the COVID-19 pandemic gives Gov. Doug Ducey discretion over at least part of a $1.5 billion sum — adding to tens of millions he already had at his disposal as part of an emergency spending plan passed by the Legislature in March.
House and Senate Republicans introduce school closure plans
Republicans in the House and Senate have filed legislation to allow teachers to educate their students in “alternative” formats as schools grapple with statewide closures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Big ideas, big plans that didn’t make it into legislation
In a legislative session that saw a record amount of bills filed in both chambers, some measures promised before or even during the session never saw the light of day.
Fate of most 2020 bills met at Legislature’s deadline
Silent death has come for about two-thirds of the 1,842 bills and resolutions introduced this year in the Legislature.
Group starts campaign to put school voucher restrictions on ballot
An organization of public school supporters wants voters to limit the number of vouchers of state tax dollars that parents can use to send their children to private and parochial schools.
Demise of sanctuary cities measure a mixed bag of politics, protests
The death of the referral marks the end of a two-month saga that began in Ducey’s January State of the State Address, in which it was unveiled as one of several policy proposals that the governor would push through the legislature. Shope received a glowing shoutout. Republicans rose to their feet.
Utah students could benefit from proposed Arizona voucher expansion
The Legislature has another bill that would appear to expand the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program to a small group of students living near the Arizona-Utah border.
School choice has caused segregation worse than 50s, 60s
It is a shame that in the name of “school choice” public schools in Arizona have reversed decades worth of equality. For a state that has over a $1 billion in our rainy day fund and over $700 million in excess revenues, additional funding for schools based on poverty and special education, just like results-based funding, is critical. This additional funding will not reverse the troubling tren[...]
Ducey’s proposed infrastructure upgrades road to bipartisanship
Spending part of a one-time windfall to build new roads and bridges was a rare idea in Gov. Doug Ducey’s January 13 State of the State Address that won plaudits from both liberal and conservative lawmakers.
Legislature 2020: How to spend surplus of money
State lawmakers return to the Capitol Monday to deal with something they appear to have plenty: Money and who gets it.
GOP state senator to propose $300M in tax cuts
A Republican state senator, frustrated in his attempts to cut income taxes last year, plans to unveil a tax act that would cost the state nearly $300 million over the next three fiscal years.
Bill bans sex ed in elementary, middle schools
A Republican senator wants to bar schools from teaching sex education before seventh grade. The bill from Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, also deletes “homosexuality” from acts constituting “sexual conduct” in... […]
