Court says Grand Canyon helicopter company must pay back taxes
Facing a new Arizona Supreme Court ruling, Gov. Doug Ducey is finally going to allow the Department of Revenue to collect taxes owed to the state from a helicopter tour business.
Appellate court rules in favor of counting trash-burning as renewable source
The Court of Appeals yesterday ruled in favor of the Arizona Corporation Commission, reversing a lower court’s decision and confirming the commission’s authority to count energy from a proposed trash-burning facility as a renewable source.
9th Circuit dismisses 23-year-old lawsuit on state instruction of English language learners
Saying the state is doing all that is legally required, a federal appellate court on Monday dismissed a 23-year-old lawsuit claiming Arizona does not do enough to ensure all students have an opportunity to learn English.
AG seeks dismissal of Land Department suit, plaintiff wants assurance
The Attorney General’s Office’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a proposal to make the state Land Department self-funding may contain the genesis of at least a temporary solution to the legal battle.
Group says AHCCCS director can’t be trusted to defend expansion
A liberal public interest law firm is asking a judge to allow four AHCCCS patients to intervene as defendants in the lawsuit against Medicaid expansion, arguing that the program’s director can’t be trusted to represent their interests because he answers to a governor who opposes the 2013 policy.
We’ve got your best interests at heart
The Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest wants to intervene as a defendant in the lawsuit against Medicaid expansion, arguing that AHCCCS Director Tom Betlach does not necessarily represent the interests of its clients, four childless adults that are receiving Medicaid coverage as a result of the 2013 law.
Lawsuit will seek funding for school maintenance
A public interest advocacy group is planning a lawsuit alleging that the state has unconstitutionally underfunded building maintenance and soft capital for school districts, which could force the state restore hundreds of millions of dollars of budget cuts made in recent years.
Douglas’ first task: Administering state’s new Common Core test
The first task for Diane Douglas, who calls her election to superintendent of public instruction a mandate to end Common Core, will be overseeing the state’s new test for measuring public school students under the learning standards.
Analysis shows state could face big deficit in wake of school inflation ruling
A state budget analysis shows that Friday’s decision on school inflationary funding by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper could send the state into a severe fiscal jam at a time when revenue collections are falling short of expectations.
Public interest law center celebrates 40th anniversary
A legislative session doesn’t pass without the imprint of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest.
IRC advocates say Voter Protection Act bars legislative lawsuit
Supporters of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission argued that the Legislature’s lawsuit against the remapping panel violates the Voter Protection Act.
Lawsuit ends with state agreeing HOA bill violates AZ Constitution
The Arizona Attorney General agreed that a comprehensive HOA bill attached to a minor elections bill in the last hours of the 2013 session violates the state Constitution’s single-subject rule.