Capitol Quotes: 6/25/2010

“Due process I have not been given.” – Rep. Doug Quelland, explaining to fellow District 10 Republicans that he was wrongly punished by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission and should be appointed to the seat left vacant by his removal from office. He wasn’t.

Business groups move to center

Arizona’s business community has sent a message to legislative candidates: Commit to a pro-business agenda, and stop wasting time with kooky stuff like “birther” bills.

In exchange, candidates who cooperate may get tons of cash for their campaigns and the support of chambers of commerce across the state.

Law firm appeals to remove Huppenthal from ballot

A law firm associated with the Arizona Democratic Party is appealing a court ruling that threw out a complaint seeking to remove Sen. John Huppenthal from the ballot for Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Candidate challenges at-a-glance

Here are the results, and pending appeals, of petition challenges against congressional, statewide and legislative candidates — and one justice of the peace candidate.

Complaints force 9 from ballot

More than half of the candidates whose petition signatures were challenged this election cycle either were kicked off the ballot by a judge or withdrew voluntarily in the face of a likely courtroom defeat.

Lesher takes over as Goddard campaign manager

Attorney General Terry Goddard tapped Jan Lesher to head his gubernatorial campaign, filling a slot that campaign manager Rodd McLeod will vacate at the end of the month.

Vicious AG primary has Republicans fearing ’98 repeat

The vicious primary between Tom Horne and Andrew Thomas is bringing back bad memories of 1998 and Janet Napolitano for many Republicans.

Homeland Security to use drones along border

The Homeland Security Department will use unmanned surveillance aircraft and other technological upgrades in its ongoing effort to protect the southern border of the United States.

Obama asks for 1,000 more Border Patrol agents

President Barack Obama is asking Congress for $600 million in emergency funds for 1,000 more Border Patrol agents, 160 new federal immigration officers and two unmanned aircraft to beef up security on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Arizona seeks dismissal of lawsuit over new law

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's office has filed a motion to dismiss another lawsuit that seeks to overturn the state's new immigration law.

Brewer gets NRA endorsement

Candidate Buz Mills owns a shooting range and is on the National Rifle Association's board of directors, but it's incumbent Jan Brewer who has the group's endorsement in the contested Republican primary for Arizona governor.

Defining ‘border security’

You wouldn't know it from the public debate, but the U.S.-Mexico border is more fortified now than it was even five years ago. Far more agents patrol it, more fences, barriers and technology protect it and taxpayers are spending billions more to reinforce it.