Moderates vs. conservatives as Republicans scramble in East Valley’s LD12
Arizona Senate President Andy Biggs’ decision to run for Congress has had a domino effect in Legislative District 12, as Republicans scramble to fill the Senate seat left vacate by the 14-year lawmaker.
Much work remains on Ducey professional licensing bill
One of Gov. Doug Ducey’s top priorities from his State of the State address took its first step toward completion as a House committee signed off on his plan to eliminate licensing requirements for a handful of professions, but there is still much work to be done before the proposal is in its final form.
House takes first step toward district boundaries drawn entirely by Republicans
A House panel approved a change in the redistricting process that, if ratified by voters, could have the lines for future legislative and congressional elections drawn only by Republicans.
Bill would make agencies prove their regulations are necessary
State lawmakers are moving to effectively stand state regulation of businesses on their head, requiring government agencies to prove their rules and restrictions are necessary.
Petersen seeks to prevent lavish payouts to errant public officials
A Gilbert Republican lawmaker is crafting legislation he says will crack down on public officials who illegally waste money and then walk away with lucrative pensions.
Rep. Petersen wants to scale back Industrial Commission
Rep. Warren Petersen wants to downsize the Industrial Commission of Arizona, saying it has gotten too big in the decades since it expanded past its original mission of overseeing the state’s workers’ compensation system.
Therapy for animals: Should chiropractors practice on the family pet, let alone hedgehogs and cockatoos?
Thomas Pfafman was a skeptic once, too. Pfafman, a veterinarian, once thought chiropractic care done on animals was a scam, especially after he saw an untrained chiropractor injure a horse early in his career.
House Republican offers plan to deal with “rogue, non-elected” judges
A far-reaching proposal by Rep. Warren Petersen, R-Chandler, would allow lawmakers, with a two-third vote, to remove any judge from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals or any Superior Court judge from Maricopa, Pima or Pinal counties. And HCR 2006 would not require that legislators have any reason at all.
Arizona bill would allow Tesla to skip dealers
Electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors would be allowed to sell cars in Arizona without establishing a dealer network under a bill approved by a state Senate committee Wednesday.
AZ House unanimously approves bill outlawing ‘revenge porn’
Saying the Internet is forever, the state House unanimously approved legislation on March 10 to make it illegal to intentionally post someone else’s naked photo online.
AZ House renews battle over Scottsdale sign walkers
When Scottsdale started cracking down on sign walkers, ticketing and generally harassing people on the side of the road carrying signs advertising for businesses, Republican Rep. Bob Robson called it a “total abuse of power.” He and Republican Rep. Warren Petersen drafted a bill to stop the city.
AZ lawmakers target guns, unions, marijuana & more in 2014
As Arizona’s economy rebounds and revenues stabilize, Gov. Jan Brewer and legislators can finally focus on more traditional policy debates, instead of mightily trying to save a sinking fiscal ship.