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AZ lawmakers hint at what’s in store for 2014
One lawmaker will be targeting aggressive panhandling and “vexatious’’ litigants. Another has his sights set on people who aim lasers at airplanes. Two legislators hope to make the roads a safer... […]
Freshmen stand out on issues ranging from Medicaid to sales tax reform
Doug Cole, a longtime lobbyist and veteran of the Capitol, said freshmen used to simply fall in line with leadership and sit on the back bench to learn during a session or two.
Livingston scores a perfect legislative batting average
The award for best legislative batting average for the session — the calculation of bills introduced versus bills signed into law — goes to Rep. David Livingston, a freshman Republican lawmaker from Peoria who has been vocally critical of the governor.
Top Quotes of the 2013 Session
The most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances from the 2013 Legislative Session.
Moratorium leads to near-record number of Brewer vetoes
The bill moratorium that rankled lawmakers as Gov. Jan Brewer started applying pressure to pass her Medicaid expansion plan helped push her to a near-record number of vetoes in 2013.
Brewer vetoed 26 bills this year, the second highest total of her career, behind the 29 she rejected in 2011.
Rally kicks off Medicaid referendum drive
The push to refer Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan to the ballot began in earnest as opponents of the bill rallied at the Capitol before fanning out across the Valley to collect signatures.
Why conservatives oppose expansion of Obamacare
The battle over the Arizona expansion of Obamacare resembles the fight between David and Goliath. The pro-expansion team has millions of dollars, powerful lobbyists, support from all Democratic legislators, most if not all of the media and a few Republicans who have defected to their cause.
Medicaid opponents see their bills vetoed, but differ on reasons
Conservative lawmakers rallied against Medicaid expansion at a press conference on the Capitol lawn last month. But some expansion opponents warned that publicly staking out their position and standing up against Gov. Jan Brewer can come with political repercussions.
Expansion foes urge state-only program for childless adults
Opponents of Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan proposed a state-only health care program for the remaining childless adults still covered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.
Predicting Brewer vetoes is difficult; reasons vary
Figuring out how to avoid Gov. Jan Brewer’s veto pen is a guessing game that leaves even some of the most seasoned veterans at the Capitol perplexed.
Many lawmakers and lobbyists say there are no hard and fast guidelines for avoiding a veto from a governor who vetoed 91 bills in her first four legislative sessions.
Lawmakers effort to halt newspaper notices stalls
What's become a yearly effort at the Arizona Legislature to end a requirement for governments to publish notices in newspapers has hit a major snag in the Senate.
AIMS repeal headed to Governor’s desk
A bill to scrap the requirement that high school students pass the AIMS test is heading to the governor’s desk after being approved by the House on Tuesday during a heated debate.
