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GOP ‘skinny budget’ passes after last week’s surprise rejection
The Republican-led “skinny budget” passed its final hurdle Monday in the Arizona House of Representatives after a brief roadblock last week when a Republican unexpectedly stymied efforts by the GOP majority to pass a spending package that is doomed for Gov. Katie Hobbs’ veto stamp. Last week, Rep. Liz Harris, R-Chandler, surprised Republican leaders when […]
Senate Republicans rejected Hobbs’ choice to lead the AZ Dept of Health Services
After a long and often contentious hearing, the Arizona Senate’s newly created Committee on Director Nominations gave a recommendation to one of Gov. Katie Hobbs’ appointees but rejected another over disagreements with public health policies. Dr. Theresa Cullen, the former Pima County director of public health, was nominated by Hobbs to be the new director […]
Bipartisan support for bill to make all Arizona ballots a public record
A Republican bill supported by Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes that would make ballot images a public record cleared its first hurdle Wednesday, despite concerns from Democrats about privacy issues. The legislation, which was introduced by Arizona Speaker of the House Ben Toma, would require all 15 Arizona county recorders to send the secretary […]
NORAD to protect the airspace over the Super Bowl in Arizona
North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, will be conducting operations over Phoenix and Glendale airspace in the coming days for Super Bowl LVII in conjunction with other federal and local authorities. NORAD, along with the FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, the Civil Air Patrol and the Glendale Police Department, spoke to reporters this […]
A single Republican holdout doomed the GOP’s ‘skinny budget’ on Monday
The Republican-led effort to pass a “skinny budget” has hit a momentary roadblock in the Arizona House of Representatives, where a sole Republican’s refusal to vote for the spending package doomed the budget. Rep. Liz Harris, R-Chandler, voted no on the first bill that is part of the major Republican budget proposal that merely extends […]
Hard ball politics: Republicans created a special committee to evaluate Hobbs’ cabinet appointees
Republicans moved to create a new committee Thursday that aims to “evaluate executive nominations,” setting the stage for a major political battle between Gov. Katie Hobbs and Senate Republicans. The new panel, which exists solely to consider the people Hobbs appoints to lead dozens of state agencies, will be led by Sen. Jake Hoffman, a […]
Senate Republicans pass ‘skinny budget’ that Hobbs will veto
Senate Republicans passed a “skinny budget” Wednesday afternoon that merely extends much of the $18 billion budget passed last year for another 12 months, despite Gov. Katie Hobbs saying that she intends to veto it if it reaches her desk. The Republican budget proposal is a continuation of last year’s bipartisan budget and is being […]
Bipartisan bill to help mobile home park residents advances
As mobile homes continue to be displaced by development, a bipartisan bill aims to increase funding to a program to provide relief to those impacted. Mobile homes have been vanishing across the Valley most often being replaced by luxury apartments or similar developments. The Phoenix City Council earlier this year approved $300,000 for legal services […]
GOP-backed ‘skinny budget’ clears first hurdle in state spending showdown with Hobbs
A Republican budget proposal sold as a continuation of last year’s bipartisan budget while lawmakers head into what will likely be heated debates and economic uncertainty passed its first hurdle Tuesday morning. The so-called “skinny budget,” which continues much of the same record $18 billion budget passed last year, passed out of the Senate Appropriations […]
Border event with lawmakers to feature speakers connected to QAnon, hate group
An event dubbed “Border 911” that will take place Saturday and feature at least one Arizona lawmaker will also feature QAnon connected speakers as well as some connected to hate groups. The event is being put on by The America Project, a 501(c)(4) created by former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne and disgraced former General Michael […]
GOP proposal would make a fentanyl overdose first-degree murder in Arizona
Fentanyl dealers linked to an overdose death could face the death penalty under a Republican proposal that critics say will also sweep up drug addicts and send them to death row. The legislation from Sen. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, would expand the state’s first-degree murder statutes to include deaths by fentanyl if the drug is able […]
Amid substation attacks, GOP bill would enhance penalties for damaging utility infrastructure
In the wake of attacks on substations across the nation, a bill at the Arizona legislature would increase penalties for those who damage utility infrastructure or trespass on utility property in an attempt to create a “deterrent” for similar attacks. “It is becoming a problem, and we want to get everybody’s attention,” Rep. Gail Griffin, […]