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4 things Ducey will discuss in his state of the state speech
Governors understandably like to keep their state of the state speeches under tight wraps so that their pronouncements land with the desired weight when the governor addresses the full legislature – and the state – from the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives.
Ducey wary about justice reform, sex ed changes; pledges new K-12 spending in 2020
If criminal justice reform advocates hope the 2020 legislative session will lead to more success than the disappointing 2019 session, they’ve got their work cut out for them, as Gov. Doug Ducey says the scope of reforms he’s open to are far more limited than what they’re seeking.
Disgraced ex-lawmaker David Stringer running for Yavapai County Attorney
Disgraced former lawmaker David Stringer, who resigned last year after 1983 charges for paying an intellectually disabled boy for sex in Baltimore in 1983 came to light, is mounting a campaign to oust longtime Republican Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk.
Phoenix: Constitution doesn’t bar airport fees on Uber, Lyft
Nothing in the Arizona Constitution bars the City of Phoenix from charging for-profit companies fees to conduct business at Sky Harbor International Airport, attorneys for the city said in a letter this week to the attorney general.
GOP proposal would ban sex ed until 7th grade, discussions of homosexuality
Arizona students wouldn’t be allowed to take sexual education classes until the seventh grade, and parents could sue school districts if that class included discussions about homosexuality or failed to primarily focus on abstinence under a plan introduced Wednesday by the conservative head of the Arizona Senate’s Education Committee.
Propaganda as polling
When an organization that defines itself as fighting the expansion of rights for LGBTQ Arizonans announces the results of a poll it commissioned and declares that Arizona voters “are not close” to support for LGBTQ rights – and are dramatically different than previous opinion polls – one should take note.
Following deadly flood, lawmakers seek Tonto Creek bridge funding
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is trying to get the state to pay for a bridge over Tonto Creek in eastern Arizona, where three young children drowned last month after their car was submerged trying to cross the creek in a flood.
Owner of border wall construction firm gave to McSally, other AZ Republicans in 2018
The Office of Inspector General for the Department of Defense will investigate a $400 million contract to construct a border wall in Arizona that was given to a North Dakota company whose owner gave Arizona Sen. Martha McSally’s 2018 campaign the maximum allowed under the law.
Tax credit review panel will meet, but after legal deadline to do so
Earlier today, I wrote about the possibility – nay, the likelihood – that a dormant panel charged with reviewing tax credits might actually meet in 2019 and fulfill its statutory duties. It turns out I was partially correct.
Will the legislative tax credit review committee actually meet in 2019?
A legislative panel meant to annually scrutinize income tax credits and determine whether they are working as intended might meet this week for the first time since 2015.
Trump’s SNAP rule changes could end food stamps for 72K in Arizona
The Trump administration this week finalized a regulation that could knock almost 7,000 poor Arizonans off food stamp benefits – but that figure could grow to more than 72,000 if two other proposed regulations go into effect.
School district official indicted for stealing public money
An audit prompted after school district officials in a small central Arizona town learned that the district’s business manager was embezzling led to Amanda Holcomb’s indictment by state prosecutors last month on 21 counts.