Law & Government
Ducey budget plan focuses on education, planning for future recession
Gov. Doug Ducey is looking to spend the bulk of Arizona’s projected billion-dollar budget surplus preparing for the next economic downtown in an effort to avoid the type of budget crisis the state saw during the Great Recession in 2009 and 2010. The most expensive line item Ducey’s executive budget proposal, which was released on […]
Lawmaker wants to tax porn users to help fund the border wall
A GOP lawmaker has a novel idea for how a border wall with Mexico should be funded: Force every Arizonan who wants to access pornographic material on an electronic device to pay $20. Republican Rep. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford, has introduced House Bill 2444, which would make “distributors” of devices that allow access to the internet […]
Bill aims to address data privacy
Websites like Facebook are facing almost weekly controversies over their use of user data, and now the Arizona Legislature is looking at a possible remedy. But it seems unlikely that the bill would affect any of the large online data-collectors.
Ugenti-Rita seeks new limits on early voting
Republican complaints and suspicions about the 2018 election may fuel new restrictions on early voting in Arizona. Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, has sponsored several bills that would address controversies that arose during the 2018 general election, primarily in Maricopa County. One bill would prohibit people who are on the state’s Permanent Early Voting List, who […]
Rep. Salman: AZ Constitution needs amendment to protect right to vote
Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, will introduce legislation to amend the Arizona Constitution and add a section to explicitly state the right to vote is a fundamental right, she said during a press conference Thursday.
Mesnard bill would increase rainy day fund size
Gov. Doug Ducey’s desire to see Arizona’s rainy day fund increased is one step closer reality, as Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, has introduced legislation to increase the cap on how much the state can save.
Ducey to contract with former chief of staff on water, gaming
Barely a month after leaving the Ducey administration, former chief of staff Kirk Adams is going back to work for his old boss. Gov. Doug Ducey will hire Adams as a contract employee to work on water and Indian gaming issues during the 2019 legislative session, Adams told the Arizona Mirror. Among Adams’ duties will […]
Bill aims to reduce the amount lobbyists must report spending on lawmakers
One veteran Republican lawmaker only wants lobbyists to have to disclose the price of what it costs to feed elected officials at luncheons and other events, not the actual cost of admission to the event that the lobbyist paid.
He’s back: Shooter seen on Senate floor, says he’s working on water plan
The 2019 legislative session is on its third day and expelled lawmaker Don Shooter couldn’t stay away.
Governor’s 2019 priorities will have #ThingsThatMatter for special interests
Ever play the Chinese fortune cookie game where you add the phrase “in bed” to the end of every fortune? Lately, I’ve been playing that game with Governor Ducey’s hashtags, though I use the phrase “for special interests” instead of the other one.
U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear Arizona law denying bail in sex-assault cases
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has refused to revive a voter-approved Arizona law that would deny bail to suspects in sexual assault cases, after that law was struck down as unconstitutional last year. The high court declined without comment Monday to hear Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s appeal of a 2018 ruling by a divided […]
How prepared is Arizona for the next economic downturn?
Gov. Doug Ducey said in his State of the State address that he wants the state’s rainy day fund to be $1 billion, a figure that comports with recent research showing Arizona is ill prepared for the next recession.