U.S. House of Representatives

Eddie Farnsworth's Flaccid Rationale For Not Closing Child Prostitution Loophole

Courtesy of the conservative Western Free Press, we finally have state Representative Eddie Farnsworth's lame attempt to justify not allowing a bill that would have cracked down on pimps selling teenage prostitutes to have a hearing in the Judiciary Committee, which Farnsworth chairs. See also: -Ed ... More >>

After Election Day, AZ's Far Right Now Has a Fight on Its Hands

Arizona's Congressional Elections: Good, Bad, and Ugly

As is the case every two years, all nine of Arizona's seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for grabs, and some are closer than others.For example, if it's 8 a.m. on Election Day, and we're on the Secretary of State's website trying to find the name of the Democrat running against Congre ... More >>

Kyrsten Sinema, Martha McSally, and Jonathan Paton Cling to Small Leads

Several of the races for Arizona's seats in the U.S. House of Representatives ended up close, and at the time of this post, we still don't have the answer in three districts.Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, Republican Martha McSally, and Republican Jonathan Paton are each hanging on to small leads in t ... More >>

Allen West, Congress' Resident Goof, Turns to Arizonans for Campaign Cash

It's a sad day when you find out that Republican Florida Congressman Allen West is trying to squeeze some bucks out of Arizona residents.West -- for those not familiar with him -- is the most outspoken member of Congress, a tea-party king who has a penchant for making things up (see: Rep. Allen West ... More >>

Sheriff Joe Sure Ain't a Conservative, and Here's Why

Rick Santorum's in Town for a Black-Tie Anti-Abortion Gala (of Course)

There's really only one type of event in which former Senator/failed GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum would be the keynote speaker -- an anti-abortion gala.Santorum's slated to be at the Phoenix Convention Center tonight for the annual Arizona Right to Life benefit gala, cocktail attire requ ... More >>

Local Latino Activists Target Unlikely Politician

Is Trent Franks Just Wasting Congress' Time?

See also: Trent Franks Successfully Wastes Everyone's Time as His Abortion Bill FailsWhen Republican candidates for the House of Representatives campaigned in 2010, just about every single one of them talked about these things called "jobs."As Congressman Trent Franks passed the 90-minute mark of ti ... More >>

Arizona Legislators Send Another Top-Priority Bill to Governor: 20-Week Abortion Ban

When can fetuses start to feel pain? Nobody knows for sure, but the chief scientists at the Arizona Legislature would like to declare that it's 20 weeks.According to some actual scientists, the concept of fetal pain can occur at 24 weeks, 26 weeks, between 29 or 30 weeks, or more than 30 weeks, amon ... More >>

Representative Kimberly Yee Wants to Tell You When You Can Have An Abortion

​Republican Arizona Representative Kimberly Yee has taken a page out of fagala-phobic abortion bully Trent Franks' book, and is taking it upon herself to attempt to dictate when women in Arizona can have an abortion.Yee introduced a bill into the Arizona Legislature yesterday that would ban aborti ... More >>

Congressman Ben Quayle to Face David Schweikert in District 6 Congressional Primary

James King Congressman Ben Quayle​In what comes as no surprise to anyone who keeps tabs on Arizona Congressional politics, Republican Congressman Ben Quayle announced today that he plans to run in Arizona's newly formed sixth Congressional district -- which is likely unsettling news for GOP ... More >>

State Representative Matt Heinz Will Run For Gabrielle Giffords' Seat in Congress

​Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords resigned from her seat in Congress last week in an emotional farewell speech read on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.State Representative Matt Heinz, an openly gay Tucson Democrat, announced yesterday that he wants to be Giffords' replacement ... More >>

Arizona's GOP Congressmen on Joe Arpaio's Botched Sex-Crime Investigations: (Crickets)

Attention GOP congressmen: grow a set, would ya?​Since the old, 2009 Pulitzer Prize-worthy tale of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's 432 botched sex-crime investigations was thrust into the national spotlight thanks to an oddly timed Associated Press article last week, two of Arizona's three De ... More >>

As the Stop Online Piracy Act Hits Capitol Hill, Five Artists That Speak Out Against File Sharing

Sigur Ros​Yesterday, we blogged about the ultra-famous musicians that support music piracy in the face of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), recently introduced to the House of Representatives, which aims to protect the copyright laws of music and other downloadable intellectual property. Web ... More >>

As the Stop Online Piracy Act Hits Capitol Hill, Here Are Five Major Artists That Support Online Music Piracy

​No matter your stance on piracy, you have to admit it's pretty freakin' sweet that, at any given time, you can hop on the web and get free art. Even if it is illegal. Of course, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is out to change all of that. Introduced to the House of Representatives in late ... More >>

Morning Poll -- More Exciting: Gabrielle Giffords in D.C. or U.S. Government (Probably) Not Going Into Default?

Gabrielle Giffords returned to Congress yesterday to vote on the debt deal.​Two pretty incredible things happened yesterday: the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bi-partisan debt-ceiling bill that -- Senate-approved -- will keep the federal government from defaulting on its loans. Also ... More >>

How Did Your Representative Vote on Debt-Ceiling Bill? Let's Take a Look

www.pcrf.com​The federal government avoided economic catastrophe today after the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill to increase the debt-ceiling yesterday. The bill cleared the Senate this morning, and President Barack Obama signed it into law moments ago.The vast majority of Arizon ... More >>

Colorado House Spikes Legislation Charging Undocumented Students In-State Tuition

News MildUndocumented students walk through a minefield of laws in pursuit of higher education.​Some bills die on the floor of the statehouse. Others die on the governor's desk. Sometimes, they die in the courts. And then there are those that die in a legislative committee, along party lines, li ... More >>

Arizona Legislature Would Prefer You Not Be Gay if You Want to Adopt a Kid

www.cafepress.com​The Arizona Senate yesterday approved a bill already given the green light by the House of Representatives that makes it as difficult as possible for gay people to adopt a child in the Grand Canyon State.The bill doesn't necessarily say homosexuals can't adopt children, but that ... More >>

Senate Vote on Race-Based Abortion Bill Set for Today

​As state legislators continue to waste their time -- and infinitely more important, your tax dollars -- coming up with solutions to problems that don't actually exist, the Arizona state Senate will vote today on a bill that would make having an abortion based on race or gender a felony.The bill w ... More >>

Ask a Mexican on Imperialist Land Grabs and Exclaiming in ALL CAPS

Arizona Republican's Abortion Bill is "Assault [on] Woman's Dignity," Pro-Choice Group Says

www.demotivateus.com​There are several abortion bills making their way through the Arizona Legislature at the moment. None of them seem to make a whole lot of sense, considering the other, more-pressing issues the state currently faces (namely a pesky $2 billion budget shortfall), but o ... More >>

New York City Proves Obvious in Arizona: Any Criminal Can Score a Gat at a Gun Show

Now if you could only buy nuclear weapons this way...Tucson killer Jared Lee Loughner didn't get his gun through a gigantoid flea-market-type gun show, where any criminal can buy a Glock and some extended mags, cash and carry.Actually, Loughner copped his gat from a licensed gun dealer. He passed th ... More >>

Giffords and Security: When Man Dropped Gun at 2009 Event, Police Were Already There

Image: www.youtube.comAlberto Melis, police chief of Douglas, Arizona, provided police security in 2009 for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords -- even though she didn't ask for it​When Douglas Police Chief Alberto Melis got word in August of 2009 that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords planned an even ... More >>

Gabrielle Giffords' Seat Would be Filled Through Special Election in the Event of Her Departure From Office

If Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is unable to carry out her duties, Governor Jan Brewer would call a special election. ​As Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords remains hospitalized and in critical condition after taking a bullet through the brain during Saturday's shooting spree in Tucso ... More >>

AZ Lawmakers Expected to Pass a Law Prohibiting Picketing at Funerals; Aim to Halt Protests at Tucson Shooting Victims' Funerals

Senator Kyrsten Sinema​State lawmakers proposed emergency legislation Tuesday to head off picketing by a Topeka, Kansas, church at the funeral service for a 9-year-old girl who was among six people killed during Saturday's shooting in Tucson.The state Senate passed a bill, which is being con ... More >>

Arizona House Passes Bill Prohibiting Picketing at Funerals; Lawmakers Display Bipartisan Spirit

www.bipartisanbridge.org Arizona lawmakers engage in bipartisanship​After swiftly moving through the state Senate and the House of Representatives, a bill that makes it illegal to protest or picket within 300 feet of funerals is making its way to Governor Jan Brewer, who is expected to sign ... More >>

What Would Comprehensive Immigration Reform Look Like If the Feds Got Off Their Duffs?

John McCain vs. DREAM Act, Pt.2: Passes House, Senate Vote Today

Dream a little DREAM with me...The haters were defeated in the U.S. House yesterday, and the DREAM Act passed 216-198.Today, the fight goes to the U.S. Senate, where the Republicans threaten a filibuster, and the Dems lack the 60 votes to invoke cloture.I say, let them filibuster. Call their bluff. ... More >>

John McCain vs. DREAM Act: Vote Expected Today

Tim'es a waistin', people. Hit those phones. Hit 'em hard.The DREAM Act, proposed legislation that would legalize the status of undocumented students brought here when they were young, is being discussed on the floor of the U.S. House even as I type this. A vote in both houses of Congress is expecte ... More >>

Jon Hulburd's a Turncoat, and Terry Goddard's Weak. So Who Are This Year's Democratic Role Models?

Barack Obama's $600 Million Border Boondoggle

Obama: $600 million-tough on landscapers and nanniesSo President Barack Obama, who still talks a good game about "comprehensive immigration reform," has now signed a supplemental border security package worth $600 million to add 1,000 Border Patrol agents, as well as hundreds of new officers for Imm ... More >>

Morning Poll -- "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal: Too Soon?

www.motifake.com​Last night, the U.S. House and Senate armed services committees voted to insert a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" -- the 1993 law banning gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military -- into the defense authorization bill, which will be due for a vote i ... More >>

John McCain's "Danged Fence" Ad Even Has John Shadegg Laughing, and He's Freakin' Nuts

Congressman John Shadegg using a baby as a prop on the floor of the House of Representatives.​ If you haven't laughed your ass off at seen Senator John McCain's latest campaign ad focusing on building "the danged fence" yet, you're missing out on comedic gold.The ad features McCain and Pinal ... More >>

ManBearPig? Not in Arizona! Legislature Passes Embarrassing Bill Outlawing "Human-Animal Hybrids"

Martin Cizmar Russell Pearce, Jan Brewer, and ManBearPig​The Arizona Legislature finally has tackled the super-cereal business of making sure that the likes of South Park's infamous "ManBearPig" have no place in the Grand Canyon State.A ManBearPig -- as described by "Al Gore" on t ... More >>

"Birther" Bill Advances in Arizona House; America Laughs its Ass Off

​In the Arizona legislature's latest attempt to make the Grand Canyon State the laughing stock of the entire country, legislators in the House of Representatives advanced HB 2441 yesterday, or, as it is more infamously known, the "birther bill."Legislators voted 31-22 to advance the bill, which wo ... More >>

Does Mayor Phil Want to be Congressman Phil? The Rumor Mill is Turning

Congressman Phil?​Here's one fresh from the rumor mill:With John Shadegg's long-overdue departure from the U.S. House of Representatives, there are rumors that Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon may be looking to take his seat.So, does Mr. Gordon really want to go to Washington? He's certainly spent a lot ... More >>

Congressman John Shaddegg Won't Seek Re-election; Vows to "Fight for Freedom in a Different Venue"

John Shaddegg, seen here actually using a 7-month-old baby as a prop on the floor of the House​Arizona Congressman John Shaddegg is throwing in the towel and announced today that he will not be seeking re-election in 2010.Score one for sanity in government.Shaddegg, who's antics during his tenure ... More >>

Congressman John Shadegg Suggests NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Daughter May Be Kidnapped By Terrorists If 9/11 Trials Happen in New York

www.necn.com Congressman John Shadegg talking baby-speak the other day. ​Congressman John Shadegg's theatrics on the floor of the House of Representatives are becoming almost legendary. By legendary, we mean borderline insane.

November 9 In Blogs: Anarchists, Wrestlemania, Fez, and Accident-Prone Police

​In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Feathered Bastard:The Anarchists Own the Nazis, and the Nazis Cause a Car Wreck as They Amscray Transgender ... More >>

April 2 In Blogs: 287(g), Ryan Avery, Prado and More

We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Valley Fever: Valley Photographer Says Cops Harassed Him for Taking Pictures in Down ... More >>

Hot Links: Troops May be Coming to Arizona; PA Gov Apologizes for Napolitano Comments; Cops Bust Cockfighters

Are we expecting company? As many as 20,000 soldiers may be stationed in the western United States -- with a "significant" number going to Arizona -- to serve as a terrorist-fighting force. The idea is to stop any bad guys from trying to storm the Palo Verde nuclear power plan and other ... More >>

Hot Links: Obama’s Historic Victory

Dueling Mormons

Marshal Jeff Flake goes toe-to-toe with Russell Pearce, and a former New Times staffer's popped for armed robbery

Flashes

from the week of March 15, 2001

Flashes

Hee-Haw Politics

Clinton won, Fife lost, and now state Dems have high hopes for '98. But they're in for a wild-ass ride

DESCENT OF A WOMAN

SPINNING WHEELS EX-JOURNALISTS TURNED PR FLACKS REDEFINE THE TERM "COVERING THE STORY"