Governor Jan Brewer has just been handed a gem of an opportunity: The ability to look good in the eyes of liberals by rejecting a bill widely seen as blatantly discriminatory, while retaining her conservative base. Or in the alternative, the chance to win wider support from conservatives. Either way,…
The Arizona House of Representatives passed the anti-LGBT “religious freedom” bill, which now heads to Governor Jan Brewer for her approval.Despite House Democrats putting up a strong fight against the bill, just three of their colleagues on the other side of the aisle voted against the bill, which the rest…
The sponsor of Arizona’s controversial Senate Bill 1062, Republican Senator Steve Yarbrough, insists his bill is not a license for businesses to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.Through a bit of trolling, a pair of Democratic senators set out to prove the bill — which has since passed…
Ed Zuercher, a longtime city of Phoenix employee, has been selected as new city manager.Zuercher had been acting city manager since David Cavazos left the post to take the city manager’s position in Santa Ana, California, in October…
Arizona bureaucrats could earn cash by stalling requests for public records under an amended bill sponsored by a Republican state lawmaker. More ominously, the proposal by Representative David Stevens, a Republican from Sierra Vista, has the potential to destroy Arizona’s stellar open-records law by making the cost of obtaining records…
A bill that had Arizona librarians warning of drastic budget cuts has been amended in the libraries’ favor.In its original form, House Bill 2379, proposed by Republican Representative Justin Olson, would put a cap on property-tax increases by “special districts” around the state, which includes county library districts…
Arizona’s Senate Judiciary Committee voted against a bill that would allow industrial hemp farming in the state.Hemp farming is illegal in most states, despite the fact that smoking the plant, which is related to marijuana plants, won’t get you stoned…
Proposals for a border fence are nothing new in Arizona, but Republican state Senator Bob Worsley’s call for a “virtual border fence” is a bit different.Worsley explained the system in a committee hearing Monday, saying the public would be able to monitor the images collected by these devices with infrared…
Arizona Senate President is pushing for an external audit of Child Protective Services.The proposed audit is just the latest attempt at reforming the agency, which simply shelved thousands of allegations of child abuse and neglect because of large caseloads…
Despite what the state Republican party says, not every Republican voter in Arizona is grabbing a torch and pitchfork to go after U.S. Senator John McCain.Although the state GOP censured McCain last month, poll results released today suggest that Republicans don’t hate McCain all that much…
The city of Phoenix announced the names of the four finalists for the job of city manager.Two of them are veterans of Phoenix City Hall, while the other two are out-of-towners…
A controversial bill that would separate livestock abuse from other forms of animal cruelty moved through the House Agriculture and Water Committee Tuesday.House Bill 2587 has generated backlash from organizations ranging from animal-rights groups to Sheriff Joe Arpaio since its introduction. At the public hearing, private citizens and representatives from…
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder made headlines Tuesday by calling on states to repeal laws that keep felons from voting after they’ve finished their sentences.One Arizona Democrat already introduced a related proposal several weeks ago, but it hasn’t seen any action at the Legislature…
An Arizona bill aimed at nullifying federal gun laws passed its first test Monday, as it was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.The “Arizona Second Amendment Preservation Act,” introduced by Republican Senator Kelli Ward, would ban state agencies from enforcing federal gun laws or helping any federal agency enforce federal…
The Arizona House Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would make it a felony to share someone else’s nude pictures without his or her permission.Although the lawmakers on the panel were generally supportive of the concept of House Bill 2515, there were a lot of concerns, like who exactly would…
Kratom probably won’t be added to Arizona’s list of banned drugs after all.Kratom, an herb with painkilling properties, has been for sale legally in certain stores around Phoenix for several years now, but the annual proposed update of Arizona’s banned-drugs list originally included two substances found exclusively in the kratom…
Republican and Democratic lawmakers are pulling opposite ways on protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Arizona.While some Republicans are supporting a bill to extend religious protections to businesses, a gang of Democrats have since introduced legislation to ban LGBT discrimination in employment…
Arizona’s list of illegal drugs soon could include kratom, an herbal product that’s been used as medicine in certain Asian countries for centuries.Kratom’s been for sale legally in certain stores around Phoenix for several years now, but the annual proposed update of Arizona’s banned drugs includes the alkaloids in kratom.UPDATE…
Fantasy football fans, time to rejoice: All fantasy sports competitions may soon become legal in Arizona.Although fantasy sports competitions are legal under federal law, Arizona is one of five states where they are prohibited because it’s considered a “game of chance,” which is illegal under Arizona’s gambling laws. But Senate…
The Humane Society of the United States is supporting four Arizona bills this legislative session designed to protect animals.Although the Humane Society generally gives Arizona good reviews for its animal-welfare laws, the organization’s president and CEO Wayne Pacelle is in town today for a “Humane Lobby Day.”…
Some Republican lawmakers still are trying to nullify federal gun laws they feel are unconstitutional.Senate Bill 1294 declares, “All federal acts, laws, orders, rules and regulations that are in violation of the second amendment of the United States Constitution, that are unauthorized by the Constitution and that violate the Second…
As promised, Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego has submitted a bill that would legalize marijuana possession in Arizona.Twelve other Democrats signed on to sponsor or co-sponsor the bill, House Bill 2558…
