Arizona Capitol Times

Suit Filed in Az Supreme Court Challenges School Vouchers As Unconstitutional

A lawsuit filed Nov. 14 on behalf of individual Arizonans and two national groups is challenging a pair of private school voucher programs approved by the Legislature, saying they unconstitutionally give tax money to private schools. "Vouchers drain money from public schools that don't have enough as it is," Scott Holcomb, one of the challengers, said. "These statutes would open the door to wholesale funding of private education with public dollars."

Horne Proposes Funding Hike for Charter Schools in Az - Union Leader Objects

Arizona's schools chief is going to ask the Legislature for an almost $80 million increase for charter schools next year, a move he says will equalize the per-student funding charter schools and school districts receive. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says the Arizona Department of Education conducted a study to determine how much money the state spends per student at charter and district schools. The study found that when district bonds and other allowances were accounted for...

Observer: Voter Fatigue in Az Sinks Props. 106 & 105

Voters buried two statewide measures designed to conserve hundreds of thousands of acres of state trust land. Props. 106 and 105 were offered as amendments to the Arizona Constitution.

Lopes Retained As House Dem Leader in Az; Brown, Gallardo Also Win Caucus Posts

With their numbers bolstered after the election earlier this month, Democrats in the House of Representatives voted Nov. 9 to retain Phil Lopes as caucus leader. He says the caucus needs to be unified to utilize its new position, after gaining at least four seats in the Nov. 7 election, narrowing the Republican advantage in the chamber to 35-25.

State's 2nd Ethanol Plant Sought in Yuma County

It's been less than a year since construction began on the state's first ethanol plant and a second facility is in the works. Agrinext Ethanol is proposing to build a 19-acre ethanol plant near Tacna in eastern Yuma County that would produce up to 55- million gallons of ethanol a year, which would then be shipped to a fuel-blending plant in Phoenix to be mixed with gasoline.

Interview with with Mitt Romney: Governor of Ma

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney this week paid his fourth visit to Arizona in the past 18 months, actively keeping his options open for a presidential run. He told reporters he is visiting early primary states, discussing his possible candidacy with Republican and community leaders. Arizona Capitol Times, one of four newspapers invited to interview Mr. Romney on Nov. 12, was told that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio would be one of his leading public supporters.

Bee Fires 4 Top Senate Aides in Az, Says Their Longevity Was a Detriment

Incoming Senate President Tim Bee terminated the employment of the chamber's top four administrators earlier this week. Those who will be leaving in a few days will be Greg Jernigan, chief of staff/general counsel; Rob Dalager, operations and legal adviser; Mark Swenson, senior policy adviser, and Nick Simonetta, communications and policy adviser.

Lawmaker in Iraq: Az Rep. Paton: War Puts Politics in Perspective

Soldiers stationed overseas say they miss the little things the most, the things they wouldn't give a second thought to back home, but, when they are taken away, become the things of fantasy. Rep. Jonathan Paton's little thing is pork. "What I've been dreaming of - and this is kind of a sick fantasy - I've been dreaming of, like, a pig roast," he said in a telephone interview Nov. 14 from Iraq.

Az Capitol Quotes: November 17, 2006

"I know I am asking a lot of you, but my attorney says this could keep me out of jail-" state Treasurer David Petersen, who is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 1 on a misdemeanor charge, sends a four-page, e-mail letter to friends, asking them to help with his legal bills and to write Superior Court Judge James Keppel on his behalf "In order for us to take advantage of our new numbers, we've got to be together. And we've got to be together in a way that's functional." - Rep. Phil Lopes, retaine...

State Without a Stately Home - Why There's No Governor's Mansion in Arizona

Tourists looking for the Arizona governor's mansion would have better luck in Prescott. In 1864, the newly formed Arizona territorial government built a combination state house and governor's mansion. It became home to John Goodwin, the state's first territorial governor.

What Happens When You Run Afoul of the Rules

Four election cycles have passed since Arizona voters passed the Clean Elections Act of 1998. Enforcing the statutes passed by the act has been time consuming. Many candidates have been forced to pay fines or reached agreements with the commission without admitting guilt to violating campaign finance laws. The following candidates received the greatest penalties, and perhaps most interesting, for intentionally or unintentionally running afoul of the Clean Elections Act rules.

Green Party Hopes to Land Candidates On the 2008 Ballot

The Republican and Democratic parties are getting larger in Arizona, but both lag behind the growth of a voter block the state unceremoniously classifies as "other." Members of small minority parties and those that register as independents are charging that state laws hinder their abilities to qualify for the ballot and their chances of running viable campaigns.

U.S. House Victories: Is Arizona Becoming More Competitive?

As Democrats marched to victory across the country Nov. 7, Arizona played a major role in shaping the party's fledgling majority in Congress. And while the state was just a part of Democrats' ebullient night, two newly minted representatives-elect could portend good things to come for the party, both in Arizona and the rest of the West. Former state Sen, Gabrielle Giffords took 54 percent of the vote compared to 42 percent for former state Rep. Randy Graf, cruising to victory in the state's 8...

Az Congressman Jim Kolbe Retires - 'There's No One Party That has a Lock On All the Good Ideas'

Eighth District Congressman Jim Kolbe is bringing down the curtain on a 22-year run representing southern Arizona. He based his decision to leave Washington D.C. on three distinct factors. "One, I wanted to get out of Congress while I was still young enough to do something else," says Mr. Kolbe, 64. "I'm hoping to do some teaching.

Weiers Retains Top Spot in Az; Bee Picked As Senate President Replacing the Term-Limited Bennett

Arizona's House Republicans have chosen to keep House Speaker Jim Weiers in the chamber's top leadership post for the next two years starting in January, while GOP senators elected Tucson Republican Tim Bee as Senate president. Mr. Weiers and Mr. Bee won't officially be elected as chamber leaders until Jan. 8, when the upcoming session begins.