Howard Fischer

Election officials from around the state are lining up to oppose a bid by a Republican group to force new lines to be drawn for this year's legislative races. 

A legal fight is brewing over the decision by lawmakers and the governor to tap a mortgage fraud settlement to help balance the budget. 

Arizonans who say they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder are hoping to get the right to use marijuana for medical purposes.

Governor Jan Brewer penned her approval Monday to a nearly 8-point-6 billion dollar spending plan for the coming year, although it wasn't quite what she wanted. 

Brewer pronounced herself very pleased with the plan.

"You know," she said, "we've got a carry forward. We've got a balanced budget. We put money into the rainy day fund. I got more dollars for education, protected the chronically mentally ill with the Arnold v. Sarn. DPS which was another priority of mine. You know, I'm just  really happy with what we were able to complete and give to the public."

About three-fourths of the state's 36,000 executive branch employees are covered, meaning they have the protections of the state's merit system rules. That gives them certain rights to appeals and hearings if there is a move to discipline or fire them. Gov. Jan Brewer wants to scrap those merit protections, saying it is currently too cumbersome to get rid of bad employees. But Sen. Linda Lopez cited figures from the personnel board which found that out of 331 disciplinary actions that were appealed over a six-year period, just 26 were overturned or modified.

Two lawsuits already have been filed, one challenging the way the commission divided up the 30 legislative districts and the other over the nine congressional districts. Both lawsuits contend the commission did not follow laws in drawing the maps. Rep. Ted Vogt said this new lawsuit has a much narrower focus.

State lawmakers late Tuesday adopted a spending plan for the coming year. 

State lawmakers voted this afternoon on a nearly 8-point-6 billion spending plan that Democrats contend ignores critical state needs. 

Both sides agree that state revenues are on the increase. But Republicans want to bank $450 million of that against anticipated future deficits while the Democrats say there are more immediate needs. Sen. Steve Gallardo said one of those is a proposal to fund adult education programs.

The days of local communities deciding when it makes sense to have elections could soon be coming to an end.

Under current law, cities can have votes on four specific dates every year. The legislation approved Monday by the state House would limit that to just two -- and only on even-numbered years, the same days as statewide elections. Clint Bolick of the Goldwater Institute said consolidation makes sense.

A legal fight is brewing over one way state lawmakers intend to balance the budget. 

The plan hammered out between the governor and Republican legislative leaders adds funding for education and a new state prison. It even puts $450 million into a special rainy day fund against future deficits. To do that, lawmakers will take more than half of the nearly $98 million the state got earlier this year as part of its share of a nationwide settlement with lenders over charges of mortgage fraud. Senate President Steve Pierce said the shift is justified.