Howard Fischer

Governor Jan Brewer made the announcement Sunday on Meet the Press. The governor said she has been watching all the campaigns but was waiting until seeing the candidates personally at last week's debate in Mesa.

Brewer said Romney handles himself very well.  "But more than that," she said, "he has that pro-business background. And he has that political history that I think he would serve America the best of all the candidates. And so, it was a difficult decision. But I think R..., er, Mitt is by far the person that can go in and win."

The state House voted Thursday to require more reporting by local governments of what they spend lobbying lawmakers.  But House Lawmakers refused to force disclosure of who pays for trips they get from certain special interest groups.

A US Senator invited Governor Jan Brewer on Thursday to testify at his committee about the state's immigration law. 

Governor Jan Brewer is going to give state lawmakers the silent treatment until she gets her way on the budget -- or at least some of what she wants. 

Brewer's staffers and those of the Republican legislative leadership had met off and on since the governor unveiled her spending plan in January. But on Monday, before there was any meeting of the minds, the GOP leaders not only trotted out their own proposal but shoved it through committees the following day. Gubernatorial press aide Matthew Benson said that's not acceptable.

A House panel voted this afternoon to require students at state universities to pay -- or at least borrow -- $2,000 a year toward the cost of their education. 

Rep. John Kavanagh said students should have some skin in the game, saying they will take their schooling more seriously if they have made an investment. Kavanagh acknowledged that books might add another $1,500 a year.

Republican lawmakers are unveiling their spending plan this morning. 

Rick Santorum appears to have pulled within striking distance of Mitt Romney here with just a week to go to the state's presidential primary. 

The survey by Public Policy Polling finds Romney the choice a 36 percent of likely Arizona Republican voters questioned, with Santorum just three points behind. That's well within the poll's margin of error.

Dustin Ingalls, the poll's assistant director, said that makes Wednesday's debate all that more important.

A House panel voted late Thursday to start stripping away personnel protections from some state workers and get others to give them up voluntarily. 

State senators approved a measure Thursday designed to undermine some of the power of public employee unions. 

Current law allows state and local workers as well as public school teachers who are union members to sign up to have their dues deducted automatically from their paychecks. This legislation says deductions can continue -- but only if the union members give their written consent each year. Senate Majority Leader, Republican Andy Biggs said it just makes sense.

State senators are moving to ensure that one top official is going to miss Jan Brewer's next State of the State speech. 

Under the Arizona constitution, if the governor dies, the secretary of state becomes the state's chief executive. The line of succession continues on down the line through the attorney general, the treasurer and the state school superintendent. Senator Judy Burges pointed out that all of these people are usually present at not only the annual State of the State speech but also their inaugural and other major events.