State Capitol News

Phoenix, AZ – Under current law a judge can dissolve a marriage 60 days after a
petition is filed. The legislation that gained preliminary Senate
approval Monday would allow either spouse to extend that period
out for up to six months. The other party would have to go along
unless he or she could show -- quote -- good cause for proceeding
without delay. Sen. David Braswell said the move makes sense. He
said couples should be absolutely sure they want to end their
marriage.

Phoenix, AZ – The way the measure is worded, people have to have coverage or,
beginning in 2014, pay a penalty. Attorney General Terry Goddard
said it might be beyond the power of the federal government to
actually force anyone to purchase health insurance.

(But I don't believe what this statute does is mandate that we
have a particular behavior. The taxing power says we have a
choice. We can either sign up for the insurance or we can pay a
higher tax. And I think they do have the power to do that.)

Phoenix, AZ – The initiative would allow doctors to essentially prescribe
marijuana to patients who are suffering from any one of a
specific set of conditions. But it also says an employer cannot
discipline a worker who tests positive for drugs. Campaign
manager Andrew Myers said that's designed to ensure that what
happened to that Michigan worker, who said he suffers from sinus
cancer and a brain tumor, could not happen here.

Phoenix, AZ – The proposal on the May 18 ballot would hike the state sales tax
by a penny for three years, raising close to a billion dollars a
year. But Goddard noted the House has already approved a package
of future cuts in corporate and individual income taxes and
property taxes. When fully implemented that plan would reduce
state revenues by $940 million a year. Goddard said he is
concerned about what he calls a shell game.

Phoenix, AZ – Sen. Jack Harper said the problem with keeping weapons off campus
is it creates what he calls defense-free zones.

(Obviously, where criminals believe there's not somebody who can
defend innocent life, they're not going to care there's a law
against firearms. They're going to come on the campus or in the
facility and try and harm people. I think it's important to have
law-abiding citizens with the ability to defend themselves.)