State Capitol News

Phoenix, AZ – The measure would let police arrest anyone they just reasonably
believe is in this country illegally. It would make it a crime to
stop a vehicle on the street to pick up someone to do day labor.
It would make it easier to conduct sting operations to see if
companies are hiring undocumented workers. And it would allow
lawsuits against cities and counties that have policies which
limit immimmigration enforcement to -- quote -- less than the
full extent permitted by federal law. Sen. Al Melvin said Arizona

Phoenix, AZ – It was 1992 when Sen. Carolyn Allen and others got voters to
impose term limits on elected officials. She said the main goal
was to oust entrenched members of Congress. But the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled states can't regulate federal lawmakers. That left
Arizona with eight-year limits on statewide officials and
legislators. Allen said the result is fewer lawmakers who know
what's come -- and been tried -- before.

Phoenix, AZ – Martin said the problem is that for years the state has been
spending more than it collects in taxes.

(Each of us has to live within our own means. And since
government lives off our means, why should they be any different?
We could have avoided much of this budget pain if we had simply
followed that principle.)

Phoenix, AZ – Brewer said there's a simple central theme to the message she
will give when she comes to the poduim.

(That it's incumbent upon us collectively, that all of us work
together and resolve the catastrophic crisis that Arizona is
facing. And we can do that by creating jobs. And we need to do
that as quickly as possible.)

Phoenix, AZ – In simple terms, the budget for the current fiscal year that's
already half over is still about $1.5 billion in the red, even
after a series of spending cuts and financial maneuvers. And the
outlook for the coming budget year is even worse, with the gap
between revenues and expenses somewhere in excess of $3 billion.
Speaking to the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, House Speaker Kirk
Adams said fixing the problem will require further cuts.

Phoenix, AZ – Existing law bars weapons on the campuses of public colleges. The
proposal by Sen. Jack Harper would carve out an exception for
faculty members who have a state-issued permit to carry a
concealed weapon.

(It's a long-time goal of mine to make sure there are no defense-
free zones where criminals know they can go into an establishment
and there'll be no law-abiding citizens there that can legally
protect themselves.)