PHOENIX The Arizona House of Representatives passed House Bill 2573, (also known as the off-highway vehicle, user fee bill) last week by a vote of 43 to 13. For the official final ballot count go online to: www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2573.hthird.1.asp House Bill…

(State Capitol, Phoenix) The House approved a tax incentive measure last week to encourage renewable energy producers to construct "green" power plants in Arizona. Shepherded by Rep. Lucy Mason, R-Prescott, HB2614 extends an existing property tax valuation method that greatly…

Kyl: "Every day that this law remains expired is ground we cede to our enemy on the battlefield." WASHINGTON, D.C. Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives recently allowed a law governing foreign intelligence surveillance to expire, seriously jeopardizing…

(State Capitol, Phoenix) Rep. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) resurrected his bill that removes day laborers from seeking jobs on the public right of way, addressing concerns raised after last year's veto of a similar measure. HB2412 passed the House Homeland…

(State Capitol, Phoenix) The House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution to ensure that schools continue to receive money, despite surpassing their constitutional expenditure limit. The move allows schools to disregard the constitutional limit. The Legislature has increased spending for…

By U.S. Senator Jon Kyl In a recent column I discussed the President's proposed budget for 2009 and examined how the proposed funding for the U.S. Forest Service affects Arizona. I'd like to look this week at the budget as…

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX Sen. Chuck Gray, R-Mesa, is responding to the longstanding outcry that the Ninth Circuit is too big, too liberal and no longer reflects the values of most Americans. Sen. Gray's bill, SCM 1005, urges Congress to split…

By U.S. Senator Jon Kyl The President recently unveiled his proposed budget for 2009. The budget proposal outlines the operating budget for the entire federal government. I will report to you on parts of the budget that particularly impact Arizona;…

State Capitol, Phoenix Rep. John Kavanagh plans to end the contentious battle over Arizona's Sept. 11 memorial, proposing the state remove the controversial statements and replace them with a timeline of the day's events. Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, vowed to make…

(State Capitol, Phoenix) Rep. Bob Robson wants creditors to verify the identity of a consumer if they do not use a consumer credit report before issuing a line of credit. Under HB2587, creditors would also have to verify the address…

(STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX) Following up on his successful mortgage fraud legislation that passed last year, Sen. Jay Tibshraeny, R-Chandler, is introducing another bill aimed at protecting Arizona homebuyers by requiring that all loan originators not just mortgage brokers and mortgage…

(State Capitol, Phoenix) In the Legislature's continuing effort to lower the cost of health care, Health Committee Chairman Bob Stump is seeking a tax credit for people who buy long-term care insurance. Stump, R-Peoria, is offering HB2319 in hopes of…