Arizona Politics News

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The final numbers are now in for the City of Tucson election. As of 20:49:10 on November 6, 2009. with 100% of precincts reporting, here are the unofficial results:

City Council Ward 3

Karin Uhlich (D)   33,760  46.99%

Ben Buehler-Garcia (R)   33,656  46.72%

Mary DeCamp (G)   4,425  6.16%

City Council Ward 5

Richard Fimbres (D) 37,728  53.12%

Shaun McClusky (R)  33,129  46.65%

City Council Ward 6

Nina Trasoff (D)     34,675  48.62%

Steve Kozachik (R)     36,403  51.04%

Prop. 200 Public Safety First Initiative

Yes 21,868  29.79%

No   51,546  70.21%

Prop. 400 Home Rule Budget Override

Yes 35,343  49.35%

No   36,270  50.65%

Prop. 401 TUSD Operations Budget Override

Yes 29,503  41.27%

No   41,977  58.73%

Prop. 402 TUSD Technology Budget Override

Yes 27,974  39.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Arizona's Senator Obstruction, Jon Kyl, tied up the unemployment benefits extension bill in the U.S. Senate for weeks based upon petty partisanship and parliamentary maneuvering.

The bill bogged down in the Senate, first when senators from states with lower jobless rates demanded that the extension apply to all people exhausting their benefits, then with negotiations over adding the homebuyer and business tax credits. Then, Republicans held up floor action when Democrats blocked them from offering amendments on matters unrelated to the base bill.

"Opponents have put up obstacles at every turn to delay the passage of this bill, and as a result of these delaying tactics approximately 200,000 workers have lost their benefits in this last month," said Sen.

For the second time in two years, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns is going to court to contest what local governments believe are illegal moves by the state Legislature and Gov. Jan Brewer.
At issue are a two-year freeze on development-impact fees and building-code revisions, as well as a provision that cities and towns cannot provide any services to people unless those individuals show proof of citizenship.
"Somebody could come in, get a library card and, theoretically, the librarian can get sued," said Peoria Mayor Bob Barrett, who is a member of the league's executive committee.
Asked why not just ...

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The New York Times recently reported on Arizona privatizing its prisons, including turning over control of its Death Row to private companies. Arizona May Turn Death Row Over to Private Companies:

It is a dangerous place to patrol, and Arizona spends $4.7 million each year to house inmates like [Dale] Hausner in a super-maximum-security prison. But in a first in the criminal justice world, the state’s death row inmates could become the responsibility of a private company.

State officials will soon seek bids from private companies for 9 of the state’s 10 prison complexes that house roughly 40,000 inmates, including the 127 here on death row.