October 28, 2004

PHOENIX - Embarrassed officials at the agency that oversees the state's public campaign financing system and monitors candidates' spending acknowledge that they underreported their own annual spending by $2 million.

The Goldwater Institute has filed a formal appeal that asks the U.S. Supreme Court to permanently strike down the “matching funds” portion of Arizona’s taxpayer-funded campaign finance system. The watchdog group’s appeal in McComish v. Bennett has nationwide implications because similar systems exist in other states.

The state agency trying to pry Scottsdale Rep. David Burnell Smith from office has targeted him because of his ideolog y, he said during a debate Thursday.

The state agency trying to pry Scottsdale Rep. David Burnell Smith from office has targeted him because of his ideolog y, he said during a debate Thursday.

Two Arizona congressmen have been linked to the influential Washington lobbyist who pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion.

What's this? Could it be that certain reform-minded advocacy groups in Washington are themselves guilty of what they endlessly accuse others of being guilty of? Could it be that the donations they get from interested parties keep them from pursuing their causes impartially, but instead influence them to be unfair?

Marilynn Wennerstrom has had quite a run with the city of Mesa.

An activist group that backed board members’ elections, a superintendent’s removal and a state investigation that shook the Scottsdale Unified School District is back.

 I read with disbelief a recent story that said university presidents’ salaries are on the rise. What in God’s name makes these people worth more than the Department of Economic Security budget?

Health care companies and firms related to the construction industry have contributed nearly $160,000 to a campaign aimed at passing a nearly $1 billion community college bond measure Nov. 2.

October 4, 2004

October 22, 2004

October 22, 2004

The Maricopa Community College District has been using public resources to promote a nearly $1 billion bond measure, soliciting support from employees and the public through its e-mail system and sending senior staff to fund-raisers, a Tribune review has found.

Mitt Romney rolled out his Arizona fundraising team this week, a move that indicates the former Massachusetts governor intends to take the fight for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination straight to Sen. John McCain —and in McCain’s home state.

Government by the people carries a high price in Arizona.

Government by the people carries a high price in Arizona.

Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman makes no apologies for being friendly toward developers.

WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain pressed a cable company’s case for pricing changes with regulators at the same time a tax-exempt group that he co-founded solicited $200,000 in contributions from the company.

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NEW YORK - As its hurricane relief donations near the $1 billion mark, more than double all other charities combined, the American Red Cross is encountering sharp criticism of its efforts and mounting pressure to share funds with smaller groups.

WASHINGTON  — A strong force, perhaps as powerful in Congress as President Barack Obama, is keeping the drive for health care going even as lawmakers seem hopelessly at odds.

WASHINGTON — In a measured break with a half-century of U.S. policy toward communist Cuba, the Obama administration lifted restrictions Monday on Cuban-Americans who want to travel and send money to their island homeland.