May 18, 2005

House and Senate Democrats chose leaders Thursday who are likely to continue to push the same priorities as before -- but perhaps with a bit more success because of increased numbers.

Sen. Jon Kyl is seeking to become the Senate minority whip, the No. 2 leadership position among Senate Republicans.

Incoming Gov. Jan Brewer chose former Senate president Ken Bennett on Friday to succeed her as secretary of state.

If U.S. House Republicans have learned any lessons from the Nov. 7 elections, they will name Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona today as their second-in-command for the next two-year session.

In 1964, Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater delivered the words that simultaneously defined a conservative political force and doomed his presidential campaign:

A Senate star is born, another is disappearing from the political firmament, and meanwhile the Republicans have solidified their hold on that body, meaning that it will be easier to confirm strict-constructionist judges and to pass measures dear to Republican hearts.

A measure on the November ballot could keep minor party candidates from ever becoming governor.

Legislative leaders said Thursday they have agreed on a tentative $10.6 billion state budget, but are remaining quiet about many of the details.

The leader of the state Republican Party is blasting the decision by Gov. Janet Napolitano to name her press aide as the new state utility regulator.

PHOENIX - Republican legislative leaders released a proposed state budget Thursday that would reduce income and property taxes over two years and provide new spending for education, border security and highway construction.

Gov. Jan Brewer and legislative leaders were working late Tuesday to put a plan back together to adopt a new budget before the fiscal year ended at midnight.

David Schapira

WASHINGTON - Senate leaders reached a deal Thursday on reviving a broad immigration bill that could provide millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens and said they'll try to pass it before Memorial Day.

WASHINGTON - Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito is "clearly within the mainstream" and shouldn't be filibustered, declared a Republican who helped fashion a plan limiting parliamentary roadblocks for judicial nominees.

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans on Wednesday scuttled an attempt by Sen. Hillary Clinton to establish an independent, bipartisan panel patterned after the 9/11 Commission to investigate what went wrong with federal, state and local governments' response to Hurricane Katrina.

WASHINGTON - John Roberts, certain to win confirmation as the nation's 17th chief justice, was hailed by Republicans as the "brightest of the bright" as the Senate on Monday began its first Supreme Court confirmation debate in more than a decade.

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history.

WASHINGTON - A lengthy Senate floor debate on the Iraq war is inevitable, despite a Republican effort to block it, Democrats say. Following a procedural vote Monday that sidetracked a resolution on the war, Democrats said they would eventually find a way to put each senator on record.

May 24, 2005

An East Valley lawmaker and leading legislative proponent of easing state gun laws carries her weapon into the Senate building — an apparent violation of state law.

WASHINGTON - House-passed legislation boosting the federal minimum wage moves to the Senate, where Democrats intend to add billions of dollars in tax breaks to make it easier for business to swallow.

WASHINGTON - A group of senators including a Republican war critic announced agreement Wednesday on a resolution opposing President Bush's 21,500 troop buildup in Iraq, setting their marker for a major clash between the White House and Congress over the unpopular war.