On March 11, 2020, Gov. Doug Ducey issued his first emergency declaration. However, in that time Ducey only convened the State Emergency Council once.SB 1719 unanimously passed in the Arizona Senate would force Ducey and future governors to convene the council within 14 days of an emergency declaration. Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios calls the measure “a simple,
Senate moves to restrict early voting
A school crossing guard stops cars for voters entering a polling station, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Republican senators are moving on two fronts to erect new hurdles in the path of those who want to vote early.
On a party-line vote, GOP senators on Monday decided to scrap existing laws which determine the validity of early ballots based solely on county election workers matching their signatures on the envelopes with what’s on file.
Instead, they would need to provide an affidavit with their date of birth and the number of a state driver’s license, identification card or tribal enrollment card.
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For at least two weeks in February, two pit stops in the legislative process at the Arizona Capitol were conducted entirely behind closed doors.The media and general public were barred from meetings of the Senate Rules Committee and caucus, where Republicans and Democrats huddle amongst themselves to discuss bills.
Democrats irked at barefaced Republicans, don’t file complaints
Rep. Judy Burges, R-Prescott, and Rep. Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott Valley, are sworn in as new members during the opening of the Arizona Legislature at the state Capitol Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Phoenix. The House Republican caucus had separate swearing-in ceremonies for masked and barefaced lawmakers. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, Pool)
A month into the legislative session, nobody has yet filed a formal complaint about lawmakers who deliberately disregard the Covid safety guidelines set up by the House and Senate to ensure the safety of lawmakers, staff and visitors.
But Senate Democrats say that after pleading with Republicans to follow the rules and lodging verbal complaints with Senate leadership, they’re ready to take the next step and file formal complaints.