Russell Pearce

Key legislative leaders want to ask Arizonans to repeal a constitutional amendment that bars legislators from trimming voter-approved programs.

And they want to take the issue to the ballot in a special election as early as March.

Russell Pearce, incoming chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said it will be virtually impossible to balance next year’s budget if almost half of the state’s spending is constitutionally off limits.

The Mesa Republican said lawmakers need the flexibility to make adjustments.

Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, who will be Pearce’s counterpart in the House, said putting the entire budget in play “would allow us to do (overall) cuts with more mercy.

Key legislative leaders want to ask Arizonans to repeal a constitutional amendment that bars legislators from trimming voter-approved programs.

And they want to take the issue to the ballot in a special election as early as March.

Russell Pearce, incoming chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said it will be virtually impossible to balance next year's budget if almost half of the state's spending is constitutionally off limits. The Mesa Republican said lawmakers need the flexibility to make adjustments.

Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, who will be Pearce's counterpart in the House, said putting the entire budget in play "would allow us to do (overall) cuts with more mercy.

Conservative leaders have been giddy about the new Senate Committee assignments from incoming President Bob Burns. They are particularly happy about the important Appropriations Committee. The important committee is headed by two freshmen Senators who are also two of the most conservative legislators Russell Pearce and Al Melvin. Joining them on the committee for the Republican majority are Pam Gorman, Sylvia Allen, Ron Gould, Jack Harper and Steve Pierce.

Full list of Appropriations Committee.

Chair: Sen.-elect Russell Pearce, R-18
Vice Chair: Sen.-elect Al Melvin, R-26
Members:
Sen. Paula Aboud, D-28
Sen. Amanda Aguirre, D-24
Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-5
Sen. Pamela Gorman, R-6
Sen. Ron Gould, R-3
Sen. Albert Hale, D-2
Sen. Jack Harper, R-4
Sen.-elect Steve Pierce, R-1
Sen. Rebecca Rios, D-23

State Senate Pres. Bob Burns (R-Peoria) has released committee assignments for the new legislative session, and incoming freshman occupy three of the 12 top slots.

Sens.-elect Russell Pearce (R-Mesa), Jonathan Paton (R-Tucson) and John Nelson (Glendale) will chair the Appropriations, Judiciary and Natural Resources committees, respectively, when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

None of the three are strangers to the Capitol, however, as all are sitting members of the Arizona House. Pearce is switching chambers but not job titles, as he chaired Appropriations in the House last session, whereas Nelson was chairman of the Committee on Counties, Municipalities and Military Affairs. This is Paton's first time with a gavel.

Legislative preview, House districts 16-20

LD16
LD16 is solid district for Democratic candidates and current Representatives Ben Miranda and Cloves Campbell are popular within the district. Both work hard to keep their name out there and should have little problem defending their seats against Republican Raymond Williams.

PHOENIX -- A group of prominent Republican legislators and public officials gathered outside the state capitol Wednesday to express their opposition to Proposition 202, the "Stop Hiring Illegals" ballot measure that would increase civil penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, but, according to opponents, would negate the current employer sanctions law passed by Arizonans only last year.

State Rep. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa), who is running for the Arizona Senate this year and has been an outspoken proponent of tougher immigration enforcement, spearheaded the event. He was joined by Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a handful of Republican lawmakers, Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen and representatives from the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

Pearce called the law a "piece of garbage," and said Prop. 202 would make it easier for employers to get away with hiring illegal workers.

"I don't apologize for demanding our laws be enforced," said Pearce.

The Arizona conservatives declared all out war on moderate Republicans they deemed not conservative enough and they won; big.

Conservative activists and blogs got behind both Sydney Hay in AZ-1 and David Schweikert in AZ-5 as their congressional candidates of choice and both ended up winning close primary races.

In the legislature they had even more success.  In the Senate they were able win every seat they targeted.  The were able to fend off a challenge of conservative favorite Jack Harper in LD4.  In LD1 newcomer Steve Pierce was able to knock off incumbent Senator Tom O'Halleran.  Conservatives put an all out effort in LD18 where Russell Pearce was able to easily hold off Kevin Gibbons.  The other senate race they concentrated on was in LD26 where their pick Al Melvin defeated Pete Hershberger.  

This week the Governor makes our list as a loser of the week despite being invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention.  Find out who joins Napolitano on this weeks Winners & Losers.

The Arizona chapter of the League of Conservation Voters released its annual scorecard Thursday, praising legislators in the latest session for being particularly environmentally conscious.

Calling the 48th legislative session "the silver lining session," the LCV said the bills  produced this year "offered hope for conservation efforts in Arizona."

There was a stark difference in overall scores between the state Senate and House. While Democrats fared better than Republicans in both, as is typically the case, GOP senators were not far behind their Democratic colleagues.