John Kavanagh

Today a group of 15 Arizona legislators hurled the latest volley in the battle between Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and the Arizona Bar Association, writing a letter in support of Thomas and calling for sanctions against the Bar.

"Obviously it is time to curtail the powers and duties of the State Bar," read the letter, which was signed by a group of Republican members of the Arizona House and Senate. The lawmakers said the ABA "is violating the principles of the separation of powers" by attempting disciplinary action against Thomas. Thomas claims that the ethics complaints that have been lodged against him through the Bar are "retaliation" for trying to enforce Proposition 100, which was passed by a large majority of voters in 2006 and denies bail to illegal immigrants.

Thomas filed a complaint against the Arizona Bar Association with the state Supreme Court, which has oversight of the ABA. In the letter, the legislators applauded his move and recommended the Bar's oversight powers be "shifted to the Court or to an independent agency."

After a Democratic effort to hold it back, the Senate will now consider a bill that seeks to strip the memorial of a dozen controversial inscriptions. 

Former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert has picked up the support of some prominent elected officials in his primary bid to run against CD5 Democratic Congressman Harry Mitchell.  read more »

Rep. John Kavanagh has come up with a compromise to end the dispute about certain inscriptions on a proposed Arizona 9/11 Memorial.  Kavanagh wants to replace the inscriptions with a timeline on the days events.  The compromise seems to have enough support to get it through the house.