Will politicians set Arizona's future aflame with some bone-headed idea or a brazenly unconstitutional scheme?
That's the opening question from a New Times local reporter starting off a new news story with some strong words.
Unlike some "contributing writers" writing stories for The East Valley Tribune and The Arizona Republic, Flaherty pours the fuel on the new legislative session, starting with the water fight. He's got credentials and bravado.
What Fresh Hell Awaits During Arizona's New Legislative Session?
| January 7, 2019 | 7:30am
The Arizona Legislature, a notorious cauldron of bad ideas, will reconvene on Monday, January 14. What fresh hell awaits? Gage Skidmore/Flickr; New Times illustration by Zac McDonald
Joe Flaherty's report 07 Jan 2019
New legislators from Mesa represent LD 18,
LD 16 and LD 24
Over all these issues is the narrow Republican margin of control in the House. The Republicans lost seats in the House, reducing their margin from 35 during the last session to just 31. This 31-29 split between Republicans and Democrats means that one GOP dissenting voice can make life difficult for the majority.
Despite their efforts in several competitive districts, Democrats were unable to claw back the State Senate, so the 54th Legislature will be a continuation of last year's 17-13 Senate split
_________________________________________________________________________Joseph Flaherty is a staff writer at New Times.
Originally from Wisconsin, he is a graduate of Middlebury College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
Contact: Joseph Flaherty
Follow: Twitter: @flahertyjoseph
