The Senate Judiciary Committee shoots down Rep. Randy Graf's bill to block the Tucson City Council from requiring background checks on private firearm transactions at the Tucson Convention Center. Not to worry: Local elected officials lost interest in the issue months ago anyhow.
BORED OF THE RINGS?
On a 25-0 vote, the Senate passes a bill penalizing telemarketers who dial up households who register on the forthcoming federal "no-call" list. Opponents complain regulations will deprive Arizonans of valuable opportunities to change long-distance services.
DEADLINE PASSES
A bill to shorten the amount of time allowed to collect signatures for initiative efforts dies in Senate Judiciary Committee on a 4-4 vote.
CLEAN BREAK
The U.S. Supreme Court rejects a challenge to constitutionality of Arizona's Clean Elections program, which provides public campaign funds for qualifying candidates. Opponents promise to take program to the ballot in 2004.
NOTE OF RESIGNATION
Four members of the Arizona Corporation Commission call on a fifth commissioner, Jim Irvin, to resign in wake of $60 million civil court judgment against him. Irvin's response: Hey, I'm just accused of improperly using my office's influence! It's not as if I got a knobjob from an intern!
