Arizona Republic

Accusing the federal government of hampering local attempts to combat illegal immigration,state Sen. Russell Pearce, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and some of Arizona’s most hawkish public figures on border security pledged on Wednesday to redouble their efforts with new legislation and a citizens initiative. Critics, meanwhile, said the anti-migrant push figures to only complicate matters for area businesses already hammered by the recession.

A former Maricopa county assessor has started a petition drive to hold a referendum vote on several tax increases in Gilbert. The effort would need 1,749 signatures by July 31 to trigger a vote.

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City officials are considering a challenge to a recent Arizona Supreme Court ruling that requires officials to use a lower signature threshold to verify referendum petitions than previously used. On March 26 the Arizona Court of Appeals a lower court decision that held Phoenix’s method for evaluating petitions violated the state’s constitution. The case hinges on what election signature requirement should be tied to.

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