By Jeremy Duda | Arizona Capitol Times
The Citizens Clean Elections Commission insists that it isn’t subject to Gov. Doug Ducey’s recent executive order banning state entities from hiring contract lobbyists, setting the stage for what may be the next installment of the ongoing battle raging over the extent of the commission’s authority.
For now, the commission is asking Department of Administration Director Craig Brown for a formal exemption from Ducey’s lobbying ban, which would render moot any potential disputes over whether the executive order applies to it. But Clean Elections Executive Director Tom Collins made clear that the commission does not believe Brown has the authority to decide whether it contracts with an outside lobbyist, leaving open the question of what happens next if the request is denied.
