By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via Arizona Capitol Times
State utility regulator Bob Burns wants a quick ruling on his bid to get records from Arizona Public Service to see if two of his colleagues should be barred from voting on the company’s latest rate hike request.
William Richards, attorney for Bob Burns, said his client needs to know – and soon – whether Maricopa County Superior Court Judge James Blomo will grant his demand that APS and parent company Pinnacle West Capital Corp. disclose the money it spent in 2014 to try to affect the outcome of the Arizona Corporation Commission race. Burns also has issued subpoenas for information on donations, advertising and marketing.
The companies at first sued to block the move and then withdrew their objections, a move that resulted in Burns’ colleagues refusing to continue to pay his legal fees. Undeterred, Burns filed his own lawsuit arguing he has a constitutional right to the information.