The Fiesta Bowl game and its many related events have become a football extravaganza that kicks off the new year for the Phoenix area with national publicity and a hefty economic boost.

A California organization receives $11 million from another group based in Arizona, which received the cash from a separate group, which in turn had it funneled from a fourth, based near Washington, D.C. Drug cartel money headed for an offshore account?  No, just state electioneering in a post-Citizens United world.

The current state of campaign finance affairs, laid out in a report Thursday from Stateline, exemplifies how the growing role of independent national political groups is causing problems for state officials trying to enforce their own election laws. Independent spending had unprecedented influence on state elections this year, with millions of dollars in corporate and other outside money shaping races across the country.

'Stealth' budgeting and 'striker' bills eliminate public from the process

By Kathleen Ingley and Maureen West

Arizona’s legislative session this year was as hard to track as a Stealth bomber, even for many Capitol regulars.

A bill focused on attorney’s fees turned into a controversial measure about abortion. Other bills changed subjects too. And the Legislature took just one morning of public testimony about the budget. The real wrangling over state spending was done in two months of private meetings between the governor and legislative leaders. But the details of the blueprint weren’t public until lawmakers were on the floor ready to vote.

State integrity news for Arizona, from the Arizona Republic:

Seventy-two of nearly 200 state and legislative candidates in this year's election are choosing to run using Arizona's publicly funded Clean Elections program.

Voters concerned about corrupt candidates passed the act in 1998 after collecting enough signatures to put it on the ballot. Clean Elections candidates agree to not accept money from special-interest groups.

Read the rest of the story at the Arizona Republic.

State integrity news for Arizona, from the Arizona Republic:

Caitlin Ginley at the Washington, D.C.,-based Center for Public Integrity said tighter and clearer rules help keep government officials from bending to the temptations that often crop up.

The center this spring released its State Integrity Investigation, which graded all 50 states on transparency, accountability and anti-corruption measures. Arizona earned a D+, ranking 27th. Arizona's legislative accountability rated a D+ and lobbying disclosure an F. The report noted the likelihood for corruption is greater when fewer safeguards are in place.

Read the rest of the story at the Arizona Republic.

State integrity news for Arizona, from the Arizona Republic:

In the realm of free-market ethics, it is known as enlightened self-interest -- an activity advancing the betterment of the community while at the same time also benefiting the people promoting the activity.

It would benefit the community of Arizona if state lawmakers would put into law a coherent framework for what is acceptable in terms of politicians accepting gifts. Voter cynicism might abate. Voter participation, as a result, might rise.

Read the rest of the story at the Arizona Republic.

State integrity news for Arizona, from the Arizona Capitol Times:

The Arizona Senate is rejecting a series of ethics measures proposed in the wake of the 2011 Fiesta Bowl scandal.

One of the proposals voted down Thursday would have banned lobbyists from giving free meals to legislators. Others would have prohibited campaign contributions by lobbyists to legislators or candidates for the Legislature and barred legislators from accepting free trips or tickets to sports or entertainment events.

Read the rest of the story at the Arizona Capitol Times.

State integrity news for Arizona, from the Arizona Republic:

Suddenly, former state Sen. Scott Bundgaard is looking like a choir boy. For the second time this year, investigators have recommended that our leaders oust one of their own. First, it was Bundgaard, for fighting with his girlfriend.

And now Rep. Daniel Patterson, for fighting with his girlfriend and just about everybody else. The Patterson sideshow took center stage on Monday as attorneys for the House Ethics Committee recommended that the Tucson Democrat be expelled and his colleagues asked that he be barred from the building.

Read the rest of the story at the Arizona Republic.

State integrity news for Arizona, from the Arizona Republic:

The study was conducted by the Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C., which based its grading system on laws in each state that demonstrate transparency and accountability in government. On a scale of A to F, we got a D+.

Our grade probably dipped a bit based on "legislative accountability" and "lobbying disclosure" after the center's folks found out that none of the Arizona legislators who took thousands of dollars in trips, hotel rooms, tickets, meals and other goodies from the Fiesta Bowl got into any trouble.

Read the rest of the story at the Arizona Republic.

Corruption news for Arizona, from ABC 15:

As if there just hasn’t been enough scandal at the Arizona Legislature this year, political observers will get a fresh look this week at two salacious stories that will begin to further unfold. This session has had its share of scandal. In January, Peoria Republican Scott Bundgaard resigned from the Senate, moments before he was scheduled to testify in an ethics trial to determine whether he should be punished for a fight he got into with his ex-girlfriend last year.

So far, allegations of ethical and criminal misconduct have forced two members from the Legislature – Bundgaard and Richard Miranda – and Daniel Patterson could be the third. Does anyone remember when elections were the main cause of turnover at the Legislature?

Read the rest of the story at ABC 15.