Russell Pearce to be reimbursed for recall campaign?

PHOENIX - Arizona legislators have formally launched a push for legislation that would allow the Legislature to consider reimbursing former state Sen. Russell Pearce for his campaign expenses in the November recall election that ousted him from office.

A conference committee late Wednesday approved a bill allowing repayment of what the Arizona Constitution calls "reasonable" expenses of an official who is the subject of a recall.

The bill doesn't provide an actual appropriation to reimburse all or part of Pearce's $262,000 of campaign spending, and supporters say future legislators will decide the amount if there's an application from Pearce.

They also said they're just putting into law something required by the constitution.

Critics dismissed that, saying the lawmakers' only motivation is to help Pearce.

The bill now awaits House and Senate votes.