Legislature to focus on budget work beginning next week

The Legislature will stop all committee hearings March 1 to allow lawmakers to focus all their attention on the multibillion-dollar state budget deficit.

The Senate has suspended all committee hearings for the week, according to a memo from Senate President Bob Burns. Floor action and caucus meetings, however, will continue.

“The postponement allows members to give full attention to the issue Arizonans want addressed: completing budgets for FY 2010 and FY 2011,” according to Burns’ memo.

The House has canceled committee hearings on March 1. That chamber is expected to follow the Senate’s lead and cancel hearings for the rest of the week.

The move was expected. Lawmakers typically shift focus to the budget from other policy measures in the middle of session.