The fate of two-months-overdue budget aimed at solving a $3.2 billion deficit now rests in the hands of Gov. Jan Brewer, as lawmakers delivered the plan to her eight weeks into a special legislative session called specifically to address the financial problems.

So far, Arizona has spent more money this fiscal year than it did during the same period last year. Between July 1 and Aug. 17, the state spent $164 million more than it did during the same period in 2008, according to figures provided by the state Treasure’s Office.

Running out of time and options, Republican leadership in the Senate has turned its attention to a handful of Democrats to cajole their support for a ballot referral on a sales tax increase.

Former lawmaker Brenda Burns has issued a press release announcing she had collected more than 4,000 petition signatures in her candidacy for the vacant seat on the Corporation Commission. Commissioner Kris Mayes will reach her term limit this year. Burns’ announcement also contained a lengthy list of endorsements. Since 2003 Burns has been principal of a public affairs [...]

The same day Arizona counties were required by law to adopt property tax rates, a House panel gave its approval to a measure that would eliminate a statewide property tax. Republican lawmakers have been working for months to permanently repeal the county equalization tax, which has been suspended since 2006. But the repeal, which was [...]

On September 1, Daniel Scarpinato, the Capitol correspondent for the Arizona Daily Star, will become editor of the Yellow Sheet Report, a subscription, Web-based, daily newsletter covering politics and government.

Arizonans may no longer be able to take pride that things here haven’t gotten as bad as in California. State Treasurer Dean Martin said Arizona may need to start issuing IOUs if the Legislature and Gov. Jan Brewer fail to approve a budget by Aug. 17.

***UPDATED AT 8:45 P.M.***
After about seven months of trying, Republican leaders arrived at the Capitol on Aug. 12 with hopes that they had finally corralled enough votes in the Senate, including the support of a Democrat, to pass a budget for fiscal year 2010. But all that evaporated when a senator whose support Republicans were counting on was absent from the floor.

The Senate has amended one of the budget bills to remove the provision that called for a ballot referral for the suspension of Proposition 105.

A prominent Arizona sheriff who became an icon to conservatives across the United States is considering a run for governor. Hint: It’s not Joe Arpaio.