Is it over≠Sen. Thayer Verschoor peeks to see if the Senate’s still in session late into the night. It is

“We end the session. We passed the budget and we got some tax cuts. We end the session, We’re way too slow, the lobbyists know.” — Refrain from Senate President Ken Bennett’s sine die song, sung to the melody of Billy Joel’s “We didn’t start the fire,” as the Second Regular Session of the 47th Arizona Legislature finally adjourned at 12:12 a.m. June 22.
The House had adjourned at 11:28 p.m., and senators were waiting for the final paperwork required to adjourn the session sine die.
Senate President Ken Bennett, one of six senators who will not be returning to the Legislature next year, was in his office practicing the adjournment song he had written — a tradition since the Prescott Republican came to the Senate in 1999.
Other senators, including Democrat Leader Linda Aguirre, who is leaving to run for justice of the peace in south Phoenix, were in their offices reminiscing about the fifth longest session in state history and discussing the major bills they disposed of on the final day, some of which were previously killed, but then resurrected as ballot measures or by other means.
The day had been preceded by many days of waiting and complaining as leadership renewed budget negotiations with Governor Napolitano that led to a $10 billion spending agreement plus $500 million in tax cuts.
With pigs under their arms, Sens. Ron Gould, R-3, and Jack Harper, R-4, in early May complained about the “pork” in the budget.
“Aguirre for JP. Gould’s pig didn’t pee,” Mr. Bennett would later sing.
Day 164 also was a time for accolades, angst and antics.
Mr. Bennett was praised by many senators and Speaker Jim Weiers as a skilled consensus builder and tireless worker.
Following some laudatory statements about the Senate leader, Sen. Carolyn Allen, R-8, however, asked him in open session why he refused to forward the nomination of Jennifer Martin to the Game and Fish Commission.
Mr. Bennett, also asked the same question a little later by Sen. Edward Ableser, D-17, would not answer.
“It’s petty politics as usual,” Ms. Allen later told Arizona Capitol Times. “The governor’s appointments should be voted on.”
Ms. Allen said she believes that lobbyist Suzanne Gilstrap is behind the opposition to Ms. Martin’s nomination because the wildlife biologist would have replaced her husband, Hayes Gilstrap, on the commission.
“They want someone they can control,” said Ms. Allen of commission members.
Ms. Allen is still feeling the sting of the governor’s veto of her bill to raise the burden of proof of medical malpractice in emergency rooms.
Allen fights for med mal; Janet’s not so much her pal, Mr. Bennett’s song continued.
Mr. Ableser, appointed to complete the term of Harry Mitchell, who is running for Congress, has shown no shyness as a young and new member, often picking up his microphone and criticizing conservative points of view.
On the final night of business, someone duct taped Mr. Ableser’s microphone to his desk. He spoke, nevertheless, on his knees.
“We end the session. We passed the budget and we got some tax cuts.
Brotherton’s our legal eagle; Hale thinks we’re all illegal.”
As predicted before the session convened, illegal immigration would be the paramount issue for the Legislature. Sen. Bill Brotherton, D-14, an attorney who announced earlier this month he will not run for re-election, fought unsuccessfully all session for tough penalties against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Sen. Albert Hale, D-2, a former president of the Navajo Nation, several times reminded his colleagues that Native Americans were the first American citizens.
In his final speech in the Senate, Mr. Brotherton said, “I would like to say that in the eight years I’ve served here, I’ve enjoyed everyone I’ve served with, but that would be a lie.”
DES director resigns
Overshadowed in the final day of the session was news that David Berns, Department of Economic Security director, will be taking a job in Seattle. Meanwhile, the Legislature failed to pass a bill (S1430) on the final day that would have raised the burden of proof for abuse and neglect for keeping a child in state custody.
Sen. Karen Johnson, R-18, a critic of Child Protective Services, said Governor Napolitano’s appointment of Tracy Wareing to replace Mr. Berns means the governor will have “a tighter grasp” on the agency.
Another major issue this session was election reform, specifically legislation to require manual recounts in 2 percent of precincts as a check against electronic voting machine results. After much debate and negotiation, Ms. Johnson’s bill (S1557) was passed and sent to Ms. Napolitano the final week of the session. Its passage, she said, was “a miracle.”
“I give all the credit to God,” she said. “I’ve never worked on a bill that had so many hurdles to overcome.”
Sen. Paula Aboud, D-28, called the bill the most important election reform in the state’s history, adding it could not have been passed without Ms. Johnson’s work.
Bee wants to follow me.
Mr. Bennett’s song noted that Sen. Tim Bee, his majority leader, is one of four candidates for Senate president next year. The others are Sens. Robert Burns, R-9, Robert Blendu, R-12, and Jay Tibshraeny, R-21.
We end the session. We’re way too slow, the lobbyists know.
Do the math
Lobbyists were lining the halls the final night of the session, and just before he gaveled things to a close on legislative day 164, Mr. Bennett made an admission, albeit with a twist. He noted that Speaker Weiers had projected an 82-day session, and he admitted he made the same optimistic prediction.
“We were both right,” he said, but only if you add 82 and 82.