A Republican lawmaker has made a symbolic stand, voting against all bills brought to the Senate floor.
Sen. Karen Johnson said she will oppose all measures brought before the full Senate until the fiscal year 2008 budget is resolved, a decision that highlighted a frustration over the sluggish pace of reaching a resolution to the state’s budget woes.
“Until we have taken care of the budget, which is the most serious of all the problems that we have down here,” Johnson said, “I cannot in good conscience vote for any bills on the floor.”
Six bills were calendared for third reading on Feb. 11, and in some of them, Johnson cast the lone dissenting vote.
The Mesa lawmaker said she had told her caucus about her concerns. Some members also have expressed the same sentiment, she said.
Her floor statement was aimed at leadership, she said. Johnson said she would even vote against any bill she sponsored, to make the same point, if one of them goes up for a vote before a solution is reached to address the state’s budget shortfall.
Arizona is staring down a $1 billion budget deficit this fiscal year, and Republican and Democratic leaders from both chambers have met on and off to negotiate a resolution. Within the last few days, appropriations chairmen met with committee members to see where they stand and to come up with some type of a budget plan.
Senate Majority Thayer Verschoor said he understands Johnson’s point and appreciates her for standing up for her beliefs.
“But we do have the people’s business to do down here, and the budget is one of our biggest issues to deal with,” Verschoor said. “I think she makes a very good point, and she makes a very strong point.”
But there are many members with different ideas on how things should be done, he said.
“We weigh it all out and we try to do as best as we can, meeting all the needs of our members,” Verschoor said.
Senate President Time Bee said he appreciates Johnson’s concerns and added that the Mesa senator is entitled to proceed how she wishes.
“On the other hand, I’m looking at the schedule… and the few minutes it takes to vote bills on the floor is not going to delay in any way, I believe, the budget process,” he said. ?