The state budget deficit is so severe that legislative leadership has blocked off the first week of the upcoming session to hold a Senate "Budget Summit" and a House "Boot Camp" to further explain to lawmakers just what they will be up against as they close billion-dollar budget deficits this year and next.

Sen. Bob Burns, a Republican who will be Senate president this year, reiterated that he will hold all bills until a budget solution is reached.

Burns said a weekly press conference will be held by the Senate to educate "the outside world" as to what's going on at the Legislature. "This is what is sometimes referred to as the biggest tar baby ever."

He made the remarks during the annual Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Legislative Luncheon.

Arizona is facing a $1.2 billion budget deficit in 2009 and a deficit of $3 billion in 2010.