New computers for senators cost $116,000. House figures were not immediately available, but there are twice as many members.

Arizona lawmakers, who will decide how to best reduce the cost of government this year in the midst of a billion-dollar-plus budget deficit, received new laptop computers this session at a cost of about $400,000.

Assistants to senators also received new desktop computers, as did some assistants in the House.

The Senate's tally was $116,000 for 90 desktop computers, 65 laptop computers and accessories such as docking stations for the laptops. The House received 118 laptops, 102 desktops and accessories at a cost of $284,000.

The Senate information office said the previous administration – meaning Senate President Tim Bee and Speaker Jim Weiers – had requested the purchases.

The House and the Senate made separate purchases. But both orders were for the same type of computer equipment – the computers were manufactured by Hewlett-Packard.

The purchases were made because the existing computer systems were failing, according to the information office. Sen. Jorge Garcia, the minority leader, said as far as he knows, his old laptop was about five to six years old.

"I would come in, log in, get it running, go get my coffee, go to the restroom and get back and it would still be booting up," he said.

Sen. Paula Aboud, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned the timing of their purchase. She said she did not need a new computer.

"I was fine using my computer. I could have used my computer for another four years easily," Aboud told the ~Arizona Capitol Times~. "In this time of huge deficit, do we have money to burn or did somebody gift those to us?" 

The state faces a $1.2 billion budget deficit in fiscal 2009. Depending on how they solve this year's budget, that deficit could be as high as $3 billion next year.

Senate President Bob Burns said he was concerned when he found out about the order late last year. He said he had discussed the possibility of rolling back or reducing the size of the equipment order, but it was too late by that time. The purchase, apparently, has been in the works for months.

"It was a concern when I found that out as the incoming president, and I checked into it and when I asked what was going on with that, they said they are unloading the truck. They have already been shipped. They have already arrived," Burns said. "It was past the point of return."

House Minority Leader David Lujan, a Phoenix Democrat, said he welcomed the new computers. He said it would be nearly impossible for many lawmakers to perform their jobs without functioning computers.

"We do everything with them. We look at bills, follow what the Legislature is doing, communicate with constituents (by computer)," he said. "A lot of us take them home. They take quite a beating."