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Senate President Bob Burns provided a statement to the media late June 10 to clarify that legislative leaders have not reached a final budget agreement with the governor.

Women who seek an abortion will have to wait at least 24 hours between the time they speak to a doctor about terminating a pregnancy and the actual procedure, under legislation adopted by a Senate committee June 10.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation June 9 to expand the corporate income tax credit to include insurance companies.

Legislative leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer have reached a tentative agreement to move forward with a one-cent sales tax increase as part of the budget, a top Republican said June 10. "There is basically a tentative agreement to go forward with a one-cent sales tax (increase)," Senate President Bob Burns said.

A Senate panel has rejected a measure that would allow motorists whose license plates are obscured to avoid paying a fine if caught. Last year, lawmakers passed a state law to prohibit the obstruction of the name of the state on Arizona license plates. Violating the law is a civil offense and carries a fine of $110 to $200.

Senators honored the late Jake Flake and unveiled a clay bust of him on June 8. Franklin Lars Flake was serving as a Republican senator last year when he fell off of his horse and died several days later from related injuries. He died on June 8, 2008 at age 72.

A Senate panel has approved legislation to allow people who have concealed-weapons permits to bring a handgun into restaurants that sell alcohol. By the time the committee hearing was held June 8, though, the debate had shifted from whether to have weapons in restaurants to how best to implement the policy.

The Senate began hearing scores of bills June 8 following Senate President Burns' decision to shift strategy and open the floodgates for regular measures.

Senate President Bob Burns has lit a path toward compromise with Gov. Jan Brewer on a final budget for fiscal 2010. On June 4, Burns said he wants to discuss ways in which Brewer can advance her five-point economic plan, which includes a $1 billion tax increase.

There were a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvers and drama leading to the Senate’s budget vote on June 4. Senate President Bob Burns and House Speaker Kirk Adams met with Sen. John Nelson, a Republican from Glendale, in Burns’ office to try to get his buy-in.