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Day 3: Tracking the special session
The special session continues today as lawmakers try to hammer out a deal on a budget plan that would eliminate the $700 million deficit remaining in the fiscal 2010 budget and another $2.6 billion deficit in the fiscal 2011 budget. Lawmakers hope to vote on the bills today.
Day 2: Tracking the special session
The special session continues today as lawmakers try to hammer out a deal on a budget plan that would eliminate the $700 million deficit remaining in the fiscal 2010 budget and another $2.6 billion deficit in the fiscal 2011 budget. Click here for updates.
Day 1: Tracking the special session
The second special session of the year began just after 2 p.m. today. Click here for updates.
O’Connor’s project: Usher in second century of statehood with new direction
Years ago, an old adobe house in Paradise Valley was known as a place where politicians and community leaders gathered for Mexican food, beer and cross-party solidarity.
Campaign finance now in uncharted territory
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that corporations and labor unions can spend freely on political campaigns, Arizona has a simple choice - create new regulations to monitor that type of spending, or run the risk of an entire election cycle being dominated by millions of dollars worth of anonymous advertising.
States rush to catch up with campaign finance ruling
Arizona is moving quickly to rewrite its laws in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows corporations and labor unions to spend money directly on political campaigns, but a handful of states might be in legal limbo until after the 2010 elections.
Lawmakers hope to gain more than they lose on incentives for movie companies
Despite the bone-dry coffers of state government, Republican lawmakers are trying to provide new tax breaks for - get this - the movie industry.
Taxes on smokes, Cokes and booze might save AHCCCS
Alcohol, tobacco and soft drinks have been targeted for tax increases as a group representing hospitals and health care providers searches for a revenue source that will pass muster with voters while generating enough money to maintain Arizona's Medicaid program.
Brewer campaign targets treasurer; Martin calls himself ‘frontrunner’
Gov. Jan Brewer's campaign launched an online offensive against state Treasurer Dean Martin aimed at undercutting his persona as the fiscally conservative nemesis of former Gov. Janet Napolitano. Martin, meanwhile, said the series of attacks was an attempt to derail his frontrunner status.
Burns proposes new controls on state borrowing, debt repayment
Senate President Bob Burns said he will propose a ballot measure to cap the state's ability to take on new debt. First, he wants to remove the debt limitation in the Arizona Constitution, which is $350,000. That limit has been in place since the state's founding in 1912.
Brewer wants tax hike or targeted cuts to schools, cities
In an attempt to curry public support for her sales tax increase proposal, Gov. Jan Brewer has sought to make deep cuts to education and to allow the state to keep some of the money it normally shares with cities if voters reject the temporary tax increase in May's special election.
Budget plan shifts cost of jailing juveniles to cities, counties
Lawmakers are tossing around a budget plan that would shutter the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, put counties in charge of incarcerating juveniles and shift some of the cost to municipalities.
