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Programs for homeless, mentally ill would be axed
Cutting its budget by 15 percent would mean significant cuts in contributions to housing programs for the mentally ill and completely eliminating a homeless-prevention program, according to the Arizona Department of Housing.
AHCCCS reports it might have to eliminate KidsCare
Lawmakers this year eliminated a health care program for middle-class parents, but now the state-run health insurance program for children is on the chopping block. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System has reported it would have to eliminate the KidsCare program if it is required to trim 15 percent of its budget in the 2010 fiscal year.
Financial Department would be ineffective under 15% cuts
The Department of Financial Institution has reported a 15-percent reduction in its budget this year would make it impossible to achieve its core function and render the agency ineffective. The agency regulates Arizona's banks, credit unions and mortgage lending.
Corrections would release 13,000 prisoners if 15 percent cuts take effect
State prisons would release more than 13,000 convicts, shut down more than 15 prison units and eliminate more than 1,500 jobs if the Department of Corrections were forced to absorb a 15-percent cut to help close the state budget deficit.
Farmers, ranchers fear budget cuts to Agriculture Dept.
As Arizona continues to grapple with declining government revenue, the state's farming and ranching communities are warning that the Arizona Department of Agriculture has stretched its dollars to the limit. And the situation could grow worse, as Gov. Jan Brewer in September ordered state agencies to draft plans that predict the immediate effects on departments if their budgets are cut another 1[...]
Vanderpool wants to keep leading DPS
Roger Vanderpool hopes his performance as director of the state's largest police force will speak louder than his political history - two elections as Pinal County Sheriff as a Democrat and an appointment to his current post by a Democratic governor - when Arizona's Republican governor decides who will lead the department for the next five years.
Bad blood over bad check leads to indictment of boxing promoter
Boxing manager Joe Diaz hopes the indictment of a Phoenix fight promoter leads to bigger fish - namely, former boxing commissioner and Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox. Promoter Peter McKinn III was indicted Sept. 30 on five counts of forgery, theft, fraud and perjury stemming from a five-year-old dispute with Diaz. McKinn pleaded not guilty in an Oct. 8 arraignment.
State GOP says Sierra Club not welcome on tribal lands
The Hopi and Navajo nations have become central figures in a spat between two quarrelling political groups, the Sierra Club and Arizona Republican Party. Conflicting reports from the political organizations painted the picture in different ways. A Republican news release claimed that the Sierra Club was asked to leave the tribal nations, while the Sierra Club maintained that they are continuing[...]
Feds mum on Arpaio’s upcoming crime sweep
In response to the loss of his agreement with the federal government that authorized his agency to enforce immigration law on the streets, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio pushed up the date of his next crime suppression sweep to Oct. 16 and said he would deliver any illegal immigrants found by his deputies to the Border Patrol. Federal officials aren't saying how they will react if he makes goo[...]
Bare-bones Revenue Department would eliminate audits
An unintended consequence of a veto last month means the state agency tasked with collecting taxes is on the verge of laying off more than half of its staff, barring a budget fix to allow access to all of the money lawmakers gave it earlier this year. Anthony Forschino, the agency's assistant director, said the layoffs would still allow the Department of Revenue to function, but in a bare-bones[...]
GOP-led panel hears testimony on STO program
Members of a Republican-led committee met for the first time on Oct. 14 to examine possible weaknesses of a state law designed to make private schools more accessible to children... […]
Battle begins to bring F-35 fighters to Luke AFB
Taking center stage on an issue that has long been dear to her heart, Gov. Jan Brewer announced a campaign to help make Luke Air Force Base the primary training complex for the military’s F-35 Lightning joint-strike fighter.
