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Proposed sales tax hike blocks budget deal
With the clock ticking, lawmakers and the governor held a series of closed-door meetings leading up to the Sept. 5 deadline for action on a slate of budget bills. But the negotiations did not produce the outcome Gov. Jan Brewer had desired - a bipartisan coalition of support for a special election to temporarily raise the sales tax to help balance the budget.
Unbalanced budget poses a legal quagmire
The Arizona Constitution requires the enactment of a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year before July 1. But two months into the fiscal 2010, the budget in place was not signed or balanced, even on paper.
Health Services director Humble can’t shake ‘interim’ tag
Will Humble was named in January as the interim director at the Arizona Department of Health Services, replacing January Contreras. Nearly eight months later, Brewer has nearly finished filling the department head positions that traditionally change when a new governor takes residence on the Ninth Floor.
Brewer signs criminal justice budget bill
With a stroke of her pen, Gov. Jan Brewer averted a possible shutdown of the state’s police force, which could have led to fewer officers patrolling highways and the closure of the state crime lab.
Connecticut ruling looms over AZ Clean Elections
Opponents of Arizona's system of publicly funded campaigns were further encouraged by a federal judge's Aug. 27 decision to eliminate Connecticut's campaign finance reform method in entirety. The ruling by District of Connecticut Judge Stefan Underhill blasted the state's Citizens' Election Program, a voluntary program enacted in 2005 to provide legislative and statewide candidates with public [...]
Garcia: Budget talks ‘still alive’
Bipartisan budget talks took place Sept. 1 - but only between Senate leaders and the governor.
Brewer cancels Mexico trip
The day before her scheduled departure for a border governors' conference in Mexico, Gov. Jan Brewer announced that she will stay in Arizona to continue working on the protracted budget crisis.
Democratic leader: Five-party talks fall apart
Last-ditch budget negotiations between Republicans and Democrats appear to have fallen apart, which makes it unlikely Gov. Jan Brewer will see her sales-tax-increase proposal on a ballot any time soon.
DPS relies on loans; money needed by Sept. 11
In two weeks, Highway Patrol cars could be sitting empty in government parking lots and the state crime lab could be bereft of forensic criminologists if Gov. Jan Brewer doesn't sign a budget bill nearly identical to one she vetoed nearly two months ago.
Wercinski announces candidacy for Secretary of State
Former Arizona Real Estate Commissioner Sam Wercinski has announced he will run for Secretary of State. Wercinski, a former Air Force officer, issued a press release and a call for contributions on Aug. 28 after concluding a six week campaign organizing effort.
Medical alert: Short on vaccine, state prepares for flu pandemic
If you think the flu season is fast approaching, think again - health authorities say it never really left. Active cases of swine flu are popping up in virtually every Arizona county, which is especially unusual during the state's hot summer months.
Tax appeals skyrocket as home values plummet
After learning in February that 99 percent of all Maricopa County homeowners could expect to see the value of their homes decrease from the previous year, Gregory Sarena was stunned to learn the county assessor concluded his Cave Creek residence had gone up 20 percent within one year.
