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Revenue slides again; deficit grows by $230M
Nearly one-fifth of the state’s general fund revenues eroded in the 2009 fiscal year, the largest decline on record since World War II. New revenue figures show the state was short nearly $479 million in fiscal 2009, which ended June 30.
House minority leader gives Legislature an ‘F’
In January, House Minority Leader David Lujan said it would be up to the leaders of the Republican majority caucus to determine what role Democrats would play in the legislative session. They ended up being sidelined and were never included in the process by Republican leaders or GOP Gov. Jan Brewer.
A session to remember – even if you don’t want to
The wear and tear of the 2009 session was visible on the faces of virtually every legislator, lobbyist and staffer at the Capitol, leaving little doubt that this year will be etched into the memories of those who watched it.
Scores of sidelined bills coming back in 2010
Lawmakers may not be finished with their work for the year, but many are already looking ahead to 2010, when they can resurrect the plethora of bills that fell victim... […]
Burns’ gambit: Inside Senate president’s strategy
Lawmakers and legislative staff members say there are two distinct sides to Bob Burns: The ideological Burns shows up in January, and the pragmatist Burns usually winds down the session.
Garcia says he needed 1 more Dem in Senate
This year, Democrats occasionally helped to pass time-sensitive legislation, including measures that ensured Arizona would get federal stimulus money. But, for the most part, Senate Minority Leader Jorge Luis Garcia and his fellow Democrats watched from the sidelines as Republicans unilaterally crafted budget bills and other legislation.
Lawmakers whiff as fewer bills pass
Lawmakers saw little success in 2009 when it came to getting legislation approved. Much like the mighty Casey of baseball lore, representatives and senators were sent back to the dugout with little to show for their turn at bat.
The struggle over the role of religion in schools
(Note: This is the second part of a series on a new law signed by Gov. Jan Brewer that will change how Arizona schools address daily conflicts between freedom of religious expression and the U.S. Constitution’s non-establishment clause.)
No budget this week; session will drag into Aug.
The Senate met for a few minutes today (July 31), but only to adjourn the special session until Aug. 4. Even then, though, it’s not clear whether leaders in the Senate will be able to gather enough votes to pass the budget legislation that has tied them up for the past several days.
Brewer reflects on tumultuous first session as guv
From the moment she took office in January, Jan Brewer has faced the greatest budget crisis in state history. And from the moment she proposed her solution – a temporary tax increase – she has faced unyielding resistance from many of her fellow Republicans in the Legislature. Here's what Brewer had to say about it:
Repeal of foreclosure bill included in budget
The budget package passed by the House includes the repeal of a bill that was originally intended to help lenders recoup losses from foreclosed homes.
Senate falls one vote short, may try again today
Despite intense lobbying, Republican leaders failed to persuade Sen. Pamela Gorman to vote for a referral for a sales tax increase. Brewer talked with Gorman, the majority whip, for more than an hour at Gorman's Senate office, but the governor was apparently unable to persuade the senator to change her mind.
