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Cost of jailing illegal immigrants soars; feds plan to cancel funding
The Legislature and the governor have approved a two-bill package that suspends payment of $300 million to school districts until next fiscal year and instead allows districts to tap into their excess cash balances to cover ongoing expenses.
Former Realty Executive to head Department of Real Estate
Gov. Jan Brewer on May 14 named Judy Lowe, the former president and owner of Realty Executives Southern Arizona, as the next director of the Arizona Department of Real Estate.
Dems stockpiling political ammunition for 2010
Democrats have tried nearly every conceivable strategy in the past four months and have, at times, sounded like a broken record as they seek an invitation from Republicans to negotiate the fiscal 2010 budget.
Brewer’s approval rating depends on definition of ‘fair’
How people define the word “fair” may make the difference in whether Gov. Jan Brewer’s approval rating among voters is abysmally low or relatively high.
With $650-million budget hole fixed, lawmakers tackle the Big One
Now that the fiscal 2009 budget gap has been readjusted — hopefully for the last time — leaders will hunker down and try once more to hammer out a deal on the fiscal 2010 budget. “We got a lot to do on (fiscal 2010) yet,” Senate President Bob Burns said May 13, the day the Legislature fixed a $650-million hole in the fiscal 2009 budget.
Deficit figure still a moving target
Lawmakers and budget officials have been estimating the deficit of the upcoming fiscal year at about $3 billion, even though the economy has continued a treacherous slide and state revenues have eroded at an alarming pace.
Quelland removed from office, fined $45K
The Citizens Clean Elections Commission voted this morning to remove Rep. Doug Quelland from the Legislature for violating campaign spending rules. The Phoenix Republican was also fined $45,000. The commission voted 4-1 to kick Quelland out of office for spending more than he was allowed to under Clean Elections rules. The commission determined Quelland had hired a political consultant but did [...]
Brewer signs FY09 budget bills
Gov. Jan Brewer on May 14 signed two bills to adjust the fiscal 2009 budget with a combination of federal stimulus money, delayed payments to K-12 schools and universities, and excess funds saved in recent years by school districts.
Lawmakers press for a special session on voucher issue
Some lawmakers and school-choice advocates are making a strong push for Gov. Jan Brewer to call a special session to allow lawmakers a chance to resurrect a school-voucher program that was deemed unconstitutional by the state's highest court.
Brewer: latest budget fix highlights need for tax hike
The use of federal stimulus dollars to help balance the budget may help keep Arizona's public schools afloat through the end of the fiscal year, but Gov. Jan Brewer believes it underscores the need for the controversial tax hike she is proposing.
Medical marijuana backers file notice of ballot effort
Medical marijuana advocates have filed notice with the Arizona Secretary of State that they intend to gather signatures in an effort to place an initiative on the 2010 ballot to ask voters to legalize smoking pot by patients who get a recommendation from a doctor.
Guns in cars bill clears House
Just two days before the National Rifle Association's annual convention in Phoenix, the state House of Representatives gave its approval to a measure that would allow gun owners to keep weapons in their cars, even if it is against a private property owner's wishes.
