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Obama redefines success in face of economic challenges
President Barack Obama used his commencement speech at Arizona State University May 13 to highlight the role universities play in preparing students for success. He commended ASU for its efforts to open its doors to low-income applicants and echoed a speech he made before a joint session of Congress early in his presidency that called for every U.S. student to attend college.
Legislature fixes $650M deficit in fiscal 2009
The Senate and the House approved a plan on May 13 that suspends a payment of $300 million to school districts until the next fiscal year and instead allows them to tap into their excess cash balances to cover ongoing expenses. The plan is part of a two-bill package aimed at solving a $650-million budget deficit in fiscal 2009.
Farmers vs. state fund sweeps on May 18
A conglomerate of Arizona farmers will get their day in court May 18 as a Maricopa County Superior Court judge will hear arguments on the legality of the Legislature's 2008 fund sweep of money meant to advance agriculture interests.
Clean Elections hearing set for May 15; Decision on Quelland expected
The Citizens Clean Elections Commission is scheduled to decide whether to sanction and possibly remove District 10 Rep. Doug Quelland from office on May 15. Quelland, who ran a publicly funded campaign in 2008, has been accused of failing to report a $15,000 political consulting contract on his 2008 campaign finance reports.
House panel advances latest budget fix, filling $650M gap
Lawmakers on a House panel generally agreed an emergency measure intended to repair the fiscal 2009 budget amounts to bad policy, but the bill still managed to gain approval along a party-line vote. One by one, legislators explained their objection to using accounting gimmicks and raiding funding in schools' bank accounts.
Rep. Sinema blogs from the White House Poetry Slam
Tonight the Obamas held the first-ever White House Poetry Slam. It was amazing! I arrived at the East Gate just before 7 p.m. and went quickly through the security screening process. Then a quick walk into the White House and I found myself in the East Wing!
Health care cuts may be larger than they appear
The actual cut to Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System will be more than double than what appears in print if lawmakers approve the fiscal 2010 budget plan without including a routine funding adjustment to cover inflation in health care costs.
Lawmakers unveil plan to fix a $650 million gap in FY09
Republican leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer have apparently reached an agreement to fix a $650-million hole in the fiscal 2009 budget.
Senate Democrats renew budget cooperation offer to Brewer
Senate Democrats met with Gov. Jan Brewer on May 11 to renew their offer to cooperate with her to reach a budget agreement, but the meeting did not include discussion of any particular budget-balancing options.
State Land Department director resigns
Arizona State Land Department Director Mark Winkleman has submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Jan Brewer and will stepping down from his position on May 22.
This week in the House: greenhouse gas resolution, leaders talk budget
The House will decide today whether to give a preliminary endorsement of a letter to Congress stating Arizona's concern that federal greenhouse gas regulation will hurt the state's economy.
This week in the Senate: Only two committees scheduled to meet
On May 13, the Senate Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform Committee will hear a presentation by the American Heart Association on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training.
