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Johnson rethinking run for governor
Former state lawmaker Karen Johnson said an accident in her family has led her to reconsider plans to run for governor in 2010. The reversal came about two weeks after Johnson, a Mesa Republican, had filed the necessary paperwork to form a committee to explore a campaign for governor.
Rough first 100 days for Napolitano
Former Gov. Janet Napolitano had to deal with a Republican-controlled state Legislature in Arizona, but the new secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security now faces a barrage of criticism from congressional Republicans who see her as the easiest target in the Obama administration.
Lawmakers save KidsCare; health care for parents still slated for cuts
Advocates for children's health care are breathing a little easier after Republican lawmakers released a budget draft on April 27 that avoided funding reductions to state-run health care programs for children in low-income families.
House Dems say GOP cuts crimp state’s ability to fight Swine Flu
After a tour of the state laboratory, House Democrats met April 28 to call on Republicans to restore funding to emergency health care programs to help the state combat the spread of diseases such as Swine Flu.
Judge rejects union attempt to undo state employee layoffs
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge has rebuffed a union's attempt to reverse a 2009 round of state employee layoffs undertaken by three government agencies and prompted by massive budget cuts.
AZ High Court receives arguments on plan to take $7M from First Things First
State attorneys on April 27 filed a response with the Arizona Supreme Court to defend the Legislature's 2009 sweep of millions of dollars in interest from revenue earmarked by voters to pay for health care for children.
Joint approps hearing cancelled at last minute
The House and Senate Appropriations committees were scheduled to meet jointly on April 28 to discuss a budget proposal to allow the state to sweep hundreds of millions of dollars from cities. But the hearing was cancelled at the last minute because, as at least one lawmaker put it, a homebuilders association was not prepared to give a presentation.
This week in the House: Panel eyeing April 28 for budget hearing
A House panel could be considering a proposal to solve next year's $3 billion budget deficit as soon as April 28, a top Republican said.
GOP budget details released; reaction mixed
Republican lawmakers have released a budget proposal they say will balance a $3.3 billion budget deficit without raising taxes or borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars. Instead, they will rely heavily on cuts to education funding and municipalities.
Still no consensus; Senate cancels budget hearing again
For the second time in two weeks, the Senate canceled a committee hearing on the budget - this time because it doesn't appear Republican leadership has enough votes to pass the proposal.
Budget document to include $700M in cuts, no tax increase
Republican leaders are expected to unveil a budget proposal today that would close the state deficit without raising taxes and without borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars.
This week In the Senate: Will ‘perception of consensus’ pan out?
Senate and House leaders will hunker down to iron out areas of disagreement in their draft budget proposals this week. Legislative staffers have been instructed to prepare a spreadsheet comparing the two chambers' draft budget proposals.
