Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

Gov. Jan Brewer signed a raft of bills Monday but vetoed three, including one that would have given the Legislature authority over federal funds and another that would have required the state treasurer to give an annual report on the fiscal condition of the state.

The verbal tussle between Gov. Jan Brewer and Senate President Bob Burns does not appear to have abated, even with a lull in activity at the Legislature. In a statement July 10, Burns said it is “not helpful to sling ...

Gov. Jan Brewer on July 10 put her signature on 87 more bills, the second and third batches of non-budget bills she has signed since the Legislature adjourned sine die.

The overwhelming display of bipartisanship that kicked off the special legislative session when it convened July 6 may be a precursor of how lawmakers will work to patch the $2.5 billion hole in the budget, but to what extent Republicans and Democrats work together likely won't be known until later this month.

Arizona lawmakers sent more than 100 bills to Gov. Jan Brewer for her approval or veto earlier this month, but a few measures they passed don't need the governor to sign off - including one that asks Congress to reconsider a measure that would pull the United States out of the United Nations.

Members of the military were largely the beneficiaries of the first batch of non-budget bills signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer. Brewer on July 9 signed 19 of the nearly 200 bills that were transmitted to her when the Legislature adjourned sine die on July 1.

In late June, the Arizona Supreme Court delivered what could be considered a draw for Gov. Jan Brewer and Republican legislative leadership, who argued over how long the Legislature can withhold bills from the governor after they have been approved. ...

The president of the Arizona Senate has removed Thayer Verschoor from his leadership position, replacing him with a freshman lawmaker. Sen. Steve Pierce, a lawmaker from Prescott, was appointed July 8 to replace Verschoor as Senate President pro tempore, as well as on the six-member Senate Rules Committee.

Legislative leaders from the two parties hunkered down July 8 to restart budget negotiations, marking the first meeting since the Legislature unanimously passed four budget bills two days before.

Gov. Jan Brewer has signed the four budget bills that restored nearly $400 million in spending for K-12 education.