The timing for Andy Tobin’s ascension to speaker of the House was pretty favorable. The state is beginning to see an uptick in revenues due to a recovering economy, so the battle over the budget is likely to be less adversarial this session than it was in previous years.

But Tobin cautions against anyone getting the impression that the state has money to burn. As long as the state has debt to pay off, he said he doesn’t think that the unexpected revenue should be seen as a surplus.

This week's most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances.

Many people have asked me whether I believe there is a real chance for bipartisanship, political civility and statesmanship to prevail in our current political climate. They are surprised when I say, “yes!”

Though he isn’t actively looking into running for higher office, House Speaker Andy Tobin said that he won’t rule out a run in the new 4th Congressional District.

With Gosar’s move to CD4 now official, Tobin said he has already heard from some of the eastern Arizona constituents that Gosar is leaving behind in CD1.

The Joint Legislative Budget Committee is seeking budget documents from the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission for an audit requested by House Speaker Andy Tobin.

Expect more of the same substance from the Arizona Legislature during lawmakers' regular session this year — but maybe not as much sound and fury.

The 2011 session may be over, but some Republicans are still holding a grudge over the criticism to which they say they were subjected. House Speaker Andy Tobin chastised the media and Democrats in the Legislature, arguing that Republicans made the tough decisions to cut the budget and pass the Arizona Competitiveness Package amid “abuse” from the press and the minority party.

Nobody would call 2011 a dull year for Arizona politics. The soap opera fans got Sen. Scott Bundgaard’s side-of-the-road scuffle, the conspiracy theorists had their hands full with the Independent Redistricting Commission, and those who delight in schadenfreude watched the fall of Senate President Russell Pearce.

This week's most outstanding quips, jibes and utterances.