Gov. Doug Ducey and Republican lawmakers like to talk about the hard decisions they had to make regarding where to cut the state budget. But when it comes to their own portions of the state budget, they didn’t cut a dime.

In the first four months under House Speaker David Gowan’s leadership, the cost of running the chamber has increased 29 percent year-over-year, according to a budget summary provided by the chamber.

Several House Republicans were surprised to hear that the nowscrapped renovation plans to the chamber would cost more than $2 million. But not all of the caucus was surprised that the project was estimated to cost double what sources had originally said.

Reaction was quick and decisive when House Republicans learned of Speaker David Gowan’s plans for a second large-scale renovation of the chamber in the past six months.

Gowan has been hosting meetings with the Republicans who signed the letter decrying his “excessive spending” and said the outrage they have expressed anonymously in this publication and in Republic columns isn’t reflected in those meetings, which haven’t been “heavy.” Asked if the plan for construction in the House is still on, Gowan at first backtracked, saying he didn’t even know that there was construction being planned until he heard it from the media.

House Speaker David Gowan’s Republican colleagues don’t trust him with the power of the House purse. Gowan told the Arizona Capitol Times that the House has plans in place for a large-scale construction project. The project, which Gowan said is still in the planning phase, will include installing showers and building a new “multi-purpose” room, a massive overhaul of the House basement and offices there, along with new carpet throughout the House.

Just months after the Arizona House of Representatives received a $375,000 facelift, House Speaker David Gowan is planning another massive renovation of the chamber.

The Arizona House has joined the Senate in passing a bill shielding the names of lottery winners for 90 days after they claim their prize.

The budget deal struck between Republican legislative leaders in both chambers and Gov. Doug Ducey lacks enough support to pass in either chamber, at least without serious changes.

Republicans and Democrats joined forces in the Arizona House of Representatives today to kill a bill that would have expanded School Tuition Organization tax credits. That led Republican leadership to unexpectedly cancel another vote on two other “school choice” bills.