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Bipartisanship a thing of the past in Arizona Senate
The bipartisanship that was displayed when Senate Republicans and Democrats cooperated to pass the sales tax referral last month appears to have flickered out since then.
Election-year conundrum: Cooperate or not?
A whispered riddle is sweeping the halls of the Capitol: In an election year, Democrats and Republicans like to emphasize their differences, but this year, they'll probably have to cooperate to solve Arizona's massive budget problems.
Burns says strategy worked, but he won’t block non-budget bills in 2010
Senate President Bob Burns has decided to avoid the failed budget-first strategy that locked up his chamber last session and led to an unhinged, last-minute push to pass hundreds of non-budget bills. What he has in mind for the 2010 session is, in some ways, back to the basics. Most committees, for instance, will be free to debate and vote on legislation unrelated to the budget.
The real budget problem is partisanship
Just like all Arizonans, Democrats are frustrated with the total lack of leadership during this budget crisis. It is ludicrous that the Legislature has had seven months to pass a budget and still can't get the job done. This kind of behavior is unacceptable; as the special session goes on, critical public safety and health care programs still have no budget during the biggest economic shortfall[...]
GOP lawmakers turn to Dems; joint proposal in works
After budget negotiations with Republican Gov. Jan Brewer disintegrated last week when she vetoed a series of budget bills and line-item-vetoed other approved spending, Republican legislative leaders are inviting their Democratic colleagues to the table in the hopes of hammering out a deal.
