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Upcoming event: ‘The Lighter Side of Arizona Democracy’
Gov. Jan Brewer, Senate President Bob Burns, and Rep. John McComish said they will attend “Arizona Democracy: The Lighter Side,” a ribbing of the year’s most prevalent topics and public figures hosted by KAET/Eight and the Arizona Capitol Times.
Burns mum on special session meeting with Brewer
Republican leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer are slated to meet this afternoon to discuss the provisions of a possible special legislative session to address budget issues.
No moratorium, Senate to hear bills early in session
The Senate is going to hear bills when session starts, Senate President Bob Burns said Oct. 29. This is a departure from the strategy the Senate leadership adopted during the most recent regular session, when a moratorium on hearing non-budget bills was used so lawmakers could direct all their energy to solving the state's record-breaking budget deficit.
Lawmakers inch toward special session
Lawmakers are inching closer to a special session as Senate leadership proposes that the Legislature convene to fix the budget woes of state agencies affected by the governor's veto. House leadership was polling members to see if they support the idea, Senate President Bob Burns told the Arizona Capitol Times on October 22.
Disagreements to resurface: Topics include taxes, spending reductions
A special session - or two - is likely this fall as Gov. Jan Brewer continues to pressure lawmakers to reconvene and legislative leaders have started asking members when they would be available. But roadblocks remain.
Diminished debate: Limits on floor discussion put Senate in quandary
In the Arizona Legislature, debate usually refers to the Committee of the Whole, a crucial part of lawmaking that facilitates adjustments to legislation. More importantly for some, it is the last chance to thoroughly examine proposed legislation and to sway people's opinion for or against it. In most cases, emotions are checked and the tone is primarily civil. But in the last two years, senators h[...]
2008 Leaders: Where are they now?
To say that much has occurred since the 2008 Leaders of the Year in Public Policy Awards event is quite an understatement. An economic meltdown leading to a near-depression, the election of the first African-American to the U.S. presidency, a changing of the guard in the Executive Tower and chaos in the Legislature while attempting to deal with Arizona's worst budget deficit ever are just a few of[...]
Capitol Quotes 9/18
"Give me a break. You've been around long enough to know that people, sometimes after six months that they're on the Ninth Floor, they're on their way." - Gov. Jan Brewer, dismissing the notion the recent departures of deputy chiefs of staff Tom Manos and Brian McNeil are signs that her administration is in trouble.
A third of Senate to say goodbye in 2010
A controversial constitutional amendment that limits the length of time that lawmakers can stay in office will force more than one-third of the senators out of their chamber by the end of next year, a massive revamp unprecedented in recent years.
No agreement when, or if, special session will begin
Once again, lawmakers adjourned, only to see Gov. Jan Brewer veto parts of the budget they passed. And once again, Brewer announced her intention to bring them back into special session to deal with the consequences.
Burns, Adams say Brewer’s vetoes violate Arizona Constitution
Legislative leaders say the governor exceeded her constitutional authority in some of her line-item vetoes of budget bills this month, but they decided against taking the matter to court. Gov. Jan Brewer said she "absolutely" stands by her action, adding she didn't give much thought to the lawmakers' statement that she doesn't have authority to line-item veto items that don't have to do with ap[...]
Indecent proposals: No winners so far in budget marathon
Legislative leaders from both parties were guardedly optimistic they would reach an agreement when they began negotiating a solution to the fiscal 2010 deficit with the governor last month, and even when it appeared the talks were faltering, some saw hope as long as the parties kept talking.
