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Burns’ gambit: Inside Senate president’s strategy
Lawmakers and legislative staff members say there are two distinct sides to Bob Burns: The ideological Burns shows up in January, and the pragmatist Burns usually winds down the session.
No budget this week; session will drag into Aug.
The Senate met for a few minutes today (July 31), but only to adjourn the special session until Aug. 4. Even then, though, it’s not clear whether leaders in the Senate will be able to gather enough votes to pass the budget legislation that has tied them up for the past several days.
Senate falls one vote short, may try again today
Despite intense lobbying, Republican leaders failed to persuade Sen. Pamela Gorman to vote for a referral for a sales tax increase. Brewer talked with Gorman, the majority whip, for more than an hour at Gorman's Senate office, but the governor was apparently unable to persuade the senator to change her mind.
Huppenthal in, Gorman out; vote begins in Approps
Senate President Bob Burns has replaced a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee in another attempt to get the votes to pass a budget deal with the governor at the committee level.
Legislative UPDATE: Budget deal hung up
Republican leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer might have reached a tentative budget agreement, but they don't have the votes, for now at least, to get it to her. That became apparent when the Senate adjourned tonight without hearing the budget in Approps.
New deal lacks votes; lawmakers adjourn
Republican leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer may have reached a tentative budget agreement, but they don’t have the votes to get it out of the Legislature.
Agreement in hand; vote expected tonight
Gov. Jan Brewer and House Speaker Kirk Adams announced that they and Senate President Bob Burns have reached a tentative budget deal, which they hope will be approved in the Legislature by the end of the night.
Burns says another bill freeze on tap next year
With the state facing a $3 billion deficit, Senate Republicans realized they needed a strong leader to unite the caucus behind a budget plan and get the governor to sign it. From among themselves, they chose Bob Burns.
Lawmakers: Changes needed on foreclosure bill
UPDATE - Sen. Steve Pierce told the Arizona Capitol Times that his foreclosure bill will have to be fixed, either in special session or next year when the Legislature begins the regular session. Pierce and stakeholders met this afternoon (July 28) to discuss changes to the legislation.
GOP working both sides; separate budget deals in play
It’s been three weeks since lawmakers were called into a special legislative session to patch a massive hole in the budget, but there are finally signs that negotiations with Democrats may be bearing some fruit.
Building a new budget, starting from scratch
House Speaker Kirk Adams on July 20 said lawmakers will try to craft another budget by September, but he would not put a specific timeframe on it because lawmakers are, essentially, starting from scratch.
GOP closes caucus after Harper, Allen exchange words
Senate Republicans closed their caucus from the public July 13 after two members got into a relatively heated discussion over how to deal with the governor and her proposal for a one-cent sales tax increase. After the two-hour closed-door meeting, senators said they talked about organizational matters, one of several subjects that they are permitted to go into executive session to discuss.
