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Arm-twisting fails in budget-balancing drama
The final days of the first regular session of the 49th Legislature were punctuated by fits and starts over the passage of a budget deal Republican leaders reached with Gov. Jan Brewer, as lawmakers aborted one attempt after another to approve the package, finally doing so hours after the new fiscal year began.
Senate transmits budget to Brewer – hours late
The Senate transmitted to the governor the 10 budget bills the Legislature had passed in early June, but missed the fiscal deadline by six hours. The Senate sent the bills […]
Rules panel approves sales-tax referral
The Senate Rules Committee finally approved a measure to allow voters to decide whether to increase the state sales tax by 1 cent.
Sales tax referral fails in Senate Rules
The Senate Rules Committee has voted down a measure that would allow voters to decide whether to increase the state sales tax by 1 cent, while passing all 11 other budget bills.
Burns reassigns all budget bills to Education Committee
The failure of the main budget bill in the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 29 signaled larger problems ahead for the state budget agreement reached last week by legislative leaders and the governor.
Tax hike a tough sell; Dems may enter picture
The budget deal that legislative and Gov. Jan Brewer reached earlier remains a tough sell, as the Senate adjourned on June 27 without advancing the agreement.
Supreme Court case threatens further damage to strained relationship
The tension between Gov. Jan Brewer and the Legislature has been obvious for months while the two branches of government slugged it out over budget cuts and tax hikes. But the governor's decision to sue legislative leaders in the state Supreme Court has some wondering whether their relationship will be able to survive the strain.
Burns confirms deal includes flat income tax
The budget deal struck between legislative leaders and the governor includes a proposal to send a referral to the ballot for a sales-tax hike as well as a plan to […]
Legislature drops ‘trailer bills,’ signaling deal
The Arizona House and the Senate have introduced a set of bills that will reflect any agreement between legislative leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer for a final fiscal 2010 budget. […]
Dem leader tries to force budget to governor
On June 24, a senior Democratic senator tried to accomplish through a parliamentary maneuver what Gov. Jan Brewer failed to do by taking her case to court. Senate Minority Leader Jorge Garcia made a motion on the floor that afternoon for the Legislature to immediately transmit the budget bills it passed on June 4.
Texting-ban revival falls flat in Senate
A last-minute effort on June 23 failed to revive legislation to ban texting while driving. Senators had rejected the measure the day before. It was two votes short of passing […]
Both sides claim win in Supreme Court ruling
Gov. Jan Brewer, Senate President Bob Burns and House Speaker Kirk Adams all claimed victory following the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling in the governor’s case against the Legislature. Less than […]
