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‘Invisible space’ may block funding for new schools
Gov. Doug Ducey is looking to maintain the status quo in the in the face of a proposed policy change in the budget that would make it far more difficult for overcrowded school districts to get state funding to expand.
Capitol Quotes: June 14, 2013
This week's most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances.
Budget bills are on the move
The end of the expansion debate at the Capitol – and therefore of the 2013 session – might have finally arrived. Multiple sources told our reporter today that Tobin has given up on his efforts to amend the Medicaid expansion language by inserting transparency and accountability provisions and instead, will let it go to the floor and vote no. “He told the governor: ‘You win’,” a source [...]
House unveils budget plan as leadership shops for votes
House Speaker Andy Tobin is hopeful he can get at least 31 Republicans to support the House version. But he still thinks spending is too high.
Governor not looking for ‘Brewer v. Burns’ repeat
What a difference four years makes. In 2009, Gov. Jan Brewer sued the Legislature over its refusal to send her a package of budget bills that she was certain to veto, leading the Arizona Supreme Court to rule that lawmakers couldn’t hold back measures that were ready for the governor.
McComish becomes key player in Medicaid expansion drama
Senators are prepped for a lengthy floor debate on the GOP-led budget plan and a wildly anticipated fight to add Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion proposal to the mix against the objection of most Senate Republicans.
Ten budget bills cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee, many by 6-3 party line votes, and the Rules Committee on Wednesday afternoon. That paves the way for lawmaker[...]
Brewer: Senate budget means end is near
Gov. Jan Brewer said the budget introduced today by Senate President Andy Biggs is fairly close to her own and that she has few problems with the proposal, except for one major exception – it doesn’t include the expansion of Arizona’s Medicaid program.
Heroes and traitors: Medicaid debate forces lawmakers to take sides on budget
When discussing the progress made in budget negotiations so far this year, Senate President Andy Biggs reminded the Arizona Capitol Times that patience is a virtue.
Swift budget unveiling spurs critics
In less than 24 hours, the House and Senate had introduced, discussed, and voted on their budget proposals – a move that has led some lawmakers to grouse about the lack of time to consider the important policy implications.
Schools, others fear new trust-land law
A freshly passed budget bill granting the Arizona State Land Department the ability to raise money independently to pay for the costs of state trust land management could face a legal challenge based on federal law that is almost 100 years old.
Five-way talks unproductive so far
Republican and Democratic leaders met with Gov. Jan Brewer on Aug. 21, the first such meeting during the special session that the governor called in order for the Legislature to pass a budget packet that includes her proposal for a sales tax referral.
Brewer needs leverage, lacks incentive to back down
It's extremely unlikely that Gov. Jan Brewer will sign all of the budget bills that the Legislature sent to her Aug. 20. She has nothing to gain and everything to lose by allowing this budget to stand.
