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Pie in the sky?
It seems everyone who is involved in the five -party talks is maintaining a very effective press silence. Much of the information about the meetings comes second- or third-hand from lawmakers who talk with or are briefed by one of the principals.
Multiparty talks begin
Multi-party talks with Gov. Jan Brewer resumed the morning of Aug. 25 over her proposal to ask voters to approve a temporary sales tax hike.
Brewer: Senate holdouts acting irresponsibly
With a budget package, sans tax hike, seemingly on its way to her desk, Gov. Jan Brewer took a few shots at lawmakers, accusing the senators who voted against the budget of acting irresponsibly.
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.
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.
Brewer optimistic as budget negotations continue
Legislative leadership met Tuesday (July 28) morning with Gov. Jan Brewer as talks continued over a possible budget deal that would include a ballot referral for the governor's temporary sales tax increase.
Lawmakers could have avoided line-item vetoes
When Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a large portion of the budget approved by lawmakers earlier this month, she sent the Legislature back to square one. Now Republican leaders are working with Democrats instead of the governor to craft a spending plan, and the state still faces a $2.5 billion deficit a month after the fiscal deadline.
Fewer lawmakers may be present for special session
Fewer lawmakers are likely to be present for the special session July 20. About a third of senators and representatives planned to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures summit in Philadelphia City this week, according to the Senate and the House.
Bipartisan budget talks resume without Brewer
Negotiations on repairing a $2.5 billion hole in the state's budget continued, but Gov. Jan Brewer remains excluded from the talks as Republican and Democrat lawmakers attempt to forge an agreement. Legislative leaders of both parties met for the second time in as many weeks July 16 to discuss the scope of the state's budgetary woes. And, as was the case in the first meeting a week earlier, Bre[...]
Dem leader says bipartisan budget talks will be ‘painful’
The overwhelming display of bipartisanship that kicked off the special legislative session when it convened July 6 may be a precursor of how lawmakers will work to patch the $2.5 billion hole in the budget, but to what extent Republicans and Democrats work together likely won't be known until later this month.
Bipartisan budget talks begin
Legislative leaders from the two parties hunkered down July 8 to restart budget negotiations, marking the first meeting since the Legislature unanimously passed four budget bills two days before.
4 budget bills pass unanimously; much work remains
The Arizona Legislature voted unanimously July 6 to pass four bills, one of which would restore funding to public education and add another approximately $400 million to schools. The measures garnered bipartisan support, passing unanimously, first in the House and then in the Senate.
