Burns, Adams meet with Brewer; second batch of budget bills possible
Gov. Jan Brewer met with Republican legislative leaders on June 8 to discuss a package of budget bills approved last week, but lawmakers are unlikely to send the bills to her in the near future due to fears that she would veto them.
Next stop for budget: Negotiating Brewer’s five-point plan
Senate President Bob Burns has lit a path toward compromise with Gov. Jan Brewer on a final budget for fiscal 2010. On June 4, Burns said he wants to discuss ways in which Brewer can advance her five-point economic plan, which includes a $1 billion tax increase.
Brewer sends a message of her own
In her 27 years in elected office, Gov. Jan Brewer said she has never seen a budget process run the way the Legislature is doing things this year.
Brewer budget surfaces — finally; GOP lawmakers not receptive
Nearly four months after she said she planned on releasing a detailed budget, Gov. Jan Brewer has done so. Her plan aims to bridge an estimated $4-billion deficit by increasing the sales and property taxes, borrowing against future Lottery revenue, mortgaging some state buildings and cutting state spending.
Lawmakers compromise with Brewer on health care spending
A five-month battle over health care spending between Gov. Jan Brewer and Republican leadership reached a breaking point early this week after Brewer asked lawmakers to set aside hundreds of millions of dollars of additional spending for state-run health care programs.
House passes budget — sends message but not bills to governor
All of the wrangling by Republicans in the Arizona House to pass a budget devoid of tax cuts will likely be for naught if Gov. Jan Brewer follows through on expectations and vetoes the spending plan.
Getting 16 Senate votes for the budget wasn’t easy
There were a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvers and drama leading to the Senate’s budget vote on June 4. Senate President Bob Burns and House Speaker Kirk Adams met with Sen. John Nelson, a Republican from Glendale, in Burns’ office to try to get his buy-in.
Senate to push ahead with budget, setting up battle with Brewer
The Senate plans to bring its budget packet to the floor today without changes to accommodate Gov. Jan Brewer's recently-released budget proposal. Senate President Bob Burns' decision to move forward may set up a showdown between the competing plans of the executive branch and the GOP-led Legislature.
Business group to push budget deal favored by Brewer; lawmakers irked
Infighting among Republicans over the budget could get very public and very messy now that word has leaked that Gov. Jan Brewer’s longtime campaign strategist has designed a major campaign aimed at pressuring lawmakers to support a budget Brewer would sign.
Senate president shifts strategy; budget bills on tap
Privatizing prisons and transferring a portion of vehicle taxes to the general fund are two of the options a Senate panel will consider today as part of several measures intended to close a $3-billion budget gap.
Dems stockpiling political ammunition for 2010
Democrats have tried nearly every conceivable strategy in the past four months and have, at times, sounded like a broken record as they seek an invitation from Republicans to negotiate the fiscal 2010 budget.
Brewer: latest budget fix highlights need for tax hike
The use of federal stimulus dollars to help balance the budget may help keep Arizona's public schools afloat through the end of the fiscal year, but Gov. Jan Brewer believes it underscores the need for the controversial tax hike she is proposing.