House Speaker David Gowan's decision to lift a ban on journalists covering proceedings from the House floor means all eyes are again focused on stalled negotiations on a nearly $10 billion state budget package.
Read More »Senate, House spreadsheets hint at modest budget increase 
Senate President Andy Biggs wants to introduce a budget as early as next week, but House Republicans fear their chamber isn’t keeping up the pace, and House priorities could end up once again trampled in the Senate’s budget stampede.
Read More »Ducey wants budget deal before more bills are signed
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is increasing the pressure on the Legislature to reach a budget deal by sending word to lawmakers that he doesn't want to see more bills until a state spending plan hits his desk.
Read More »Nest Eggs: Governor, Legislature plan to keep leftover funds 
When times were tough and money was scarce, the Governor’s Office and Legislature held onto millions in leftover funds while cutting budgets elsewhere. Now that Arizona’s budget is back in the black, they’re showing little interest in changing course.
Read More »Prisons received nearly $1 million to cover leap year costs 
The only agency in Arizona that requires leap year funding was allocated more than $900,000 to cover the costs of one extra calendar day.
Read More »Ducey budget authority request sparks separation-of-powers concerns 
Republican lawmakers will soon have to make a decision that will pit their desire to promote responsible spending against the territoriality they’ve historically exercised over their appropriations authority.
Read More »Ducey is open to suggestions on JTED funding
As consensus quickly builds at the Capitol to restore funding for JTEDs, the governor’s proposal to create a $30 million, three-year competitive grant program looks more and more isolated. Shooter’s S1258 (JTED funding reductions; repeal), for example, has attracted 71 ...
Read More »Lawmakers rally to restore JTED funds
State lawmakers are lining up en masse to block plans by Gov. Doug Ducey to sharply slash funding to career and technical education programs.
Read More »Lawmakers worry they will be bit players in budget process 
As Gov. Doug Ducey begins the push to approve his budget proposal, some lawmakers worry they once again may be left behind.
Read More »Republicans see problems with JTED cuts, prison spending 
Lawmakers at the joint Appropriations Committee briefing on Gov. Doug Ducey’s budget proposal Jan. 19 were only allotted time for one question each following the budget presentation, but the questions they asked were telling.
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