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Stopping time: In the AZ Senate, anything is possible
As the last day of the 2009 fiscal year was winding down without a budget in place, political onlookers who have spent a few years at the Capitol started to wonder: Will the Senate stop the clock before midnight of June 30 to hide the fact that the new fiscal year has started?
Nothing easy this year, as lawmakers sine die
The final day of this year’s legislative session fit right in with the 169 that preceded it: Everything seemed to move at a snail’s pace and nothing – including drawing... […]
State awaits Brewer’s decision on budget
Gov. Jan Brewer's office said it would make an announcement on whether the governor would sign or veto the budget bills transmitted to her this morning. If Brewer vetoes the bills it will lead to at least a partial shutdown of state government. The Arizona Department of Administration posted a notice on its Web site at 9:42 a.m. that the governor is reviewing the budget bills, and that all state e[...]
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... […]
House passes budget without sales-tax referral
Republican lawmakers have approved parts of a budget plan negotiated with the governor, but they did not consider a tax-increase component that may be the lynchpin of the deal.
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.
Governor asks Democrats for budget support
Gov. Jan Brewer met with House Republican leadership and a revolving door of Democrats in a two-hour meeting this afternoon as she tried to find the votes needed to send a temporary sales-tax increase to the ballot in November.
Changes discussed in House as budget deadline looms
With a shutdown of all non-essential state services only hours away, Republican leaders are still wondering where they will find support among the rank-and-file for a compromise budget agreement reached... […]
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.
Ninth Floor downplays lack of votes for budget
Despite a series of setbacks and holdups that delayed passage of a budget deal on Saturday, June 27, Gov. Jan Brewer’s office downplayed concerns that the hard-fought compromise she reached with legislative leaders was in jeopardy because it did not have enough votes to pass.
House calls off budget vote, tries to regroup
The House on June 27 decided against voting on a budget agreement with the governor because Republican leaders were unable to round up enough votes to pass the package.
