Sign In
Free Newsletter
School districts betting heavily on upcoming overrides
For many Arizona school districts, a lot is riding on upcoming November budget override elections. Schools already have been hit by state budget reductions, and many districts will have to cut programs and staff even further unless they receive a funding boost from override elections.
Indecent proposals: No winners so far in budget marathon
Legislative leaders from both parties were guardedly optimistic they would reach an agreement when they began negotiating a solution to the fiscal 2010 deficit with the governor last month, and even when it appeared the talks were faltering, some saw hope as long as the parties kept talking.
Capitol Quotes 9/11
“Probably. We had a lot of dialogue. We had a lot of input. We learned a lot of people’s priorities. It certainly gave us a hand. It certainly gave me... […]
Several lining up to run for attorney general
The same day County Attorney Andrew Thomas registered an exploratory committee for the 2010 campaign to become attorney general, House Minority Leader David Lujan sent the media a list of people who are supporting his bid for the office.Lujan, a Democrat from Phoenix, is serving his third term in the Arizona House. He just finished his first legislative session as minority leader.
Lawmakers from both parties criticize Brewer’s budget action
The governor’s actions on the state budget drew jeers from both Republicans and Democrats, but for wildly different reasons. House Speaker Kirk Adams and Senate President Bob Burns, both Republicans, said Gov. Jan Brewer increased state spending by more than $350 million with her line-item-vetoes of cuts to K-12 education and the Department of Economic Security, which provides benefits for Arizo[...]
Democratic leader: Five-party talks fall apart
Last-ditch budget negotiations between Republicans and Democrats appear to have fallen apart, which makes it unlikely Gov. Jan Brewer will see her sales-tax-increase proposal on a ballot any time soon.
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.
Lujan responds to Arpaio article
The July 20 New Yorker had a feature article on Sheriff Joe Arpaio ("Sheriff Joe" by William Finnegan). The piece, mostly critical, tried to give the magazine's readers a flavor of his policies regarding illegals and the controversies that he engenders.
House Dems seek probe of private-school scholarships
Following media reports that highlighted problems with the state’s school-tuition organizations, Democrats in the Arizona House have called for state and federal authorities to investigate potential abuses of the school-choice option.
The real budget problem is partisanship
Just like all Arizonans, Democrats are frustrated with the total lack of leadership during this budget crisis. It is ludicrous that the Legislature has had seven months to pass a budget and still can't get the job done. This kind of behavior is unacceptable; as the special session goes on, critical public safety and health care programs still have no budget during the biggest economic shortfall[...]
House leader calls budget ‘best deal possible’
More than a week after the governor and legislative leaders announced a new budget deal, the state was still without a complete budget and time was running out to call... […]
House minority leader gives Legislature an ‘F’
In January, House Minority Leader David Lujan said it would be up to the leaders of the Republican majority caucus to determine what role Democrats would play in the legislative session. They ended up being sidelined and were never included in the process by Republican leaders or GOP Gov. Jan Brewer.
