House chairmanship scuttlebutt
One source close to Gowan told our reporter this morning (Sept. 12) that, although Ugenti made a strong pitch for approps chair, Gowan has no intention of giving her the reins of the committee. “I can guarantee with 110 percent certainty that Ugenti will not be approps chair,” the source said.
Analysis shows state could face big deficit in wake of school inflation ruling
A state budget analysis shows that Friday’s decision on school inflationary funding by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper could send the state into a severe fiscal jam at a time when revenue collections are falling short of expectations.
Arizona Chamber endorses lawmakers who opposed its policies
Almost two dozen incumbent lawmakers can boast of earning the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s endorsement despite opposing the business community’s biggest policy positions in the last two years.
House panel quickly approves budget similar to Senate’s
The House Appropriations Committee today approved a package of House budget bills that were amended to directly mirror the spending proposal approved by the Senate last week.
Senate panel moves budget forward, but questions go unanswered
The Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a $9.13 billion budget package fiscal 2014-2015 on Tuesday afternoon, with all votes breaking on party lines as the chamber’s Republican majority took charge.
House preparing to move own budget as Tobin expresses concern about Senate plan
The House is taking its first steps toward introducing its own budget proposal as a counter to the proposal the Senate introduced late Monday.
Performance funding: Good idea in theory, but so far not in practice
Arizona’s universities are asking for $39 million in new money to help reach performance goals even though the Legislature and governor aren’t proposing any money for the plan.
Senate panel advances spending bills, including $6.86 million for child welfare
The bulk of the funding, $6.86 million, would be used to hire caseworkers and other child welfare aids in an effort to resolve the backlog of 6,554 cases that went uninvestigated by Child Protective Service, a gross oversight that caused Gov. Jan Brewer to abolish the agency at the outset of the 2014 Legislative Session in favor of a new department that reports directly to the Ninth Floor.
Appropriations chair: AZ spending too much on unneeded college educations
Arizona is spending too much money providing a university education to students who really do not need it, according to the head of the House Appropriations Committee.
Last-minute anti-abortion bill goes nowhere
A bill allowing health inspectors to carry out unannounced inspections of abortion clinics failed on June 13, but its supporters promised to revive it next year.
Abortion issues divide Brewer, Center for Arizona Policy
A relationship that has seen Gov. Jan Brewer and the Center for Arizona Policy in nearly perfect agreement for four years is showing signs of strain after the social conservative powerhouse took aim at the governor’s prized Medicaid expansion plan.
Anti-abortion bill put on hold as lawmaker proposes study committee
A Paradise Valley Democrat introduced a floor amendment Tuesday that would eradicate an anti-abortion bill. The House postponed action on SB1069 after Rep. Eric Meyer introduced a proposal to create a study committee that would examine whether abortion clinics are in compliance with state regulations