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.
Lawmakers unveil plan to fix a $650 million gap in FY09
Republican leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer have apparently reached an agreement to fix a $650-million hole in the fiscal 2009 budget.
Senate Democrats renew budget cooperation offer to Brewer
Senate Democrats met with Gov. Jan Brewer on May 11 to renew their offer to cooperate with her to reach a budget agreement, but the meeting did not include discussion of any particular budget-balancing options.
Governor names ex-FBI official as state Homeland Security chief
Gov. Jan Brewer on May 5 named political consultant and career FBI agent Gilbert Orrantia as director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security.
Brewer pressed for stimulus details, rebuffs lawmakers’ requests
Legislative leaders have been stymied for more than a month in their effort to coax Gov. Jan Brewer to divulge how she intends to spend federal stimulus money, despite several informal requests and a letter signed by the House speaker and the Senate president.
A full transcript of the April 17 letter to Brewer
Dear Governor Brewer: For the last two months, we have met with your staff on a regular basis to discuss ongoing budget issues, tax reform and progress related to the federal stimulus funds. Concurrently, members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have continued their work toward a legislative budget proposal. We have spent considerable time with the members providing educational[...]
Brewer, families help honor fallen DPS officers
Gwenn Murie McCaleb placed a single red rose on a memorial wall, then kissed her fingers and pressed them against a plaque bearing her husband's name. The Department of Public Safety officer accompanying her gave a salute, and, as they walked away, she cried a little.
Brewer announces several appointments, including Gutier
Gov. Jan Brewer on May 1 announced a handful of staff appointments, including Alberto Gutier as director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety - even though Gutier has been running the office for several weeks now.
Brewer extends suspension of agency rulemaking
Uncertainty looms over all non-budget bills in the Legislature, and no one knows when, or if, lawmakers will have time to address issues such as a proposed one-year moratorium on state agency rulemaking.
Budget deadlines become a moving target
A lawmaker half-jokingly predicted several weeks ago that this year’s legislative session might turn out to be the session that never ends. For now at least, it is shaping up to be the session of cancelled budget hearings.
Changes to budget plan could spike support from some members
The biggest differences between the Republican budget proposal released April 27 and a draft leaked to the press a month earlier were two components designed to generate more than $500 million in revenue without raising taxes. And those two ideas have created the biggest backlash against the latest proposal.
Mine shaft safety campaign urges ‘stay out and stay alive’
Gov. Jan Brewer and other state leaders urged Arizonans on April 29 to "stay out and stay alive" when it comes to abandoned mines, which have claimed 10 lives in the past decade. "We need a safe place, we need safe mines and we need education," Brewer said. "Let's keep everyone alive."