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Garcia: Budget talks ‘still alive’
Bipartisan budget talks took place Sept. 1 - but only between Senate leaders and the governor.
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.
Multiparty talks begin
Multi-party talks with Gov. Jan Brewer resumed the morning of Aug. 25 over her proposal to ask voters to approve a temporary sales tax hike.
Five-way talks unproductive so far
Republican and Democratic leaders met with Gov. Jan Brewer on Aug. 21, the first such meeting during the special session that the governor called in order for the Legislature to pass a budget packet that includes her proposal for a sales tax referral.
Capitol Quotes 8/21
“I look at the executive branch, and at a certain point, this relentlessness is to be admired. This absolute fight to the death is to be admired. But at another... […]
Courting Democrats – one at a time
Running out of time and options, Republican leadership in the Senate has turned its attention to a handful of Democrats to cajole their support for a ballot referral on a sales tax increase.
New target date for budget: Aug. 20
Arizona lawmakers are planning to send a set of budget bills to the Governor's Office on Aug. 20, after a short floor session today that ended without any action. But that budget plan will not include the proposal for a sales tax referral, something that Gov. Jan Brewer has insisted on for months.
Senate revives sales tax referral
The Arizona Senate has revived a measure that contains a provision for a sales tax increase, even though some lawmakers have called it a "dead horse." Senate President Bob Burns indicated lawmakers would continue to work to pass the ballot referral.
Garcia says he needed 1 more Dem in Senate
This year, Democrats occasionally helped to pass time-sensitive legislation, including measures that ensured Arizona would get federal stimulus money. But, for the most part, Senate Minority Leader Jorge Luis Garcia and his fellow Democrats watched from the sidelines as Republicans unilaterally crafted budget bills and other legislation.
Lawmakers tackle education budget first
A veto last week of public school funding has left Arizona unable to receive a billion dollars in federal stimulus aid for education, but lawmakers are hoping to pass legislation today (July 6) to restore the funding and qualify for the federal money.
Burns confirms deal includes flat income tax
The budget deal struck between legislative leaders and the governor includes a proposal to send a referral to the ballot for a sales-tax hike as well as a plan to... […]
Dem leader tries to force budget to governor
On June 24, a senior Democratic senator tried to accomplish through a parliamentary maneuver what Gov. Jan Brewer failed to do by taking her case to court. Senate Minority Leader Jorge Garcia made a motion on the floor that afternoon for the Legislature to immediately transmit the budget bills it passed on June 4.
