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Bipartisan budget talks begin
Legislative leaders from the two parties hunkered down July 8 to restart budget negotiations, marking the first meeting since the Legislature unanimously passed four budget bills two days before.
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.
News Notes: Adams not pleased
House Speaker Kirk Adams said Governor Brewer “absolutely” broke the budget deal she had agreed to by vetoing the trailer bills. He said the deal was that he and Senate President Bob Burns would do everything possible to round up the 31 and 16 needed for the tax referral, but that she was responsible for filling in the gaps if the votes couldn’t all be wrangled by leadership.
Democrats locked out until last minute
As the clock neared midnight with no budget yet in place, Gov. Jan Brewer turned to the Democrats for support. For Democrats, however, it was too little, too late.
Arm-twisting fails in budget-balancing drama
The final days of the first regular session of the 49th Legislature were punctuated by fits and starts over the passage of a budget deal Republican leaders reached with Gov. Jan Brewer, as lawmakers aborted one attempt after another to approve the package, finally doing so hours after the new fiscal year began.
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... […]
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... […]
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.
Supreme Court case threatens further damage to strained relationship
The tension between Gov. Jan Brewer and the Legislature has been obvious for months while the two branches of government slugged it out over budget cuts and tax hikes. But the governor's decision to sue legislative leaders in the state Supreme Court has some wondering whether their relationship will be able to survive the strain.
Budget cuts for everybody – almost
Although nearly every level of state government is facing a spending cut as the state grapples with a more than $3 billion deficit, those responsible for crafting the budget didn't think the time was right to give themselves a haircut.
Legislature drops ‘trailer bills,’ signaling deal
The Arizona House and the Senate have introduced a set of bills that will reflect any agreement between legislative leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer for a final fiscal 2010 budget.... […]
