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Burns says there’s no budget deal
Senate President Bob Burns provided a statement to the media late June 10 to clarify that legislative leaders have not reached a final budget agreement with the governor.
Burns: We have tentative agreement on tax increase
Legislative leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer have reached a tentative agreement to move forward with a one-cent sales tax increase as part of the budget, a top Republican said June 10. "There is basically a tentative agreement to go forward with a one-cent sales tax (increase)," Senate President Bob Burns said.
Burns, Adams meet with Brewer; second batch of budget bills possible
Gov. Jan Brewer met with Republican legislative leaders on June 8 to discuss a package of budget bills approved last week, but lawmakers are unlikely to send the bills to her in the near future due to fears that she would veto them.
Getting 16 Senate votes for the budget wasn’t easy
There were a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvers and drama leading to the Senate’s budget vote on June 4. Senate President Bob Burns and House Speaker Kirk Adams met with Sen. John Nelson, a Republican from Glendale, in Burns’ office to try to get his buy-in.
Top GOP lawmakers forming campaign committees separate from state party
Top Republican leaders in the House and Senate have created independent campaign committees aimed at electing Republican lawmakers and raising money outside the state Republican Party structure.
Cost of jailing illegal immigrants soars; feds plan to cancel funding
The Legislature and the governor have approved a two-bill package that suspends payment of $300 million to school districts until next fiscal year and instead allows districts to tap into their excess cash balances to cover ongoing expenses.
Budget gets House panel OK, but it’s just a start
A legislative panel may have spent the better part of seven hours debating, amending and approving a package of budget bills, but that doesn't mean action on a plan to solve a roughly $3 billion deficit is imminent. Rather, many lawmakers say the significance of the committee's work is that it sets the stage for progress to be made.
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[...]
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."
Still no consensus; Senate cancels budget hearing again
For the second time in two weeks, the Senate canceled a committee hearing on the budget - this time because it doesn't appear Republican leadership has enough votes to pass the proposal.
