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Kyl overlooks AZ benefits of stimulus
Arizona's plan to widen the congested streets of U.S. 60 - our own Grand Avenue - became the 6,000th highway project in the nation this week to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or federal stimulus. This project puts nearly $45 million to work in Maricopa County, bringing desperately needed jobs to our state. But Sen. Jon Kyl said he doesn't approve of this economic boost[...]
Tired of waiting, House passes budget
The House of Representatives has given its approval to a budget deal that was hammered out with the governor earlier this week, but it is unknown when the Senate will take up the matter as it isn’t clear if they have the votes needed to pass it.
Fewer lawmakers may be present for special session
Fewer lawmakers are likely to be present for the special session July 20. About a third of senators and representatives planned to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures summit in Philadelphia City this week, according to the Senate and the House.
Part-time Arizona lawmakers working into the summer
Arizona's part-time legislators are on the job in midsummer after their inability to work out an on-time solution to the state's budget trouble led them to crack a barrier they hoped to avoid. The annual regular session starts in January and has adjourned in May or June in recent years. This year, it ran 71/2 hours into July 1 before lawmakers approved a new budget and finished action on other [...]
Dem leader says bipartisan budget talks will be ‘painful’
The overwhelming display of bipartisanship that kicked off the special legislative session when it convened July 6 may be a precursor of how lawmakers will work to patch the $2.5 billion hole in the budget, but to what extent Republicans and Democrats work together likely won't be known until later this month.
GOP lawmakers turn to Dems; joint proposal in works
After budget negotiations with Republican Gov. Jan Brewer disintegrated last week when she vetoed a series of budget bills and line-item-vetoed other approved spending, Republican legislative leaders are inviting their Democratic colleagues to the table in the hopes of hammering out a deal.
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.
House panel approves key budget piece; much work remains
A House panel has given its approval to the main component of the budget agreement that GOP leaders negotiated with Gov. Jan Brewer, though the day's work is far from over.
Resign-to-run law must be working – nobody seems to break it
Few complaints seem as regular - and fruitless - than those hurled at Arizona elected officeholders alleged to have violated the state's resign-to-run law aimed at keeping officials occupied with the job they have and not the job they want.
Senate moves affirmative-action ban to 2010 ballot
Next year, Arizona voters will be asked to determine whether to ban government use of preferential treatment based on race and gender when it comes to employment, education and contracting.
It’s ‘Christmas tree’ time in June
The budget approved last week by lawmakers was stuffed with dozens of policy changes that have little, if anything at all, to do with solving the state’s massive deficit.
Sinema asked to help reform U.S. health care system
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema will join state lawmakers from across the United States in the coming months to help President Obama reshape the nation's health care policy and reform a system that politicians from both parties say is broken.
