There will be no respite between legislative sessions in Attorney General Tom Horne’s crusade to rid a remote polygamist community of its police department.

Pierce yesterday went on KJZZ’s “Here and Now” to praise the budget and describe another of his key session objectives: Keep crazy to a minimum.

The 2012 session appears to be in its final days, but some of the biggest pieces of legislation this year — including Gov. Jan Brewer’s proposal to make it easier to fire state employees — remain stuck at the state Capitol.

The glut of measures yet to be passed — or in some cases held by legislative leaders — is at least partially a result of an embargo on sending bills to the governor after she threatened to veto all bills until a budget deal is reached.

An ambitious economic development bill meant to be a follow-up to the 2011 Arizona Competitiveness Package will jettison some of its more contentious provisions due to the Ninth Floor’s concerns that it will cost too much money.

But lawmakers and business groups pushing the bill say they’re optimistic that an agreement will be reached with Gov. Jan Brewer to cut state taxes on capital gains — the core component of the bill — even if they’re unable to achieve the outright elimination many GOP legislators sought earlier in the session.

The House Appropriations Committee narrowly passed a bill Thursday that would require drug tests for anyone receiving unemployment benefits, even though some of the bill’s supporters admit that it could jeopardize the federal funding that helps pay for the benefits.

Corporations and other entities would be able to keep confidential reports they prepare on environmental problems under legislation approved by the Arizona House.

Rep. Justin Olson introduced Gov. Jan Brewer’s personnel plan Tuesday, just in time for the 275-page bill to be heard in committee on Thursday.

Two anti-illegal immigration bills that were among a slew of measures last session that divided the Senate Republican caucus are stuck in committee and the odds of their passage appear dim.

Allowing owners of foreclosed homes to remain as renters for at least a year would stabilize neighborhoods and minimize the fallout for families, a state lawmaker contends.

Monday is the deadline for Arizona House members to introduce bills and other legislation for consideration in the current regular session.