Arizona lawmakers vote to impose contract on rail workers, fend off strike
Most members of Arizona’s congressional delegation joined the rest of the House Wednesday to give overwhelming bipartisan approval to a bill that would head off a national rail strike by imposing contract terms on rail workers’ unions.
House, Senate begin budget meetings with Ducey staff
The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee said Tuesday he and his Senate counterpart agree on an opening bid in budget talks with Gov. Doug Ducey's staff.
Negotiations between Clean Elections, House leadership fell short
Disagreements over the Citizens Clean Elections Commission’s authority over nonparticipating candidates and independent expenditure committees derailed a possible last-minute deal with House Republican leadership over the future of Arizona’s system of public funding for political campaigns.
Judge backs off settlement order in school inflation case
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge on Wednesday put a lawsuit over inflation adjustments for public schools on hold and suggested the parties try to settle.
Solidarity only goes so far – law prevents lawmakers from forfeiting pay
Some members of Arizona’s congressional delegation hoped to show solidarity with furloughed federal employees by cutting or suspending their pay during the government shutdown.
Feds, White Mountain Apaches sign ‘historic’ water-rights deal
The federal government and White Mountain Apache tribe signed a “historic” water-rights agreement Tuesday that the two sides said will guarantee water for the tribe and benefit Phoenix water users as well.
Republicans unlikely to negotiate budget with Democrats
While Democrats gained seats following last year’s elections, Republicans are still likely to craft the state budget on their own rather than directly negotiate with the minority.
GOP compromise budget gives $450M to rainy day fund, $7M to tourism
As Republican lawmakers begin to receive briefings on the budget deal that GOP leaders and the Governor’s Office agreed to in principle April 25, details are beginning to emerge.
The major sticking point between the two sides has been revenue projections — not just for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, but also for the following two years. Though Gov. Jan Brewer had bee[...]
Budget negotiations moving again; lawmakers to get an update
Lawmakers will get a briefing this afternoon about the progress of budget negotiations with the governor.
This is the first concrete sign of movement on the budget front since talks over the state’s final spending plan began several weeks ago.
Brewer, First Things First discussing budget solutions
Proposition 302 is history and a loan is off the table, but First Things First and the Governor's Office are looking for "creative" solutions the agency can offer for the state's budget crunch.