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Republican legislative leaders face first budget crunch in nearly a decade
Republican leaders in the Arizona Legislature are facing their first budget crunch in nearly a decade and minority Democrats are pointing the finger right at the GOP, saying the pain that will be felt by state residents is a self-inflicted wound.
Senate to vote on taking power from regulators
Rejecting arguments about economic development, clean air and even constitutional issues, a Senate panel voted along party lines March 31 to strip the Arizona Corporation Commission of its power to set energy policy for utilities.
Gambling bill stalls in senate as politics take shape
A top legislative priority for Gov. Doug Ducey to expand off-reservation gaming is stalled in the Senate after the House voted 48-12 to approve a mirror bill on March 4.
Rosy state revenues belie need for recovery package
Rosy state revenues belie ongoing economic turmoil, particularly for lower-income Arizonans who have been disproportionately affected by job losses and wage cuts.
Democrats offer plan to raise $4 billion for education
In response to education funding plans proposed by the governor and legislative Republicans, Democrats today released their own school funding plan, boasting that their proposal would raise nearly $4 billion dollars over 10 years without increasing taxes.
Lawmakers talk of fix-all bill for budget errors, unresolved issues
Gov. Doug Ducey noted with pride that less than two months after he took office, legislators approved a budget that he considers 99 percent of what he asked for, passing it out of both chambers in record time.
Yuma lawmaker plans e-cigarette taxation legislation
In light of devastating projections of a $1.5 billion budget shortfall in the current and next fiscal years, a Democratic lawmaker is proposing a tax on e-cigarettes, saying that the modest revenues the new tax could bring in would be a small start to bridging the deficit.
Brewer threatens vetoes until budget work finished
A spokesman for Gov. Jan Brewer said the governor has concerns with changes the Senate is making to the House-approved budget that could lead her to veto the spending package.
Senate panel to review $9.24B Arizona budget plan
An Arizona Senate committee plans to review changes the House made in the budget package senators passed a week and a half ago.
Senate panel moves budget forward, but questions go unanswered
The Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a $9.13 billion budget package fiscal 2014-2015 on Tuesday afternoon, with all votes breaking on party lines as the chamber’s Republican majority took charge.
Senate panel advances spending bills, including $6.86 million for child welfare
The bulk of the funding, $6.86 million, would be used to hire caseworkers and other child welfare aids in an effort to resolve the backlog of 6,554 cases that went uninvestigated by Child Protective Service, a gross oversight that caused Gov. Jan Brewer to abolish the agency at the outset of the 2014 Legislative Session in favor of a new department that reports directly to the Ninth Floor.
Brewer again rallies Medicaid supporters at Capitol
For the fourth time in about two months, Gov. Jan Brewer rallied with supporters of her Medicaid expansion proposal at the Capitol, gathering hundreds of people for the largest such event she’s held since unveiling her health care plan.
