Parents, grandparents, students aren’t fooled by the new state budget
Earlier this legislative session, many state lawmakers grilled Charles Flanagan – who was then director of the Department of Child Safety – about why reports of child neglect are still going up. They pointed fingers, made speeches and issued statements about how important it is to protect child safety and reduce child abuse and neglect.
The real budget casualties – nearly 1 million public school students
The state budget is approved, and many think the battle for public education is over for the year. This coming fall, with the implementation of this new budget, we will reach a crisis with one-half of Arizona’s school children having never attended a classroom fully funded as the voters mandated with the passing of Proposition 301 in 2000.
It’s hard to say ‘no’ to the governor
CCEC Executive Director Tom Collins didn’t anticipate Pierce’s SCR1001 (Clean Elections repeal; education funding) to stay dead forever, and he was right.
Regents chairman calling for lawsuit over university cuts
Saying the Arizona Constitution is being ignored, the chairman of the Arizona Board of Regents said Tuesday his colleagues should sue the Legislature if they do not come forward with more funds for the university system.
Public wakes up to a new state budget
As noted by our sister publication, the Arizona Legislative Report, lawmakers worked through Friday night and into Saturday morning to pass a $9.1 billion budget.
‘Most conservative’ budget deal hits higher education harder than Ducey proposed
If there’s a unifying theme to the budget proposal introduced on March 4, it’s that education, state agencies and state programs should brace for painful times ahead.
No thunderous applause (yet) from AZ Chamber
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is taking a wait-and-see approach to this week’s budget agreement while it sifts through its details.
GOP legislative leaders plan quick push on budget proposal
Republican leaders in the Legislature plan quick action on a budget deal hammered out with Gov. Doug Ducey.
Biggs’ dream budget?
Details of the budget deal reached by legislative leaders and Ducey emerged today, and if there’s a unifying theme, it’s that agencies and state programs should brace for painful times ahead.
Tax cuts, credits deprive state of crucial money for children
We are gravely concerned for the well-being of this state. The Legislature has been guilty of depleting the state’s general fund — not by overspending but rather by draining the life blood from the budget.
Ducey budget will protect Arizona’s taxpayers, producers and consumers
The Arizona Legislature has always had a solid core of real fiscal conservatives who believe in balanced budgets and want to protect Arizona’s taxpayers, producers and consumers.
Will the honeymoon last? Agreement between Ducey, lawmakers could signal quick session
People scoffed when Senate President Andy Biggs said he wanted a 65-day legislative session in 2015. That may be overly optimistic, but if the first two weeks of the session are indicative of how he, his fellow Republican lawmakers and new Gov. Doug Ducey are getting along in budget negotiations, the session and the budget may be headed toward relatively swift resolutions.