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Loose ends abound, but few likely to bring lawmakers back to Capitol
Lawmakers enjoyed the relative shortness of their 100-day session, but they may pay for the handful of issues they left unaddressed with one or more special sessions.
Unemployment benefits, tax code changes and Gov. Jan Brewer’s personnel reform plan could bring legislators back to the Capitol.
Small business’ top 10 legislative victories in 2011
The 50th Arizona Legislature has boldly staked its claim to being the most pro-small business Legislature in Arizona’s history. On issue after issue, legislators advanced measures to relieve the tax and regulatory burdens on the engines of our economic recovery, Arizona’s small businesses. Even in instances where lawmakers mistakenly pursued bad policy, they did so with the right motive in min[...]
Republicans decide against trying to override any of Brewer’s vetoes
Before the session began, Republicans crowed about the super majorities, and boasted that it would allow them to overrule Gov. Jan Brewer, should she have the temerity to veto their bills.
But Brewer vetoed 29 bills this year, including several that had overwhelming Republican support in both chambers. And despite their supermajority advantage, the Republicans in the House and Senate n[...]
Ask again later… Brewer’s vetoes have some GOP conservatives searching for answers
A string of vetoes is making some Republican legislators wonder if they should turn to Magic 8-Balls, tarot cards and tea leaves next session if they want to know what Gov. Jan Brewer will think of their bills.
Adding STO expansion to tax fix bill backfires, draws veto
Reeling from a veto in early April of a bill that would have dramatically expanded a tax credit program for private school scholarships, pro-school-choice legislators deleted the provisions Gov. Jan Brewer cited in her veto message.
Brewer vetoes STO expansion – again
School choice advocates managed to beat the sine die clock to revive a proposal to expand the school tuition tax credit program, but even scaling down its potential fiscal hit wasn’t enough to persuade the governor that it wouldn’t negatively impact the state’s coffers.
Major pension reform bill headed to Governor’s Office
The Senate beat the sine die clock on Monday to pass legislation that contains major changes to the state’s pension systems.
The measure, which backers said would head off a collapse of the public pension programs, advanced on a party-line vote, 21-9.
Union leaders credit governor for pension bill compromise
Though union representatives are relieved to see the changes, they’re still disgruntled it wasn’t until the last minute before there was a compromise.
Major pension reform appears on track to beat final adjournment
Call it the ultimate going-home bill: House Speaker Kirk Adams is making an eleventh-hour push to win support for a series of reforms to the state pension programs before the legislative session ends.
