Burns strips Verschoor of leadership role, removes 2 from Rules panel
The president of the Arizona Senate has removed Thayer Verschoor from his leadership position, replacing him with a freshman lawmaker. Sen. Steve Pierce, a lawmaker from Prescott, was appointed July 8 to replace Verschoor as Senate President pro tempore, as well as on the six-member Senate Rules Committee.
Getting 16 Senate votes for the budget wasn’t easy
There were a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvers and drama leading to the Senate’s budget vote on June 4. Senate President Bob Burns and House Speaker Kirk Adams met with Sen. John Nelson, a Republican from Glendale, in Burns’ office to try to get his buy-in.
Panels approve voucher legislation in special session
House and Senate panels have approved legislation that would create tax credits for people and businesses that donate money to provide private-school scholarships to foster kids and handicapped students.
Lawmakers press for a special session on voucher issue
Some lawmakers and school-choice advocates are making a strong push for Gov. Jan Brewer to call a special session to allow lawmakers a chance to resurrect a school-voucher program that was deemed unconstitutional by the state's highest court.