Arizona: House

November 21, 2009 - 11:03 am

Charter/District budget battle

By David Safier

by David Safier

The Rs planned to cut $144 million in soft capital funding from district schools. The snafu Thursday only delayed the move.

But now some legislators are asking, Why aren't charter schools feeling the budget ax as well?

Here is among the lamest reasons imaginable for not making cuts to charters.

Crandall said after speaking with the governor’s office and House leadership Thursday about the cuts, staff assured him there would be plenty of cuts coming around to all schools.

“They said it was easier to do it this way right now,” he said. “Whoever didn’t get cut now will be cut in January or February.

November 19, 2009 - 07:42 pm

NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

And I thought Dems were good at shooting themselves in the foot

By David Safier

by David Safier

You know that special session called by the Accidental Guv to do some budget cutting? It didn't quite work out that way.

A fragile budget deal collapsed in the Senate Thursday when Sen. Thayer Verschoor skipped the floor session and tied his support to a last-minute amendment to prevent cash-strapped agencies from hiking fees.

The House and Senate adjourned the special budget-balancing session until Monday in hopes that another deal can be worked out on the bills.

If at first at second at third at fourth you don't succeed . . . If you don't know what the hell you're doing, try, try, try again. It's bound to work out one of these times.

November 18, 2009 - 05:15 pm

NEWS FEED: Arizona Republic

House Dems signal they're "no" votes on budget cuts

House Democrats this afternoon said what many expected they would do: They're likely to vote no on the $300 million in budget cuts in the special session.
House Minority Leader David Lujan said he would expect most of the House's 25 Democrats, if not all, would vote no when the budget cuts come up for a vote, most likely on Thursday.
"We need to look at the revenue side and have a comprehensive approach," Lujan said at a news conference.
He criticized Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, for agreeing to the cuts being considered in the special session, given her statements that she wants ...

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November 18, 2009 - 11:08 am

NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

House committee tries to whitewash tuition tax credit problems

By David Safier

by David Safier The other legislative committee looking into tuition tax credits and STOs met Monday. I call it "the other committee" because it was set up by Rs to counter the task force set up by Ds. The D-created...

November 18, 2009 - 11:03 am

NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

House committee tries to whitewash tuition tax credit problems

By David Safier

by David Safier

The other legislative committee looking into tuition tax credits and STOs met Monday. I call it "the other committee" because it was set up by Rs as a counter to the task force set up by Ds. The D-created task force is trying to probe tuition tax credit abuses. The R-created committee is trying to paint a big ol' happy face on the whole mess.

The Monday meeting was covered by the Trib, the Republic and the Guardian (Hello, Daily Star. The meetings may be in Phoenix, but the problem is state wide).

The committee is run with an iron fist by Rick Murphy (R-Glendale).

November 17, 2009 - 01:57 pm

NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

Special Session to begin Tuesday

By AZ BlueMeanie

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Special Session will begin Tuesday afternoon. My sources say that the Republicans are still short a vote and will have to play "Let's Make a Deal." Howard Fischer, however, says the GOP has the votes and maybe some Democrats to spare. Budget, Rio Nuevo on agenda (Republican legislative leaders said they have the necessary votes lined up, with even some Democrats agreeing to go along.)

The Special Session is expected to last three days, concluding Thursday at the earliest.

The primary goal of the Special Session is to correct some agency funding issues. The plan on the table is to reduce "soft capitol aid" to public schools by $144 million (e.

November 17, 2009 - 12:10 pm

NEWS FEED: Arizona Republic

Switching sides in Tempe

Tempe City Councilman Ben Arredondo will make a stop at the state Legislature today to announce he plans to run for the state House -- as a Democrat.
A longtime Republican who has served in elected offices ranging from school board to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Arredondo has switched parties and is setting his sights on being the District 17 rep at 1700 W. Washington.
He will appear at a 1 p.m. news conference along with Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe, who plans to seek a third term in the House, and Rep. David Schapira, D-Tempe, who is exploring a bid for the ...

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November 17, 2009 - 01:12 am

NEWS FEED: Arizona Republic

Senate closes GOP caucus to meet with Brewer

Gov. Jan Brewer met behind closed doors with most members of the Senate GOP caucus Monday, huddling to presumably work out the details of a special session.
We say "presumably" because it's hard to know what happens in private meetings, even though they're held in taxpayer supported buildings and involve people who are all being paid by the taxpayer. It's the second or third time this year the Senate has ushered people out of its caucus meeting -- something that hasn't happened with their Republican counterparts in the House, nor with either of the Democratic caucuses.
The Republicans are homeless, for the ...

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November 16, 2009 - 05:52 pm

NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

GOP insane clown posse disregards law, gets sued, costs the state money

By AZ BlueMeanie

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

First a quick update: The Accidental Governor and the GOP insane clown posse are trying for a special session this week to deal with agency funding issues. They were to have met over the weekend to hammer out the details of a plan that they hope will be a one day special session on Thursday. I checked the Governor's web page and she has not yet called for a special session, and her calendar has her going out of town this week. Things could change, but it's not looking optimistic.

There has been a troubling trend in Arizona government for years now.

November 15, 2009 - 08:06 pm

NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

Conservatives' Crisis of Faith in the Constitution

By AZ BlueMeanie

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Conservatives would have you believe that they are the defenders of the Constitution. For many, this is bullshit.

In the days immediately following 9/11, many conservatives were quick to unquestioningly accept Dick Cheney's dark vision of the imperial presidency and the "unitary executive" theory under which neither coequal branch of the government had the power to check the executive branch during times of war. A cowardly Congress quickly abdicated its constitutional prerogatives and duties over war and spending to the president. Article III federal courts suddenly became deferential to overly broad presidential claims of national security and state secrets (with a few notable exceptions for which these judges were savaged by the conservative media).

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Arizona: House

Charter/District budget battle

And I thought Dems were good at shooting themselves in the foot

House Dems signal they're "no" votes on budget cuts

House committee tries to whitewash tuition tax credit problems

House committee tries to whitewash tuition tax credit problems

Special Session to begin Tuesday

Switching sides in Tempe

Senate closes GOP caucus to meet with Brewer

GOP insane clown posse disregards law, gets sued, costs the state money

Conservatives' Crisis of Faith in the Constitution