Signed bills, a few vetoes, and a special election?

Just because I'm reading Howie Fischer print it doesn't mean I actually fully believe it. That's just how it seems to have gone this Legislative Session. The Governor signed 190 (yes only 190!) bills and vetoed 22. The biggest headline grabbers are the guns in bars (no this isn't The Onion), abortion restrictions, and sparklers vetoes.

The other story to come out is that the GOP might be ready to give the thumbs up to the special election for a temporary sales tax. Most of those hesitant all along are saying they'll only go along with it since it seem inevitable and will start campaigning against the tax immediately. A few are saying they'll use the opportunity to try and get some reforms that may offset the tax (something we've been saying for months now by the way).

That won't stop Ron Gould though (not to be confused with NotRonGould). He motioned to end the Special Session yesterday but was met with crickets. He definitely is in the running for the MOST conservative in the Senate and I'm sure his feelings aren't that hurt that he was left standing alone after his motion.

Brewer's Prayers Being Answered?

The Governor has a day job but by the sounds of it might be a convincing pastor after she's done running the state.  Brewer went to Gilbert last night to participate in the East Valley Bible Church's weekly meeting that is open to the public.  In case anyone was wondering how serious Brewer was, or if she knew what she was risking, the following quote is pretty telling.

"It sure doesn't help my career," she said, speaking to a near-full house Thursday night. "It's not an easy thing, but it has to be done."

Where the prayers are being answered comes later in the article.  The reporter surveyed and got quotes from a few people and it looked like after hearing what Brewer had to say, they understood and were more open to a tax increase.  This is probably why many of the hard right conservatives are adamant about not letting it go to a vote.   When the information gets out and the severity of the problem is presented, people seem to understand and be more open to a temporary tax.  The polling data seems to show that and now that's a main argument by those most opposed by it.  I guess we don't know what's best for us or what we really want.

Brewer begins bill signing

Governor Brewer signed the first 19 bills of the post-session with
the biggest headline grabbers being the Veteran Benefits bills. She
still had about 165 bills left to sign, veto, or allow to go into law
without her signature. A full list will be available on Tuesday and
I'm sure we'll hear some crying because she's bound to veto a few bills.

Brewer to OK budget deal

Governor Brewer was expected to spend some time Wednesday with a pen signing into law the state budget deal approved on Monday. The bills, meant to ensure funding for public education set to expire on the 15th also protects more than $2 billion in stimulus money.

It looks like the enormity and reality of the situation might be catching up to a few people. Brewer has dug her heels in and has said that since the Legislature won't pass it, she wants the voters to have the final decision. Russell Pearce has said that for a few weeks and President Bob Burns admits now it's probably time. Most of these lawmakers have commented that they are positive it will fail, which brings me to this conclusion. They are deathly afraid and know it will probably pass. If it failed it would be a mandate for cuts and they would have an open ticket to all the cuts they wanted and more. If it passed, they have the cover they need for their constituents because this was a voter approved tax.

The irony of this whole mess is that the new budget is around $2 billion out of whack as we speak. The Governor and Legislators will have to work over the next few months to fill the holes. As a noble gesture, our elected representatives will forgo pay while they aren't working. Now only if we can not pay them unless they actually do the job they were elected to do.

Press Release about Bill signing

First step to compromise...

Well, at least they are starting off getting along. I'm on the road so the following is copied from the Republic.

Legislative leaders have reached a bipartisan agreement that would restore K-12 funding and make other budget changes necessary to preserve the state's receipt of more than $2 billion in federal stimulus funding, The Arizona Republic has learned.

The deal, details of which are yet to be formally released, comes on the first day of a special session ordered last week by Gov. Jan Brewer. Once the package is approved, which may come as early as today, rank-and-file lawmakers would be able to return to their home districts. The special session would remain open, though lawmakers would not receive per diem, and legislative leaders would continue to negotiate with Brewer regarding other budget issues, most notably her continued insistence on a temporary tax increase.

If a further agreement was reached with Brewer on the tax and other issues, lawmakers would return to the Capitol to consider it. That could come any time between two weeks and two months from now.

Brewer's office has not yet indicated how she views the proposal.

At least we won't be wasting any more money on per diem they don't deserve.

Will a weekend of BBQ'ing and fireworks prevent fireworks at the capitol?

My first inclination would be to say no. Considering Senate President
Burns probably feels like a National Lampoons movie, this is not the
Summer Vacation he had planned. Hopefully he grilled some bratwurst
this weekend because as of now that's about as close to Germany as
he's getting. About an hour from now, the Legislature is scheduled to
come back early from vacation to start a special session called by the
Governor. On the agenda is another go at a special election to let
the voters decide on a tax increase.

Over the weekend I did a lot of thinking and reading. As we declared
our independence in 1776, we did so not because we were against
taxation, but because we were against taxation without
representation. As we sit here on July 6th, our representatives have
failed to come up with a budget that is either balanced or will win
the approval of the final signature needed. One of the great things
our State Constitution allows is the ability for the citizens to
decide in essence the laws of the state.

If our representatives have failed to come to a compromise in the
expected timeframe, is it time for the citizens to have the final
say? Is voting for a tax increase and allowing the voters to decide
on one really the same thing if a compromise on a balanced budget
cannot be had?

Let the mud and flaming arrows fly

There is a full out attack on the Executive Tower and they are fighting back from the top of the castle.  I think anyone would be hard pressed to find another time when intra-party fighting was this ugly.  

Senate President Burns started with the first shot.  His flaming arrow was "It appears the governor is having problems managing the level of responsibility to which she has been elevated."  Ouch.

The fireball from the 9th floor- "Politics is often very difficult, and President Burns has a tremendous leadership burden.  I continue to have respect for him as he struggles to fulfill the challenges of his office."

Regardless of the the outcome with the referendum or the budget, can the Republicans recover from this and maintain any control in 2010?

Trib story here

Sine Die for now

Well there you have it.  After an all nighter the budget was passed and the gavel struck at 7:30 calling an end to the most dysfunctional legislative session in the history of Arizona.  I can comfortably call it that since 5 days from now, everyone will be back to do it all again.

The Governor today used her line item veto to mark out the parts of the budget she didn't like and was only willing to put up with if there was going to be an election in November for a temporary sales tax increase.  Well, that never made it to the floor to be voted on by either legislative body.  Brewer today called a special session bringing them all back with the agenda to fix the issues and pass the special sales tax.  The state in the meantime is still functioning but nothing would surprise me at this point so I wouldn't say we're out of the woods.  

Lots of stuff to read so here are the links.

Governor's Statement and Call for Special Session

Call for Special Session

Vetoed Bills

A new judge lost in all of this

Lost in all of this budget mess was the fact that Governor Brewer now
has three potential replacements for retiring Chief Justice Ruth
McGregor for the Supreme Court. The three finalists, a Democrat and
two Republicans are as follows: Court of Appeals Chief Judge Ann Scott
Timmer, Court of Appeals Chief Judge A. John Pelander, and Appellate
Judge Diane M. Johnsen. Brewer intends to interview each and is
assumed to have the pick completed by the end of July.