I left over an hour-and-a-half ago, gave somebody a lift home, got detoured because of some road construction, made a small dinner, and checked in on the Senate's website, and they're still going strong.
Though strong may be the wrong word for it. :)
Anyway, they are considering the general government trailer bill and it's going to fail. Burns is holding the vote open to allow for some arm-twisting.
Harper and Carolyn Allen are both voting no (Jack Harper?!?), and Burns needs both votes to pass the bill.
Internet glitched; not sure what happened.
They've moved on to another bill, though.
Update: I'm not sure, but I think the bill passed. Most of the rest of the bills are passing 16 - 12.
Update2: They're substituting the House budget bills in for the Senate bills that they passed earlier this morning.
Update3: Now they're recessing into caucus meetings, and I'm going to bed.
Good night...
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Senate floor session
1:05 - They win. They've outlasted me. I am out of here. If the state shuts down, don't call me in the morning...
1:03 - HB2222, special license plates, passes.
1:02 - Yahoo! Mail down.
1:00 - HB2207, behavior, analysts. Passes.
12:58 - HB2157, Wildlife, aquatic invasive species. Passes.
12:58 - HB2156, Fire insurance premium tax, report. Passes.
12:56 - HB2049, performance management software. Fails.
12:55 - HB2001, State monuments, repair funds, purposes. Passes.
12:52 - HB2419, Appraisal guidelines, state lands. Passes.
12:50 - McCune-Davis brings up time; Burns says that we are "still in the session day" of June 30. "Real world" time vs. "Senate" time.
12:49 - COW ends.
12:47 - COW for SB1307. Passes COW.
12:46 - Now Rich Crandall is with Pearce.
12:45 - Carl Seel or Laurin Hendrix is sitting with Jack Harper (I can't tell them apart, and that's not a shot at either one. They really do look alike.)
12:41 - John Kavanagh is hanging with his ideological soulmate, Russell Pearce
12:39 - Meg Burton Cahill roundly criticizing Gould (and the Reps) for their conduct and disparagement of Democrats and their motives.
12:38 - Gould calls on Dems to stop being "dilatory" by trying to have input or even enough info to understand the bills that they are voting on.
12:36 - Linda Lopez advised that since it is after midnight (even if the clocks have been turned off), that Burns is in violation of the court order from last week about transmitting budget bills before the end of the fiscal year.
12:35 - End of COW.
12:33 - HB2327, PSPRS omnibus, passes COW after some Gorman floor amendments. No questions allowed; apparently the Senate Republican Whip doesn't like Democrats trying to understand the effects of the language that they are voting on.
12:28 - HB2325, EORP omnibus amendments; passes COW
12:27 - COW, Leff as chair.
12:26 - Gray calls the question. Motion passes.
12:23 - Defeating Hale amendment to protect the use of Impact Aid to reservation school districts
12:20 - Hale bringing up tea parties in support of returning tax revenue generated on reservations to the reservations. DO NOT MENTION TEA PARTIES TO THIS CROWD!! That's like Viagra to the wingers!
12:18 - Call the cops! There is illegal gambling going on in front of the lege! Jerry Weiers and some of his friends are pitching quarters! Closest to the wall win! Oh, the humanity!
12:11 - Defeating Hale amendment to restore Commission on Indian Affairs
12:09 - Steve Pierce tried to silence Meg Burton Cahill. It didn't work.
12:07 - Anybody have a sausage-making video? It's got to be better than this...
12:05 - Defeating Burton-Cahill amendment to help teachers
12:03 - Ed Ableser and David Schapira among the House members who have walked across the quad, Patterson and Deschene here, too.
12:00 - Defeating Rios amendment to restore soft capital reduction to K-12.
12:00 - midnight, and no budget.
11:56 - Defeating Aboud amendment to add $2 million to DES for aging services
11:52 - Defeating Rios amendment to increase DES funding for children's services
11:50 - Defeating Aboud amendment to restore DHS $ for hunger programs.
11:48 - Defeating another Democratic amendment...this is going *very* fast...
11:47 - Pushing toward midnight...
11:45 - Defeating a Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidCare Parents.
11:44 - Defeating a Landrum Taylor amendment to restore the Indian Affairs Commission.
11:42 - Harper getting snippy over Garcia spending more time with the Governor than him.
11:39 - Doing the bills. Dems offering floor amendments with roll call vote.
1:03 - HB2222, special license plates, passes.
1:02 - Yahoo! Mail down.
1:00 - HB2207, behavior, analysts. Passes.
12:58 - HB2157, Wildlife, aquatic invasive species. Passes.
12:58 - HB2156, Fire insurance premium tax, report. Passes.
12:56 - HB2049, performance management software. Fails.
12:55 - HB2001, State monuments, repair funds, purposes. Passes.
12:52 - HB2419, Appraisal guidelines, state lands. Passes.
12:50 - McCune-Davis brings up time; Burns says that we are "still in the session day" of June 30. "Real world" time vs. "Senate" time.
12:49 - COW ends.
12:47 - COW for SB1307. Passes COW.
12:46 - Now Rich Crandall is with Pearce.
12:45 - Carl Seel or Laurin Hendrix is sitting with Jack Harper (I can't tell them apart, and that's not a shot at either one. They really do look alike.)
12:41 - John Kavanagh is hanging with his ideological soulmate, Russell Pearce
12:39 - Meg Burton Cahill roundly criticizing Gould (and the Reps) for their conduct and disparagement of Democrats and their motives.
12:38 - Gould calls on Dems to stop being "dilatory" by trying to have input or even enough info to understand the bills that they are voting on.
12:36 - Linda Lopez advised that since it is after midnight (even if the clocks have been turned off), that Burns is in violation of the court order from last week about transmitting budget bills before the end of the fiscal year.
12:35 - End of COW.
12:33 - HB2327, PSPRS omnibus, passes COW after some Gorman floor amendments. No questions allowed; apparently the Senate Republican Whip doesn't like Democrats trying to understand the effects of the language that they are voting on.
12:28 - HB2325, EORP omnibus amendments; passes COW
12:27 - COW, Leff as chair.
12:26 - Gray calls the question. Motion passes.
12:23 - Defeating Hale amendment to protect the use of Impact Aid to reservation school districts
12:20 - Hale bringing up tea parties in support of returning tax revenue generated on reservations to the reservations. DO NOT MENTION TEA PARTIES TO THIS CROWD!! That's like Viagra to the wingers!
12:18 - Call the cops! There is illegal gambling going on in front of the lege! Jerry Weiers and some of his friends are pitching quarters! Closest to the wall win! Oh, the humanity!
12:11 - Defeating Hale amendment to restore Commission on Indian Affairs
12:09 - Steve Pierce tried to silence Meg Burton Cahill. It didn't work.
12:07 - Anybody have a sausage-making video? It's got to be better than this...
12:05 - Defeating Burton-Cahill amendment to help teachers
12:03 - Ed Ableser and David Schapira among the House members who have walked across the quad, Patterson and Deschene here, too.
12:00 - Defeating Rios amendment to restore soft capital reduction to K-12.
12:00 - midnight, and no budget.
11:56 - Defeating Aboud amendment to add $2 million to DES for aging services
11:52 - Defeating Rios amendment to increase DES funding for children's services
11:50 - Defeating Aboud amendment to restore DHS $ for hunger programs.
11:48 - Defeating another Democratic amendment...this is going *very* fast...
11:47 - Pushing toward midnight...
11:45 - Defeating a Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidCare Parents.
11:44 - Defeating a Landrum Taylor amendment to restore the Indian Affairs Commission.
11:42 - Harper getting snippy over Garcia spending more time with the Governor than him.
11:39 - Doing the bills. Dems offering floor amendments with roll call vote.
Senate COWIng budget bills...aka the Washington and 19 Railroad
11:38 - COW rises.
11:36 - Lopez amendment to require school districts to offer contracts by April 15. Defeated.
11:34 - Burton Cahill amendment to restore statutory provisions to keep school districts from arbitrarily reducing a teacher's salary, and to give preference to laid off teachers during rehiring time. Defeated.
11:32 - Rios amendment to protect paid days for association activities. Defeated.
11:31 - Jumped the gun again. Lopez expressed her support. Defeated anyway.
11:29 - Rios amendment to restore $175 million soft capital reduction foisted off on school districts. Defeated.
11:27 - Hale amendment to protect school districts on military and Indian reservations. Defeated.
11:27 - SB1480, K-12 Ed
11:26 - SB1477, Higher Ed, no Dem amendments
11:25 - Wow! I have influence! Sen. Burton Cahill used the "political Katrina" line!! Whoo hooo!
11:23 - SB1476, Environment, no Dem amendments. Burton Cahill asking Burns about park closures and the fact that while there is funding for the parks, there is no authorization to use the funds.
11:20 - SB1475, Criminal Justice. No Dem amendments.
11:19 - SB1474, State properties. No Dem amendments offered.
11:18 - McCune-Davis amendment relating to science foundation funding. Defeated. The gallery is packed.
11:18 - Burton-Cahill amendment to protect cities and towns and the lege's ban on development fees. Defeated.
11:16 - Aboud amendment relating to development fees and a uniform development fee commission. Her amendment would put folks from different parties on it. Defeated.
11:16 - SB1473, General Government
11:14 - Hale amendment defeated.
11:13 - Got premature with my post of the 11:11 item. Paula Aboud is expressing her support.
11:11 - Hale amendment to return some reservation-generated tax revenues to the reservations. Defeated.
11:10 - Garcia amendment regarding secondary assessment rates and commercial property assessments. Defeated.
11:08 - Garcia amendment to expand the sales tax base and lower the rate. Defeated.
11:07 - Garcia amendment to allow the return of the state equalization tax. Defeated.
11:06 - SB1472, General Revenues.
11:06 - Lopes amendment to protect child care providers from state fee hikes. Defeated.
11:05 - Aguirre amendment to help counties. Defeated.
11:03 - Aboud amendment to grandfather in current recipients of domestic partner benefits. Defeated.
11:02 - Aboud amendment relating to the removal of domestic partner benefits from state employees. Defeated.
11:01 - Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidsCare Parents. Defeated.
11:00 - SB1471, Budget trailer - Health and Welfare
11:00 - 10 Democratic amendments offered, 10 Democratic amendments killed.
10:56 - Waring is ready for his next career as conductor. I don't think even Mussolini had the trains running this efficiently.
10:53 - Defeating Burton-Cahill and Garcia amendments.
10:51 - railroading past (defeating) Aguirre and Hale amendments. No debate going on tonight. How appropriate for this farce.
10:50 - Doing amendments to SB1470, general approps. Defeating Aboud amendments
11:36 - Lopez amendment to require school districts to offer contracts by April 15. Defeated.
11:34 - Burton Cahill amendment to restore statutory provisions to keep school districts from arbitrarily reducing a teacher's salary, and to give preference to laid off teachers during rehiring time. Defeated.
11:32 - Rios amendment to protect paid days for association activities. Defeated.
11:31 - Jumped the gun again. Lopez expressed her support. Defeated anyway.
11:29 - Rios amendment to restore $175 million soft capital reduction foisted off on school districts. Defeated.
11:27 - Hale amendment to protect school districts on military and Indian reservations. Defeated.
11:27 - SB1480, K-12 Ed
11:26 - SB1477, Higher Ed, no Dem amendments
11:25 - Wow! I have influence! Sen. Burton Cahill used the "political Katrina" line!! Whoo hooo!
11:23 - SB1476, Environment, no Dem amendments. Burton Cahill asking Burns about park closures and the fact that while there is funding for the parks, there is no authorization to use the funds.
11:20 - SB1475, Criminal Justice. No Dem amendments.
11:19 - SB1474, State properties. No Dem amendments offered.
11:18 - McCune-Davis amendment relating to science foundation funding. Defeated. The gallery is packed.
11:18 - Burton-Cahill amendment to protect cities and towns and the lege's ban on development fees. Defeated.
11:16 - Aboud amendment relating to development fees and a uniform development fee commission. Her amendment would put folks from different parties on it. Defeated.
11:16 - SB1473, General Government
11:14 - Hale amendment defeated.
11:13 - Got premature with my post of the 11:11 item. Paula Aboud is expressing her support.
11:11 - Hale amendment to return some reservation-generated tax revenues to the reservations. Defeated.
11:10 - Garcia amendment regarding secondary assessment rates and commercial property assessments. Defeated.
11:08 - Garcia amendment to expand the sales tax base and lower the rate. Defeated.
11:07 - Garcia amendment to allow the return of the state equalization tax. Defeated.
11:06 - SB1472, General Revenues.
11:06 - Lopes amendment to protect child care providers from state fee hikes. Defeated.
11:05 - Aguirre amendment to help counties. Defeated.
11:03 - Aboud amendment to grandfather in current recipients of domestic partner benefits. Defeated.
11:02 - Aboud amendment relating to the removal of domestic partner benefits from state employees. Defeated.
11:01 - Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidsCare Parents. Defeated.
11:00 - SB1471, Budget trailer - Health and Welfare
11:00 - 10 Democratic amendments offered, 10 Democratic amendments killed.
10:56 - Waring is ready for his next career as conductor. I don't think even Mussolini had the trains running this efficiently.
10:53 - Defeating Burton-Cahill and Garcia amendments.
10:51 - railroading past (defeating) Aguirre and Hale amendments. No debate going on tonight. How appropriate for this farce.
10:50 - Doing amendments to SB1470, general approps. Defeating Aboud amendments
Less than 2 hours to Political Katrina
It looks like no tax bills will be heard in the Senate, flat or sales, so maybe they'll pass an unbalanced budget.
No Senate activity right now, but the House is still in COW.
No Senate activity right now, but the House is still in COW.
Tedski will be live-blogging the House session,
...so I will stick with the Senate side of the quad.
His website, Rum, Romanism, Rebellion is here.
More to come...
His website, Rum, Romanism, Rebellion is here.
More to come...
Deal in the works?
Deal-making is certainly going on...
In the Senate Republican caucus meeting that's currently in progress, former House Speaker Jim Weiers came in and pulled Senate President Bob Burns out of the room...which is interesting on all sorts of levels...
No budget bills mentioned so far, as of 8:19 p.m.
As of 8:25, the Republicans recessed their caucus (recess *caucus*????)...going over to the Democratic caucus...
In the Senate Republican caucus meeting that's currently in progress, former House Speaker Jim Weiers came in and pulled Senate President Bob Burns out of the room...which is interesting on all sorts of levels...
No budget bills mentioned so far, as of 8:19 p.m.
As of 8:25, the Republicans recessed their caucus (recess *caucus*????)...going over to the Democratic caucus...
Movement in the Senate
Senate Rules scheduled to meet upon adjournment of the Floor Session, with both caucuses scheduled to meet immediately after Rules.
Now they're just milling about, mostly Reps, though some Dems...
Now they're just milling about, mostly Reps, though some Dems...
Tweets from the floor
I've been remiss in my coverage of the budget kerfluffle (I have always wanted to use that word in a post :) )...
Certain members of the lege, including two from my own LD17, have been providing updates, commentary, and insights via Twitter.
From Rep. David Schapira's Twitter page (going back to Saturday) -
They're serving dinner at 6. I wonder if they'll serve dinner tomorrow for laid-off state employees. 7 hours and counting...about 2 hours ago from web
I might need some new ammo on a budget vote tonight. Read my last vote explanation (http://bit.ly/182BJN) and post some ideas of your own.about 3 hours ago from web
The word is the Gov might give up on the sales tax and sign the Republican budget that decimates education and public services. 8.5 hrs leftabout 4 hours ago from web
11 hours to shutdown...agencies are making preparations for tomorrow. It's sad how legislative leadership and the gov have failed the state.about 6 hours ago from web
Sales Tax bill dead in Senate. What's next? Will they bring Dems to the table to preserve our state's future. By "future" I mean tomorrow.about 9 hours ago from web
House Appropriations Committee now delayed indefinitely...14 hours to government shutdown.about 10 hours ago from TwitterFon
27 hours to government shutdown and still no signs of negotiation. We just adjourned for the day with no progress. Wow...about 22 hours ago from web
We are less than 30 hours from government shutdown and there's still no movement on the budget...and no bipartisan negotiation.6:09 PM Jun 29th from web
Check out My Education Budget Vote Explanation / Michael Jackson Tribute http://bit.ly/182BJN .4:52 PM Jun 27th from web
The Appropriations Committee just cut $250M in Education Revenue...in the midst of a budget crisis...crazy!2:40 PM Jun 27th from web
The Appropriations Committee just decided to balance our state budget on the backs of students, teachers, the poor and vulnerable Arizonans.1:25 PM Jun 27th from web
Among the many problems with this budget, the State will no longer fund any regulation of the Pay-Day Lending industry.12:28 PM Jun 27th from web
300 people, who had no obligation to do so, took time out of their Saturday morning to come down to the capitol and have their voices heard.12:19 PM Jun 27th from web
This budget fails to repay schools for the $300M the state borrowed...WOW! That might as well be a $300M cut.11:47 AM Jun 27th from web
Approps will be starting in a few minutes.11:27 AM Jun 27th from web
State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (not a D17 rep, but still pretty cool) -
8 hours to government shutdown. Gov made no headway in her quest to peel off Ds. This budget doesn't reflect our values and priorities!about 3 hours ago from txt
President Burns, Speaker Adams and Gov Brewer are calling Democrats into the Speaker's office and asking them to vote for the budget. HAHAabout 5 hours ago from web
Let your voice be heard http://bit.ly/w5Hi9about 8 hours ago from twitterfeed
Senate Rules committee killed the Governor's sales tax proposal this morning. Budget deal is completely derailed...about 8 hours ago from web
Join Arizonans for Health Reform on FB to stay updated about health reform events, forums, meetings in Arizona.about 12 hours ago from web
@lezzymom SB 1403 - spurs economic development for solar energy in Arizona. That was a good idea, and it was bi-partisan. It passed!about 12 hours ago from web in reply to lezzymom
Flat tax might pass today. It's a REALLY BAD IDEA. http://bit.ly/3bHzNabout 12 hours ago from web
Rumor is Senate Rs have votes to pass budget - in exchange for TABOR. Makes a bad deal even worse! Meanwhile, more gun bills today. NICE.about 13 hours ago from web
less than 24 hours to government shutdown. Do the Rs have the votes? Guess we'll see soon....about 18 hours ago from web
Republicans agree on worst budget deal in Arizona history http://bit.ly/E7Oz712:38 PM Jun 29th from twitterfeed
To share your voice on federal health care reform and find out about events, please join my Facebook group: http://bit.ly/RzbvM12:21 PM Jun 29th from Tweetie
It's Monday and the Rs budget deal has broken down. What now?8:41 AM Jun 29th from web
Can't wait to start meetings and forums around the state for health reform! July, where are you?4:28 PM Jun 28th from txt
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Arizona - take note.7:31 AM Jun 28th from web
Wonder what the next several days will bring. Rs don't have the votes to pass their budget & Gov is trying to peel off Dems - to no avail.4:48 PM Jun 27th from web
Chair just announced we're stopping after budget brbs. That means we're not hearing the flat tax or sales tax bills. Do they have the votes?4:42 PM Jun 27th from web
Education budget bill cuts over $220 million from K-12 educ. Plus, really bad policy things stuffed in here - this will hurt our schools!3:54 PM Jun 27th from web
@MrFurlough add'l revenue subtracted from K-12. The cut to universities is 40 million.3:42 PM Jun 27th from web in reply to MrFurlough
ok then - House Approps members approved a bill that now allows them to privatize death row. For real.3:16 PM Jun 27th from web
Wow, this bill is a GREAT deal for developers - not a good deal for local governments. So much for local control....2:53 PM Jun 27th from web
House Rs passed 250 million cut of education funding source (education equalization tax). We're in a fiscal crisis! Kids need this money!1:34 PM Jun 27th from web
first budget bill passes... Gov said June 16th that she wouldn't agree to Republicans' cuts to K-12 education. She agreed to them after all12:54 PM Jun 27th from web
Spent 3 hours briefing the budget this morning - it's even worse than we thought last night!12:16 PM Jun 27th from web
Certain members of the lege, including two from my own LD17, have been providing updates, commentary, and insights via Twitter.
From Rep. David Schapira's Twitter page (going back to Saturday) -
They're serving dinner at 6. I wonder if they'll serve dinner tomorrow for laid-off state employees. 7 hours and counting...about 2 hours ago from web
I might need some new ammo on a budget vote tonight. Read my last vote explanation (http://bit.ly/182BJN) and post some ideas of your own.about 3 hours ago from web
The word is the Gov might give up on the sales tax and sign the Republican budget that decimates education and public services. 8.5 hrs leftabout 4 hours ago from web
11 hours to shutdown...agencies are making preparations for tomorrow. It's sad how legislative leadership and the gov have failed the state.about 6 hours ago from web
Sales Tax bill dead in Senate. What's next? Will they bring Dems to the table to preserve our state's future. By "future" I mean tomorrow.about 9 hours ago from web
House Appropriations Committee now delayed indefinitely...14 hours to government shutdown.about 10 hours ago from TwitterFon
27 hours to government shutdown and still no signs of negotiation. We just adjourned for the day with no progress. Wow...about 22 hours ago from web
We are less than 30 hours from government shutdown and there's still no movement on the budget...and no bipartisan negotiation.6:09 PM Jun 29th from web
Check out My Education Budget Vote Explanation / Michael Jackson Tribute http://bit.ly/182BJN .4:52 PM Jun 27th from web
The Appropriations Committee just cut $250M in Education Revenue...in the midst of a budget crisis...crazy!2:40 PM Jun 27th from web
The Appropriations Committee just decided to balance our state budget on the backs of students, teachers, the poor and vulnerable Arizonans.1:25 PM Jun 27th from web
Among the many problems with this budget, the State will no longer fund any regulation of the Pay-Day Lending industry.12:28 PM Jun 27th from web
300 people, who had no obligation to do so, took time out of their Saturday morning to come down to the capitol and have their voices heard.12:19 PM Jun 27th from web
This budget fails to repay schools for the $300M the state borrowed...WOW! That might as well be a $300M cut.11:47 AM Jun 27th from web
Approps will be starting in a few minutes.11:27 AM Jun 27th from web
State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (not a D17 rep, but still pretty cool) -
8 hours to government shutdown. Gov made no headway in her quest to peel off Ds. This budget doesn't reflect our values and priorities!about 3 hours ago from txt
President Burns, Speaker Adams and Gov Brewer are calling Democrats into the Speaker's office and asking them to vote for the budget. HAHAabout 5 hours ago from web
Let your voice be heard http://bit.ly/w5Hi9about 8 hours ago from twitterfeed
Senate Rules committee killed the Governor's sales tax proposal this morning. Budget deal is completely derailed...about 8 hours ago from web
Join Arizonans for Health Reform on FB to stay updated about health reform events, forums, meetings in Arizona.about 12 hours ago from web
@lezzymom SB 1403 - spurs economic development for solar energy in Arizona. That was a good idea, and it was bi-partisan. It passed!about 12 hours ago from web in reply to lezzymom
Flat tax might pass today. It's a REALLY BAD IDEA. http://bit.ly/3bHzNabout 12 hours ago from web
Rumor is Senate Rs have votes to pass budget - in exchange for TABOR. Makes a bad deal even worse! Meanwhile, more gun bills today. NICE.about 13 hours ago from web
less than 24 hours to government shutdown. Do the Rs have the votes? Guess we'll see soon....about 18 hours ago from web
Republicans agree on worst budget deal in Arizona history http://bit.ly/E7Oz712:38 PM Jun 29th from twitterfeed
To share your voice on federal health care reform and find out about events, please join my Facebook group: http://bit.ly/RzbvM12:21 PM Jun 29th from Tweetie
It's Monday and the Rs budget deal has broken down. What now?8:41 AM Jun 29th from web
Can't wait to start meetings and forums around the state for health reform! July, where are you?4:28 PM Jun 28th from txt
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Arizona - take note.7:31 AM Jun 28th from web
Wonder what the next several days will bring. Rs don't have the votes to pass their budget & Gov is trying to peel off Dems - to no avail.4:48 PM Jun 27th from web
Chair just announced we're stopping after budget brbs. That means we're not hearing the flat tax or sales tax bills. Do they have the votes?4:42 PM Jun 27th from web
Education budget bill cuts over $220 million from K-12 educ. Plus, really bad policy things stuffed in here - this will hurt our schools!3:54 PM Jun 27th from web
@MrFurlough add'l revenue subtracted from K-12. The cut to universities is 40 million.3:42 PM Jun 27th from web in reply to MrFurlough
ok then - House Approps members approved a bill that now allows them to privatize death row. For real.3:16 PM Jun 27th from web
Wow, this bill is a GREAT deal for developers - not a good deal for local governments. So much for local control....2:53 PM Jun 27th from web
House Rs passed 250 million cut of education funding source (education equalization tax). We're in a fiscal crisis! Kids need this money!1:34 PM Jun 27th from web
first budget bill passes... Gov said June 16th that she wouldn't agree to Republicans' cuts to K-12 education. She agreed to them after all12:54 PM Jun 27th from web
Spent 3 hours briefing the budget this morning - it's even worse than we thought last night!12:16 PM Jun 27th from web
Latest rumor...
With the usual caveats about rumors (double strength caveats prescribed during the waning days of a lege session like this one)...
Anyway, talk in the Capitol quad was that after dinner, both chambers were going to vote on the budget bills, minus the referral of the sales tax hike, and send them to the Governor.
Stay tuned to see what ever-more creative ways that the Republicans can find to knock over their own tea cart this week...
Anyway, talk in the Capitol quad was that after dinner, both chambers were going to vote on the budget bills, minus the referral of the sales tax hike, and send them to the Governor.
Stay tuned to see what ever-more creative ways that the Republicans can find to knock over their own tea cart this week...
At Last, Our Long Nightmare Is Over...
...Coleman conceded; Al Franken is now the junior U.S. Senator from Minnesota.
What? You thought that maybe a budget deal had been reached, or maybe the Republican caucus admitted to itself that it is utterly unqualified to govern and resigned en masse? :))
We should be so lucky...
What? You thought that maybe a budget deal had been reached, or maybe the Republican caucus admitted to itself that it is utterly unqualified to govern and resigned en masse? :))
We should be so lucky...
Short House Rules Meeting
The meeting lasted less than two minutes. It was held to propel SB1157, Arizona Department of Environment Quality continuation, and SB1161, having to do with public safety personnel, retirement, and reemployment.
It was blissfully absent of both surprises and testiness, two things that are evidently in great supply at 1700 West Washington in Phoenix.
Maybe we should start a mail-order/internet business on those to help relieve the budget shortfall. :))
I'll hang here until 8 or so, but if it doesn't look like much progress is going to happen, I'll take off and watch this stuff from home.
Until I go to sleep, which should be around 10 minutes after I start watching it.
It was blissfully absent of both surprises and testiness, two things that are evidently in great supply at 1700 West Washington in Phoenix.
Maybe we should start a mail-order/internet business on those to help relieve the budget shortfall. :))
I'll hang here until 8 or so, but if it doesn't look like much progress is going to happen, I'll take off and watch this stuff from home.
Until I go to sleep, which should be around 10 minutes after I start watching it.
Ableser gives up a bill to get it passed
A more complete explanation of what happened at the end of the House floor session, courtesy a press release from the House Dems -
Now the House is in recess, and taking dinner at 6. Don't know when this session is going to get done.
Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe (District 17), has signed on his support today for a bill sponsored by Sen. Jim Waring, R-Phoenix, to allow deployed military members to cancel or suspend their gym memberships, a bill identical to Ableser’s original bill.
Both Ableser and Waring's bills allow active duty members of the military to cancel or suspend a health club contract within 90 days after receiving notice they were being deployed outside of Arizona . Ableser introduced similar legislation the previous two years.
“It’s not about who sponsored what and when at a time when our troops are protecting our freedom,” Ableser said. “We have a sacred duty to support our best and bravest in these times of sacrifice.”
Nearly 600,000 veterans live in Arizona and Ableser originally drafted the bill after one of them, a former House page and constituent, was deployed to Iraq and realized her health club was going to continue to charge her monthly until her contract with the club expired. (See story)
In order to get one of the bills passed before the June 30 deadline, the decision was made to substitute Waring’s Senate Bill 1407 for Ableser’s House Bill 2290 because there was not enough time for both the bills to travel through the House and Senate.
“Our Arizona military servicemen and women risk their lives and pay the ultimate price,” Ableser said. “The least we could do is make sure they aren’t paying even more at home while they are out fighting for us.”
Now the House is in recess, and taking dinner at 6. Don't know when this session is going to get done.
House in session...live blogging
4:51 - HB2290 referred to engrossing. House Rules to meet. House recessing.
4:49 - HB2290 is Ed Ableser's bill to give relief to deployed military members from long-term health club contracts. Bill amended. COW ends.
4:48 - Into COW to amend HB2290.
4;46 - SCR1026, Anti-EFCA resolution, House passes 35 - 24, party line vote.
4:43 - SB1466, under reconsideration. Council on efficient government (aka "the outsource everything" bill), Bill fails again. Yea!
4:42 - SB1459, Cold Case register, victim report, House passes unanimously.
4:37 - SB1320, ADOT omnibus, House passes, Lesko, Burges, Chad Campbell, Murphy, Boone, Sinema, Hendrix, Biggs, Patterson, Farley, Antenori, Stevens, Montenegro, Ash, Crump, Deschene and Seel opposing. Interesting combo there. (I missed a couple of names, check the record of the vote once it is posted online for a complete list.)
4:34 - SB1262, Workers Comp omnibus, House passes unanimously.
4:31 - SB1113, Jack Harper's and Russell Pearce's (and the NRA's) guns in restaurants and bars, House passes 40 - 19, Ugh.
4:30 - HB2603, Amendments, Clean Elections, needs 2/3 to enact emergency clause, House passes, Patterson sole opposition.
4:27 - HB2199, Corporations and LLC omnibus, House passes unanimously.
4:26 - HB2118, ASRS, LTD amendments, House passes unanimously.
4:23 - HB2031, relating to schools: contractors, fingerprint clearance, House passes unanimously. Not budget related.
4:22 - Gavelled in, but nothing happening as Adams confers with some folks...
4:19 - Gavelled into order, lots of teachers in the gallery.
4:49 - HB2290 is Ed Ableser's bill to give relief to deployed military members from long-term health club contracts. Bill amended. COW ends.
4:48 - Into COW to amend HB2290.
4;46 - SCR1026, Anti-EFCA resolution, House passes 35 - 24, party line vote.
4:43 - SB1466, under reconsideration. Council on efficient government (aka "the outsource everything" bill), Bill fails again. Yea!
4:42 - SB1459, Cold Case register, victim report, House passes unanimously.
4:37 - SB1320, ADOT omnibus, House passes, Lesko, Burges, Chad Campbell, Murphy, Boone, Sinema, Hendrix, Biggs, Patterson, Farley, Antenori, Stevens, Montenegro, Ash, Crump, Deschene and Seel opposing. Interesting combo there. (I missed a couple of names, check the record of the vote once it is posted online for a complete list.)
4:34 - SB1262, Workers Comp omnibus, House passes unanimously.
4:31 - SB1113, Jack Harper's and Russell Pearce's (and the NRA's) guns in restaurants and bars, House passes 40 - 19, Ugh.
4:30 - HB2603, Amendments, Clean Elections, needs 2/3 to enact emergency clause, House passes, Patterson sole opposition.
4:27 - HB2199, Corporations and LLC omnibus, House passes unanimously.
4:26 - HB2118, ASRS, LTD amendments, House passes unanimously.
4:23 - HB2031, relating to schools: contractors, fingerprint clearance, House passes unanimously. Not budget related.
4:22 - Gavelled in, but nothing happening as Adams confers with some folks...
4:19 - Gavelled into order, lots of teachers in the gallery.
Well, something's happening in the House...
Not sure if it is budget-related, though.
Both parties just held brief caucus meetings (so brief that most observers couldn't get to them before the meetings were finished).
In addition, a number of Representatives are making their way back to the House floor, and the 10 minute bell just sounded.
BTW - I had a truly brilliant* idea while my mind was wandering, waiting for the lege to get its act together -
I think that if the lege doesn't pass a budget, all state flags should be lowered to half-mast until the budget is done. In addition, the AZ flag flying over the Capitol should be flown upside down. An upside down flag used to be nearly-universally used to signal that a ship was in distress, and people from all across the political spectrum agree that the ship of state in Arizona is foundering badly.
*brilliant = "sounded like a wonderfully wiseass idea to me." :)
Both parties just held brief caucus meetings (so brief that most observers couldn't get to them before the meetings were finished).
In addition, a number of Representatives are making their way back to the House floor, and the 10 minute bell just sounded.
BTW - I had a truly brilliant* idea while my mind was wandering, waiting for the lege to get its act together -
I think that if the lege doesn't pass a budget, all state flags should be lowered to half-mast until the budget is done. In addition, the AZ flag flying over the Capitol should be flown upside down. An upside down flag used to be nearly-universally used to signal that a ship was in distress, and people from all across the political spectrum agree that the ship of state in Arizona is foundering badly.
*brilliant = "sounded like a wonderfully wiseass idea to me." :)
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