Items by AZ Blogger

• Governor Brewer calls another special session

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 2
  Our year round legislature will be back at it again on Thursday as Governor Brewer has called a special session covering three topics.
  Proposal to ask voters to loosen restrictions on voter-approved fundsMore cuts on top of those passed a few weeks ago. $200 Million seems to be the numberRefer [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 5:20pm EST
  by AZ Blogger

• Governor Brewer Seeks Relief from Massive Washington Mandates

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  Meets With Congressional Delegation on Arizona’s Economy,
  
  Cost of Health Care Entitlement Expansion, Job Recruitment Efforts
  
  
  PHOENIX – With three years now beyond the initial signs of recession, and state revenues down 31% just since the summer of 2008, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today met with members [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 12:57pm EST
  by AZ Blogger

• Governor Brewer Brings Back Christmas

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  Governor Brewer officially returned to the State Capitol a few words that had been missing for last few years. Christmas, menorah, and Hanukkah have missing since 2001 when Janet Napolitano changed the words to "holiday" and "candle holder."
  Saying she wasn't going to play "word games,"Brewer said, "I believe in'" [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 11:37am EST
  by AZ Blogger

• They did it!!

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  After a weekend of anticipation, the legislature met today (a few hours later then planned) and approved on party lines $300 million in cuts from the state budget. The Senate started off the morning looking for Democratic votes but after last weeks AWOL, Sen Thayer Verschoor was in the [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 4:06pm EST
  by AZ Blogger

• Governor Calls Special Session

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  And they're back! The governor this afternoon called a 3-day special session that will start tomorrow at noon. Kirk Adams officially announced it through his Twitter Account.
  The session is expected to only address cuts, anywhere from $300M to $700M.
  We will post all of the details as we' [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 4:41pm EST
  by AZ Blogger

• Governor Brewer Announces Re-Election Bid

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Governor Brewer announced tonight that she is indeed running for a full official term as Governor. Her release, sent by email is below.
  

  Governor Jan Brewer Announces Bid for Second Term

  Former Attorney General Grant Woods and Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters announced as Campaign Co‐Chairs

  PHOENIX [...]

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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 10:27pm EST
  by AZ Blogger

• Special Session and a Bob Burns Editorial

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  Just because it is November, doesn't mean we can't welcome back our legislature with open arms. Come the week of November 16th we'll do just that. Reports say that is when lawmakers will return to fix almost a half a billion dollars in shortfalls with almost $300 million of that' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 2:14pm EST
  by AZ Blogger

• Arizona- Home to the nations two largest canyons

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  How fitting for Gov. Brewer to speaking about the budget deficit at one of the seven wonders of the world. At the Arizona Town Hall, Brewer took advantage of the scenic landscape to paint a picture not quite as beautiful but definitely as breathtaking. That picture would be the [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 9:41am EST
  by AZ Blogger

• Is this a Brewer momentum shift?

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Jan Brewer's first term as governor was going to be short no matter what. After taking over after Janet Napolitano saw greener pastures, the longest Brewer's tenure could be was just a little under two years. Watching college football today, it came to me that Brewer is the replacement quarterback [...]
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  Posted: October 24, 2009, 3:52pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Happenings on the 9th floor...including the budget

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  It was a busy week on the 9th floor. We are still processing the news and reactions to the departure of Chief of Staff Kevin Tyne. Most of the comments are positive towards Tyne but don't hide the fact that this will definitely make the next round of budget negotiations' [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 3:37pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Eileen Klein to replace Kevin Tyne as Gov COS

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Word just in that Kevin Tyne will be stepping down as Gov. Jan Brewer's Chief of Staff and will be replaced by Eileen Klein. This announcement is both surprising yet not. As Brewer moves forward, it had become clear something needed to move so that budget negotiations with the legislature' [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 10:24am EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Brewers Public Schedule

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Here is the Gov's public schedule. Good to see she has a busy week ahead.
  
  Public Schedule For Governor Jan Brewer
  Week of October 12, 2009
  
  Monday, October 12, 2009
  
  · 11:00 a.m. – Governor to Speak at 13th Annual Sandra Day O’Connor
  Awards Luncheon[...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2009, 7:13pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Brewer takes a stand against Medicaid expansion

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Governor Brewer raised a warning flag today that health-care reforms being pushed in Congress by Senator Baucus-(D MT) right now could create a "devastating" situation for Arizona. Brewer state that these reforms would create an unfudned mandate that could push our already struggling state into bankruptcy.
  
  To make her [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 1:05pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Happy Birthday Governor Brewer

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Governor Brewer turns 65 tomorrow. I wonder if she thought she'd enter retirement age dealing with all that she has had to this last year. When most are taking it easy and looking forward to riding off into the sunset, Brewer hasn't shown any drive to relax or slow down. [...]
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  Posted: September 25, 2009, 4:21pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Press Release: Governor Brewer Provides Stimulus Funds for Medically Uninsured and Underserved

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Governor Brewer Provides Stimulus Funds for Medically Uninsured and Underserved
  
  $11.6 Million awarded to the Department of Health Services for Community Health Centers
  
  PHOENIX – Governor Jan Brewer today announced the distribution of the State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF) Government Services Fund (GSF) monies to the Arizona Department [...]
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  Posted: September 25, 2009, 2:58pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Welcome to the "hell hole"

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Don't get confused by those cool mornings and evening nights with windows open, there are still some major "hot spots" around the central Phoenix area. According to Governor Brewer, summer is sticking around and down around the capitol it's a real "hell hole." Brewer made the "hell hole" comment yesterday [...]
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  Posted: September 24, 2009, 3:10pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• First to the race?

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Sorry the posts have been light, a lot has been going on around the office and there hasn't been much news from the 9th floor. I was talking to a colleague today who gave an interesting insight into Vernon Parker and what is assumed to be an announcement tonight for' [...]
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  Posted: September 23, 2009, 5:08pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• A letter to a dear old friend...

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Senate President Burns and Speaker Adams polished up the penmanship and sent Governor Brewer a letter. No, it wasn't the "have a nice vacation" type of letters but given the circumstances it wasn't all that bad either.
  The letter, which follows, basically states that the line item vetoes she [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 1:26pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Brewer deputy chief of staff resigns

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Deputy Chief of Staff Brian McNeil resigned yesterday making him the second key aide to leave the administration in the last few months. Tom Manos, who had been the governor's chief budget adviser left at the end of July after the first few rounds of budget negotiations.
  [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2009, 11:22am EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Sit down for this

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  You might want to make sure you are sitting down when you read this. The budget is still $1B off.
  
  While last weeks budget moves improved the financial situation the state faces, there are still major issues to fix. $500 million is still left over from [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 11:10am EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Brewer takes action on budget

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 4
  Gov. Brewer vetoed the $250 million property tax repeal along with certain cuts to education and social services using line-item vetoes. She signed the rest of the remaining bills that were sent to her late last month.
  
  The property tax repeal was THE major bill for Republicans this session. [...]
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  Posted: September 04, 2009, 3:37pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Brewer signs one bill, the real stuff comes tomorrow

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 3
  Governor Brewer signed the bill authorizing funding for DPS today and signaled her intention to address the rest of the budget bills tomorrow. She made a surprise appearance today at the League of Cities conference in Tucson and reiterrated her call for the voters to decide on the sales tax [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2009, 1:57pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• A conference minus one

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  The annual Border Governors Conference will have an empty seat this week as Governor Brewer has decided to cancel her trip and stay at home to work on the budget. Originally planned to make the trip to Monterrey, Mexico, Brewer would have left Attorney General Terry Goddard in charge in [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2009, 4:09pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• The budget might get signed, but who's signature will it be?

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  So we've seen our fair share of weird things happen this year in Arizona politics. Imagine this scenario.
  
  Jan Brewer acends to the Governor's office after Janet Napolitano resigns leaving Brewer to negotiate budget fixes for the '09 budget, and a balanced budget for '10. After vetoing it' [...]
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  Posted: September 01, 2009, 11:53am EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• You are a weak girly man

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 2
  So our Governor isn't Arnold and doesn't have a think Austrian accent but the message is the same. Governor Brewer didn't hold back on legislators that won't vote to let the voters decide on a tax increase.
  Taking a page from Dwight Eisenhower, she said "The truth is, those" [...]
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  Posted: August 28, 2009, 4:28pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Good comment worth reposting- The Real Ronald Regan

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  Sometimes I get a kick out of the uber-conservatives that quote Ronald Regan and his tax policies. What they sometimes forget, or fail to mention, is that Regan also presided over some of the largest tax increases in modern history. Thank you Bob Haran for his insightful comment.
  How [...]
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  Posted: August 27, 2009, 5:01pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Sine Die....Again

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  The Legislature adjourned from their special session this afternoon which gives the Governor until the 5th of September to sign or veto the budget passed last week.  There are still talks going on between the Republicans and the Dems with hopes a deal can be made to send the tax [...]
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  Posted: August 26, 2009, 11:05pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Le Templar on the Governor and the sales tax

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Le Templar of the Tribune had a good blog today summing up why Governor Brewer has been so set on a tax increase.  The bullet points are-
  Can't cut budget enough to solve crisis
  Arizonans loath higher taxes, except the sales tax 
  No other (Republican) proposals for new revenues have been offered
  Brewer doesn't [...]
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  Posted: August 24, 2009, 6:02pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• The budget is in the elevator

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  The budget has been officially passed now and is on its way up to the Governor Brewer's desk. The Legislature is adjourned until Tuesday so the governor has some signing or vetoing to do. Word was there was an effort to wrangle up 7 or 8 Dems to go for [...]
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  Posted: August 20, 2009, 4:07pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Legislature okay property tax repeal and Gorman lobbying

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 4
  So we knew this was going to happen since Speaker Adams pretty much said so.  Both houses approved the property tax repeal that actually went into effect on Monday.  As a last ditch effort, Speaker Adams threw the Governor a bone and didn't technically fully approve the bill.  He didn't [...]
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  Posted: August 19, 2009, 10:45pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• WWYD?

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  Laurie Roberts of the Republic asks WWJD- as in What Will Jan Do sign the budget or veto what is basically the same budget she vetoed before.  So put yourself in Jan's shoes, what would you do?  If you sign it, you sign a budget you know is out of balance [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 1:46pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Legislators Pass Property Tax Increase

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  The headline isn't that far off. While they didn't directly pass a
  tax increase, the fact they failed to pass a bill repealing the soon
  to be reinstated property tax, it will go into effect on Monday. So
  if your house is worth $176,200, you just got a $58 a [...]
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  Posted: August 14, 2009, 4:28pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Opinion from Supreme Court Released

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  The Supreme Court came out with their full opinion today. Basically, they agreed with the Governor becasue they agreed it caused "direct injury" to her by withholding the bill until the last second (actually, after the last second if we're getting technical here). This is all kind of a' [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 4:37pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Governors Statement on Budget Breakdown Part III

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  The Governor released a statement on the latest round of budget meltdowns.
  
  “I trust the people of Arizona. But, I am deeply disappointed that some Members of the Arizona State Senate do not. They have so little trust in the voters, that they would once again delay the [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 4:26pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• And.....we're back to square 1

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 2
  Wow.  Seriously wow.  That's all I really have to say.  In a non-surprising turn of events the Senate today voted against the key provision in Brewer's budget.  In other words, they are sending the exact same budget that she vetoed on June 30th.  
  Seriously people.  For the good of the state, [...]
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  Posted: August 12, 2009, 5:02pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• No vote today and no election in December

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Well, no vote today on sending the tax measure to the ballot. When and if the vote does happen, it won't be for a November 3rd election. Sources at the Secretary of States office say it looks like the date will be December 8th at the earliest. That is of' [...]
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  Posted: August 11, 2009, 5:06pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Arizona the Anti-California?

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  There was a good op-ed in the Wall Street Journal today.  It was yet another endorsement of the Governor's budget plans which now include corporate tax cuts and property tax cuts that are permanent, and a temporary sales tax increase ending after three years.   [...]
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  Posted: August 11, 2009, 1:53pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• No vote today afterall

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  It was expected today would be the day the legislature voted on referring the tax increase to the ballot along with massive tax cuts.  Well, we've written that post and we'll probably write it again.  Alas, it appears today will not be the day.  Shocking I know.  Everyone has given [...]
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  Posted: August 11, 2009, 1:44pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Former Mesa Superitendent Debra Duvall Named Special Advisor

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Recently retired Superintendent of Mesa Public Schools has been named a special advisor to the Governor today to help with Arizona's participation in "Race to the Top" educational reform program.
  Release can be found here. [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 4:15pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• A little break from State Politics

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  While we've been wrapped up in the drama of Arizona State politics, there is plenty of national stuff going on.  Guess what, it involves Governor Brewer.  Well, only kind of.  A press release today shed light on a letter sent by House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell' [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 6:00pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Gould for Gorman?

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Okay, we know politicians like their egos to be stroked but is this really a time for ego stroking? Why do I say ego stroking? Because that's exactly what Ron Gould throwing his hat into the Majority Whip race is. In case you didn't hear, Sen Pamela Gorman resigned today' [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 2:20pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Round of Applause for holding out this long

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  I tip my hat to Tom Manos, the now former Deputy Chief of Staff for Finance.  Effective today he is retiring for the administration.  I can't say I blame him and bravo for staying on the extra month.  When it was clear there is still a lot of work to' [...]
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  Posted: August 01, 2009, 1:34am EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Re-post stories???

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 2
  So I'm wondering if I should just repost stories from the beginning of the month.  Although it was a closer call last night then on the 30th, the House got their business done, approving the budget, special election and of the other tax cuts but the Senate was held up' [...]
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  Posted: July 31, 2009, 2:53pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• News Conference

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  A news conference has been called for 4:00 PM and it includes the
  Governor, Speaker Adams, and Senator Burns.
  Details have leaked out but seem to change by the minute. The latest
  is a temporary tax over three years of 1%, 1%, .5%.
  We'll post all the giving and taking with the [...]
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  Posted: July 29, 2009, 4:18pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Budgets and Polls and Judges Oh My!

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  Busy day today so I'll try and wrap it up with the big stuff.  Basically, it can be summed up that this week is a big one for the Governor.  
  A deal must be reached by  Friday for a special November election on a temporary sales tax.  Rumor has it' [...]
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  Posted: July 28, 2009, 12:29pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• How many is this now?

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  So maybe that whole hubbub about a tax actually passing is really why they're so against it.  I'll say this, with each new poll that comes out it's kind of hard to dispute that it's probably what the voters want.  This is at least the third poll released (rumors have [...]
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  Posted: July 24, 2009, 11:36am EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• We're in the money, we're in the money!!

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 1
  Oh wait...we're still a few billion short to balance the budget?
  Dang! Well, I guess we can't complain too much since it's a TON of
  free money (I know, it's really our money...okay our grandkids' money).

  The state received $61 Million from the feds earlier than we
  expected. The governor will [...]

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  Posted: July 23, 2009, 11:59am EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Brewer applies for H1N1 Grant Funds

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Governor Brewer today submitted an application to the Federal
  Government for $7 million in grant funds with the goal of being better
  prepared for flu season this year. The Swine Flu news has died down
  compared to its height, but it is still considered a major problem
  likely to pop [...]
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  Posted: July 20, 2009, 5:24pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

• Someone's got a case of the Monday's

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  Only 12 senators and 26 House members showed up today so both chambers adjourned until next week without a quorum today. I'm really glad there is NO urgency to get anything fixed with the budget. They probably feel it's okay since they aren't getting paid but it might be time [...]
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  Posted: July 20, 2009, 3:20pm EDT
  by AZ Blogger

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

  —Eye on the 9th Floor

  Number of comments: 0
  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' [...]
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  Posted: July 14, 2009, 11:42am EDT
  by AZ Blogger