Arizona: Jan Brewer

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 17, 2009 - 01:57 pm
NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

Special Session to begin Tuesday

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 - 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

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 12, 2009 - 07:12 pm
NEWS FEED: Arizona Republic

Special session may be faltering

Thank goodness the Legislature doesn't send out those "save the date" notices about upcoming events. It seems the prospects for a special session next week are getting a little wobbly about the knees, amid concerns about whether there are enough votes to act.
Lawmakers and Gov. Jan Brewer have talked about doing a special session to cut around $250 million from education and welfare programs, re-establish policy moves affecting a dozen state agencies, and possibly to settle an $18 million judgment owed to Science Foundation Arizona. 
But to some lawmakers, the cuts aren't enough. To others, the SFA settlement is problematic. Others still worry that Democrats will ...

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November 6, 2009 - 05:29 pm
NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

SWAG Update: Early Filers for 2010

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Now that local elections are all but over for the counting in Tucson (and a possible recount in Ward 3), it's time once again to update the early filers with the Arizona Secretary of State for 2010. You can play along at home at http://www.azsos.gov/cfs/CommitteeSearch.aspx

The big news today: Terry Goddard, the state's highest-elected Democrat, filed paperwork Friday morning announcing that he is exploring a run for governor next year. Political Insider Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and former Arizona Democratic Party Chairman and 2006 U.S. Senate candidate Jim Pederson previously announced that they would not run. Former Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano has also decided not to run

November 5, 2009 - 12:55 pm
NEWS FEED: Arizona Republic

Democrats target Brewer with Socratic method

 As Gov. Jan Brewer prepares to announce her election bid today, Democrats have unveiled a new weapon in their campaign against her: the rhetorical question.
Not since Socrates and Plato were talking politics in Athens have we seen as many question marks as turned up in a press release last night from Jennifer Johnson, who attributed the following remarks to party chairman Don Bivens:
How can she convince voters she is actually qualified to lead? By blaming the Republican leadership she battled all year? Or by blaming the Democrats she ignored all year?  Her resume is filled with job losses, ...

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November 5, 2009 - 10:39 am
NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

The Accidental Governor to announce she will run for governor

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Accidental Governor will find that succession to office is so much easier than election to office.

Jan Brewer will announce today that she intends to run for governor in 2010. Apparently she believes that gross incompetence and abject failure are to be rewarded.

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports:

Gov. Jan Brewer is expected to put an end to the questions about her candidacy this evening (Nov. 5) with an announcement that she will seek a full term as governor. Brewer is scheduled to speak at Westmarc's 17th annual Best of the West awards dinner. One source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Arizona Capitol Times the announcement would be made at the event.

November 5, 2009 - 10:39 am
NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

The Accidental Governor to announce she will run for governor

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Accidental Governor will find that succession to office is so much easier than election to office. Jan Brewer will announce today that she intends to run for governor in 2010. Apparently she believes that gross incompetence...

November 4, 2009 - 02:44 pm
NEWS FEED: Blog for Arizona

Fourth Special Session on Tap

Posted by azBlueMeanie:

It appears the Accidental Governor and the GOP insane clown posse leadership have come to a tentative agreement on a Special Session, but leadership hasn't polled their membership on the specifics of any proposed spending cuts to know whether the bill has the votes necessary to pass. The Accidental Governor does not want to call a Special Session unless she is assured of the vote in advance - unlike the open-ended fiasco this past summer. So the agreement in actuality remains in doubt.

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports:

Legislative leaders and the governor have reached an agreement on the framework of a special session later this month.