The following e-mail was sent to Sen. Ron Gould on Monday, June 22, 2009 from a state agency e-mail address. The e-mail was time stamped at 11:41am. It was signed using the employee’s title as well as the agency logo.

The Senate will go to the floor today at 1:00 p.m. We will recess, caucus bills approved by Rules yesterday (June 23) as well as the conference committee report for SB 1049 (fingerprint clearance cards), and return to the floor to complete the COW calendars scheduled for today. We will then adjourn for afternoon committees.

The Supreme Court took jurisdiction, but denied relief to the governor. The Legislature is not required to transmit the bills immediately, but will transmit no later than June 30.

The Senate celebrated the birthdays of Sen. Linda Gray and Sen. Russell Pearce today. Sen. Gray is pictured below with her husband, Larry, son Larry Jr., and granddaughter, Bella Mae. Sen. Pearce is also pictured below with Karen, his assistant.

Oral arguments in the Arizona Supreme Court case today begin at 10am. Watch it live at this link: http://www.supreme.state.az.us/courtvideo/

Monday, June 22, 2009

8:30 a.m.

• Floor

• Rules upon recess of floor

• Caucus upon adjournment of Rules

• Floor upon adjournment of Rules

1:30 p.m.

• Committee on Judiciary

• Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Public Debt

Lawmakers approved a tax amnesty provision in the January fix to the FY2009 budget. The provision was designed to generate state revenue by freeing taxpayers from penalties which would normally apply to back taxes. Funds collected from this program far exceeded the state’s expectations.

President Burns rode with his son and grandson, among 800 other cyclists, in a two-day, 150-mile bike tour for MS in March. Thanks to more than 30 contributors who sponsored his team, the president raised $13,680. He presented the check today on the Senate floor to Sheryl Keeme, president of the Arizona Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and others involved in Arizona’s MS chapter.

Bob Robb’s column in today’s Arizona Republic clears up some misinformation out there on the budget. It illustrates how the differences between parts of the Republican legislative budget and the governor’s aren’t as vast as some are claiming.

The 3 p.m. meeting today with Senate President Bob Burns, House Speaker Kirk Adams and Gov. Jan Brewer was positive and productive. House, Senate and Governor’s staff continue to meet and make progress on the budget.

On Thursday, we will go to Floor after Caucus to Third Read bills and for a possible COW. This means we will be working late on Thursday evening.

Sen. Ron Gould, R- Lake Havasu City, issued the following statement about legislative leadership.

“It is regrettable that we now have another delay in negotiations. It is unfortunate the governor is seeking to involve the courts in an ongoing budget negotiation while the Legislature is still in session. It delays and obstructs the process.”

Senate and House Republican leadership will hold a brief press conference at 1:15pm.

The Briefing will be held in Senate Hearing Room #3.

The Senate passed 29 bills today; 17 with bipartisan support.

Monday, June 15, 2009

9:00 a.m.

• Floor

1:30 p.m.

• Committee on Judiciary

• Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Public Deb

The Senate heard four sets of bills today in Committee of the Whole (COW).

Click HERE to watch Senate President Bob Burns and House Speaker Kirk Adams on Horizon this week talking about budget negotiations with the governor.