Sen. Thayer Verschoor has been hard at work as head of a newly established commission to streamline state agencies’ organization, operation and costs. The Arizona Budget Commission will identify information about how agencies spend tax dollars and identify cutting edge technologies that will assist in balancing state budgets.

Sen. Chuck Gray Receives 2009 “Katie’s Hero” Award

The parents of murder victim Katie Sepich were joined by John Walsh from America’s Most Wanted in presenting Sen. Chuck Gray with the “Katie’s Hero Award.” (See photo.)

The Senate Adjourned the Forty Ninth Legislature – Third Special Session Sine Die on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 1:39 p.m.

The Senate approved a motion to reconsider HB2015, the taxes and budget stabilization bill, and adjourned until 1 p.m. Monday.

The senate is gathering votes on the budget and has adjourned until tomorrow at 10:00am.

The Senate has scheduled an Appropriations Committee meeting at 3:00pm today. Click HERE to see the committee agenda.

Negotiations continue between House and Senate Democratic and Republican leadership on the budget. The Senate will reconvene Monday, July 27.

Senators will reconvene at 1 p.m. Monday to pledge, pray, then go to caucus.

“Arizona is now 10 days into the 2010 fiscal year without a budget. In the aftermath of the governor’s budget vetoes, the Legislature acted responsibly with a temporary continuation of government spending to allow public schools to function and to maintain eligibility for federal funds.

Today, attorneys for Senate President Bob Burns and Speaker of the House Kirk Adams filed a motion for reconsideration with the Arizona Supreme Court in the case of Brewer v. Burns, et al. In the motion, the president and speaker request the court to reconsider its order of June 23, 2009.

Senate President Bob Burns, Senate Democratic Leader Jorge Garcia, House Speaker Kirk Adams and House Democratic Leader David Lujan issued the following joint statement today:

At 1:30pm on the House floor, The Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) will present to the legislature, the impact of the Governor’s budget vetoes.

“I am shocked and disappointed in Gov. Brewer’s actions. She vetoed a budget she agreed to; one that represented many long hours and concessions made to honor her requests. Her veto has jeopardized federal stimulus money, decimated public education – literally wiping out its funding – and put at risk the state’s most vulnerable citizens, the very ones she has claimed to want to protect.

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX (July 1, 2009) – After a long month of budget debate and negotiations, the House and Senate passed a FY10 budget that incorporates concessions to the governor and prevents a government shutdown.

Members are scheduled to go to the floor at 9:30am today. Following floor, we will go to Rules Committee and Caucus.

The Senate is scheduled to hear the trailer bills to the 2010 budget in Appropriations Committee today.

The Committee is scheduled to meet at 9:30am in Senate Hearing Room 109.

The following bills are scheduled to be heard in House Appropriations this morning. Please click here to see the full agenda.

Sen. Ron Gould, R-District 3 will appear this weekend on Channel 12’s Sunday Square Off. Joining Sen. Gould on the panel will be Chris Herstam and Rep. David Lujan. The topics include the Valley Interfaith Project’s appearance in Appropriations, the budget, and the upcoming governor’s race. Set your TiVo for Channel 12.

The Senate introduced a set of bills which will be used as a trailer to the FY2010 budget last night. These bills will make changes to the budget which was passed by both houses earlier this month. Please check back frequently for updates.

The United States Supreme Court today reversed the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Court in the Flores case. The Supreme Court held that both the Ninth Circuit and the District Court used the wrong standards to evaluate the case.