“The Senate and House today took a major step in the Legislature’s Constitutional duty to pass a budget for the State of Arizona. The Appropriations Committees in the Senate and House passed a budget that is structurally balanced, with no accounting gimmicks, no new borrowing and no agency fund sweeps.

The Legislature and Governor made tough decisions on the budget last year that many criticized. Now, we are seeing the benefits of making those difficult calls then, with a proposed budget that makes no new cuts, and puts Arizona in an outstanding position to come out of the worst economic downturn of our lifetime.

This budget also prepares us for the future, with $250 million in a rainy day fund. No longer will Arizona be caught off guard by an uncertain economic future. In FY ‘15, projections show a deficit of more than $600 million, and that is without the Governor’s additional spending proposals. We must remain conservative on our spending plans.

We also must begin cleaning up our debt problem. The Legislature proposes providing $200 million to start paying off the tremendous debt we have incurred.

We understand there will likely be changes to this budget before it is finalized. The Governor has indicated she is anxious to meet with leadership in the Legislature to discuss the numbers and provide further input. We are looking forward to those discussions to build the best financial framework for the people of our great state.”

Thursday the Arizona State Senate passed a bill that would eliminate city water fees and publicly fund the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Senators approved SB 1288 on a 30-0 vote and sent the bill to the House.

The Arizona Department of Water has had its budget cut for the past several years. Funding has been beefed up with water fees being imposed upon cities and towns.

“Due to 27% of the state’s population residing outside of a city or town, and many municipalities utilizing a private water resource, the fee has been unfairly distributed,” says Jack Hakim, the mayor of Bullhead City. SB 1288 would appropriate $6.3 million from the General Fund and repeal ADWR’s ability to collect a municipality fee.

Senator Gail Griffin, the sponsor of SB 1288, says ADWR has had to carry the burden of this unfunded mandate to cities and towns, causing serious budget strains for local communities.

While noting that every agency has had to endure cuts, Senator Griffin believes when a fee is imposed upon Arizonans for a natural resource that provides benefits to the entire state it then becomes a matter worth funding from the state General Fund.

“The State Senate takes the safety and well-being of Arizonans seriously. As part of this commitment, the Arizona State Senate today heard HB 2356 in the Committee on Public Safety and Human Services, in the Rules Committee, Republican and Democratic Caucuses, Committee of the Whole and Third Reading, where it passed in a 28-0 vote. The bill now goes to the Governor for her signature.

World-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman visited the Capitol today, to perform the National Anthem on the floor of the State Senate. Mr. Perlman played with the Southwest Stringers, a group of orchestra students from Entz and Hale Elementary Schools in Mesa. Governor Brewer joined the Senate for the performance, and led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance.

World-renowned violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman performed on the floor of the Arizona State Senate Tuesday as part of the Senate’s Statehood Day celebration.

Perlman performed the National Anthem with the Southwest Stringers, a group of orchestra students from Entz and Hale Elementary Schools in Mesa.

Sen. Ron Gould appeared on Channel 12’s “Sunday Square Off”. He talked about legislation that will allow guns on college campuses.

The Arizona State Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly passed SCR 1014, a resolution that calls for Congress to properly staff Arizona’s ports of entry. The vote was 28-1, and it now goes to the House for approval.

Appropriations Chairman Senator Don Shooter sat down with Ted Simons to talk about the state budget process.

State lawmakers’ attempts to force Pima County to turn over a sewer plant to Marana are getting more aggressive.

Senate President Steve Pierce has asked Gov. Jan Brewer to issue necessary permits the town has been unable to obtain on its own.

World-renowned violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman will perform on the floor of the Arizona State Senate Tuesday, February 14, as part of the Senate’s Statehood Day celebration. Mr. Perlman will perform the National Anthem with the Southwest Stringers, a group of orchestra students from Entz and Hale Elementary Schools in Mesa.

Senator Rick Murphy appeared on Fox 10 Wednesday night to discuss three union-related bills he is sponsoring.

Throughout the state of Arizona stand a variety of monuments honoring those who have offered the greatest sacrifice to the United States of America. Now, Anthem has its own monument, and State Senator Lori Klein is sponsoring a resolution to pay tribute to the service of the veterans of Anthem and the State of Arizona. Today the Committee on Veterans, Military and Government Affairs passed SCR 1010 unanimously.

(STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX)—On Wednesday, February 1, Senator Rich Crandall, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, will host a campaign showcasing Arizona’s most innovative digital learning programs.

Recent articles about my proposed education fund and related spent nuclear fuel recycling program have produced some uninformed and negative reactionary responses. I urge everyone in the media, political arena and the voting public to educate themselves about this important subject.

The Arizona State Senate has a new Member. Monday Judy Burges was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch. Senator Burges comes from the Arizona House of Representatives, where she has been a Member since 2005. Senator Burges will represent the 4th District, which includes Sun City West, Surprise and parts of Peoria and Glendale

Today starting at 6:00 p.m. there will be an informal discussion about education being held by the Kyrene Governing Board President Michelle Hirsch. It will take place at the Kyrene Governing Board meeting room at 8700 South Kyrene Road in Tempe. The talk will be attended by State Senator John McComish, and State Representatives Bob Robson and Jeff Dial. School parents, college students, and local home owners will also be able to share their thoughts on education, as well as ask questions for state legislators.

Senator Don Shooter was the Newsmaker on Channel 12’s Sunday Square Off.

Those who are promoting the repeal of SB1070 are upholding and empowering cartels and gangs who are committing cross border criminal activity.

Born to a pioneer Arizona ranching family, Steve Pierce, a graduate of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has become a fixture in the cattle industry.

“Do you know why there is a rock wall around the UA?” asks Stephen Pierce. The question is directed to a stumped administrator on a recent visit by Pierce to the University of Arizona campus.

Pierce, who has just taken the reins as president of the Arizona Senate, already knows the answer. From 1968 to 1972, he was a student at the UA where he learned, among other things, about how the wall was built to keep range cattle off of the campus.

As a member of a pioneer ranching family in Arizona, there is a good chance he would have known anyway.

To read more about Senate President Steve Pierce go to http://uanews.org/node/44285