Arizona Senate Delays Budget Vote Amid Possible Deal with House Republicans

Strategic Insights -

The Arizona Senate has pushed back its plans to vote on the chamber's state budget proposal, with signs indicating a possible deal with Republicans in the state House of Representatives that would avoid a government shutdown in less than two weeks. Senator Warren Petersen announced the delay on Wednesday, citing the need to finalize amendments to the budget plan, which includes requests from House Democrats and Republicans. This development comes after House Republicans created their own separate budget proposal, which was met with criticism from Governor Katie Hobbs and Senate Democrats.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Arizona Senate has delayed its vote on the state budget proposal, with plans to discuss and approve amendments on Thursday morning.
  • The delay is attributed to the need to finalize amendments, including requests from House Democrats and Republicans.
  • House Republicans created a separate budget proposal, which includes provisions that Governor Hobbs has deemed non-starters.
  • Senate Democrats and Governor Hobbs are negotiating a bipartisan budget plan, while House Democrats boycotted the vote on the House GOP budget plan last week.
  • The separate budget plans from the House and Senate have put a strain on legislative staff, who are working long hours to finalize the plans.
  • Both chambers of the legislature and the governor must agree on a budget plan by June 30 to avoid a state government shutdown.

Statistics:

  • $17.3 billion: The amount of the House budget plan.
  • $17.6 billion: The amount of the Senate budget plan.
  • $100 million: The amount of less K-12 public school funding in the House budget plan compared to the Senate version.
  • $260 million: The amount of less Medicaid spending in the House budget plan compared to the Senate version.
  • 31-0: The vote by which the House approved its budget plan.
  • June 30: The deadline for both chambers of the legislature and the governor to agree on a budget plan to avoid a state government shutdown.

Sources:

  • "Arizona House GOP passes budget alone as Democrats boycott vote" by Ari Berman, AzMirror (no date provided)
  • "GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE While lawmakers from both parties in the Senate, along with House Democrats and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, negotiated a bipartisan budget plan, House Republicans made their own plan with numerous provisions that Hobbs has said are non-starters." (https://azmirror.com/) (no date provided)
  • " YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT" by Ari Berman, AzMirror (no date provided)