Tom Boone

One week before the deadline set forth by the Arizona constitution, Arizona House Speaker Jim Weiers (R-Phoenix) announced that Republicans will be sending a budget package to committee on Wednesday. The announcement comes after months of wrangling between Democrats, led by Gov. Janet Napolitano, and the Republican-controlled Legislature over what adjustments would be needed to plug the nearly $2 billion gap the state government faces in the coming fiscal year.

The proposal includes over $500 million in lump sum state agency reductions and $500 million for new schools to be procured through bonding. The remaining $1 billion or so would be made up through delaying some building repairs and shifting funds from elsewhere into the general fund.

Weiers said the budget proposal represents "exactly what the state of Arizona is looking for," saying the plan works without burdening "future generations" of Arizonans.

CD1 Republican candidate Sydney Hay announced today she has lined up the support of seven state representatives and three state senators, further consolidating her frontrunner status in her primary battle against Preston Korn, her chief rival for the nomination.

The Hay campaign issued a press release saying the legislators have signed a "support pledge" naming her as their pick for the nomination. The list includes state Rep. Bill Konopnicki (R-Safford), state Sen. Jake Flake (R-Snowflake) and state Rep. Andy Tobin (R-Paulden), all of whom had considered running for the seat themselves.

The full list, as given by the Hay campaign, reads:

"Senator Jake Flake and Representative Bill Konopnicki of District 5, Representatives Lucy Mason and Andy Tobin of District 1, Senator Ron Gould and Representatives Nancy McLain and Trish Groe of District 3, and Senator Jack Harper and Representatives Judy Burges and Tom Boone of District 4."

The great cumbersome Winnebago of the budget process, which has thus far been driven by the Governor and Legislature on the extreme righthand side of the road with its blinkers on, may finally be moving into the diamond lane.  read more »

Even as the Arizona Republican Party hailed the passage of a spending freeze the GOP brought through the House and Senate today, a timing issue means that the legislation likely won't get to the Governor's desk until Monday, when she is expected to veto it.

In a busy session, the state House and Senate nearly simultaneously passed bills that would immediately freeze over $500 million dollars of state agency and special fund spending.

House Majority Leader Tom Boone (R-Peoria) said that today's legislation is a "management tool" that he and the Republican leadership hope will aid in "bipartisan budget negotiations."  read more »