House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez, D-Yuma, said Democrats have repeatedly been told they should embrace the budget plan. While it does include some of Democrats’ priorities, they were never involved in negotiations, she said.
“I wish we had been brought to the table, I wish this was a bipartisan budget, and I vote 'no,'” she said when explaining her final vote on the budget Saturday.
Rachel Leingang, Lily Altavena and Ryan Randazzo, Arizona Republic, May 25, 2019
The Arizona House of Representatives approved a budget for the state in a series of votes on Friday and early Saturday.
Meanwhile, after working through the day Saturday, the Senate still made no progress in getting enough Republicans to support a spending plan.
The uneven movement between the two chambers is unusual and has led to uncertainty about when and how lawmakers will agree to the $11.8 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Typically, both chambers approve budget bills in tandem, once it’s clear they have enough votes to secure passage.
But this week’s budget process hasn't followed a traditional path. The House has a smaller Republican majority than the Senate, but leaders there had the support from their members since the start of the budget debate on Friday.
Senate negotiations have been at a standstill during the same period, with at least two and potentially three senators holding out against the plan.
The frustration spilled into public view on Thursday when House GOP lawmakers were caught on a hot mic talking about potential retaliation against their Senate colleagues, including not hearing their bills and considering an ethics complaint.
Finally, House members decided to trudge forward alone. The House approved all of the 11 budget-related bills by about 5 a.m. Saturday and adjourned until Monday, when the chamber plans to return and may complete business for the session. Monday is Memorial Day.
Meanwhile, the Senate ended its work on Saturday evening after it was clear leaders still didn't have enough support. They intend to return to work at 11 a.m. Monday.
The path forward for the budget is murky and highly dependent on what, if anything, the Senate does next week.
Graduation, ER visit stall votes
In the House, Republicans hold 31 seats in the chamber to Democrats' 29. That means that if one member is against a bill or is not present, the bill couldn’t pass without Democratic help.
But Republicans haven't needed to reach across the aisle to win support.
House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez, D-Yuma, said Democrats have repeatedly been told they should embrace the budget plan. While it does include some of Democrats’ priorities, they were never involved in negotiations, she said.
“I wish we had been brought to the table, I wish this was a bipartisan budget, and I vote 'no,'” she said when explaining her final vote on the budget Saturday.
The tighter vote count in the House left operations hanging by a thread a couple times throughout Friday night.
Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, had to leave for a few hours to attend a graduation, and bills could not be voted on in his absence. Voting immediately resumed once he returned.
Later that evening, Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, left because his son had been taken to the emergency room. Again, bills could not be considered.
Kavanagh returned to the House a few hours later and let members know his son was OK. Voting resumed.
What's in the budget?
The $11.8 billion spending plan largely follows the budget Gov. Doug Ducey initially proposed in January.
Under the agreement between Republican leaders and the governor, the state would increase its rainy-day fund to $1 billion, with infusions of $271 million in the current fiscal year and in the fiscal year that begins on July 1.
A $130 million plan to expand Interstate 17 over the next three years at areas where motorists often hit heavy traffic also is included in the deal.
The next step of the 20% by 2020 teacher pay raise plan, a 5% raise, would go into effect, and $136 million in additional assistance for schools would be included.
There's $15 million to expand academies that train teachers at the state's universities.
A $32 vehicle registration fee for public safety would be phased out during the next two years.
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