Wednesday, December 16th, 2009...5:30 pm
That Special Session? Never Mind…
It’s hard to say that the Governor and legislative leadership thought that a “deal” had been struck, since anything that they had seemed to be based a combination of wishful thinking, strange assumptions and a misunderstanding of the Arabic number system. We’ll go ahead and call it a deal, and declare it officially off.
Bob Burns did have a group of Senate Democrats who were willing to vote on a sales tax proposal, but that particular part of the deal turned out to be useless when it turned out that the Democratic votes promised by Kirk Adams and company in the House was merely the assumption that Democrats would vote for the proposal when it was presented. Once again, no one bothered to ask.
There are also reports of a tense meeting between the Governor and legislative leaders where she told Adams to start getting serious. Hey, hey, give the guy a break, it is only December. Apparently, Adams’s solution is to go even further to the right with his proposals thus making it less likely to get any Democratic votes when the bill moves to the Senate and less likely that it can get the Governor’s signature.
Of course, the true moment of comedy came today when the Secretary of State’s office reminded everyone that it would be legally impossible to have the sales tax referendum in March, the proposal that is being bandied about.
So, this takes the sales tax increase off the table, the lifting of restrictions on voter mandated funds is dead according to observers. This leaves legislators to talk about cuts and cuts only, and they apparently haven’t agreed on what these are yet.
The special session call can’t be cancelled, so legislators will have to work at least tomorrow. This leads to the possibility that taxpayers will be on the hook for $15,000 so their solons can recite the pledge of allegiance.
14 Comments
December 16th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Wanna bet if there is another stimulus none of them will be beating their chest and saying they won’t take the money?
December 16th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Oh, for fu—’s sake!! Is THIS enough to wake up voters?? Does the state REALLY have to burn like Rome before people get that the majority party is supremely impotent at managing their legislative roles and constitutional obligations?! Did signing the “No Tax Pledge” render these jackasses completely dumb? I mean, what is it going to take, Arizona??? ARGH! There goes my holiday mood. Ho frickin’ ho, ho, ho….
December 16th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Read online today that our illustrious state treasurer says that even if everyone in the state were not paid or shut down the entire state government, we would still have a massive deficit. And then he blamed spending. *rolls eyes*
December 16th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
It looks like the only thing that a majority of the legislature is willing to agree on is the near certainty that some day that there the state of Arizona government checking account is going to run out – and then what will happen?
December 17th, 2009 at 12:28 am
I heard Jan, Kirk, and Bob were looking into a payday loan.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:58 am
@ Kenny – LOL! Perfect!
December 17th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
There ya go, payday loans for the state. I told ya the free market would solve everything!
December 17th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Hey Ted,
I think the GOP members/leadership of legislature are acting prudent, responsible and truly understand the maganitude of their actions.
Your Friends,
Jim Irvin and Jeff Groscost
December 17th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Anyone know why the Treasurer is infringing on the copyrights of Fox?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTNqVrr2LZA
DESPITE
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/about_us/newscast_dubs
Companies and individuals can not post the video they purchased from Video Monitoring Services or Media Watch AZ to a web site. Those copies can only be viewed as part of their business or personal library.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Ted,
Are you running for the Legislature in LD-28? What do you consider crossing the line requiring you to put a “paid for by”under your political diatribe?
December 18th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Walt-
As I’ve said before when you’ve brought this up: I’ve talked to the Clean Elections commission and as long as I don’t tell people to vote for me, I can continue to write commentary.
December 18th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Walt,
Are you a Republican Party District Chairman in LD-28? What do you consider crossing the line requiring you to put a “paid for by” under your political diatribe?
December 18th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Ted,
I would talk with an attorney that has experience in this area. This issue arose in 2006 an we were told it must be treated as part of the campaign.
WAMBA THE FOOL…Your question would be very witty if I were running for office.
December 20th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Are you planning on suing over this Mr. Stepehnson?