Posted by azBlueMeanie:
It appears the Accidental Governor and the GOP insane clown posse leadership have come to a tentative agreement on a Special Session, but leadership hasn't polled their membership on the specifics of any proposed spending cuts to know whether the bill has the votes necessary to pass. The Accidental Governor does not want to call a Special Session unless she is assured of the vote in advance – unlike the open-ended fiasco this past summer. So the agreement in actuality remains in doubt.
The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports:
Legislative leaders and the governor have reached an agreement on the framework of a special session later this month.
The plan is to fix the budget problems of several agencies that resulted from Gov. Jan Brewer’s veto of a budget bill that had contained funding mechanisms for the agencies.
Additional spending cuts will be part of the special session, but it’s not clear exactly how much money the cuts will save or where the reductions will be made.
The state has an estimated $2 billion deficit.
“We have talked and agreed to try to move a plan forward, and so now we need to shop that with our membership and see how it goes,” said Senate President Bob Burns.
Burns emphasized that the deal was reached among himself, House Kirk Adams and Gov. Jan Brewer. It still has to be agreed upon by rank-and-file members.
Burns said they are looking to push through with the special session before Thanksgiving. Others with knowledge of the special session said it will begin on Nov. 16.
* * *
But before the special session can take place, leadership will have to do several things, according to Burns.
First, leadership will have to get majority members’ feedback about the plan. They will probably need to get feedback from the minority as well to see how they will vote. Once the votes are lined up, leadership will have to find out if members will be available.
The governor has said she wants an agreement with the Legislature before calling for the year’s fourth special session.
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Actually, Thane, this is the usual way special sessions are conducted. The legislature is called back into session just long enough to pass a bill already agreed upon by the Governor and leadership. The open-ended “you guys work it out” special session this past summer was most unusual.
“does not want to call a Special Session unless she is assured of the vote in advance” – well, well. Sounds to me like Brewer might be waiting a while. Until I hear more squawking from Dean Martin I don’t imagine that 51% of the legislature is likely to make any pledge in advance to vote any which way, much less the way that Brewer wants.