Special session update –

Posted by Craig McDermott

Most of this info has been previously posted on my own blog, Random Musings.  Readers interested in coverage that is more moment-by-moment should surf on over there

All of the Special Session's budget bills passed committee consideration today, though a couple of the Rs have publicly indicated that they will be voting against one or more of the bills when they reach the floor.

Sen. Jack Harper will be trying to attach a floor amendment to one of the lottery-related bills that would allow cities to open their own casinos if any tribe opens one off of their own reservation.  He calls it a "poison pill" to try to block an off-res casino in Glendale because opening such would trigger a sharp increase in competition to Indian casinos, cutting the revenues, and profits, of same.

Whether or not the package passes the Senate, and right now I rate the prospects as slightly more likely than not (but just barely), the votes in the House don't seem to be there – too many of the House Rs want a guarantee that their regular session package of tax cuts for Big Business will go through first and too many of the House Ds think that the package is smoke and mirrors (borrowing and accounting tricks) and places too much of the burden for fixing the state's budget shortfall on the backs of the Arizonans least able to carry that weight.

To be fair, many of the Rs have the same opinion re: "smoke and mirrors'.

Lastly, regular session committee business will be put off until after the Senate holds its Special Session Committee of the Whole and Third Read (aka – "final consideration") floor session, so viewers at home expecting to tune into committee hearings at 1:30 could be waiting for a while.

More later…