Update: The not-so-special Special Session No. 5

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The special session for Thursday collapsed in failure before it even began on Wednesday (what a surprise) when GOP legislative leaders used the convenient excuse that Secretary of State Ken Bennett says he does not have enough time to hold an election on March 9. Special session will focus on cuts as sales-tax issue is put to rest

And oh by the way, Governor, GOP leaders did not have even half the votes of the GOP caucus for your temporary sales tax increase, as you falsely asserted to the media in calling for a special session. Brewer said on Tuesday that Republican leaders assured her there were enough votes to pass the three-part agenda, but party leaders said they told her otherwise.

Our Accidental Governor is delusional. Is it time for a competency hearing? Is it time for another succession?

We've been over this ground before. A Governor does not call for a special session unless leadership has taken a head count and has the votes. The Accidental Governor should pay for the cost of this special session out of her own pocket as a penalty for her own gross incompetence.

With the two big ticket items gone, that leaves only the budget cuts and fund sweeps proposal for Thursday, assuming the Democrats will go along with waiving the rules for a one day special session. Sales tax hike won't be on March ballot House Minority leader David Lujan, D-Phoenix, said his members won't decide whether to go along until today.

If the Democrats balk, House Speaker Kirk Adams said he will just bring the session to a close without action, putting off further cuts until lawmakers convene as scheduled next month.

If there is an agreement to proceed today, $205 million in agency cuts and fund sweeps is on tap. Agencies, except for the universities and the Department of Corrections, would take a 7.5 percent across-the-board cut. UPDATE: Brewer won't eliminate ballot measures from special session (Arizona Guardian, subscription required).

Most of the $84 million in program reductions would fall on AHCCCS and the departments of Economic Security and Health Services, according to a JLBC document. The rest comes from other fund reductions ($52 million), fund sweeps ($50 million) and prison construction savings ($11 million).