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Session Picking Up Steam; Budget Meetings Begin
Legislators this week accelerated the pace of the Session as Monday's deadline for new bill introduction in the House looms. Another key indicator of the rapid pace this Session has adopted is the expectation that the last opportunity to hear bills in the standing committees of their chamber of origin is February 17. After that date, committees will need special permission from legislative leadership to consider such bills and all reports from the Capitol to AACo staff have reinforced legislative leadership's support of the deadline.
To date 1,285 bills have dropped; 66 bills have passed the first chamber; and 46 bills have passed the Rules Committee and await action on the floor of the House or Senate.
The Senate on Wednesday began conducting budget meetings with small groups of senators and legislative leadership. It has been reported that the focus of the budget briefings has been a joint Senate-House budget proposal. While details about the proposal remain largely guarded, the legislative proposal is reported to assume a lower, more conservative revenue projection than Governor Brewer's budget proposal released last month. Senate President Steve Pierce yesterday told the Legislative Report that the legislative proposal does not contain any new spending.
Next week House and Senate Appropriations Committees are scheduled to hear budget presentations by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff for the Arizona Department of Corrections.
Contact legislators today to remind them to repeal the inmate shift policy. AACo has crafted these talking points to help craft your message. |
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Bills Impacting Your Office & 2012 Platform Update
NEW! AACo is pleased to offer a series of reports that track legislation of interest to each county office. Access these weekly reports in the Advocacy Center of AACo's website.
Check out the latest progress update of the County Government Platform; legislation advanced by AACo as suggested by members like you. |
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NACo Legislative Conference Around Corner
Arizona county officials and employees can still save $25 by registering for next month's NACo Legislative Conference online.
Dozens of Arizona county officials from nearly every county have made plans to participate in this year's event which features a number of opportunities to interact with Arizona's congressional delegation, officials within the Administration and thousands of county officials from across the country.
General Session speakers confirmed for the event include veteran political commentator Tucker Carlson of Fox News and Newsweek Magazine contributor Eleanor Clift.
Check out the conference website to learn more about this important opportunity to engage in federal policy discussions that impact your communities. |
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Catch the AACo Legislative Update Webinar Today?
Did you catch AACo's Legislative Update webinar this afternoon? If not, you can download the presentation given in the live session in the Education Center section of AACo's website.
A recording of all webinars are made available within 24 hours of the event.
Mark your calendar for the last Friday of every month at noon when the AACo advocacy staff will present the latest news from the State Capitol.
Advance registration for the free webinar series is required. |
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Next Week at the Capitol: Take Action!
Support County Government Platform!
Lend your support to the 2012 County Goverment Platform by signing into the Legislatures's Request to Speak system and:
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