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Our situation in AZ isn't much better.
That's a three billion dollar deficit for a state which only has six million residents
Gov. Brewer sues over delay in sending budget bills
by Matthew Benson - Jun. 16, 2009 12:37 PM
The Arizona Republic
Gov. Jan Brewer filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Legislature shortly before noon Tuesday, arguing that lawmakers have violated the state Constitution by refusing to send her a state-budget plan that they passed nearly two weeks ago.
Brewer is asking the state Supreme Court to order the Legislature to send her the budget bills so she may either sign or veto them. The 55-page filing names as defendants the full House and Senate, and specifically cites House Speaker Kirk Adams, R-Mesa; Senate President Bob Burns, R-Peoria; and Secretary of the Senate Charmion Billington.
“I feel what I'm doing is right,” Brewer told reporters from the northwest steps of a building in downtown Phoenix that houses the state Supreme Court. “It's right for the people of Arizona.”
The suit comes amid the growing likelihood of a shutdown of state government if officials can't reach a budget accord by June 30, the end of the fiscal year. Brewer asked for the court to consider the case quickly.
“The Arizona Legislature's disregard for the Constitutional process and requirements has stalled the budget process for fiscal 2010 and may result in a shutdown of vital government services if the budget process is not allowed to continue,” wrote Joseph Kanefield, Brewer's general counsel.
The state Constitution states that bills approved by the Legislature “shall” be presented to the governor upon final passage, but does not specify how quickly the measures must be transmitted.
The lawsuit represents a ratcheting-up of political pressure surrounding 2010 budget talks. The state faces a shortfall in excess of $3 billion, and the Republican Brewer remains at odds with a Republican-led Legislature regarding how to close the shortfall while maintaining critical state services. Brewer would like legislators to approve or refer to the 2009 ballot a temporary tax hike, something lawmakers have thus far refused to do.
On June 4, Republican legislators passed a budget proposal for 2010. But rather than sending the package to the governor, as is customary, Burns and Adams opted to hang onto the plan and use it as leverage in further budget negotiations with Brewer.
GOP legislative leaders said their intent was to find a compromise with the governor and avoid her veto. But Brewer told reporters Tuesday that she views the maneuver as an attempt to “usurp the power of the governor” and coerce her signature of the spending plan.
As the days have passed, Brewer said she has come to suspect that legislators plan to wait until the end of the month to send her the budget bills — forcing her at the 11th hour to either sign a plan she doesn't like or shut down state government.
That's a three billion dollar deficit for a state which only has six million residents
