Governor uses line item veto

Lawmakers passed a budget early Wednesday morning, but without the temporary sales tax hike Gov. Jan Brewer had insisted on.

Brewer signed the basic budget trailer bill, saying that a shutdown of government services wasn't in the state's best interest. But she also used her line item veto pen liberally on the basic budget bill, slashing specific cuts to the departments of Economic Security, Health Services, Economic Security, Education and vetoed outright seven other companion budget bills.

She also called for a special session July 6 to address making budget changes and approving a temporary one cent sales tax increase to help balance the budget.

A temporary sales tax hike to help reduce some of the budget cuts to education and social services was a key element that Brewer insisted on in return for her signature on the budget.  But neither the House or the Senate could muster up the needed votes to pass the issue onto voters in November. A plan to create a flat tax, which was seen as an incentive to get GOP votes for the sales tax, also died.

Rep. John McComish (R-Ahwatukee Foothills) said that in negotiations with Brewer, lawmakers said they would try to get the sales tax on the November ballet, and she said she would get the needed votes from Democrats, while the GOP focused on it's members.

"I'm disappointed because we negotiated in good faith," said McComish before leaving town for a long scheduled vacation with his family and grandchildren. He said that Brewer had told GOP legislative leaders that she would get some Democratic votes to help pass her sales tax plan.

But in the end no Democrats in either chamber voted for the budget or the sales tax proposal.

Rep. Rae Waters (D-Ahwatukee Foothills) said that several Democrats were offered pricey pork barrel projects for their legislative districts in return for a yes vote, but all refused.

Lawmakers wrapped up the legislative session around 7:30 a.m. after a gruelling 24-hour marathon.

For more information, visit www.ahwatukee.comor see the July 3 issue of the Ahwatukee Foothills News