State legislators said they are close to finalizing a set of cuts intended to balance the state budget after the proposals passed appropriations committee hearings in the House and Senate on Thursday night.
Revisions to the six bills include an increase in cuts to the university system from $129 million to $141.5 million. Legislators said the six bills cutting about $580 million from the state budget could be approved as early as Friday.
Rep. Nancy McLain, R-Bullhead City, said members of the House Appropriations Committee tried to identify the cuts necessary to cover a $1.5 billion shortfall while minimizing the impact it would have on Arizonans.
“The whole goal is to do the least amount of damage to the least amount of people, given the dicey situation we’re in,” McLain said.
McLain added that committee members agreed to amendments preserving funding for some programs, including the Ticket to Work program that helps disabled people find employment or return to their jobs.
“We’re trying to be sensitive, as much as possible, because [state funding] serves people’s needs,” McLain said.
Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe, said Republicans in the state Legislature were planning to push the legislation system just after midnight Thursday, which has drawn close scrutiny from the media and the public.
“Everyone’s sleeping, the press are gone, [and] I don’t know how many people are going to be there to question these legislators for their actions,” Ableser said. “They don’t want people to be yelling at them in the gallery about the decimation of public education.”
Legislators opted to adjourn around 8 p.m. They will reconvene Friday at 10 a.m.
Rep. John McComish, R-Phoenix, called Ableser’s statements “silly,” and said the purpose of the initial plan to pass the bills early Friday morning was simply out of convenience.
“The reason we would’ve done that is that we have members that normally do not come in Fridays,” McComish. “People have plans, so it would be a real burden to come here tomorrow … We’ve got a member that’s going to have to fly to Safford tonight and fly back.”
McComish also stressed his party’s desire to pass the legislation as quickly as possible, which he said would save the state money.
“The longer we wait, the less time we have to impose cuts,” McComish said. “We would lose the opportunity for $160 million worth of reductions if we don’t [pass legislation] before Feb. 1.”
Ableser said he thinks state legislators need to explore other options for dealing with the shortfall.
“Every state is doing investments, they’re doing fund transfers, and deferral payments, and cuts,” Ableser said. “[Arizona legislators] are the only ones who are just making cuts.”
Reach the reporter at derek.quizon@asu.edu.
