(Image source from: nbc12.com)
Phoenix:
The lawmakers of Arizona senate assembled in the house of legislature, to begin debate and negotiating a $10.4 billion state budget plan, which also proposed budget of $300 million for increments of many of teachers protesting in Red For Ed Movement since last Thursday.
The senate began after 8.pm on Wednesday, to debate on the budget bill getting passed through the legislation, as last minute the deal seemed to have worked out between Gov. Doug Ducey and the republican legislative leaders. The minority Democrats weren’t involved in the debate.
The senate discussions are expected to last for hours as the two chambers are engaged to work on their way to get through proposed 10 bills, that make up the spending and execution plan for the budget year that begins from July 1.
The majority members of the Republican party, controlled the house and senate, after moving fits and starts all the day as they worked on making amendments to the proposed budget deal, leaders worked out with GOP Gov Doug Ducey. All those amendments were part of the usual last minute changes and horse trading that comes with a deal of getting approved by 16 of Republican voters in the senate and 31 in the house, to get the bill passed.
The Arizona Educators United (AEU), who planned to go back to work on Thursday, essentially extended their protest, by a day to make sure of continuous pressure over the legislature. Many schools in the district, who have initially planned to re-open schools on Thursday have decided to remain closed.
Though the minority Democrats, who were mainly opposing the execution plan, may also are expected to vote in favor of the bill as it provides over $400 million in the new resolution of school funding.
President of the senate, Steve Yarbrough said that the pace was average and on compared with last year’s budget, he said that its “goofy” to think that everyone was stalling the process. He added saying that “its just nature of the beast as a legislative process”.
By Lokesh
