Another week and still no budget.  There was a briefing by leadership to show us what possible cuts could be made to resolve an $1.8 billion deficit.  There is, however, no consensus on whether all of these cuts should be made.  The Governor is still insisting on minimal decreases in agency budgets and relying on additional bonding to bridge the gap.  If this sounds like a broken record, you're right.  It's the same thing over and over until one side gives -- sometimes a little, and sometimes a lot.  While negotiations continue, we spend minimal time on the floor, passing out the few bills that remain under consideration.

HB2132, Mohave County Water Authority, was to be in Committee of the Whole this week, but we've asked that it be held a while hoping that Sen. Jake Flake will return after his riding accident that broke eight ribs.  Sen. Flake has been a supporter and will be a help in getting this bill through the Senate.  If he is not able to return next week, I have several other Senators who are willing to step in and speak in favor of it's passage.

The amateur radio bill appears to be dead for this year.  There was an HOA bill that was to be amended in the Senate and sent back to the House for a conference committee.  That bill's sponsor was going to let me add an amendment at that time, thereby bypassing the Senate Government Committee whose chairman (Sen. Jack Harper) had refused to hear my bill for two years.  Unfortunately, the bill passed out of the Senate without the amendment, so the opportunity was lost.  There is still one more option, but I'm not holding out much hope.  I sent an e-mail to those hams who had been following this bill all session telling them that I was unsuccessful this year.  It's been very gratifying to hear back from all of those who appreciated my efforts and understood what I had been fighting in the Senate.  There's always next year, led by me or another legislator.

June 4th is the last day to turn in our nominating petition signatures, and I beat the rush by submitting mine today (Monday).  As usual, I had more than the minimum required but not as many as I'd hoped to gather.  I cannot thank enough those of you who helped me. 

Until next week,

Nancy

Nancy McLain, District 3, Arizona House of Representatives
nmclain@azleg.gov or
nmclainbhc@aol.com