The Arizona Legislature is on track to pull an all-nighter and work into Thursday to finish a state budget and approve Medicaid expansion despite outrage from conservative Republicans who have been cut out of the process by a newly formed coalition of Democrats and GOP moderates, AP reports.
Frustrated by delays during lawmakers’ regular session, Brewer called them into a simultaneous special session late Tuesday. The moderates took over both chambers by voting to suspend normal rules that require committee hearings and will allow them to limit debate on the budget and Medicaid.
The Senate and House met Tuesday night to introduce a new package of budget bills worked out in a deal with Brewer and the new majority coalition. They plan to debate the bills and more than 50 hostile amendments from conservatives starting Wednesday afternoon.
Although it appeared they can’t get their amendments onto the bills, conservatives they still vowed to battle.
