By Mary Jo Pitzl, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Alia Rau, The Republic | azcentral.com
The budget, which funds the basic operations of state government, also contains pet projects and key funding priorities that GOP members sought in exchange for votes.
The budget, which funds the basic operations of state government, also contains pet projects and key funding priorities that GOP members sought in exchange for their votes
House included $900,000 for private-prison operating costs, but rejected bids to fund child-care subsidies
House Speaker Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, said the key selling points include money to allow public schools to continue their recent charter-school conversions, $2.5 million for the University of Arizona, and the restoration of some services to the state’s Medicaid program
It took some addition — and subtraction — to coax enough members of the Arizona House of Representatives to support a state budget deal.
But after hours of debate and days of negotiations that once again highlighted a rift in the Republican caucus, lawmakers approved the $9.2 billion spending plan for the coming year late Thursday.
Related: Brewer may be deciding factor on highway fund restoration
