By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via Arizona Daily Star
The move comes more than a month since lawmakers recessed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with hopes at that time of returning to act on unfinished business once the pandemic had passed. But the virus has proved more long-lasting than planned.
And at least one state lawmaker has become infected.
“There is a strong consensus that this is the right thing to do,” Senate President Karen Fann said in a prepared statement. “Recognizing that the health of Arizona citizens and our economic recovery are our highest priority, we are setting aside any legislative business that does not directly support this mission.”
The move comes over the objections of several Republican legislators who wanted to finish action on what they said were priority issues. These range from changes in election laws and regulation of vacation rentals to higher gasoline taxes and banning transgender girls from participating in high school and college sports.
It also means the death of several tax-cut proposals, including one by Gov. Doug Ducey to eliminate income taxes on military pensions.
