By Nathan Brown, Camryn Sanchez, Kyra Haas | Arizona Capitol Times
Some Arizona lawmakers say a court ruling that will limit adding policy provisions to budget bills could make for a very different session next year, and possibly a longer one.
“I think it will streamline the budget process, because if bills, be they failed or not even submitted, are no longer admissible to the budget, then that’s one very large area of negotiation that’s removed from the system,” said Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, who is the vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Kavanagh says it’s up to his colleagues whether this means a shorter or longer session.
“If members just resign themselves to the fact that the bill they want can’t pass, then it’ll probably shorten the session,” Kavanagh said. “If members dig in and insist that their bill not be put in the budget but get passed on the board again, then it could drag the session on. It just depends on how people react to it.”
Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, said he expects to see more bills next year as a result of the court’s decision.
“It’ll probably introduce greater inefficiency in the process and slow things down,” he said.
