Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday vetoed 22 bills, sending a pointed message to lawmakers that they need to send him a budget before any other business can get done./Governor’s Office photo
By Mary Jo Pitzl | Arizona Republic
In a tersely worded letter to legislative leaders, the Republican governor suggested the solution is right before them: the current $13 billion budget package, which includes a contentious flat tax that would permanently cut $1.9 billion a year from state coffers.
“On the table is a budget agreement that makes responsible and significant investments in K-12 education, higher education, infrastructure and local communities, all while delivering historic tax relief to working families and small businesses,” Ducey wrote.
The budget stalled this week when GOP legislative leaders were unable to muster the votes to pass it. They opted to adjourn for up to two weeks, saying they will return no later than June 10 and promising to work on budget compromises in the interim.
In his veto letter, Ducey noted Arizona is one month away from the constitutional deadline for enacting a state budget.
While some of the bills he vetoed were good legislation, he said, he won’t consider any more bills until lawmakers deliver a budget.
Republican legislative leaders were not immediately available for comment.
