As reported Tuesday afternoon, Governor Jan Brewer called a special session of the Legislature to clean up its work and adopt a budget, including expansion of Medicare.
As contentious as the beginning of the special session was, it could have been uglier. As the two chambers prepared to convene, rumors swirled unabated Senate President Andy Biggs and Speaker Andy Tobin would be replaced as the leaders of their chambers, possibly replaced by Rep. Frank Pratt and Sen. Steve Pierce. It didn’t happen.
Rep. Bob Robson said the ouster could have been used as a contingency plan, but said it was never anyone’s intent to remove the leaders of the chambers.
“There’s no intent to do any of that unless, procedurally, things don’t happen,” he said. “It was never the intent.”
Senate Majority Whip Adam Driggs said some had floated theories that Biggs could be temporarily removed in the special session. He said he never considered removing Biggs. Senate Majority Leader John McComish dismissed the talk as merely a rumor.
Information from Arizona Capitol Times
