By Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror
The top Republican in the Arizona House of Representatives appears to be attempting to break a legislative logjam by introducing a measure to increase the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual crimes that several GOP senators have said is key if leaders want them to vote on the budget.
Whether it will work remains to be seen.
The House Rules Committee on Thursday allowed for late introduction of the legislation. The measure is aimed at mollifying Republican senators who are pushing for a similar change and have been threatening to stall budget talks.
House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, said the legislation was not connected to the budget, though he also said that action on the budget could happen as soon as Monday.
Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Glendale, has been crusading for a bill to increase the statute of limitations in civil court and add a civil window in which to allow lawsuits, a provision that ended up being a major point of contention between Boyer and other Republicans.