Spending freeze hailed by Republicans, delayed by procedure

Even as the Arizona Republican Party hailed the passage of a spending freeze the GOP brought through the House and Senate today, a timing issue means that the legislation likely won't get to the Governor's desk until Monday, when she is expected to veto it.

Despite an energetic push by the leadership to ready a $536 million spending freeze for the Governor's signature - or rejection - a small amendment did not clear the Senate until the House was out of session. The legislature does not reconvene until Monday.

However, AZ GOP chairman Randy Pullen seized the opportunity to criticize Democrats for refusing to support the measure, which passed along straight party lines.

“Today was simply another example of the Democrats in the Legislature wanting nothing to do with trying to close our budget gap," said Pullen. "Rather, they would like to finance today and leave the tab for our children.” He also said that state Democrats "oppose fiscal responsibility,” and says he is waiting to see if Gov. Napolitano "follows [their] lead."

It seems likely she will. Shiloh Mitchell, speaking on behalf of the Governor, told PolitickerAZ that while Napolitano "does not comment on bills before they are presented to her," the Governor has previously said "the budget should not be presented to her piecemeal," and emphasized that the negotiations should proceed in a bipartisan manner.

Earlier, House Majority Leader Tom Boone (R-Peoria) also emphasized the bipartisan nature of the budget negotiations, but claimed that the legislation currently being worked out is not a budget; rather, he said, it is a "management tool" that prevents funds Republicans want to see cut out of state spending from being spent before a final budget agreement is reached.