Gov. Brewer pushes budget priorities

March 06, 2012

Budget talks between the legislature and governor have restarted, after the governor broke them off late last month. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Mark Brodie reports.

MARK BRODIE: After state lawmakers passed their budget proposal out of their respective committees, Governor Brewer called it “reckless.” Her plan includes money for school construction and tourism, among other areas that do not get funding in the legislature’s budget. The governor says the state has the money now to pay for some of its priorities.

JAN BREWER: With the economy, and now that we have a surplus, that we need to go in and we need to address some of those issues that are important to the people of Arizona, and pay back down some of our debt, but certainly take care of corrections, DPS officers, certainly looking at welfare, DES, and then again, education.

BRODIE: The legislature’s budget sets aside money for a rainy day fund and to pay off debt, but does not include much additional funding for programs. The current fiscal year ends on June 30.