Budget Wins Approval Of Senate Committee Despite Education Cuts

By Dennis Lambert
Published: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - 12:36pm

The $9.2 billion budget designed by Senate Republicans has won the approval of the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

The measure includes a 5 percent revenue hike for the upcoming fiscal year and $1.8 million for the governor’s new office of Child Welfare Investigations. But it takes money from Common Core and the high speed internet expansion the governor wants for Arizona schools. 

Lake Havasu Republican Sen. Kelli Ward voted yes, calling the measure a good budget. 

But Tolleson Democratic Sen. Anna Tovar blasted the measure.

“It would be more productive if we worked together in trying to establish a budget that is both beneficial to our constituents and has an open process and with that I vote no," Tovar said.

Tovar said the measure fails to allocate enough money for child welfare or education.