Talks continue at the Capitol regarding topics for a possible special session of the Arizona Legislature next week.  The discussions all center on measures to reduce the state's $2 billion midyear budget shortfall and include fund diversions to keep several agencies going and reducing spending for education and health care. There’s also talk of reconsidering previously enacted anti-deficiency legislation that reinstates home sellers' protections in cases when sale proceeds don't cover mortgage amounts. ...
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© Statepress.com 2009 As polls suggest Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s popularity is wavering, a crop of opponents from both sides of the aisle is lining up to challenge her. Attorney General Terry Goddard, Tucson attorney John Munger and Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker lead the pack of contenders that will challenge Brewer in the 2010 Arizona gubernatorial race.Brewer, who was inaugurated in the wake of former Gov. Janet Napolitano’s appointment as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, announced last week she would be running for another term. Read more. ...
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© Bloomberg 2009  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he expects to bring legislation to overhaul the U.S. health-care system up for debate next week.    Reid told reporters today at the Capitol he believes the Senate can pass the measure by the end of the year. Asked whether he had the 60 votes needed to begin debate, he said, “I hope so.” Read more. ...
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© CNN 2009  Narrow passage of a sweeping health care bill by the House of Representatives portends a continuing difficult fight for President Obama and fellow Democrats to get a bill through the Senate and into law.  The House voted 220-215 late Saturday, with 39 Democrats opposed and one Republican in favor, to approve what would be the biggest expansion of health care coverage since Medicare was created more than 40 years ago. Read more. ...
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President Obama signed today the bill that extends jobless benefits for chronically unemployed workers for up to 20 additional weeks. Also contained in that bill is the language that extends and expands the homebuyers' tax credit.  The bill would extend the present $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers through April 30, 2010. Current homeowners are eligible for a $6,500 tax credit through April 30, provided they have lived in the home they are selling, or have sold, as principal residence for five consecutive years in the past eight years. If potential home buyers have a binding contract on or before that date, they will have until July 1 to close the transaction. I ...
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Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach  As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed new legislation that: Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010. Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.  Here is more information about how the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream. Who Qualifies for the Extended Credit? First-time home buyers who purchase hom ...
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© The Arizona Republic 2009  Spend enough time with Eileen Klein and the people who know her and the state Capitol best, and two things become clear: First, the new chief of staff to Republican Gov. Jan Brewer is a rising star. Second, that may not be enough to turn around a state government drowning in debt and an administration some say is dazed by the enormity of its challenge. Read more. ...
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Congress passed legislation this week extending unemployment benefits in every state and renewing the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers through June 2010. The Senate passed the bill 98-0 on Wednesday, and the House approved it 403-12 this afternoon. President Obama is expected to sign the legislation in the next few days. The bill extends unemployment benefits by 20 weeks in more than two dozen states where unemployment rates are above 8.5 percent, and 14 weeks elsewhere. The $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers was due to expire at the end of November. It’s now extended through June 30, 2010 as long as the home buyer signs a contract by April 30 and closes on the ho ...
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House leaders are still lining up support and attempting to quell concerns from pro-life Democrats, but plan to have a floor vote on health care reform legislation this Saturday. House Democrats introduced the blended bill last week – the merged product of three bills approved this summer by the Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees – and on Tuesday released 42 pages of amendments to the package. No House Republicans are expected to vote for the bill, so House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will need at least 218 votes from the Democratic caucus to pass the measure. “Americans are ready for comprehensive health insurance reform, and the House ...
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© ABC News 2009  Members of the House of Representatives are poised to vote Saturday on health care legislation, but a top Democratic leader acknowledged today that the vote may get pushed back to Sunday or later if there is not enough support to pass the bill on the floor. Read more. ...
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