Arizona House OKs some remote voting as budget introduced
PHOENIX - The Arizona House approved a rule change Tuesday that will allow as many as six members to vote without being in the chamber over opposition of minority Democrats who said it allows the House Speaker to pick winners and losers during a health crisis.
One Democrat joined all Republicans in approving the change that allows House Speaker Rusty Bowers to pick who can vote remotely. The Senate doesn't now plan to allow remote voting.
The House then passed a series of bills needed to keep state agencies running if the Legislature is forced to abandon its work because of the coronavirus after suspending rules that require committee hearings and floor debate. Two Democrats used the remote voting system, but no Republicans.
The House also introduced a bare-bones spending plan for the state budget year that begins July 1. It spends $11.8 billion, about $500 million less than Gov. Doug Ducey's January plan. That's mainly because it contains no new spending priorities or tax cuts that majority Republicans have hoped for this year.
The Senate didn't introduce its own budget bills and continues to consider what needs to be included.
A growing state lockdown due to efforts to contain the spread of the new virus is driving lawmakers to act quickly to suspend the 2020 legislative session until the crisis ends.
House Democrats objected to the remote voting, which they said will allow Republicans to keep their majority ability to push through laws. Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez complained that Republicans ignored Democratic members request for emergency legislation.
The package requested by Democrats includes relief for food banks, an eviction moratorium, 90-day supplies of medicines for state Medicaid recipients, paid sick leave, relief for small businesses and streamlined unemployment and food assistance benefits.
“Instead of a dedicated and reasonable response to this crisis, the conservative majority have instead resorted to partisan politics rather than protecting the people of Arizona," Fernandez said in a statement. “We asked our colleagues to set aside differences and consider some much-needed emergency measures as part of a proposed ‘skinny budget.’"