Arizona Budget Coalition

The Arizona Republic is already reporting that following the creation of the Arizona Budget Coalition, leaders in the legislature are open to discussing our alternative budget strategies:

The Republican budget chairmen in the House and Senate said they're open to ideas, but reiterated their opposition to any tax increases.

"I'm willing to look at anything that might move the budget in the right direction," said Russell Pearce, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. But he said he believes the budget needs at least $700 million in cuts to balance, and to put the state in position to weather even tougher budget times in the near future.

A budget approved by the House Appropriations Committee earlier this week contained $650 million in cuts.

John Kavanagh, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, noted that some of the options are ideas raised by Republican leadership, such as selling state assets or borrowing against the revenue stream from the state lottery.

"Some of this stuff I find tasteful and some of this stuff I wouldn't order," Kavanagh said.

Here is a clip from the Arizona Guardian's coverage of the event:

Click here to read the AP's coverage of the coalition's campaign.

The AP also has a rundown of the different budget ideas proposed by business and comunity organizations.

Click here to listen to the Public News Service's broadcast on the budget options.

CBS Channel 5 explains how the coalition fits into the state's health care crisis.