Budget stalemate continues

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that while the Legislature failed to send the budget bills for fiscal year 2010 to Gov. Jan Brewer “within the time mandated by the Arizona Constitution,” the court would not compel the Legislature to transmit the bills.

“The Legislature should adhere to its clear constitutional and legal duties, and present me with the budget bills, passed 18 days ago, without further delay,” Brewer said in a statement. “Anything less than an expedient presentment of the bills to my office is clearly a violation of the Arizona Constitution as found today by the Supreme Court. The Legislature should not continue to hold these bills hostage, and should instead transmit the bills immediately.”

Northern Arizona University President John Haeger said the university remains hopeful that the impasse will be resolved and a state budget will be approved by July 1.