HIJINKS, HUMOR PUNCTUATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WRAP

posted by Michael Chihak

Friday's Arizona Week will include major doses of serious conversation about the just-completed state legislative session, with looks at the budget, education funding, tax cuts for business to stimulate job growth and immigration legislation, or lack thereof.

But we'll also take time to look at some of the lighter, perhaps odd occurrences that might otherwise be overlooked in the crush of debate, rhetoric and bill passage that consumed these 90 elected officials for the last 100 days.

Make that 101 days, despite the best efforts of legislative leaders to say they would finish -- and did finish in 100.

That's the first hijink, as reported by the Arizona Republic's Mary Jo Pitzl in Political Insider: "House PIO Daniel Scarpinato tweeted out 'I know our friends in the media will accurately report the number of days for this session: 100.' That was after 1 a.m. (Wednesday), when another day had passed."

There's more, including the GOP senator who affected a Southern accent to deliver a floor speech, the 10 new license plates added to offerings for Arizona motorists and other legislative hoots and hollers.

We'll give you a rundown of the best on Arizona Week, Friday 8:30 p.m. MST PBS HD.

SO MUCH LEGISLATION, SO LITTLE TIME

posted by Michael Chihak

Be prepared for the swiftest 27 minutes and 44 seconds of "Arizona Week" yet. That's the allotted time for Friday's program to wrap up the 100-plus days of the state Legislature's regular session.

Journalists Mary Jo Pitzl of the Arizona Republic, Luige del Puerto of the Arizona Capitol Times, Mike Sunnucks of the Phoenix Business Journal and Christopher Conover of Arizona Public Media will discuss the session's accomplishments, shortcomings and unfinished business.

We will dwell on the state budget overall, education funding cuts, the economic development package including health-care cuts and what happened with the latest round of immigration legislation.

Viewers should also look for each panelist to come up with her or his favorite tidbit from the legislative session, whether it be something funny, quirky, ironic or ...

Friday at 8:30 p.m. MST on "Arizona Week", PBS HD.

LEGISLATIVE WRAPUP: THE KEY ISSUES

posted by Michael Chihak

A panel of veteran journalists will analyze the output of the Arizona Legislature's regular session on Friday's Arizona Week.

The Legislature is expected to adjourn as early as today and is still plowing through a large pile of bills. Gov. Jan Brewer is likewise spending much of her time this week reviewing bills to decide on signing or vetoing.

Legislation covers the gamut, from historic budget cuts in education and health care to big tax cuts for businesses to stimulate the economy and job growth. Brewer already has signed those bills along with bills imposing more restrictions on abortion, among others.

Friday's Arizona Week discussion will focus on:

• How big cuts to the state budget will affect education, health care, welfare programs and local governmental operations.

• Whether the economic development package that will give businesses more than $500 million in tax cuts starting in 2014 can as intended reinvent Arizona's economy as one with a diversity of high-paying jobs in technology and other emerging fields.

• What's next for Senate President Russell Pearce's package of immigration restriction legislation, which was voted down when fellow Republicans joined Democrats.

• What happened to the slew of bills intended to challenge federal authority in the state, including the bill aimed to keep President Obama off the Arizona ballot in 2012 and the challenge to the 14th Amendment's birthright provision.

• Other issues, including work the Legislature didn't complete and whether special sessions will be called for the unfinished business.

SEEKING QUESTIONS FOR AZ GOV. JAN BREWER

posted by Michael Chihak

Arizona Gov, Jan Brewer last spoke with Arizona Week for the Feb. 18 episode, discussing the just-passed economic development and jobs package.

At the time, the governor invited us to return in a couple of months to discuss the state budget and other matters. That return visit is tentatively scheduled for this week and may coincide with wrapup of the Legislature's regular session.

We will inquire about the state budget overall, which she signed two weeks ago at $500 million less than she proposed in January. We also will ask about K-12 education and universities funding, both cut by more than she proposed.

The Legislature passed and the governor signed a budget with $510 million in cuts to AHCCCS, the state-federal health care program for the poor, and it is up to the governor to decide where to make those cuts. We will ask her what her plans are.

We are looking for other questions to ask her. Please post your suggestions as comments on this blog.

GIFFORDS' STAFF WON'T SPECULATE, UNDERSTANDABLY

posted by Michael Chihak

One by one, members of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' staff and others in her personal and political circle declined this week to appear on camera to talk about how her circumstances were contributing to Arizona's unique political dynamic.

That slowly but surely drove this correspondent to a new level of understanding of the issues and a much broader approach to the story. For while Giffords' situation is the biggest unknown now in the state's political equation, there are other factors worth exploring and from which new information can be brought to light.

Examples on the program include two political communications specialists who think the state's 2012 campaign season and election will be affected by a strong, consistent re-election campaign from President Obama. Unlike 2008 when he demurred to opponent John McCain's favorite son status in the state, both consultants said they think Obama's campaign will pour significant resources into the state.

Another was the notion that while the media want to pick away at all the details of the Giffords' situation, Sen. Jon Kyl's retirement and other factors, that can make voters weary and even disaffected with not only the media but the electoral process.

Just two examples of how being steered off our chosen course on the topic actually got us -- and our viewers -- onto a slightly different course that presented new scenery.

Viewers will be the judge, but it looks as if discussing the situation as we were compelled to do led us to accomplish it with a minimum of speculation, putting us approximately where those in Giffords' circle are.

KYL, GIFFORDS, REDISTRICTING AND ONE MORE FACTOR

posted by Michael Chihak

President Obama may choose to target Arizona in his 2012 re-election campaign, and if so, that will add greatly to the already unusual dynamic in the state, a University of Arizona political communications expert says.

Communication Professor Kate Kenski said for Friday's Arizona Week on PBS HD that Obama's tactic in Arizona is likely to be different than in 2008, when he withdrew resources because he faced running against John McCain on McCain's turf.

That won't be the case next year, and if Obama pours some of his expected wealth of resources into the state, it could have an influence on races up and down the ballot -- Senate and Congress, Kenski said.

She said all the factors make for unusual circumstances, and would-be candidates should be focusing on grassroots organizing, putting together their campaign structures and essentially remaining somewhat low key to prevent voter burnout.

The media, too, should stay away from speculation, although it is tempting, instead focusing on current issues and then giving a thorough accounting of candidates and issues once candidates begin lining up for the races.

Her interview can be seen on PBS HD at 8:30 p.m. MST Friday and online at azweek.com.