BREWER: MOVE ALONG; NOTHING TO SEE HERE

posted by Michael Chihak

Just when some political pundits thought they were detecting shakiness in the up-to-now unshakable conservative Republican control of Arizona state government, top leaders are saying there's little to it.

The supposed rift came in the ill-fated special session Gov. Jan Brewer called two weeks ago to extend unemployment benefits. On its first day, the Legislature recessed in quick time without introducing any bills. On its second day, it met, talked awhile and adjourned when leaders determined they couldn't get the votes for passage.

That led the governor to an angry outburst suggesting that she had a deal with Senate President Russell Pearce. But others said that wasn't so, and the comments pushed theories that the Republicans were at odds with one another.

Not so, Brewer and others say, confirming what Tucson area Sens. Al Melvin and Frank Antenori told AZPM'S Andrea Kelly last week, as she reported in this blog.

Ginger Rough gives a solid accounting of it in Sunday's Arizona Republic (read it here) quoting Brewer's spokesman and House Speaker Andy Tobin in make-nice terms intended to smooth everything over.

Brewer herself gave an explanation in last Friday's Arizona Capitol Times (read it here), saying, "I firmly reject the ridiculous notion that I called the Legislature into special session as part of some grand political strategy, or to embarrass legislators. This mischief is promoted by confirmed political provocateurs."