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Arizona Legislature has deal to break budget impasse

Posted at 4:49 PM, May 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-26 19:49:16-04

PHOENIX (AP) - A deal to break a deadlock preventing the Arizona Senate from passing an $11.8 billion state budget appears to be in place.

The tentative agreement was confirmed Sunday afternoon by Republican Sen. Paul Boyer and Democratic Senate Minority Leader David Bradley. It would open the way for the Senate to pass a revised version of the budget approved by the House before dawn on Saturday.

The impasse mainly involved a non-budget issue - how long childhood sexual assault victims can sue their alleged assailants.

Boyer and GOP Sen. Heather Carter refused to join most other majority Republicans in backing the budget because Senate President Karen Fann and Sen. Eddie Farnsworth were blocking Boyer's proposal extending the time lawsuits could be filed. Fann didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.