**Updated 2:30 pm** AZ Legislature debates $137 million in cuts to education; groups propose revenue reform
*** Update 11/19/09 2:30 pm***- Legislative session has failed. The Senate has defeated the proposal. The Legislature may return to try again on Monday.
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Budget agreement fails; Senate will try again Monday, Arizona Republic, 11/19/09
Arizona lawmakers end special session without budget deal, Arizona Daliy Star, 11/19/09
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The Governor called the Arizona state Legislature into special session to address the $2 billion budget deficit. The session was only to address potential cuts including a proposed $137 million cut to soft capital for K-12. Soft capital pays for items like books, technology and school buses. Any cut to education mid-year would be on top of a $133 million dollar cut in K-12 education funding in January of 2009.
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In addition, other groups met this week to present alternative to the cuts. including revenue increases and reform. See the articles below for additional information.
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State, for 1st time, forced to get loan, Patching the budget sidebar, Arizona Republic, 11/18/09
Group urges options to budget cuts, KPHO Phoenix, 11/18/09
Forum Discusses Fixing Budget, Arizona Republic, 11/18/09
Arizona Budget Coaltion echoes Democrat’s budget proposals, Arizona Capitol Times, 11/18/09
Legislators must skip ideology, rescue the state, Editorial Arizona Republic, 11/17/09
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