Thread by @JMShumway

The Senate's on to COW No. 5, the one with the education BRB and the 195-page amendment. There are four Dem amendments too.

First up: this @jamescita amendment that includes @Supt_Hoffman’s budget requests that weren’t honored in this year’s budget

.@SenQuezada29 says the budget, which provides about 1/3 of the funding @Supt_Hoffman requested, is political retribution to punish the voters for electing a Democratic superintendent. (This is the education BRB, but there will be similar arguments about the Secretary of State)

Sen. @jamescita gave a shoutout to the Red for Ed teachers who are outside the Senate watching now. They're not allowed in because the Senate is still using Covid as an excuse to block the public from the gallery without approved invitations, and to keep reporters out of meetings

Peshlakai's amendment failed, and now we're on the 195-page sweeping amendment from @FannKfann

@GonzalesSally starting the debate on this amendment: "There's a lot to disappointed in. Hopefully my colleagues will help me."

She's starting with critiques of the ESA expansion bill revived in this budget

.@SenOtondo is holding up the 195-page floor amendment and flipping through it to show people watching at home how long it is. Democrats received it just a couple hours ago.

Sen. @Rios_Rebecca says if you serve in the #azleg long enough, you can see an issue evolve. A decade ago, vouchers were introduced as a niche solution for children with disabilities. Then lawmakers added more and more categories, and now it will expand to virtually everyone.

The 195-page Fann amendment was just adopted on a voice vote. Now on to an amendment from @ChristinePMarsh that would suspend results-based funding this year

Marsh's amendment failed. So did one from @SenOtondo to reinstitute the building renewal fund and one from @jamescita to increase district additional assistance by 1.21%. And the education bill, with 195 pages of amendments, advanced.