In this episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman returns to the office of Representative Walt Blackmanfor a timely update on the state of the legislative session following the Easter holiday.

Fresh off the Committee of the Whole (COW) and floor proceedings, Representative Blackman discusses the slowing pace of legislation and the broader political dynamics shaping the session. With only a handful of bills moving forward on Third Read, attention has shifted to the legislature's primary constitutional responsibility: passing a balanced state budget.

Key topics in this conversation include:

• The Budget as the Legislature's Top Priority: Blackman emphasizes that while individual bills are important, the fundamental duty of lawmakers is to negotiate and pass a balanced budget.

• Divided Government Challenges: The discussion highlights the complexities of negotiating between the House, Senate, and Governor, particularly around issues like tax conformity, which continues to be a major point of contention.

• Legislative Moratorium and Bill Delays: With the Governor signaling potential vetoes, sending bills forward prematurely could waste taxpayer resources. As a result, legislative leaders are strategically focusing on amendments and preparatory work while awaiting progress in budget negotiations.

• Why the Session May Extend Beyond April: Contrary to public perception, delays are not due to inactivity. Instead, they reflect the realities of negotiation in a politically divided environment, especially during a midterm election cycle, when timing and political strategy play significant roles.

• Civic Engagement and Public Participation: Representative Blackman encourages constituents to stay informed and involved by reading legislation, contacting their representatives, and utilizing resources like azleg.gov. He stresses the importance of informed participation over reliance on social media snippets or secondhand interpretations.

The episode also provides valuable insight into the legislative process, explaining how lawmakers can continue advancing Committee of the Whole work so that bills are ready for swift passage once budget agreements are reached.

Whether you're a policy enthusiast, Arizona resident, or simply interested in how state governments function, this episode offers a clear and engaging look at the intersection of politics, governance, and civic responsibility.

Tune in to better understand why legislative sessions extend, how budget negotiations shape policy outcomes, and what it means for the future of Arizona.

In this episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman sits down with House Majority Leader Michael Carbone for a candid update on where the session stands—and why Arizona lawmakers may be in for a very long stretch.

Carbone explains that with committee work wrapping up, the House is shifting into the next major phase: processing roughly 400 Senate bills, handling appropriations, and preparing for an extended period of floor work. He also details how procedural tactics—particularly pulling bills from the consent calendar—are dramatically slowing the process and turning straightforward measures into lengthy floor debates and overnight sessions.

The conversation breaks down:

• What happens after committee reports are completed

• Why consent calendar fights can double the workload

• How "division" votes and procedural moves affect floor time

• Why lawmakers are preparing for more late nights and early mornings

• What it means when a legislature that is supposed to run about 100 days stretches toward June 30

Carbone also offers a broader look at the budget fight, arguing that House and Senate leadership have been preparing for months on key issues such as:

• Tax conformity

• Medicaid and access-related spending

• The broader fiscal framework for the next state budget

According to Carbone, leadership has been ready to negotiate, but with the Governor stepping away from the table, lawmakers now expect a more difficult path forward. He says the House and Senate will likely move ahead by building a budget framework themselves and presenting a package they believe is reasonable and workable.

The discussion also turns to a rarely talked-about issue: legislative pay. Carbone notes that Arizona legislators still earn $24,000 a year, a figure unchanged since 1998, despite the role increasingly functioning as a full-time job. He explains why proposals are emerging to let voters decide whether compensation should be adjusted by inflation or by an independent commission—rather than have lawmakers vote on their own pay.

This episode offers a strong behind-the-scenes look at the reality of state government: long hours, complicated procedures, delayed budgets, and the often-overlooked workload of those trying to move legislation through the system.

If you want to understand why the session drags on, how procedural tactics change outcomes, and what the budget fight really looks like inside the Arizona House, this is a conversation worth hearing.

In this episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman returns to the office of Representative Walt Blackman for a post-crossover update on where things stand at the Capitol — and why the next phase of the session could be even more intense.

Blackman explains that after crossover week, the House is now dealing with a wave of Senate bills, many of which are being assigned to committees for review. In his Government Committee alone, he says roughly 20 Senate bills are now in play, with only some expected to make it through. From there, the bills move through rules, caucus, and potentially onto the board, where negotiations begin to collide with the state budget.

That's where the real tension starts.

The conversation highlights how Arizona is entering the stage of the session where budget decisions, money bills, and political leverage all begin to intersect. Blackman describes a process in which lawmakers may hold positions on bills while awaiting broader budget outcomes, with the Governor's Office also weighing in as negotiations heat up.

A major focus of the episode is tax conformity — specifically, Arizona's effort to align state tax law with the recently enacted federal tax law. Blackman strongly argues for full tax conformity, saying it would provide multi-year stability and reduce confusion for taxpayers, while partial conformity would only create temporary fixes and force Arizona to revisit the same issue next year.

Birdman and Blackman also discuss the real-world impact on taxpayers, including:

• Whether people may need to amend state tax returns

• How current Arizona tax forms may need to change

• The uncertainty facing filers who already submitted returns

• Questions around tax credits, deadlines, waivers, and penalties

Blackman's position is that Arizona should fully conform, waive penalties where necessary, and give taxpayers additional time if the state's own process causes delays.

This episode is a strong snapshot of the Legislature in motion — where procedure, politics, budget strategy, and tax policy all collide in real time.

If you want to understand what happens after crossover, why the budget gets more complicated, and how tax conformity could affect everyday Arizonans, this is a conversation worth hearing.

In this episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman goes behind the scenes on the House floor to meet one of the most recognizable — yet least known — voices in Arizona politics: the official "Reader" of the House.

Sitting down with Steven Matt, Birdman uncovers the story behind the man who rapidly and flawlessly reads legislation into the official record — a role that demands precision, stamina, and respect for the process.

But Steven's path to the legislature is anything but typical.

A former U.S. Army military policeman turned professional stage actor, Steven spent decades performing Shakespeare across the country, including at renowned festivals and theaters. From playing Othello to working with top-tier acting coaches, his life in the arts shaped the voice and discipline he now brings to the House floor.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• What it actually takes to read legislation in real time

• How vocal training and acting translate into government work

• The importance of accuracy when reading names, proclamations, and memorials

• Behind-the-scenes insight into how the House operates during session

• The rhythm and cadence between the Reader and the Speaker Pro Tem

• Why most people misunderstand the complexity of the legislative process

Steven also reflects on perspective — how working inside the legislature changed his views on politics, lobbyists, and people across both parties. His takeaway? Most people involved in the process are more thoughtful and human than the public often assumes.

And in a memorable closing moment, he shares his deep love for Shakespeare — even demonstrating how many everyday phrases we still use today come directly from the Bard.

This episode is a rare look at the human side of government — the people behind the process who make the system function every single day.

In this episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman steps away from the Capitol and into the studio to unpack a debate that surfaced during caucus: Arizona's Rainy Day Fund — and whether it should even exist.

The discussion began around stabilizing funding for the Department of Public Safety (DPS). A proposal was floated to use interest earnings from the state's $1.5 billion Rainy Day Fund to support DPS operations. But that quickly sparked a bigger philosophical question raised by Representative Neal Carter - District 15

Why does the state need a Rainy Day Fund at all?

Birdman breaks down the numbers:

• $1.5 billion sitting in reserve

• What 1% interest generates annually

• How many Arizona taxpayers actually pay income tax

• What that reserve represents per taxpayer

The episode explores broader questions:

• Should the government operate like a business?

• Is holding large reserves responsible fiscal policy — or idle taxpayer capital?

• If a Rainy Day Fund exists, what qualifies as a "rainy day"?

• Should disaster relief, DPS funding, or economic downturns trigger its use?

This isn't framed as a partisan debate — but as a taxpayer's perspective on government budgeting, reserves, and accountability.

If you care about Arizona's budget, fiscal philosophy, tax policy, or government reserves, this episode dives into the numbers and the bigger question:

Should the government save money — or spend only what it collects each year?

In this episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman sits down once again in the office of Walt Blackman for a wide-ranging conversation during one of the busiest weeks of session — Crossover Week.

The discussion begins with Blackman's morning press conference recognizing Pediatric Cancer Awareness and addressing the funding gap between federal research dollars and Arizona's state budget priorities. Inspired in part by his nephew's cancer battle, Blackman argues that with a $17 billion state budget, Arizona can find room to prioritize pediatric cancer research and nonprofit support.

From there, the conversation shifts to:

• How the legislative process actually works

• Why the 4,000 number don't mean 4,000 bills

• The role of caucus meetings and "Committee of the Whole" (COW)

• What happens during second and third reads

• Why some bills pass unanimously while others split strictly along party lines

• The mechanics of Crossover Week between House and Senate

Blackman also discusses veterans legislation, including a unanimously passed veterans mental health measure, disability-based property tax reform proposals, and pilot programs aimed at reducing VA backlog wait times in Arizona.

Listeners get a real-time look at how legislation moves — and how it doesn't — including what it means when a bill clears committee, why Twitter doesn't equal lawmaking, and how constituents influence votes through direct outreach.

If you've ever wondered how bills really move through the Arizona Legislature — and what happens behind the scenes during the busiest part of session — this episode breaks it down.

In this special "West Lawn Compendium" episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman spends four hours—10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—interviewing advocates, parents, candidates, and citizens during Early Childhood Legislation Day at the Arizona Capitol.

Unlike official legislative agendas set by the House or Senate, advocacy days are organized by individuals and groups who come to lobby, educate, and share lived experiences with lawmakers. This particular day centered largely on early childhood development, childcare access, and family policy—but as always at the Capitol, the conversations extended beyond a single issue.

In this final segment from the West Lawn of the Arizona House of Representatives, Birdman speaks with an entire family advocating for House Bill 4032 — legislation aimed at expanding Arizona's tobacco tax to include vaping and other nicotine products.

The current tobacco tax funds early childhood health and development programs through First Things First, supporting children ages 0–5 with services like home visitation, professional development for early educators, and childcare access. But as cigarette use declines and vaping rises, funding has begun to shrink.

Amber Jones, a regional council member with First Things First, explains why advocates believe updating the tax structure is essential to maintaining critical early childhood programs.

Her daughter, Genevieve, shares her experience witnessing the legislative process firsthand — connecting what she's learning in social studies class to real-world policymaking. Meanwhile, her father, Travis Jones, reflects on civic engagement, grassroots advocacy, and why teaching children how government works is just as important as the policy itself.

This episode captures more than a policy debate — it highlights how families engage in the legislative process, how bills move (or stall) among 4,000 proposals, and why advocacy is often a marathon, not a sprint.

From early education funding to civic participation, this West Lawn conversation brings the legislative process into real life.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

🌐 Official Site:

https://birdman.media

This episode is brought to you with the support of our premium sponsor:

Sitgreaves Community Development Corporation

Supporting our sponsors helps keep Birdman Media™ independent and producing the content others won't.

© Birdman Media™. All rights reserved.

In this special "West Lawn Compendium" episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman spends four hours—10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—interviewing advocates, parents, candidates, and citizens during Early Childhood Legislation Day at the Arizona Capitol.

Unlike official legislative agendas set by the House or Senate, advocacy days are organized by individuals and groups who come to lobby, educate, and share lived experiences with lawmakers. This particular day centered largely on early childhood development, childcare access, and family policy—but as always at the Capitol, the conversations extended beyond a single issue.

In this segment of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, another statewide candidate steps up to the tent — this time for Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Dr. Stephen Neal Jr., running under the Arizona Independent Party, outlines his vision for education in Arizona, emphasizing a "students over politics" approach. Having previously aligned with both major parties, Neal says his focus is not ideology — but outcomes.

The conversation covers:

• Raising math, reading, and writing scores statewide

• Reducing political division in education policy

• ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account) programs vs. public schools

• Teacher workload, respect, and classroom autonomy

• Transparency and accountability in school funding

• The difference between policy-making and policy implementation

Neal argues that the debate shouldn't be ESA versus public schools — but how both systems can better serve students. He calls for collaboration, improved resource allocation, and restoring focus to academic fundamentals.

It's a conversation about education reform, school choice, accountability, and what it really means to put students first in Arizona.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

🌐 Official Site:

https://birdman.media

This episode is brought to you with the support of our premium sponsor:

Sitgreaves Community Development Corporation

Supporting our sponsors helps keep Birdman Media™ independent and producing the content others won't.

© Birdman Media™. All rights reserved.