PHOENIX — The Arizona Legislature approved a bipartisan $18 billion spending plan early Thursday that will make substantial investments in public schools, build new highways and pay down long-term debts.
Lawmakers in the House and Senate ended a months-long impasse, working through the night to approve the budget shortly before sunrise. Only a handful of dissenters from each party voted against the package of bills, and Republican Gov. Doug Ducey was expected to approve it.
“This is what our state, where voters are nearly evenly divided by party affiliation, has long asked of us — to work together,” said Rep. Reginald Bolding of Laveen, the top Democrat in the House.
