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{{NoArizona}}
{{Ballotbox | 
 ballot title     = House Concurrent Resolution 2044 |
 type             = [[legislative referral]] |
 year             = 2008 | 
 subject          = Funding for initiative protected programs |
 sponsor          = Arizona House of Reps | 
 opposition       = |
 passed           = Qualified|
 failed           = |
 yesvotes         = |
 novotes          = |
}}
The '''House Concurrent Resolution 2044''' would allow the legislature to amend [[initiative]] or [[referendum]] protected budgets in years of a fiscal crisis.  The [[legislative referral]] is intended for the 2008 ballot.

It reads: 

<blockquote>In order to avoid a budget deficit, any limitation on the legislature's authority to appropriate or divert funds created by initiative or referendum prescribed by this paragraph does not apply in any fiscal year in which the respective budget offices of the governor and the legislature issue a written finding that the state budget for the fiscal year is projected to have a deficit.<ref>[http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hcr2044h.htm House Concurrent Resolution 2044 text]</ref></blockquote>

==Support==
Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, says this means that a huge chunk of budget growth, about $600 million a year, is on "auto-pilot," which makes it difficult for the Legislature to balance the budget during hard economic times.<ref>''[[Arizona Republic]]'', [http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0402spending0402.html State hopes to overrule voters on budget, April 2, 2008]</ref>

==Opposition==
Many say that this is simply a "smoke screen" to mask legislatures attempt to cut away at the rights of direct democracy by allowing lawmakers to undo or defund programs they don't like.  Past campaign measure managers, like Karen Woodhouse, deputy director of First Things First have come out against the initiative.

This initiative would also reverse the [[Arizona]] Voter Protection Act, an [[initiative]] that was passed so the legislature could not alter initiatives.<ref>''[[Arizona Republic]]'', [http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0411frilets113.html Ignoring the Voter Protection Act, April 11, 2008]</ref>

==Status==
Passed the House on 03/24/08.

Did not pass the Senate this session. <ref>[http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hcr2044o.asp]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Arizona 2008 ballot measures]]
* [[Arizona Initiative and Referendum Law]]
* [[Campaign finance requirements for Arizona ballot measures]]

==External links==
* [http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/General/Initiatives.htm Arizona Secretary of State, 2008 Initiative applications]
* ''[[Arizona Republic]]'', [http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0410thur1-10.html Tread on it lightly, April 10, 2008]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Did not make ballot in 2008]]
[[Category:Initiative rights, Arizona]]