Arizona: Conference Committee passes law providing for payment to recalled Senator for campaign expenses

In what looks like the final push to pay recalled Senate Majority Leader Russell Pearce for campaign expenses, a Conference Committee attached an amendment setting forth how the payments can be made to the Senate bill requiring recall primaries. Pearce would still have to apply to the legislature for the money, but the amendment gives a two year window, retroactive to 2011.

A couple of points. 1) I always find it strange that a conference committee can write a new law that did not pass either house of the legislature. 2) Despite the legitimate complaints that this is about Pearce, it seems that the state should have a law clarifying the Arizona Constitution's provisions on paying officials for recall expenses. Either set out the provisions in a law or amend the constitution and get rid of the clause.