An issue that always has struck me as odd about Arizona’s congressional delegation is just how partisan it has become. I have repeatedly asked  lawmakers over the past five years, “How often do the Democrats and Republicans come together to discuss and then act on issues of common concern to Arizonans.” Their answer? Almost never.

That wasn’t always the case. Arizona’s political giants of the past used to be proud of their ability to set aside party politics and work together. This was part of the legacy of Carl Hayden, Ernest McFarland, Barry Goldwater, and Mo and Stewart Udall.

I’m not saying party politics are evil. Political parties help to define the choices and possible policy directions for voters. But there are moments and issues that should transcend, or stand outside, of partisanship. Without a doubt, the Central Arizona Project never would have been built if the state had relied on only half (or less) of its congressional delegation to get the job done.

Well, Arizona’s current crop of federal lawmakers have finally found at least one topic where everyone can pull in the same direction. All 10 of Arizona’s senators and representatives have signed a joint letter urging the Air Force to select Luke Air Force Base in the West Valley as the future training site for pilots of the F-35 Lightning fighter jet. You can read the full letter by clicking on the image above. It was provided by the office of Rep. Trent Franks.

Currently, Luke is the final stop for all Air Force pilots who learn to defend the skies on the wings of the F-16. So, supporters of Luke believe the air base should keep that role when the Fighting Falcon is replaced by the F-35.

But the push to bring the Lightning to Luke isn’t universally popular. El Mirage has been challenging the selection of Luke because of potential noise pollution. And state efforts to keep development of surrounding property from limiting the air base’s viability has created huge problems for landowners who can’t build or sale their land.

But the issue has brought together Arizona’s congressional delegation in favor of F-35 training at Luke. I wonder if this is any sign of more bi-partisan efforts in future?

It seems like every time you turn on a television talk show these days, you run into the secretary of Homeland Security (and former Arizona governor), Janet Napolitano. I’m not talking about the classic news & issues shows such as Meet the Press, Face the Nation or Fox News Sunday. Nor am I talking about her frequent press conferences on the 24-hour cable news to talk about the H1N1 flu.

Napolitano has been venturing out into other venues that have become popular for politicians who want to connect with audiences not fascinated with politics. She started in July with appearances on Real Time with Bill Maher and the Charlie Rose show (which still have audiences with a high political IQ). Then on Monday, she really went mainstream by dropping by for coffee with the ladies on The View (see below) followed by a visit with the fake news meister Jon Stewart. Any day now, I expect to see her laughing with David Letterman or Jay Leno.

Why does this matter? For years, Napolitano was known in Arizona political circles to desire a seat in the U.S. Senate, although she didn’t seem too eager to try and wrestle an election away from John McCain or Jon Kyl. McCain, in particular, built a national following during the 2000 presidential campaign with his appearances on talk shows traditionally viewed as “not serious news.” Most other presidential candidates have tried the same thing since then, leading to one former candidate getting his own talk show.

Napolitano would seem to be following the McCain model. It’s something she doesn’t have to do as a cabinet secretary, and trying to be funny as a non-comedian has plenty of PR dangers, which President Barack Obama learned during a March appearance with Leno.

But these appearances offer some real upsides –  such as national fundraising — should Napolitano run for the Senate somewhere down the road.

Here’s a video of Napolitano’s appearance on The View:

Sen. Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, will be entering his last year in the state Senate in 2010 under Arizona’s term limits. But it appears he’s not ready to walk to away from elected office yet.

Verschoor created an open exploratory committee Thursday, and he told me by phone that he’s looking closely at a campaign for state Treasurer. There’s already a Republican in that office, but Dean Martin is looking at a possible run for governor.

“I don’t intend to run against Mr. Martin,” Verschoor said. “But if that office comes open…”

Verschoor doesn’t have any particular training related to the duties of the treasurer. But he has served for most of his Senate career on the Appropriations Committee, and this year he’s in charge of Senate commission review potential long-range budget reforms. Verschoor also points to past experience in the private sector as the owner of a small business and a manager for Circle K. (As Nerdvana just said in the newsroom, maybe exactly what Arizona’s fiscal woes need right now is a Thirst Buster.)

As for Verschoor’s replacement in the Senate, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, already has created his own exploratory committee. I imagine Biggs would darn hard to defeat in District 22.

The Arizona Senate just came up not one but two votes short for the bill that offers Gov. Jan Brewer’s proposed statewide sales tax election in the new version of the proposed state budget. Senate President Bob Burns, R-Peoria, warned fellow Republicans that this rejection means they won’t get the $250 million in repeal of state property taxes and $400 million in income tax cuts (slated to start in 2012).

In an attempt to come up with enough votes, Senate Republican leadership had split the tax cuts and sales tax election into separate bills. (The House had put both in the same bill to pass the entire budget on July 31). That means Burns either expects the House to refuse to pass the tax cuts without the sales tax election, or he believes Brewer would veto a standalone tax cut bill (and perhaps the entire budget again).

The Arizona Legislature didn’t adopt a final budget before the state’s new fiscal year started at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, according to the live Web video. But the state Senate is working toward final adoption of a package of trailer bills that adjust the original version previously approved on June 4. The House approved the same package starting about 9:30 p.m.

Sen. Jorge Garcia, D-Tucson, noted at 11:50 p.m. that the Senate digital floor clock was mysteriously turned off, persumably so there’s no official record that the deadline passed without a budget. Garcia’s Democratic colleagues in the Senate did drag the issue past midnight with a series of amendments intended to reduce various spending cuts.  All were rejected by the Republican majority without comment.

Of course, Gov. Jan Brewer will have little time to decide whether to sign the budget that doesn’t include a requested statewide sales tax election, whenever it’s finally delivered to her. If she doesn’t sign it within a few hours, she will have to figure how to manage a state government that doesn’t yet have any spending authority from lawmakers.