Friday, August 14th, 2009...8:38 am
So, We Get to Go Through This Whole Thing Again Later…
This has been written about in other places, but it bears repeating here. Check out this short document that’s been making the rounds among the railbirds and chatterers at the capitol. Should everything the governor wants pass (the chances of that are ever dwindling), the state’s budget will be, according to projections of the legislature’s own budget gurus at the JLBC, out of whack to the tune of $1.8 Billion by fiscal year 2011.
I know, y’all are quoting Inspector Gadget here and saying “Wowzers.”
And, as I have said before, it just gets worse. In fiscal year 2012 and 2013, that budget hole grows to over $3 Billion. As every wag that thinks they are clever says, soon you are talking about real money.
Granted, these numbers don’t take into account suspension of the Voter Protection Act, which some argue would plug the holes. The argument is fiscally dubious, and whether or not they can do so anyway is legally dubious.
Also, these numbers assume passage of a sales tax referendum. This was already based on one two many ifs: passage by the legislature and passage by the voters. Now, it’s too late to place such a thing on the November ballot to coincide with local elections. Now they are talking about an election in December, this would make it one of those notoriously hard to predict low turn-out elections.
This, ladies and gentleman, is what we are resting our hopes for a “balanced budget” on.
13 Comments
August 14th, 2009 at 10:39 am
I tried the link to the document and it didn’t work. Do you have another one?
August 14th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I’m sorry, the link is fixed.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Those voter protected funds are for things like education and early childhood programs. While sweeping those funds may offset the deficit to a certain extent in the near term, defunding those programs may open a whole host of other, potentially very expensive, problems in the future. But then, we all already knew that.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I commend the fine work of Speaker Adams and President Burns (a president who was born in the USA) in passing this budget. This task was made more difficult by the complete intrangience of the Sinemacrats, who refused to vote for what was presented to them, demanding instead that our elected leaders engage them in time-consuming negotiations which would certainly have led to a budget not entirely in keeping with the conservative principles that every member of the legislature has pledged to uphold.
The dems have embarassed themselves publicly by their rude treatment of Senator Richard Miranda, a former Tucson Police Chief. Miranda had the courage to cross party lines and was willing to vote for the budget without making costly demands on behalf of his constituents. He deserved to be commended for his courage and his willingness to see beyond the Sinemacrats’ pedestrian priorities rather than humiliated, ostracized, and insulted.
Ask yourselves if Republicans have ever done such a thing to their own. The answer is “NO!”
This all would have been resolved a long time ago if the dems would just have accepted the reality of Conservative ascendancy and participated in the process as partners.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Republitard you are a treasure of nonsense.
*laughs*
August 14th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Republitard is our very own Wonkette.
August 14th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Repulitard, your comments were written satirically, right?
Rep. Richard Miranda was never a police chief. From what I’ve gathered, he’s an intellectual light weight and represents what is wrong with some of the “old guard” within the Democratic party, chiefly cronyism and nepotism. Especially in certain LD’s with a heavy minority population.
Next time, I’ll cast my vote and send my money to candidates who will bring about real change and strong leadership. Not floundering cronies or members of wannabe political dynasties.
August 14th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Honestly…it’s not that I’m speechless, it’s that I’m running out of profane language that appropriately characterizes my rage. We’re going to go through this cluster [beep] now, yank our schools around, yank our citizens around, all in the name of attracting all of that “fool’s gold business” with our low taxes and we’re STILL going to be in the hole in 2013?!?
Here’s something I do NOT get. The JLBC is THE economist “think tank” for the legislature, right? And when they put THIS report out AND the legislative leadership won’t listen to it…I get a little grumpy. 1. We’re paying (I’d assume) for the JLBC to do that thing they do and 2. The legislative leadership is so thick they can’t see the numbers for the pretty white paper they’re written on. They may as well take this report and wipe their asses with it.
Thanks for the link!
August 14th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
I stand corrected. Senator Richard Miranda and former Tucson Police Chief Richard Miranda are not the same person, though one has to admit that there is a strong resemblance. My confusion is understandable.
I agree with Crabby Pirate regarding the cronyism, nepotism and pandering to minorities at the heart of the Democratic Party. Those who want substantial debate about issues that matter without the demogogary have no home but the Republican party. I was discussing this very thing with my good friend Jack Harper just the other day.
Palin-Hayworth 2010!
August 15th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Substantial debate? In the Arizona GOP(!), please. I’m curious how many moderate GOPers remain in our legislature or your opinion on ‘maverick’ John McCain? In order to have a “substantial debate” you need to intellectually open and receptive to opposing views. Unfortunately, when your pledging allegiance to special interest groups and kowtowing to conservative think tanks and their rankings you’re not afforded the opportunity to have a “substantial debate.” I’ll believe your sanctimonious idea of “substantial debate” in the GOP when Republicans like Grant Woods are welcomed back into the fold.
And there is NO pandering to minorities within the AZ Democratic Party. The LD’s with a high minority population have been continually disregarded and taken for granted. The “Old Guard” Dem’s I speak of merely want to protect their interest and country club lifestyle, thus they perpetuate mediocrity and little change (i.e. Richard Miranda and all of that ilk). I’m sure there’s plenty of that within the GOP ranks as well…?
R!
August 15th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Crabby, Republitard is satire.
August 16th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I see, it’s hard to tell these days. Just take a gander at a picture a Republican friend of mine sent (http://tiny.cc/DarthRove).
r.
August 16th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Republitard, I love you. I’m sure, though, that are you are already taken and are a pillar in your church, and have darling and smartly behaved children. Your wife’s teeth probably gleam even in the darkness. God bless you and the work you do.