The legislature has been laboring under very extreme conditions to create a balanced budget and still meet the needs of Arizona Citizens. Everyone is under tremendous pressure to do what is reasonable and have the perfect mix of cuts and spending. There are many differences of opinion on how the budget problems should be solved and no one has found the magic formula of cuts vs. spending. Everyone is trying to do what they feel is correct. It has been very agonizing to be a participant in this process.
Governor Brewer has said from her first address to the legislature, that Arizona needs some revenue enhancement in order to have the proper balance between cuts and spending. She has made no secret of the fact she believes that the only way to balance the budget without doing major damage to Arizona is to have a TEMPORARY tax increase. It goes against her conservative principals to ask for a tax increase BUT after a careful study she has come to the difficult conclusion that Arizona MUST has enhanced revenue in order to meet the needs of a growing state. She stated that she would not sign a budget that did not include some increase in revenue.
On June 4th the legislature passed a budget and refused to send it to the Governor. Instead, legislative leadership chose to hold the Governor hostage and tried to make her change her mind on a temporary tax increase.
Governor Brewer has said from her first address to the legislature, that Arizona needs some revenue enhancement in order to have the proper balance between cuts and spending. She has made no secret of the fact she believes that the only way to balance the budget without doing major damage to Arizona is to have a TEMPORARY tax increase. It goes against her conservative principals to ask for a tax increase BUT after a careful study she has come to the difficult conclusion that Arizona MUST has enhanced revenue in order to meet the needs of a growing state. She stated that she would not sign a budget that did not include some increase in revenue.
On June 4th the legislature passed a budget and refused to send it to the Governor. Instead, legislative leadership chose to hold the Governor hostage and tried to make her change her mind on a temporary tax increase.
Leadership waited until the eleventh hour, June 30th to send her a budget with some of the items she said she must have in order to sign it into law. But there was no enhanced revenue.
Now, leadership has started the name calling and acting surprised by the Governor’s veto. They are placing the blame on HER and not taking responsibility for their actions. What did they think she was going to do when they backed her into a corner?
A funny thing happened on the way to a budget, Governor Brewer did what she said she would if the budget did not include enhanced revenue—she vetoed the legislative budget. She called leaderships bluff.
Surprise!
Now, leadership has started the name calling and acting surprised by the Governor’s veto. They are placing the blame on HER and not taking responsibility for their actions. What did they think she was going to do when they backed her into a corner?
The games MUST stop and the work at hand must start.
Both sides must agree on a budget NOW. We cannot put citizens at risk over a difference of opinion. The Governor is an equal branch of government and her opinion must count. How did legislative leadership miss that in basic civics?
A funny thing happened on the way to a budget, Governor Brewer did what she said she would if the budget did not include enhanced revenue—she vetoed the legislative budget. She called leaderships bluff.
Surprise!
Rep. Bill Konopnicki - District 5
1 comment:
I am very happy to see this .,.,.,.,.,
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Christena
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