Arizona Democratic Party - press

Republicans and Democrats Agree: Brewer Has No Control Over State Budget Mess

Governor’s Inability to Lead Created Chaos at Capitol

Gov. Jan Brewer’s inability to effectively carry out her duties as governor have created chaos at the State Capitol and even threatens to worsen the state’s budget mess.

Senate President Bob Burns, a Republican, said Brewer “is having problems managing the level of responsibility to which she has been elevated.” (link )

According to Capitol Media Services, “House Speaker Kirk Adams was only slightly more charitable in his comments, calling her veto ‘irresponsible and reckless.’” (See: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/141268 )

Democrats said that the governor’s inability to earn the support of her own party has created unprecedented chaos in the state.

“Governor Brewer had six months to put together a bipartisan coalition. She wasted months failing to produce a plan of her own, and left too little time remaining for negotiations,” said Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director Luis Heredia. “Now her inability to lead has created a situation unprecedented in our state’s 97 year history.”

Instead of looking to lead, Brewer has attempted to shift blame and responsibility. She even had the audacity to blame legislative Democrats, who she has repeatedly excluded from budget negotiations. (See: http://www.azsenatedemocrats.com/2009/07/what.html )

Brewer has taken a “my way or the highway” approach to increasing taxes on the middle class and securing more tax giveaways for corporations.

“This is the most significant fiscal crisis in our state’s history,” said Heredia. “Arizonans need a real leader who can get the job done.”

Statement from the Arizona Democratic Party on the Passing of Former Congressman, Jim McNulty

Arizona Democrats lost one of their great leaders yesterday, as Former Congressman Jim McNulty died at age 83.

McNulty will be remembered by Democrats as a tireless public servant who had a bright vision for Southern Arizona. Originally from Boston, the G.I. Bill brought Jim to Arizona to study at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Following graduation, Jim worked for a Bisbee law firm. He then served as a State Senator from 1969-1975, followed by representing Arizona’s Fifth Congressional District from 1983-1985.

Jim was honored to serve in the halls of Congress. He wrote a book on the experience titled Running Uphill. Jim was active in the Democratic Party for years after leaving office, helping fellow Democrats win elected office.

Don Bivens, Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party remarked, “I admired Jim, he will be missed, he was a man of principles, and a wonderful leader for Arizona.”

Brewer's Failed Leadership Delivers a Budget Mess

Only Stop-Gap Measures Get Through; Serious Budget Problems Still Not Solved

After nearly a full six months in office, and even though the Legislature is controlled by members of her own party, Governor Jan Brewer couldn’t pull it off. As a result of her astounding lack of leadership, Arizona now has an even bigger mess on its hands – an incomplete budget, with absolutely no vision or timeline for a resolution.

This marks the opening of a disappointing chapter in Arizona’s history. Education funding remains in serious jeopardy; there is no long-term plan for public safety; we don’t even know how much longer state parks will be able to operate.

The Governor ’s decision to veto multiple budget bills – apparently so she and the Legislature can enjoy a long holiday weekend while the state’s business goes unfinished – is a gross abdication of her responsibility. In a statement today, Brewer attempted to lay blame on the Legislature, but it is merely an attempt to pass the responsibility which lies squarely on her shoulders as the executive.

The seeds of the Governor’s failure were planted early, and continued inaction made them grow to insurmountable heights as budget negotiations approached their final hours.

Brewer has known since last December that she would ascend to the Office of Governor. In the time that has passed since then, she has repeatedly demonstrated her inadequate leadership, which has led her to irrelevance, and has led our state into a quagmire never seen in our 97-year history.

The seeds of failure – a timeline

***1994 – According to Brewer in an Arizona Republic op-ed, the duties of Arizona secretary of state “do little to prepare that officeholder for the statewide leadership role required of a governor.”

December – According to the East Valley Tribune, “Brewer said she has no answer yet for how she intends to balance the budget.” (EV Tribune, 12/6/08) She would continue to have no concrete answer for another six months.

January – Brewer delivers promise of her own stimulus program. No details were offered. (AZ Daily Star, 1/22/09) Arizona’s unemployment rate now stands at 8.2%. The Governor had no plan to revive our economy then, and the same still holds today, no solutions.

February – Brewer promises a budget – “We’re working in that direction to have a proposal and I hope that it will be developed in the near future and be presented sometime quickly,” said Brewer. (AP, 2/7/09) ‘No Plan Jan’ would continue to not deliver on this pledge.

March – Brewer presents her much hyped “5-point plan”, which of course was not a detailed plan that provided any solutions. According to the Arizona Capitol Times the plan was, “outlined in a purposefully vague fashion.” (AZ Capitol Times, 3/6/09) The “Spinning Wheels Tour” was then launched – Brewer attended scores of meaningless town halls and appearances to present a plan with no details.

April – Brewer again promises more details on her plans, “I almost believe at this point in time that we are going to probably work a little bit more … diligently to try to come up with more specific plans to present to them,” said Brewer. (AZ Capitol Times, 4/9/09) It would take yet another 7 weeks until her budget was released.

May – Brewer declares that she “governs”, and is not responsible for policymaking, “They are responsible for bringing a budget to me,” she said. “They are the policymakers. I govern.” (EV Tribune, 5/1/09)

June 1st – Brewer, at last, presents a budget, but only 30 days remain until the end of the fiscal year. Even worse, her “plan” would shortchange education and health care priorities, and give away millions in corporate tax breaks. Her plan gains no traction, leading her to consider tax cuts for the wealthy, as a last ditch effort to pass her unpopular plan.

June 9th – The Governor wasted a full day on a hastily organized, clearly scripted parade of political allies to tout her proposal to raise taxes on the middle class. There was no public comment, and an opportunity to negotiate was squandered.

June 23rd – Brewer’s plan is clearly failing to gain traction. She yet again decided to set aside negotiations and file a lawsuit that wasted both time and money. Brewer “declared victory,” which is what one should declare if they accomplish passing a budget, but Brewer did not. (AZ Daily Star, 6/24/09)

June 30th – With hours remaining and her plan falling apart, Brewer meekly asks individual Democrats, whom she has excluded from budget negotiations for months, to support her budget that does not remotely reflect Democratic values. The attempts fail, and Brewer attempts to sneak out of the Legislature via a stairwell, but is pursued by reporters. (watch )

The Product – A Quagmire

Even with a partial budget, it is unknown whether all critical services will be met without a complete budget. Governor Brewer is steering the state dangerously close to a government shutdown, all in the name of raising taxes on the middle-class.

“Governor Brewer’s failed leadership has led us into a tenuous situation that could jeopardize our safety, and impact the lives of Arizonans who simply want a functioning government,” said Arizona Democratic Party spokesman Jeff Stapleton. “Brewer is haplessly trying to say the state will be in good hands over the next few days. Average Arizonans are not fooled, they understand the terms, ‘balanced budget’ and ‘on-time’, neither of which the Governor could deliver. Democrats should be brought to the table immediately for serious budget discussions to end this embarrassment. Democratic Lawmakers have stood ready with solutions all session, they can deliver if given the opportunity,” said Stapleton.

Time's Up! Brewer Using Borrowed Time

Governor unable to deliver a budget on July 1st despite full Republican control of Government

Statement from the Arizona Democratic Party-

A disappointing chapter of Arizona’s history began this morning as Governor Jan Brewer came up empty with a complete state budget, ensuring our state becomes, yet again, an example of poor governance. When the sun rose this morning on an all-night session the Governor and Republicans played games with the calendar, attempting to live in the past (June 30th) to mask their present incompetence.

The people of the state of Arizona deserve better.

Republicans Poison the Well with Budget Deal

Governor Brewer Breaks her Promise to Protect
Funding for Education and Critical Needs

The closed-door budget deal between the Republican Legislature and Governor Jan Brewer includes a long list of fiscally irresponsible measures that will harm Arizona’s children and middle-class families.

The budget deal has been named the worst budget compromise in Arizona’s history. As more details are revealed, the deal is facing a rising tide of opposition from parents, educators, and community leaders.

Here are just some of the problems with the Republicans Budget Deal:

•$220 million in cuts to education
•Cuts in health care funds for children and adults
•Cuts in services for the elderly, disabled, and children with life-threatening conditions
•Tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy
•Tax increase of $438 a year for middle-class families

“Arizona’s middle-class families are facing tough times but the Republican Legislature and the Republican Governor want to advance corporate tax giveaways instead of protecting education and vital services,” says Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director Luis Heredia.

Brewer has refused to cooperate and work on a bipartisan and comprehensive budget solution.

On March 4, Brewer said, “We must have the courage and determination to place workers, employers, families, retirees, students, and young children ahead of politics.”

“A partisan, closed-door budget deal between Republican lawmakers and a Republican Governor is not what Arizona citizens call a solution that is ahead of politics,” said Heredia. “Failed leadership has produced a budget that is balanced on the backs of students and middle-class families. Words were said, promises were broken, looks like politics as usual to me.”