GOP budget battle: Of course you realize, this means war!

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Like Jim Nintzel at the Tucson Weekly, I can't afford to subscribe to the Arizona Guardian, which is reporting that Gov. Jan Brewer is ready to unveil her own budget—and she's "preparing for war on the Legislature" with some kind of campaign blitz to persuade Republicans to support her. Brewer Ready to Release Budget, Rumble with Republicans?

The Arizona Daily Star, which apparently can afford a subscription to the Arizona Guardian now that it is no longer bleeding money on the Tucson Citizen (R.I.P.), provides some of the details.

Governor Jan Brewer, whose staff is comprised mostly of former lobbyists who served in J. Fifester III's administration, believes in government of the lobbyists, by the lobbyists, and for the lobbyists. So it should come as no surprise that the lobbying firm HighGround Inc. — run by Chuck Coughlin, a friend and unofficial adviser of Brewer — plans to carry out the campaign. Business lobbying blitz on budget is planned

According to the memo, starting Wednesday the governor and "business leaders" will announce support for the budget in press conferences across the state, which will coincide with editorial board meetings at local newspapers.

Tentatively starting Thursday are auto-dial phone calls to voters in the targeted districts — including three in Southern Arizona — "encouraging" them to "learn more about the budget and contact their legislators," according to the memo.

That will be followed by the launch of a Web site, e-mail blasts and newspaper and radio ads.

And phone blasts and postcard mailings are scheduled through mid-June.

The memo did not sit well with some Republicans at the Capitol.

"This means war," said Sen. Steve Pierce, R-Prescott, who opposes Brewer's tax idea. "If she wants to do this political thuggery, that's fine — we can do the same thing."

What is this? Everyone is quoting the Groucho Marx line from Duck Soup popularized in Bugs Bunny cartoons: "of course you realize (know), this means war!"

It would be more accurate to quote the classic line from the movie Cool Hand Luke: "What we've got here is failure to communicate."

Our Accidental Governor has failed to submit any budget plan of her own in some double super-secret strategy to get her way on her five point plan using the last minute pressures to "do something" before the July 1 deadline. This game of chicken represents an abject failure of leadership. Brewer should have been engaged in good faith negotiations with her Republican leadership to hammer out the details of a budget plan from day one in office. The GOP insane clown possee leadership is also guilty of an abject failure of leadership by their act of bad faith, i.e., refusing to consider any "revenue enhancements" requested by the Governor out of fealty to Grover Norquist and their "no new taxes pledge."

Our Accidental Governor's five point plan is entirely contingent upon voter approval of a billion dollar tax increase (unspecified) and convincing voters to rescind voter-approved protections for dedicated education and health care funds (the Voter Protection Act - Prop. 105) in a costly special election to be held at some indeterminate date this fall. This is your plan?

This risky plan is doomed to failure. Just look to our neighbor California's special election last week. Voter apathy resulted in an extremely low voter turnout, and those who did bother to vote rejected any tax increases and rejected removing voter-approved protections for dedicated edcuation and health care funds. Stalemate. And back into special session.

This is exactly what would happen with any special election in Arizona. Stalemate. And back into special session.

I don't see this GOP legislature giving any ground to the demands of our Accidental Governor. Especially when she has adopted a strategy of declaring war on her own party leadership by unleashing a lobbyist PR campaign against them. This is not how one wins friends and influences enemies -- or negotiates in good faith. This will only harden opposition and exascerbate this stalemate.

If neither side is willing to compromise and negotiate in good faith, Arizona is headed for a train wreck on July 1.

Comments

[mbryanaz]

If Jan wants some Dem support for her budget, she could cut a deal to put BOTH her and the Dem's budget plans (http://www.strongerarizona.com) on the ballot and let the people choose between them. Having to ballot the damn budget represents, BTW, an insane failure of our representative institutions, but we have the political system we have.

[Thane Eichenauer]

I would call Michael's idea giving voters the choice of two bad ideas. The majority Republican Party legislature currently doesn't have to pursue either of these (nor should it).

As for the purported train wreck coming on July 1st, if the governor and the Democrat Party would join in pruning the government budget as it needs to be then such a "wreck" would not be approaching.

Just as the supposed return of ASU/UofA/NAU return to third world status did not occur I also predict that should a state budget fail to be passed by July 1st that nothing particularly notable will occur. Most people would wake up Thursday, July 2nd, shower, brush their teeth, get to work, complete their assigned duties, go home and get some dinner. It may be some months before most of us who don't work for the government to notice its absence.

[AZ BlueMeanie]

Michael, I respectfully disagree. Both plans would only be tentative, and the voters could reject both plans. Then there would be no ready alternative to turn to in a special session. It is possible, but not likely, that the Democratic plan could be adopted by simply saying "we tried it your way, and the voters rejected it; now let's try it our way." Guys like Russell Pearce and John Kavanagh are not swayed by logic. They will take out their axes and cut to the bone.

Your suggestion holds promise in the next few weeks, however, if the Democratic caucus holds firm to its budget plan and they can find a handful of Republicans to cross the aisle to support it. It takes 16 votes in the senate and 31 in the House -- and then Governor Brewer has to agree to it.

[AZ BlueMeanie]

Thane, you just don't get it. The governor has acknowledged the reality that additional revenue is going to be necessary - simply cutting more is not going to solve the deficit this year and, more importantly, not next year. Cuts to essential services on this magnitude threaten the public health, safety and welfare - the fundamental duties of government.

Brewer has publicly vowed not to sign any "cuts only" budget and insists upon additional revenues. The GOP legislature is ideologically opposed to any tax increase (except passing on state obligations to local governments who will then have to raise their taxes - so they really do support tax increases, they just don't want to be on record as having voted in favor of a tax increase - cowards every one).

Brewer is closer in agreement to the Democratic budget plan, which reportedly can be done without holding a special election. I have questions about the revenue projections based upon the borrowing of new tax revenues from local governments. I don't find the projections realistic. But it's a starting point for a budget plan.

Brewer should spend her time constructively working with the Democrats and a handfull of moderate Republicans in the next few weeks to craft a budget instead of wasting time, effort and money on an ill-conceived PR campaign that is not going to achieve her goals with this GOP legislature.

The July 1 date is largely symbolic, but it is also constitutional and will trigger a series of events involving state borrowing, credit worthiness, bond ratings, etc., and will effect county and municipal governments and school districts that are dependent upon and highly sensitive to any disruption in their revenue.

You will not have to work for government to notice the effects from disruptions in local government and state government services (and government workers not getting paid and thus not injecting money back into the economy will only lead to a further decline in the state economy and state tax revenues in a downward spiral).

I do not believe this situation will be allowed to continue for very long. Public outrage to do something to solve the budget as July 1 approaches will focus the legislature's attention. The legislature has never gone into July. Someone eventually is going to have to give in; I just can't predict who it will be at this stage.

I do know that no one is going to be happy with the final result.

[todd]

The GOP in Arizona has been having a slow-mo implosion the last year. This fight is going to speed that up. I can't say I am not happy to see these people going at each other.

[David Safier]

Just one thing to add.

Best. Train wreck video. Ever.

[Zelph]

See kooks kut. Kut, kooks, kut. See kooks lose.

No bipartisan cover for these assholes. Let them be hoist on their own petard.

[Patt]

What a mess. The only good thing about the budget crisis is that The Arizona Guardian offered teachers a six month subscription for 10 dollars per month.
I jumped on it!

[cranky]

Does this sort of play into Mr. Safier's "Rumor Mongering" post?

http://arizona.typepad.com/blog/2009/05/the-tax-credit-special-session-rumor-spreading.html

I'm riveted...