Arizona's Coming Government Collapse: Fiscal Honesty From Governor Jan Brewer

Remind me again why we can't get this type of honesty from Washington.

Dear Fellow Arizonan,

We face a state fiscal crisis of unparalleled dimension – one that is going to sweep over every single person in this state as well as every business and every family.

That is why I held an emergency cabinet meeting yesterday morning where I outlined for our state’s elected leaders and business leaders the ills our state faces. As I told them yesterday, we ARE faced with some of the worst days in our 97-year history.

We can debate how we got here, but we CANNOT remain paralyzed in our efforts to address the situation. We must set aside partisan politics and face the problem head on.

We must accept that we ARE where we ARE.

So here’s the TRUTH:

• The state has a budget deficit for the current fiscal year of $1.5 billion.

• Next fiscal year, 2011 -- a budget year that begins in just six months -- is even worse. Next year’s budget deficit stands at $3.4 billion. As of today -- right now, that MUST change.

Even though my Administration has already cut $1 Billion in state government spending, we must redouble our efforts to create a leaner, more fiscally responsible Arizona.

I have asked all 90 members in the State Legislature to cooperate by submitting a reasonable plan. On behalf of citizens across our state, I expect them to become active participants in the budget process.

This problem did not happen overnight:

• Five years of spending nearly doubled state government.

• The economic recession has reduced state revenues by almost 40 percent in just 3 years.

• Population growth in school children, university students, health care and welfare populations and inmates in our state prisons has fundamentally ruled out simplistic solutions like rolling the state budget back to levels from five, six, or more years ago.

• Federal and voter mandates prevent us from touching nearly two-thirds of the state budget.

• And procrastination, denial, and lack of will have allowed these problems to fester.

We must solve these problems and we must solve them now. More than calling for cooperation, today I had state government implement various emergency measures meant to ensure Arizona’s fiscal solvency.  Among them:

• I ordered the Arizona Department of Corrections to return to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) -- as soon as possible -- all non-violent criminal aliens as is allowed under existing law. These inmates are the responsibility of the federal government (as is securing our border with Mexico). Arizona should not have to bear this cost.

•  I am restating my Arizonans-only directives to state agencies to ensure that public benefits are provided only to those who are legally in this country and who reside in this state.

• Effective immediately, I have ordered all state agencies that benefits citizens to implement means testing and sliding fee schedules. While the government safety net must stay in place, we need to secure help only for the neediest among us.

These measures, though they may represent tough news for many Arizonans, are necessary to keep the state moving forward. Every Arizonan must understand why this state is suffering.

That is why I invite you to take a moment now to visit my Web site to view the presentation I presented today to the state’s elected leaders and business leaders. After viewing this presentation, you will see the desperate times our state faces.

You will also understand why we MUST ACT NOW not as Democrats, Republicans or Independents but as Arizonans.

We owe it to the citizens of this state -- our children and grandchildren -- to adopt and approve a solution.

Sincerely,

Jan Brewer

Governor

Visit Governor Brewer's website >>

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Comments

[RecoverylessRecovery]

I hear the U.S. is gonna return Arizona to Mexico, apologize and then walk away from the whole problem.

[DailyBail]

can't do that...they don't want it back...

[Benny and the Talibanks]

I couldn't imagine Arnold writing something as brilliant as this. He would be too busy trying to write secret kiddy messages in the text like a f'ing two year old.

In CA we can't even get the illegal immigrants to pay car registration taxes like ordinary citizens have to pay. That is why every other car driving on our highways has a baja california license plate and every non-trained truck driver is driving a truck from the lawless country to the South. No registration, no taxes, no fees, free ride, no problem. Thanks George Bush.

[Oberron4life]

Clearly, Jan has no real political or corporate training or skills. See, what's supposed to happen is she simply blames those who do the work, or in this case vote. There is no future for this type of politician.

What a dope. I went to her web page, and there is nothing I could see that even mentions her political party. So she has no future. Which side of the hideous Republicrat monoparty would dare support such a candidate? She clearly doesn't get it.

But then again...wouldn't it be something if...

Nah, forget it. Must be too early and I'm still dreaming...

[Oberron4life]

P.S. The P.S. link doesn't seem to be able to find the server, at least for me.

[DailyBail]

fixed the link...thanks...

[Wil Martindale]

Bubbles WILL pop Jan. And most every State (and county and city) has been caught up in the irrational exuberance of the Wall Street / Federal Reserve casino lifestyle. If States had been more conservative with their caapital investments and counties reserved the windfall profits from millage assessments during the outrageous real estate boom (instead of losing it all in interest rate swaps) it might have been there for these rainy days.

If you're looking for a "reasonable plan" from your state legislature, I suggest you contact John Hoeven, Governor of "the State of North Dakota doing business as the Bank of North Dakota (and former president of same Bank of North Dakota)" to better understand why they have a 1.5 billion dollar budget surplus (their largest ever) and will pay a hefty dividend to the state, projected at over $60 million for 2009. In the last decade, the BND has turned back a third of a billion dollars to the state’s general fund, offsetting taxes.

I have outlined the Sovereign State Solution, as proposed in Florida, among this and other blogs, including my own. But if you'd prefer to bond out to Wall Street, go for it. It doesn't appear that anyone is listening.

http://letthemfail.us/archives/3171

[DailyBail]

good to see you wil...

[S. Gompers]

"can't do that...they don't want it back..."

I would not be so sure.

http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2009/01/red-alert-seeking-overthrow-of-us.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIW-BZ8oLrk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTwO457C8bQ&feature=related

[Texas Dar]

Its not just Arizona going down. Cal. and NY are also shutting down at the end of January. Please read on. Our Lifes depend on it..... http://www.eutimes.net/2009/11/obama-orders-1-million-us-troops-to-prepare-for-civil-war/

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TD...

I edited because it was exceptionally long and because THIS SAME STORY has been out there for 12 months...

seriously, you are better than believing this nonsense...do some reserch...these emails have been circulating for months...

[Texas Dar]

U.S. Forces Plan Direct Action Against American Citizens

http://www.eutimes.net/2009/12/us-forces-plan-direct-action-against-american-citizens/

This was posted back on Dec. 11, and many people jumped on these two guys for evan thinking such a thing could happen. Then I came across the link above this post that backs up this one. So now what....................................!

Hang on, its gets much darker in a moment.....?

“There is an event coming in the very near-term future that is going to effect the USA to its very soul,” former Kansas State Trooper Greg Everson of The Heartland USA and former host of Republic Broadcasting “Voices from the Heartland” told host Steve Quayle in a special two hour “Survive 2 Thrive” broadcast Thursday.

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[Texas Dar]

U.S. placed under international police-state Looks like BO already knows what to expect and is getting ready for it. These will be the ones that tell the troops to fire apon us. Many will join our side and thats why the UN Troops are being brought in.

http://threatswatch.org/analysis/2009/12/wither-sovereignty/

In the dead of night on December 17, 2009, President Barack Hussein Obama placed the United States of America under the authority of the international police organization known as INTERPOL, granting the organization full immunity to operate within the United States.

http://threatswatch.org/analysis/2009/12/wither-sovereignty/

[Oberron4life]

Hey, Texas Dar, what up? You okay? Maybe a nice walk in the woods or around the block even would do you wonders.

I always thought this was a place mainly for a little sarcasm and wit with a dose of reality dropped everyone in a while.

I can't speak for everyone, but I'm not "armed to the teeth" and have no interest in "taking to the streets."

Let's just kill them them the way it will hurt the most, vote or push them out.

[DailyBail]

TD...

I edited because it was exceptionally long and because THIS SAME STORY has been out there for 12 months...

seriously, you are better than believing this nonsense...do some reserch...these emails have been circulating for months...