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
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