Correcting AZ Blue Meanie’s blatant political bias

by David Safier

Though this blog has definite liberal/progressive leanings, we also attempt to be fair. Over the past week, The Meanie has posted statements by Democratic legislators in the Star answering questions posed to them, but he has not published statements by Republicans.

In the interest of fairness, I'm posting the Star's questions and the Republican legislators' responses today and tomorrow. Today, I'll take our 2 LD-26 Republicans.

From Senator Al Melvin (R, LD-26)

1) Lawmakers have discretion over only 37 percent of K-12
education. School districts and universities have already taken
millions in budget cuts, which affects everything from the economy to
demands on government programs. Should lawmakers continue to cut money to education? What, specifically, would you do?

Melvin:

2) The governor's budget includes $37 million in cuts to
services for the seriously mentally ill and the elimination of
KidsCare, for a savings of $23 million. It also seeks to ask voters to
drop 310,500 people from Medicaid by narrowing the eligibility rules. That savings would be $382 million. Do you support these cuts? If not, how would you cover that $442 million budget gap?

Melvin:

3) What is your priority for budget cuts? What, specifically, would you cut first, and why?

Melvin:

4) What kind of revenue increases do you support?

Melvin:

  

  

  

  

From Representative Vic Williams (R, LD-26)

1) Lawmakers have discretion over only 37 percent of K-12
education. School districts and universities have already taken
millions in budget cuts, which affects everything from the economy to
demands on government programs. Should lawmakers continue to cut money to education? What, specifically, would you do?

Williams:

2) The governor's budget includes $37
million in cuts to
services for the seriously mentally ill and the elimination of
KidsCare, for a savings of $23 million. It also seeks to ask voters to
drop 310,500 people from Medicaid by narrowing the eligibility rules.
That savings would be $382 million. Do you support these cuts? If not,
how would you cover that $442 million budget gap?

Williams:

3) What is your priority for budget cuts? What, specifically, would you cut first, and why?

Williams:

4) What kind of revenue increases do you support?

Williams:

Tomorrow, I will afford the same courtesy to Republican Representatives David Stevens (LD-25), David Gowan (LD-30) and Frank Antenori (LD-30).