Read Initial Democratic Reaction to Governor Ducey’s Last Proposed Budget now from Blog for Arizona for Politics from a Liberal Viewpoint

Governor Doug Ducey and his office have released his last proposed budget.

Like previous budget proposals, there are good components to it.

There are increases (some paid for by American Rescue Plan dollars: the funds Mr. Ducey calls Socialist) in K-12 funding, water augmentation, road infrastructure, and kinship care. Veterans and their spouses could receive free access to a college education if that part of the Ducey budget passes.

Those seem positive but are the requested increases enough to fill urgent needs in those areas?

Probably not.

Mr. Ducey also is putting tax cuts again in his budget blueprint. While a state earned income tax credit for working families is appealing, another corporate tax cut is not.

He also wants to put another $425 million in the Rainy Day Fund. The state is already running a surplus and there is already almost one billion dollars in that emergency account.

Looking at the budget summary, one can not help but notice that there are no funds for:

Expanding KIdsCare.
Giving poor pregnant women access to dental care.
Relieving the state university tuition burden on college students.

Take away the proposed corporate tax cuts and fund some of those programs instead.

Initial Democratic Reaction to the Ducey Budget.

With the budget being released the Friday before a holiday weekend honoring Martin Luther King, initial Democratic reaction to the Ducey Budget has not been as prolific as in past years.

The Democratic Leaders in the Arizona State Legislature released a joint statement below:

Senate Democratic Leader Rebecca Rios wrote:

“We appreciate seeing the Governor finally take Arizona’s water crisis seriously by announcing $1 billion for a desalination plant and other augmentation measures. But of course the devil is in the details, and we’ll be on the lookout that this isn’t just a gimmick. We also appreciate him addressing an issue Democrats have championed for years, which is increasing the monthly kinship care stipend from $75 to $300. Yet this budget still fails to meet the moment we are in–Which is in the third year of a pandemic that has taken the lives of 25,000 Arizonans and our schools facing a $1.2 billion funding cliff unless the legislature acts. Not to mention the fact this budget assumes Prop 208 will be dismantled and there is no solution to the compounding funding calamities our schools face. In the face of this, the last thing Arizona needs is more unsustainable tax cuts. What Arizona needs is a Governor who takes the COVID-19 pandemic and our school funding crisis seriously. Instead, the Governor is adding an additional $425 million to the Rainy Day Fund when those dollars could address issues Arizonans are facing now and will in the future, such as our water crisis and ongoing teacher shortage.”

House Democratic Leader Reginald Bolding stated:

“Making increased investments for needs like drought mitigation, water infrastructure, highways and kinship foster care are sensible long-term priorities, and we look forward to further discussions on the details. But we’ve learned with this governor that you have to dig beyond the headlines. What looks good on the menu doesn’t always look good on the plate. For example, even the investments we support could ultimately be unsustainable if the Republicans’ excessive and reckless $2 billion tax cut for the wealthy is allowed to stand. Arizona’s economy and state revenues are benefiting from massive but temporary federal investment in COVID-19 relief and infrastructure. When that investment is gone, Governor Ducey — along with our ability to maintain adequate schools, healthcare, roads, prisons and other basic priorities — will be long gone as well.”

Focusing on the water augmentation programs, Central Arizona Board President and former Phoenix Mayor and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard relayed:

“The Governor stated that he would allocate a billion dollars for new water, which appears to be a play for headlines pure and simple. As of Friday night, there were no details as to what ‘new supply’ he was talking about. If he wants to encourage desalination, the price tag is closer to $3 billion. And, who would pay for that very expensive new water? Not agriculture which is the sector most hurt by the current cut backs. So, his big deal would just be a down payment. Importation projects are even more expensive and politically perilous. Plus, it is a billion dollars over three years. Since he will be out of office for two of those three years and have no control over appropriations, the Billion becomes $333 million. Not such a big deal after all and no where near enough to fulfill his boast that he was securing Arizona water for the next 100 years. SO, the Governor’s announcement was great for a quick publicity hit but woefully short on substance at a time when thoughtful leadership and specific programs are critically needed to meet Arizona’s severe water shortage.”

Sunnyside School District Board President Consuelo Hernandez commented:

“Governor Ducey has proven in the last seven years that his political ambitions are more important than preserving and protecting the everyday lives of Arizonans.

This year’s budget is no different. His priorities are clearly aimed at scoring maximum points with the Trump Cult while the rest of Arizona from the economy to our infrastructure suffers. All to run for the United States Senate if he decides to run.

Indeed, the Governor’s lack of common sense during this pandemic when it comes to medicine and science should tell voters all they need to know. The problem is, Mr. Ducey’s irresponsible, self-serving behavior have devastated our entire state’s economic, political and social foundation. Moreover, his fomenting of fear, ignorance and paranoia have led to the death of tens of thousands of Arizonans.

Most of whom didn’t deserve that fate — regardless of their political or religious affiliations.

But this is who Governor Ducey has always been. It is his personal politics above people; his own personal advancement over the needs of those he was elected to serve. His budget is merely more of the same cold, calculating nonsense at a time when real leadership is needed.”

Beth Lewis of Save Our Schools stated:

“Despite bragging that Arizona is “awash with cash” and “sitting atop billions” in excess revenue, Ducey has filled his 2023 Executive Budget with one-time solutions, myopic ideas, and astonishingly few increased investments in public education — minimal even for this governor.”