Lame-Duck Special Session Looming

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Just as I predicted when the Legislature enacted the "Jan Sham Budget" earlier this year with the GOP gimmicks of Props. 301 and 302 to "balance" the state budget, voters resoundingly rejected these propositions by approximately 70% of the vote — exposing the "sham" of Jan Brewer's "balanced" budget.

Tuesday's defeat of Propositions 301 and 302 knocked a $450 million hole in the state budget and has the outgoing Senate President Bob Burns calling for a special session, and soon, to plug it. The "Jan Sham Budget" already had the state more than $400 million in the red. Propositions' defeat pokes hole in budget:

Burns said time is running out.

"At some point, I'm afraid we run out of cash and start issuing warrants," he said, essentially IOUs to those the state owes money.

"The people are going to be up in arms about it," he said.

* * *

Gov. Jan Brewer, who would have to call lawmakers, some of whom were defeated Tuesday, back to the Capitol, said it is premature to make that decision. "We're working on our budget; we can discuss that in the next couple of weeks."

Riiight. The people had their chance on Tuesday to right the ship of state and instead chose to let the ship go down — with everyone on board.

Incoming Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, prefers to wait until January, when he is in charge, to deal with the problem.

From his perspective, the solution is to just keep cutting expenses until they match revenues. That makes state aid to education and health care – the biggest items in the budget – the prime targets.

Pearce acknowledged trimming the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state's Medicaid program, would put the state out of compliance with the new federal health-care law. It says states that reduce eligibility lose all of their federal health aid.

But Pearce said he's ready to tell the feds what they can do with their $7 billion.

"If we're saving (state) money, the fact we lose some federal money means nothing," he said. "If you can't afford Dillard's, even though they're having a great sale, you can't afford Dillard's."

Pearce said he is unconcerned that the loss of all federal dollars will leave Arizona unable to fund what's left of its AHCCCS program.

"Church, community, family's got to provide," he said.

Got that? Charity and the kindness of strangers is to replace the social safety net. The GOP's "ownership society" means that you socialist pinko commies are on your own.

Sen. Pearce's Christmas cards this year will bear this passage from A Christmas Carol:

"Portly Gentleman: At this festive time of year, Mr. Scrooge, it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time.

Ebenezer: Why? Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?

Portly Gentleman: Many can't go there; and many would rather die.

Ebenezer: If they would rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.

Pearce would do well to heed the warning of Jacob Marley: "BUSINESS? Mankind was my business! Their common welfare was my business!"