Republicans balking on AZ budget?

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by David Safier

All is not well in Conservative Land. It seems that some Republican legislators are unhappy with the options they've been handed by Russell and Cavanagh.

"Right now I think there's more danger of the situation locking up and us not getting a budget out than vice versa," said Sen. John Huppenthal, R-Chandler.

Imagine, Republicans not agreeing on their budget proposal. Though something tells me this happened before, like last year, so maybe it's not so surprising.

Sen. Barbara Leff, R-Paradise Valley, said she can't support budget cuts that include the KidsCare health insurance program, eliminating Healthcare Group and wiping out the state Department of Commerce.

For Sen. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, cuts to the University of Arizona, including the internationally known Poison and Drug Information Center, and reducing veterans' service officers go too far.

Of course, they have a way out if they can't agree.

If House and Senate leaders can't find the votes in their own caucuses, they could look to Democrats. But chances of getting Democratic votes for the type of cuts that are being contemplated are almost nil.

Well,maybe not.

Russell Pearce, when asked about public comment on the budget, pulled a Phil Gramm.

"We want to make this process as transparent as possible," Pearce said. "(But) we don't want 300 people signing up just to whine."

Yup. A nation of whiners. That's the problem with this country.


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1 thought on “Republicans balking on AZ budget?”

  1. If there is any good to come out of the train wreck that it is the 2009 legislative session, it will be to expose the utter incompetence of Russell Pearce.

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