by David Safier
I noted 6 weeks ago that Republicans took $7 million from the First Things First fund to help balance the 2009 budget. Now, according to the Republic,
The defendants in the suit are our Accidental Guv, state Treasurer Dean Martin and state Comptroller D. Clark Partridge.
First Things First is a fund approved in 2006 to pay for early childhood education and health issues with a tobacco tax. It has amassed $300 million, because, rather than spending the money as it came, the board set up regional councils to figure out how best to spend the funds, and how to
assure the money will be around long enough to assess the educational
benefits, if there are any. To do a reasonable assessment, that's 8 to
10 years.
All these lawsuits involving the 2009 budget are going to have to take a number and wait their turn. This is the fifth so far.
NOTE: I may have to stop referring to Brewer disparagingly as the Accidental Guv. Dem legislators are saying she's about the only friend they've got right now — which lets you know how truly dire things are at the Capitol. But I don't have to make nice. I'll believe she's got our best interests at heart when we see some actions, not just words. It's still early.