Picture's Worth A Thousand Words
The front page picture in today's Arizona Republic (Monday, June 8) couldn't have been more apt. Five legislators standing or sitting around awaiting, as the caption tells us, for "a House vote Thursday on a budget."

That's what most Arizona legislators have been doing for the past five months: Awaiting instructions from their so-called leadership on what budget to pass. It's a sorry story of democracy crippled by inertia and in the hands of a few people. The result is a Republican legislative budget package that is a disgrace; an assault on basic services while protecting special interests.

The Arizona Republic has done a credible job the last week or two in providing information on how the budget plans of Gov. Brewer, the Legislature's Democrats and the Legislature's Republican majority differ. But the newspaper has failed, so far, to give any accounting of what rank-and-file legislators have been doing for five months.

I ask because my two District 21 Representatives, Warde Nichols and Steven Yarbrough (both shown doing nothing in the picture) have been strangely quiet. (Nichols did surface briefly to help grab more tax dollars for private schools and his own private businesses). With all the idle time these past five months, why weren't they holding forums within the district educating taxpapers on the issues involved in the multi-year budget crisis, and soliciting suggestions on proper priorities.

That's what an involved, active State Representative would be doing. I regret that I don't have one in District 21, and I'm afraid many other Arizona taxpayers have the same problem.

Republicans take aim at universal health care
In the Legislature, Republicans are moving House Concurrent Resolution 2014 forward. The effort at a 2010 ballot issue would do essentially what one narrowly rejected by voters last year would have done: protect the for-profit health care industry.

The new ballot issue would "Prohibit any law or rule from directly or indirectly compelling any person or employer to participate in any health care system." Freedom of choice. Very compelling. Except there is another way to look at it. If appoved, this would prevent consideration of any type of universal health care proposal in Arizona.

Are we ready to close out that option? With more than a million Arizonans without health insurance, and hundreds of thousands of others in perilous insurance situations, closing any options is grossly premature.

Rep. Phil Lopez (D-Tuscon) had it right when he told the Arizona Republic, "This is an ideologically driven effort because they don't like government, and they don't want government running health care."

Why not have a domestic-partner registry ballot issue?
Phoenix is about to have a domestic-partner registry thanks to a 6-0 City Council vote this week. Phoenix follows Tucson in granting unmarried gay and straight couples hospital visitation rights.

The catch is it will cost couples $50 once the registry begins on Feb. 9. Read the Arizona Republic article here.

While it's a small step, it's the right thing to do. Which prompts the question: Why not have a ballot issue to make the domestic-partner registry a statewide right -- with little or no charge? It would be a good way to take the gay-rights fight public on an issue that is winnable. Even better, pressure state legislators to create the ballot issue themselves. Too many Republican legislators, and perhaps a few Democrats as well, have ducked the issue. They fall back on "marriage is between one man and one women" -- a concept which has widespread public support -- and they rarely get pushed beyond that.

Progressives need to look for better ways to frame issues in Arizona. This would be a good start.

Brewer makes smart first impression
Give Governor-in-Waiting Jan Brewer high marks for taking a realistic approach to her new role in one of her first public pronouncements. She refused to rule out tax increases while the state deals with its budget crisis. All options are on the table, Brewer said.

That's as it should be. Some from the Republican Right are having fits already, but they don't understand the role of an elected leader. Brewer can't hobble herself and her office by sticking to hardline positions that sound great in an election but which might make governing responsibly very difficult.

The truth is Brewer will resist any tax increases. But this is no simple budget downturn. Something more than "cutting the fat" will be necessary. She -- and the Legislature -- can't rule anything out at this point.

Read the Arizona Republic story here.

Editorial reaction to Napolitano's departure

Yuma Sun:

The transition to a new governor will be complicated because Napolitano plans to stay in office until her confirmation as homeland security secretary, apparently fully participating in legislative initiatives and even giving the State of the State speech which normally involves laying out plans for the future.

It is understandable that Napolitano wants to remain in office until she is certain of her new position, but it does put the state at a disadvantage, especially at this critical fiscal stage. Napolitano needs to recognize this and draw Brewer fully into the legislative planning process …

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff:

We're not quite sure what to make of Gov. Janet Napolitano's desire to stay on in January to deliver the State of the State address and a draft state budget. …

But now that Napolitano is herself a lame duck, Republicans might decide to wait and ram through budget revisions soon after the governor steps down in late January. The longer they wait, however, the harder it is for universities and other state agencies to make major spending cuts. 

East Valley Tribune:

[M]any Arizona Democrats feel abandoned as their standard-bearer will pass the torch to Secretary of State Jan Brewer … But the reality is divided government has played a significant role in the state’s budget crisis, the issue that will dominate Arizona politics through the 2010 elections. …the political tug of war between Napolitano and the Legislature has delayed tough choices on long-term solutions. With Brewer at the helm, state government is more likely to approach buget solutions from a common perspective to pursue necessary spending cuts. It also means Republicans will reap all the rewards and all the blame for those decisions.

Arizona Daily Star, Tucson:

Brewer's move to the governor's office could cause upheaval in state agencies and their policy directions. The Arizona Legislature is dominated by Maricopa County Republicans and Napolitano provided an effective backstop to their efforts to slash necessary state services, such as public education.

We call on Brewer to respect the wishes of Arizona voters who elected Napolitano, and to resist the urge to replace agency directors or make significant changes to policies. Brewer was not elected to the post: Voters chose Napolitano, who differs from Brewer on many issues.

Arizona Republic:

An accomplished pragmatist, Napolitano supported a temporary-worker program and signed the nation's toughest employer-sanctions law. She found a centrist path through an explosive issue and never stooped to vilify illegal immigrants.

Barack Obama should make Napolitano his point person in what we hope is an immediate push by his administration for comprehensive reform. 

Goldwater report card is now out
If you believe that the Goldwater Institute understands what upholding the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions require, you'll be interested in the lobbying group's sixth annual Legislative Report Card, now out.

I couldn't care less. After all, how much credibility is earned by a process that produces Ron Gould (R-3), Jack Harper (R-4), and the retiring Karen Johnson (R-18) as the "highest-scoring" senators. The Report Card "scores Arizona legislators on 237 votes across four categories: education, constitutional government, regulation, and tax and budget." The Goldwater people say they're looking at "whether legislators, individually and collectively, fulfill their duty once in office."

Frankly, a better model for 2009 would be how often other legislators' votes differed from Gould and Harper, two of the Senate's most reliable disgraces.

Legislature vs. ADEQ
So it turns out enough legislators with pull want the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) kept on a short leash once again. And they see themselves as the leash-tuggers. Republicans like Rep. Michele Reagan of Scottsdale seem bent out of shape because Arizona has signed on to the Western Climate Initiative which has the support of seven Western states and four Canadian provinces.

They also object to another multi-state effort, the Clean Cars program, an effort to reduce car and truck emissions. See The Republic's story.

After two days of hearings, House and Senate environmental oversight panel "recommended that no actions proceed with either the climate initiative or clean cars without legislative approval."