Espresso Pundit — a great site for keeping track of Arizona politics — points out that outgoing Governor Janet Napolitano is leaving quite a budget hole for her successor to clean up:
You will recall that in the final days of last legislative session, Democrats–with the help of a few Republican enablers–hijacked the state budget process and without so much as a single hearing passed a $10.8 billion budget that was out of balance the moment it was signed. The budget was founded on accounting gimmicks like delaying school payments, illegal maneuvers like ordering the cities to pay the state $30 million and topped off with items that were intentionally cruel, like eliminating the funding for a voucher program that allowed severely disable children to attend the private school of their choice.
Now that budget is an astonishing $1.2 billion out of balance. With only six months left in the fiscal year, it will be nearly impossible to fix the mess….
While this is bad enough, the Arizona media is attempting to act as if this is a surprise:
Golly if only there had been someone who stood up early last year and pointed out that the Governor was making a huge mistake–someone to point out that her plan was foolish and the projections were wrong…
Who could that person be? By Golly, that would be me. Nearly a year ago–a full four months before the Governor forced her disastrous budget through the Legislature–I wrote a post called The Road to Bankruptcy
There have been plenty of articles about Arizona’s bleeding budget, but I’m going to be the first to use the “B” word. Arizona is heading for bankruptcy. We are not going to grow our way out of this problem.
Here’s the most prescient part of the post.
But the easy choices have already been made; the gimmicks will soon be gone; the rainy day fund will soon be spent. It’s time for real leadership. Instead, the Governor is saying “Nothing Down! No Payments until 2010.”
Janet Napolitano — along with now ex-Commerce Secretary designate Bill Richardson — are among the leading lights of the Obama Cabinet. Along with several others, they’ve led the media to designate the Obama team as brilliant and pragmatic. Yet even before the nomination hearings have begun, it’s clear that the team as a whole offers less than meets the eye. Napolitano for example, couldn’t even produce a balanced budget; yet she’s being entrusted with leadership of a key federal department (DHS) whose annual budget is larger than the state she used to run.
Hopefully she’ll pay more attention to bloggers who write about DHS than she did those who write about Arizona. It may save her from some serious blunders down the line.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
Adios! Bill Richardson drops out as Commerce Secretary
izoneguy (Diary) Sunday, January 4th at 2:13PM EST (link)Janet Napolitano — along with now ex-Commerce Secretary designate Bill Richardson — are among the leading lights of the Obama Cabinet
NOT ANYMORE!!!
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/01/04/adios-2/
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
Heh.
redneck_hippie (Diary) Sunday, January 4th at 2:27PM EST (link)Now that Obama’s side-kicks are cabinet ministers, the trend is away from under-the-bus tossing, and toward dignified resignations/withdrawals.
More salty snacks!
Leading lights you say?
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Sunday, January 4th at 3:22PM EST (link)Leading Blackouts may be more fitting description to these lameduck governors.
Napolitano is trying to escape to Washington...
Conquistadora Sunday, January 4th at 3:23PM EST (link)As an Arizona resident, I will be glad to see Gov. Napolitano and her failed policies leave the state for good. She will be followed by the Republican Sec. of State who will have to deal with the mess that is left behind.
However, Janet will be a disaster for the country at Homeland Security. She is not in favor a secured US borders and has done everything in her power to thwart the will of the Arizona electorate. Thanks to the ballot initiative process in AZ, we have put teeth into E-Verify regulations and limits on taxpayer paid benefits to illegal immigrants.
Where will the checks on her lack of enforcement of existing immigration laws come from in her new job? The US Congress?? Not likely.
I don't think Naplitano has any qualificatons for Homeland Security
bobojake (Diary) Sunday, January 4th at 3:54PM EST (link)Put Sheriff Joe in there we would get the job done right.
Sheriff Joe is a fool
phxg (Diary) Sunday, January 4th at 7:06PM EST (link)He is inept and constantly is at odds legally and ethically with best practices within law enforcement principals. The MCSO response times are a joke and he constantly is pulling deputies off patrol shifts for asinine work with basically no affect on the criminal community.
He is however a PR genius that has for many years duped the citizens of Maricopa County into believing that be cause he “is doing something” about illegal immigration he is our Savior. Unfortunately, these parlor tricks are nothing more then a polished veneer. Afterall, the Arizona Republic, a pro-illegal immigration newspaper is unwilling to publicize what actually happens once an illegal is apprehended (deportation is not what happens). So by not shining too harsh a light upon Arpaio, they both get what they want.
To return though to the topic at hand, yes, good riddance to Janet. Perhaps her partner will be well received in the DC Elite circles so as she will never return to stain the Great State of Arizona again.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle
Gee, not a single offer of evidence (nt)
Neil Stevens (Diary) Sunday, January 4th at 7:10PM EST (link)RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Hmmm...
Thrhheggeegwc Jjtkylkfofud (Diary) Sunday, January 4th at 7:19PM EST (link)It’s a bit of a stretch, but would this happen to be your diary at DKos?
Either way…
phxg said
spaceman_spiff Sunday, January 4th at 8:22PM EST (link)“Afterall[sic], the Arizona Republic, a pro-illegal immigration newspaper is unwilling to publicize what actually happens once an illegal is apprehended (deportation is not what happens).”
They are brought to justice In a court of law as felons and once convicted they can’t apply for citizenship. Sheriff Joe is the first and only one in the country that does that. If you didn’t know that you really need to pay more attention. He is now planning to put up more tents just for the illegal alien invaders.
As for the the other points, you are paying to much attention to the left wing media and pro-illegal hacks in Arizona. Remember, MCSO is the only Arizona agency that came in under budget in 2008.
Also, by my personal experience if someone doesn’t like Sheriff Joe they more often than not spent some time in his tents.
Neil and I have gone round and round on this topic.
phxg (Diary) Monday, January 5th at 12:59PM EST (link)This is one where he and I, and of course many of my fellow commenters on Redstate disagree.
The overall impact of his anti-illegal efforts does not improve the MCSO as a police force. His actions are failing:
The cities that contract with the MCSO for jail facilities are unduly burdened by having to drive all detainees to downtown Phoenix 4th & Madison for in-processing:
Here you can read the full report: Link – PDF
Additionally, his actions can be described within the law enforcement community as odd. In October, he received a warrant and executed it as a search for illegals in the City of Mesa City Hall, Library and Security Offices. LINK
However, it turns out that after arresting only 13 illegals (only 3 at the city offices) who had what appeared to be state issued id’s, the investigation turns out to be predicated on a single tip, by a fired employee. LINK
Proving that the police work by the MCSO was at the very best inept. Moreover, the employees, while working in the city buildings as cleaners were employed by a vendor, not the city. This was a typical Sheriff Joe over zealous, my wang is bigger then your wang response to the City of Mesa police Chief Gascon and this: LINK.
And in response to George: No, I do not frequent Kos, but I see you may.
And to Spaceman: If you think the Goldwater Institute is part of the “left wing media and pro-illegal hacks in Arizona” then perhaps you may need some follow-up reading; may I suggest: Conscience of a Conservative, by Barry Goldwater.
Disclaimer: I do work for the Phoenix Fire Dept and in my capacity interact with the Phx PD regularly. I do see first hand how policing is supposed to apprehend illegals, as more illegals are arrested by the PPD weekly then by the MCSO every month. I can not give a link as that data is from internal reports.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle
That's what happens
Erick Brockway (Diary) Sunday, January 4th at 3:32PM EST (link)Ya let New Yorkers and Californians in and they mess everything up.
Note to lefties;
“Don’t be afraid to see what you see.” -Ronald Reagan
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Yes...
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Monday, January 5th at 1:08PM EST (link)like in Nevada.
Joe, Russell, Jan and Nappy
spaceman_spiff Sunday, January 4th at 6:03PM EST (link)Sheriff Joe is a person who successfully transitioned from government bureaucrat to elected official which probably make him one unique individual.
However, we elected more conservatives into the Arizona Legislature in the last election cycle. Also, Russell Pearce was elected to the Senate after his term limit expired in the House even though one of his opponents accused him of wife beating (I kid you not). And Jan Brewer will be taking over from Napolitano a Republican. We will find out if she is conservative.
http://www.russellpearce.com/
http://www.azsos.gov/info/bio.htm
One more thing, if you live in Arizona check out the Arizona State Legislature ALIS Tracking system!
http://alistrack.azleg.gov/
Be thankful she is gone
char (Diary) Monday, January 5th at 12:39AM EST (link)And that you will have a Republican and a Republican legislature. Over here in CA we are 14-20 billion in the hole and have a legislature that tried to violate the constitution to pass a budget.
Yea, right
spaceman_spiff Monday, January 5th at 5:23PM EST (link)That Goldwater report is trash and slanted left. It relies almost solely on unsubstantiated third party accounts mostly from the Republic and Tribune it isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.
Here is a quote from the Border Patrol Union Local 2544 when they observed Joe on one of his sweeps. They are the accusal observers (unless stated otherwise) and unbiased:
“We will plainly tell you up front that what we found is not even remotely close to what most in the media are reporting”.
Here is the link:
http://www.billcloudsheriff2008.com/local2544evaluation.html
Enjoy
If the cities are unhappy with the service that MCSO provides they can contract with someone else or get there own police force, the City of Guadalupe did though that piece of crap mayor they had didn’t realize what she was doing at the time.
BTW, did you spend time as a guest of the good sheriff?
Also, if you don’t like Sheriff Joe why didn’t you vote him out of office?
A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
– Winston Churchill