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State Of the State Looks Grim

By Bud Foster

"My fellow Arizonans, today the state of our state is grim." So began Governor Janet Napolitano's state of the state message to lawmakers past and present. Grim because the state is facing its biggest budget crisis ever.

Arizona is bleeding red ink. Right now, the state is facing more than a $1.3 billion shortfall. In her 30 minute address, Napolitano laid out a five point plan to get the state back on the right track. She says she will take care of education, the economy, homeland security, Arizona's children and seniors and our environment immediately.

She will need the help of both sides of the aisle to do that but according to Tucson State Senator Gabrielle Giffords, that may be forthcoming. "Because she's been so strategic in putting Republicans in key positions and not just putting in Democrats, I think she's going to have the support of the Republican party" says Giffords.

And she might be right. During the inauguration, House Speaker Jake Flake offered an olive branch when he said "We will have our differences. But we must learn to disagree without being disagreeable."

Adding to the burden though, is the high number of new lawmakers. For the first time since statehood, a majority of the lawmakers are new, 33 in the House and 17 in the Senate. One of those, Tucson Democrat Ted Downing illustrates how difficult it will be. "I bumped into a fellow and we had a discussion about a bill and he stopped and looked at me for a second and then said, who are you? And to be quite honest, I only knew who he was because I looked at his name tag."

In her address, Napolitano called upon the Texas experience. She asked lawmakers and state workers to ask themselves "Does it improve customer service? Does it make sense? Does it save money? Does it eliminate duplication? The answer to those four questions could be the answer to Arizona's critical budget mess.

Napolitano told the joint assembly of house and senate members, Texas saved $8 billion dollars from 1991 to 1996 by asking and answering those questions, without sacrificing the quality of state services. Napolitano hopes to replicate that here.

She has taken tax increases off the table but an overhaul of the state tax code is on her agenda. Trade with Mexico and other Latin American countries is high on the priority list. Although she skirted the issue of immigration, preferring to talk about south of the border revenue, many in the audience were hopeful she will address the issues soon.

Border counties have been devastated by immigration problems, especially health related issues. Cochise County Supervisor and former lawmaker, Paul Newman said "What I heard her say, I think, is that she is not going to balance the budget on the backs of border cities and counties or the children of the state and that's good."

Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson added "I think she recognizes the border issues and that alone should bring us some help." Pima County has been especially hard hit by incarceration and health issues related to illegal immigration.

Rodeo-Chediski fire "hero" Jim Paxon opened the first session of the 46th legislature with some inspiring words about the "never give up" attitude. Napolitano had praise for Paxon but harsh words for the people on both sides of forest policy. "We must find a balance in our fire prevention efforts. For too long our forest policy has been buffeted between two extreme views of how our forests should be managed."

As far as State of the State addresses go, it was well delivered and well received. Shorter than the addresses of the past which have gone 40 minutes or more. It did not waste words or money. The address was e-mailed to lawmakers and printed for the media on plain white paper, front and back.

By not hand delivering the speech to lawmakers and not paying for fancy printing and covers, the governor saved taxpayers $2,000. Not a lot but she set an example for the rest of the state. "Saving resources in large and small ways helps contribute to the greater good" she says.