Opinion > Editorials
Governor got it right on temporary tax suggestion
As the recession deepens, the hole the state must climb out of is getting increasingly deep.
We are close to $2 billion in the red for the current fiscal year and it looks like the gap between revenue and expenses in the 2009-2010 budget will be $3.5 billion or more. That is a lot of money to make up.
The Legislature has looked at hundreds of ways to do that, most of them involving cuts in services. Much of what the state spends is mandated and 60 percent goes to education, so there is not a lot of "fat" out there.
We are already seeing the closing of state parks. The universities will be cut drastically as will local school districts. DES must cut workers whose job it is to protect our most vulnerable children. Police positions are lying vacant across the state as state cuts are trickling down to municipalities, forcing them to make their own tough decisions.
All of this is playing out against a national background where the recent presidential election can be seen as an overwhelming mandate for change. Yet change hasn't wandered into the Legislature. In Phoenix, our elected representatives are still desperately trying to whack their way to a balanced budget.
We say, give it up. And give Gov. Jan Brewer a big hand for having the courage to suggest a temporary tax increase to get us out of this situation. That is a tough thing for a conservative Republican governor to do. But it is the only sensible solution to the problem.
If we were to try to cut our way to a balanced budget, we would pretty much have to jettison public education and public health. That saves money in the short run and costs billions more in the long run. It is a stupid way to attack the problem.
For once in their lives, we urge the Legislature to move beyond conservative rhetoric and listen to the governor. When this economic crisis ends, we don't want the state to be in a shambles. A modest tax increase with a sunset provision makes sense and will protect the most vulnerable citizens.
We have followed the conservative agenda here and in the nation for years now. It isn't working, and U.S. voters clearly said that. Listen up, Legislature and let's try to solve our problems without ruining our state.
We are close to $2 billion in the red for the current fiscal year and it looks like the gap between revenue and expenses in the 2009-2010 budget will be $3.5 billion or more. That is a lot of money to make up.
The Legislature has looked at hundreds of ways to do that, most of them involving cuts in services. Much of what the state spends is mandated and 60 percent goes to education, so there is not a lot of "fat" out there.
We are already seeing the closing of state parks. The universities will be cut drastically as will local school districts. DES must cut workers whose job it is to protect our most vulnerable children. Police positions are lying vacant across the state as state cuts are trickling down to municipalities, forcing them to make their own tough decisions.
All of this is playing out against a national background where the recent presidential election can be seen as an overwhelming mandate for change. Yet change hasn't wandered into the Legislature. In Phoenix, our elected representatives are still desperately trying to whack their way to a balanced budget.
We say, give it up. And give Gov. Jan Brewer a big hand for having the courage to suggest a temporary tax increase to get us out of this situation. That is a tough thing for a conservative Republican governor to do. But it is the only sensible solution to the problem.
If we were to try to cut our way to a balanced budget, we would pretty much have to jettison public education and public health. That saves money in the short run and costs billions more in the long run. It is a stupid way to attack the problem.
For once in their lives, we urge the Legislature to move beyond conservative rhetoric and listen to the governor. When this economic crisis ends, we don't want the state to be in a shambles. A modest tax increase with a sunset provision makes sense and will protect the most vulnerable citizens.
We have followed the conservative agenda here and in the nation for years now. It isn't working, and U.S. voters clearly said that. Listen up, Legislature and let's try to solve our problems without ruining our state.
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