Posted by
steven anderson on Sunday, July 06, 2008 4:15:30 AM
Much ink has been spilled over a 2 billion (or so) budget deficit here in Arizona. The legislative geniuses have managed to paper over the deficit by accounting tricks and gimmicks for the most part. In the next fiscal years of 2009, and 2010, the state may be facing bankruptcy according to some fiscal conservatives and journalists.
Governor Janet Napolitano allowed state agency spending to skyrocket, far outstripping inflation,or population growth. Spend, spend, spend was the motto in the last 6+ years of her stewardship.
The Republican legislative leadership failed, the newspaper of record here, the Arizona Republic long ago erected a protective media bubble around her. Now the citizens of the state will be facing a massive fiscal crisis in the coming 24 months. Napolitano is mentioned as a possible Obama VP candidate or high ranking administrative member if Obama is elected.
If a fiscal conservative ever needs a poster child example of run away spending, legislative failing, and what a Democratic governor will do to spending when elected, look no farther than Arizona. The future misery of taxpayers for the next few decades will be beginning here shortly. Something to keep in mind this November.