REP. PHIL LOPES, THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC FLOOR LEADER (left), GOV. JANET NAPOLITANO AND FORMER SEN. LINDA AGUIRRE. (Photo found at azgovernor.gov)
Now, Democrats in the Arizona Legislature want to consider real budget cuts, with less than a month to go before the end of the fiscal year.
They weren’t interested in early January when the predicted budget shortfall for 2008-09 was predicted to be approaching $1.7 billion. They weren’t interested in mid-March when the shortfall grew to $1.9 billion.
Only as it becomes clear that the shortfall likely has reached $2.2 billion do Democrats finally concede there is a serious problem at the Capitol.
Many Arizonans have been frustrated that Republicans, the majority party in Legislature, can’t get their act together to come up with a plan to take to Gov. Janet Napolitano. But at least they haven’t shied away from the reality that state government can’t pay the bills.
The Legislature can’t do its constitutionally mandated job of adopting a balanced budget with smoke and mirrors. There has to be an actual reduction in spending, period.
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