Brewer presents 5 Point Plan...Gould disappoints

Governor Jan Brewer presented to a joint session yesterday a 5 point plan to fix the mess Arizona has found itself in. The plan includes the following.

• Spending cuts of $1 Billion in fiscal 2010
• Reform the budget process that will limit the Legislature's ability to raid special state funds while doubling the size of the state's "rainy day" fund and restrict it to only fiscal emergencies.
• Amend the 1998 Voter Protection Act allowing legislators to cut or redirect funding from voter approved programs. (Brewer used the example of how the state must spend $20 million to address urban sprawl).
• Reform the state tax code with tax cuts beginning in 2012.
• Temporary tax increase for 2 or 3 years generating $1B a year. This would have to be done by referring it to the voters since a tax increase requires 2/3 of the legislature to approve and 1/3 have signed the no tax pledge.

The last one is going to be the most controversial but will need the greatest amount of "coming together" to figure out the best way to accomplish it. Everyone with ideas is welcome at the table and will need to come with their A game.

Evident by the actions of people like Sen. Ron Gould, who decided to walk out of the chamber mid-speech when Brewer mentioned raising taxes, this won't be easy. I'm personally disappointed at this. Come up with a plan of your own and present it if you disagree. Being disrespectful is not professional and it really looks bad when you're not doing anything yourself.

Take a look for yourself the current 2009 budget plan. Here's the Options Plan for '09 and '10. It's a little sobering to read through it.