Gould for Gorman?

Okay, we know politicians like their egos to be stroked but is this really a time for ego stroking? Why do I say ego stroking? Because that's exactly what Ron Gould throwing his hat into the Majority Whip race is. In case you didn't hear, Sen Pamela Gorman resigned today as Majority Whip.

In her letter she said "this tax increase is tearing our otherwise strong caucus apart and is 'taking on a life of its own' that is not healthy for our caucus, nor our party." She quickly forgets that she is one of only 2 or maybe 3 Senators that are left voting no. I understand her feelings but when you have Senators like Jack Harper voting yes after doing something we've been saying they should do for months (negotiate radical changes they want in exchange), it's a little ridiculous. Harper got comfortable doing it because the cuts are permanent while the tax could fail.

My favorite line from her resignation letter is quoting all of the wonderful successes of the session. including "solid Republican" bills. Tell me Senator, would those bills have had a chance with a Democrat Governor or Minority Republican status in either house? Don't think so.

No word yet on Governor Brewer's reaction to the change. The Senate is still meeting today but with Senator Chuck Gray on a cruise I don't think they have the votes. Gee, I wish my boss would let me skip out on work for a week.

E.J. Montini from the Republic had this to say. I'm sure he's probably off Gorman's Christmas Card list but then probably wasn't on there to start with.

Round of Applause for holding out this long

I tip my hat to Tom Manos, the now former Deputy Chief of Staff for Finance.  Effective today he is retiring for the administration.  I can't say I blame him and bravo for staying on the extra month.  When it was clear there is still a lot of work to do on the budget I think he figured now was the best time.  I saw him give a presentation and he certainly knew his stuff.  

Eileen Klein will be taking his place and I have heard nothing but good things about her.  Hopefully they'll be done with this budget and can start focusing on fixing the issues that will certainly pop up in the '10 budget and the tsunami which is the '11 budget.  I'm sure Manos is going to really enjoy his first weekend in a long long time.

Press Release Here.

Re-post stories???

So I'm wondering if I should just repost stories from the beginning of the month.  Although it was a closer call last night then on the 30th, the House got their business done, approving the budget, special election and of the other tax cuts but the Senate was held up by a member or two.  It sounds like Gorman is the final dissenting no vote with Gould being a staunch no vote from the get go (Not Ron Gould by the way has had some zingers). 

It really is amazing that more cuts than tax revenue isn't enough for the ideologues.  With the cuts being a sure thing and the temporary tax increase, in their eyes, a sure to fail proposal; what is to gain here?  

So it looks like next Tuesday is the day.  The Dems meanwhile have their talking points and are sticking to them.  Even Terry Goddard has chimed in after being silent through the entire process.  While I don't blame them for saying the things they are, their proposals have been unrealistic and too far to the left to be considered viable options.  Some would say true leaders (even when in minority positions) come up with good ideas that actually have a chance to be implemented.  Every proposal I saw from them was just too far out in left field to even be considered.  

Republic has coverage of last night here.

News Conference

A news conference has been called for 4:00 PM and it includes the
Governor, Speaker Adams, and Senator Burns.
Details have leaked out but seem to change by the minute. The latest
is a temporary tax over three years of 1%, 1%, .5%.
We'll post all the giving and taking with the final proposal when it's
announced.

Budgets and Polls and Judges Oh My!

Busy day today so I'll try and wrap it up with the big stuff.  Basically, it can be summed up that this week is a big one for the Governor.  

A deal must be reached by  Friday for a special November election on a temporary sales tax.  Rumor has it the votes are there and they are just fine tuning the details and working out the last bit of negotiation.  If the far right conservatives are smart, they'll negotiate spending freezes or other permanent measures in exchange for a temporary tax.  Who knows how much longer they'll be in the majority so you might as well get what you can now.

A new poll by the national polling firm Rasmussen is out today.  This is hot on the heals from the Realtor's sponsored poll showing wide support for the temporary tax.  The Rasmussen Poll has a couple of keys questions in it I'm sure the Governor and every Legislator has looked at.  First, the sales tax question came out 57% Yes, 38%, No 5% Not Sure.  Close to the numbers we've been hearing in the first 3 or 4 polls.  Other  questions were job approval by the Gov- 48% approval.  Brewers handling of the budget crisis- 76% Fair or better.  Legislature's handing of the budget crisis- only 55% fair or better.  So tell me again, with all of this cover why are some legislators still so intent on fighting it?  Principles isn't an answer either- remember, these 90 people are politicians.  

Finally, Brewer announced today that Arizona Court of Appeals Judge John Pelander will be the newest Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court.  He's a Tucson attorney and judge first appointed to the AZ Court of Appeals by Governor Fife Symington.

What ever happened to Napolitano's PAC?

Back in 2007, then-Governor Janet Napolitano opened her Competitive Edge PAC with a great deal of fanfare and speculation that it was a precursor to a run for Senate. Two years later, the PAC goes out with a wimper, shutting down in May of this year. You can check out the complete financial disclosure right here.

There are a lot of interesting tidbits within the reports, including the fact that it appears that the PAC was never really able to raise more than $300,0000. Not quite the powerhouse PAC that was predicted at the launch. We're sure more research would reveal even more tidbits, but the final disbursements is what really caught our eye. The PAC itself held on to nearly $170,000 until the end, spending very little comparitively during the 2008 Election Cycle.

In the termination report, this is how they spent their final money:

The Arizona Democratic Party - $5000
Harry Mitchell for Congress - $10,000
Pastor for Arizona - $10,000
Giffords for Congress - $10,000
A Whole Lot of People for Grijalva - $10,000
Kirkpatrick for Arizona - $10,000

The committee has 3 main consultants on the payroll, who received money not only in the termination statement, but throughout its time in operation. Here is just what they received in the final report:

The Copperstate Group received $15,000. Not to be confused with Stan Barnes and the Copperstate Consulting Group, this Arizona/DC based consulting group received the bulk of the consulting fees from the PAC during its operation. The business is run by another in Napolitano's orbit, Michael Frias, who is the former campaign director for the Arizona Democratic Party.

CommonCentsConsulting, LLC received $3,000. This group is run by democratic operatives Darryl Tattrie and Richard Luckhard-Tattrie who have made thousands of dollars in donations to Democratic causes over the past few years.

Rankin Consulting, LLC received $2,000. Devin Rankin is the former deputy finance director and current development director for the Arizona Democratic party. Also, Rankin also worked for Bob Lord for Congress and finance consultant for the PAC during the same exact period of time. Was Rankin being paid by the PAC to help Lord?

The Committee disbursed its final $87,000 to AERO an economic development group founded and operated by Napolitano's friends and former employees. The group is also managed by Sal Rivera who helped launch the PAC in the first place.

In the end, it appears that the Competive Edge PAC was little more than a short lived slush fund for Napolitano to reward her friends and bankroll Democrat loyalists.

How many is this now?

So maybe that whole hubbub about a tax actually passing is really why they're so against it.  I'll say this, with each new poll that comes out it's kind of hard to dispute that it's probably what the voters want.  This is at least the third poll released (rumors have it there are polls conducted by other uber-conservative groups that have been buried for obvious reasons) that shows overwhelming support for a temporary sales tax.  

I still haven't gotten a real good reason why the people of Arizona can't possibly have the opportunity to weigh in one way or another on this issue.  Lets vote already and move on.  

Republic Coverage Here.

We're in the money, we're in the money!!

Oh wait...we're still a few billion short to balance the budget?
Dang! Well, I guess we can't complain too much since it's a TON of
free money (I know, it's really our money...okay our grandkids' money).

The state received $61 Million from the feds earlier than we
expected. The governor will use the money for education, healthcare,
public safety and economic development. The money is to be used at
the discretion of the governor and I'd sure love to have $61 mil in my
bank account!

Brewer applies for H1N1 Grant Funds

Governor Brewer today submitted an application to the Federal
Government for $7 million in grant funds with the goal of being better
prepared for flu season this year. The Swine Flu news has died down
compared to its height, but it is still considered a major problem
likely to pop up again in force soon. The application appears to be
in conjunction with indian tribes throughout the state.

While not on par with a Katrina like disaster since it's a worldwide
issue, not being prepared when flu season kicks off could be a big no
no so it's good the office is taking steps.