One sentence stood out----"The only solution to a spending problem is to spend less."
As for the Oro Valley Council, it's too bad that only Salette Latas, Bill Garner & Barry Gillaspie seem to understand that credo.
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The Goldwater Institute Daily
June 16,2009
State Should Spend Less On Taxes
By Tom Patterson Fiscal conservatives in Arizona are in shock. After six years of watching Gov. Janet Napolitano's fiscal mismanagement drive our state to the brink of disaster, there was hope for relief earlier this year.
Our new governor, the conservative Jan Brewer, would have the courage and good sense to set us back on course to recovery.It hasn't worked out that way. Right out of the box, she opined that she might possibly consider a tax increase to balance the budget if all other options had been exhausted. When politicians talk like that, it usually means hold on to your wallet, and this time was no exception.
Soon after, she included a non-specified $1 billion tax hike in her budget reform proposal. "Maturing" rapidly, in the eyes of the mainstream local press, she then threatened a veto for any budget that didn't include new taxes. Now her supporters, with her approval, have threatened a $225,000 media campaign against fellow Republicans who refuse to inflict more taxes on Arizonans during a recession.
Arizona lost 170,000 jobs from February 2008 to February 2009, the second-highest job loss in the nation. During that same time period, government added 4,500 net jobs. With families and businesses across the state cutting back and coping the best they can, sending more of our resources to the growing government sector is just nuts.
Admittedly, Brewer is in a tough spot trying to remediate the consequences of Napolitano's reckless spending. But her budget proposal doesn't do anything to solve our predicament. Under her plan, state revenues, currently in free-fall, would have to grow 40 percent in two years to have a balanced budget, after the temporary tax and stimulus funds were depleted. That's not going to happen.
The only solution to a spending problem is to spend less. That's not pleasant, but the alternative is worse. Principled, responsible leadership is more than kicking the can down the road. Just ask California.
Tom Patterson is chairman of the Goldwater Institute and a former state senator.
2 comments:
What is wrong with these politicans???Both parties blame the previous party in power for the financial mess we are in yet both parties want to continue the same spend spend spend policies.
In the last week I have talked to some local people who told me of their spouses getting laid off, taking salary decreases and shorter work weeks because of the economy. So what do the national and state politicians want to do??, Well they want to raise taxes and increase spending. Yup that will work wonders.
Even if you are have not been directly impacted yet, I notice that some business seem to be making up for the lack of business by raising the prices on exisitng customers. Be careful in dealing with some in the business community. We recently were told we need a new xxxx for our house. So had another comnpany in for a second opinion and found out the first company just lied to us. Look for more of tis type of "service" unless the economy improves.
Well off to go buy one of those money trees for my yard to keep the cash cow company :))
Common sense tells most people that when there is decrease income there is the necessity to decrease spending. Governments, including our local one, seems to not get it. They see it as a time to spend more, screwing (for lack of a better term) its citizens. It is happening locally, on the state level and nationally.
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