Napolitano stresses priorities in final State of the State
Although Republican legislative leaders were uninterested, there were laudable guideposts in the final State of the State speech by Gov. Janet Napolitano.
It’s tempting to wonder why Gov. Janet Napolitano bothered to deliver her final State of the State speech.
Republicans, who control both houses of the Legislature, weren’t the slightest bit interested in hearing what the Democratic governor had to say. And Napolitano, probably in her final week as governor, already is focused on her upcoming challenge as secretary of Homeland Security in the Obama administration.
But there is a constitutional requirement for the governor to “communicate, by message, to the Legislature at every session the condition of the state” – which Napolitano did Monday.
Republicans made it clear – by word and deed – that they had no intention of paying any attention to her proposals.
That is unfortunate because the policy outlines she sketched are a worthy starting point for legislative discussion on how to cut more than $3.5 billion in spending in this year’s budget and next – something that must be done in the next 5 1/2 months.
Several Republicans dismissed Napolitano’s plans as rantings of a careless liberal who has spent the state into a hole of red ink. That is, of course, nonsense.
Legislators are in such a desperate position that they should be eager to accept budget-balancing ideas from everyone – even Napolitano.
For what it’s worth – virtually nothing in the view of legislative leaders – later this week Napolitano will release budget proposals for the current fiscal year and next, which begins July 1. But more important than her specific recommendations are the parameters Napolitano spelled out:
• The long-term future of Arizona children must not be harmed. “Protecting education is what I mean when I say we cannot sacrifice the long term for the sake of short-term expediency,” Napolitano said.
• Develop a statewide transportation plan. A hastily cobbled together plan failed to make it onto the budget last fall. “We will need roads, highways, rail and transit to support our growth,” Napolitano said.
• Services for the needy must be maintained and are needed now more than ever. Napolitano listed foreclosure assistance, health care and shelter from abuse, neglect and domestic violence as among the services that must be protected.
Napolitano reminded legislators that when she took office six years ago, the state faced a budget deficit “that many thought would sink our priorities for Arizona.”
“Since then – in surplus and in deficit – I have always presented you with a balanced budget plan that moves Arizona forward,” Napolitano said. “That’s an important lesson as we look at our situation today. We don’t have to go back. We do have to go forward.”
If legislators take nothing else from Napolitano’s final State of the State speech, they should take that message:
Don’t focus solely on what must be cut. Focus on what priorities must be preserved, and make cuts with that goal foremost in mind.
Napolitano stresses priorities in final State of the State