Patterson: Delay won't help state's tough budget choices

Observers of Arizona's political scene must feel like they're stuck in reruns. Once again this year, the governor and Legislature produced a budget that was long on spending and short on common sense. Again, the budget is crumbling early in the year, with total revenue shortfalls estimated at $1 billion or more. And in a dreary repeat of previous performances, the governor is stonewalling attempts to revise the budget now, when spending cuts can be made with the least impact on state agency planning for the remainder of the year.

Sen. Bob Burns, R-Peoria, and Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, chairman of the Legislature's two appropriations committees, are concerned enough to publicly request that the governor call a special session for the budget. That's ironic since only three months ago it was the governor and legislative Democrats who were doing a victory dance for "their" budget, which they now don't seem to feel much responsibility for. (Okay, there were eight Republican enablers in the deal, but the only two who faced primary opposition were handed pink slips by the voters).

The governor never refuses to call a special session; it just doesn't happen. The problem, as she knows, is that cuts to the present year budget become less feasible as time goes on and more money has gone out the door. If she can hold out a while longer, there won't be much alternative to her usual irresponsible fixes - more accounting gimmicks, stealing from dedicated funds and adding to debt to make it through the year.

So the governor, feigning concern over their political well being, wouldn't want to bother legislators while they're "distracted" by their campaigns. She feels it better if they just "get together a week or so after the election," when she will "listen to what legislative leaders have to offer," as the Arizona Capitol Times reported.

Realistically, few legislators face serious opposition. Moreover, an incumbent forced to temporarily forgo campaigning to attend to urgent affairs of state, as did the U.S. Congress recently, suffers little political downside.

The governor also claims that more information is necessary to resolve the budgetary inadequacies, citing the 40-day student count in the public schools. But that occurred Oct. 1, hardly a reason to delay budget talks until November or later.

But wait, there are even more reasons to hold off. The governor believes that in "January or February," Congress may pass another bailout - this one for the states. It's not clear where she gets the heads-up on what a Congress yet to be elected will do. Even if she's right about a bailout, there's no need to worry about cutting more than is necessary. Next year's budget deficit is projected to be even greater than the present one.

Other problems with the budget are also popping up. Farm groups have challenged the $160,000 taken from the councils they funded to promote the grains, citrus and iceberg lettuce they produce. If they are successful, professional licensing boards may follow suit. Mandated but self-funded boards, such as doctors or cosmeticians, should be able to use account balances to reduce licensing fees. They shouldn't have to worry that the state will arbitrarily appropriate their operating funds, thus imposing a "special tax" on their professions.

Meanwhile, lottery revenues are down, necessitating a review of the massive university construction program that was to be funded from souped-up games and marketing. And the League of Cities and Towns is not only bridling at a mandate requiring municipalities to refund $30 million to the General Fund, they are considering legal action, too. "We're not going to take less" than the status quo, threatened Ken Strobeck, the league's executive director.

In spite of the worsening crisis, the governor remains unperturbed. From her perspective, it's an advantage to choose, after the election, whether to deal with the present Legislature or wait until the new group. She may well be offered a position in a Barack Obama administration, if there is one, thus giving her the additional option of just walking away from this mess she has created.

Delay may work for the governor, but for the rest of us it only makes a bad situation worse. We desperately need responsible leadership, and we need it now.

East Valley resident Tom Patterson (pattersontomc@cox.net) is a retired emergency room physician and formerstate senator.