Over the weekend Arizona state lawmakers approved a budget for fiscal year 2010. Governor Jan Brewer said that these are, "the worst financial days ever." Arizona still faces a $1.5 billion dollar deficit this year, and a projected $3.4 billion dollar shortfall next fiscal year. The bill contained $193 million in funding cuts to reduce state services and state salaries. "We face a state fiscal crisis of unparalleled dimension, one that is going to sweep over every single person in this room, as well as every business, every family, every Arizonan," Brewer said.
Still more significant budget-cut plans are under way or being considered: 5 percent pay cuts for state workers and assessing surcharges for mental-health care in the state's public-health system. Brewer also says Arizona could make up millions by taking non-violent illegal immigrants out of state prisons and turning them over to ICE for deportation. "the cost of imprisoning illegals should be a federal burden, not the state's responsibility", said Brewer.
The Governor has ordered Corrections Director Charles Ryan to return non-violent illegal immigrants in the state's prison system to federal custody. Ryan acknowledged the state already has a policy to release these inmates for deportation when they have served half of their sentence. But, he added, "we're going to take a much more thorough review" of the process. Arizona prisons house 6,200 criminal illegal immigrants, Ryan said. Arizona State Representative Linda Lopez says Arizona is so close to bankruptcy, we could follow in California's footsteps. April tax returns could come in the form of IOUs, instead of a check.
Video courtesy of KVOA News-Tucson
Comments
One of the most overlooked assets in Arizona -- and particularly the Southern part of the financially devastated state -- is utilizing the wealth of experience and talent of seniors. When labor costs are the most problematic to cut, why not create a "Senior Solutions" network of volunteer community consultants? Many seniors crave personal significance after retirement, so they would be eager to volunteer to help work on major problems facing this state. Seniors can utilize a lifetime of experience in problem-solving. Arizona should be among the leading states in this country developing this overlooked and often underutilized source of expertise. A senior talent bank would be the first step in mobilizing this sector to jump in and help solve many of this state's management and fiscal problems.
Good idea to have the Feds take the illegals but AZ should get a guarantee that they will be deported. If not, ICE may just let them go so they are free to return to AZ to commit more crimes. Our government must realize that states cannot pay to educate, incarcerate, provide welfare, food stamps and healthcare to illegals. We spend hundred of billions a year on illegals and it must stop. Please be sure you let your politicians know Americans cannot afford to take care of illegals and also to vote against the new amnesty bill they are going to try again. Time to enforce our laws and get rid of the illegals who leech off this country.
Arizona has Deported and starved away their hard working TAX BASE, as counted for nearly thirty years as Citizens by the U.S. Census Bureau to base the size of our Government services on!
These Good Hard Working Immigrants were and are a Vital part of our Strong Economy!
That Said:
Arizona must now Reduce the size of our Government Services (Across the Board!) to match our new smaller TAx BASE!
All States that did so are now in Total Economic Disaster!
Any body get it yet?
Karma.
(we reap what we sew.)
To: Good and Brotherhood from Sea to Shining Sea.
David, you are filled with myths and misinformation today, or is it everyday with you? 1)The "immigrants" are illegal aliens that by law must be deported, one more time dunce, ILLEGAL.
2) These hard workers perhaps, do not make enough money to be taxed, and often times its "cash" that goes unreported. 3) No, we do not need to reduce the size of government across the board, just the stupid "feel good" hand outs that you liberals have been creating to bankrupt the state, moron.
Arizona put a very seriously mentally ill woman in an outside prison cell when the temp was 144, without any water, and she was COOKED TO DEATH; they deserve to come crashing down!
i can't wait to celebrate arizona going down in flames!
may all you burn in bankrupt hell
all you rednecks, white trailer trash mf'rs, ignorant backwards braindead morons! i'm very glad i left AZ!
please, AZ, LEAVE THE UNION ALONG WITH TEX-ASS
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