Commentary:
A vote yesterday decided to reduce budgets another 7.5% and with that reduction comes the sad news that Arizona State Parks will have absolutely no operating funds. It will force the closure of parks and the layoffs of additional personnel. The legislature has stated that someone has to make the tough decisions. That decision will be on the Governor's desk in the morning. Let's see if she uses her line item veto to keep State Parks alive.
Arizona has allowed many exceptions to private business to draw them to Arizona. Their tax cost and revenue generation to the state is minimal, but it does create some jobs and income tax. Peoples taxes over 50 years have paid for the development of Arizona State Parks and the legislature is willing to give that away in a heartbeat, yet they didn't want to send a tax referendum to the ballot in an effort to balance the budget and make sure that fifty plus years of work didn't get eliminated from our future. The legislature is cutting programs left and right and many people and organizations within the state are suffering because of this decision. The Democrats tried to stop the Republicans but to no avail. It has come down to not what's important to the people, but what is important to the party.
When I went to work for the Arizona Highway Patrol in 1975, I registered as an Independent voter and the State told me that I couldn't do that. They told me that the independent party included communists and that I could not join that party. I reluctantly registered as a Republican (conservative) and I was good to go. Personally, I like to vote for someone that I think will do a good job for the people. I didn't want to vote for someone that considers the party before their constituents. On a state level, the politician is only concerned with his precinct whereas on a federal level, they are only concerned about their own local state interests, not national interest. Very few consider the better good for the state or the country.
We put term limits on the President's office and it is time to place these same term limits on the legislatures and courts. How much good have they really done and do they really care.
We need people in office that truly care about the people and their needs, not lobbyists and the legislatures personal needs.
Let's see what the Governor does on Monday. Will she try to save State Parks or will she worry about her political future. Your tax money payed for Arizona State Parks and losing them is much worse than being asked to pay a tax to retain them.
I hope you are happy that the Republican Party pushed through the cuts in Arizona and that the Democratic Party pushed through the Health Care package in Washington D.C. Oh, by the way, there are also over 4,000 add ons to that bill that don't pertain to healthcare. The President got a Nobel Peace Prize and is continuing to deploy troops in a war overseas. Even if he gives the prize to charity was it right for him to accept it?
Think about this and let me know if you really are having a happy holiday season.
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