Even though Arizona legislators have made it very clear that he does not have the votes to pass a budget, Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers has summoned them to return to the Capitol on Monday. Bowers, a Republican, plans to force a vote in what many believe is an attempt to punish his opponents in the caucus.
Aside from factions within the Republican Caucus being far apart on the budget, lawmakers have been very clear and unanimous in their demand position that they will not approve any budget unless and until all of the bills vetoed by Governor Doug Ducey last week in a fit of pique are revived.
Currently, conservatives oppose the budget due to its high spending level. One Republican, Rep. David Cook, opposes the tax cuts in the budget.
Cook said in a statement Friday. “I am hopeful that changes can be made to address my concerns including the negative impact to cities and towns, ongoing debt, unfunded pension liabilities, capitol improvement needs and investment in water infrastructure for the future expected Arizona growth.”
Bowers, who is hanging on to his leadership position by a thread, was blasted by Rep. Judy Burgess in an email blast:
The state’s twelve-billion-dollar pork-laden budget was rolled out last week, and surprise to no one, House members refused to push the green button without time to evaluate expenditures. A budget created in secrecy behind closed doors. Leadership felt sine die taunting them just outside the grasp of fingertips while the fate of Arizona and the rest of the nation lusted for answers as they started to fade into memories of 2020 when the governor refused to call a special session of the legislature to look into serious charges of voter fraud. Dismay was resoundingly expressed toward the highest elected official in the State of Arizona who balked like a jackass when faced with the necessity of taking the reins and being a real leader. Denial, dodging, dancing, and lots of verbal dung emanated from the 9th floor when Fauci’s Covid-19 struck early in 2020, but still no real leadership. Open borders, overwhelmed law enforcement, over-run welfare and healthcare systems, overtaxed economy all-the-while our country is drowning in debt and our government digs the hole deeper, but still no leadership from a Governor who didn’t hesitate to tout his business experience as an ice cream salesman.
The 2020 election promised four more years of America First, then something terrible happened and that hope became a faint promise as days pasted. The left has always bemoaned, mocked, and boastfully claimed only a fool’s folly could believe in fraud. Yet was it not their fearless leader that boldly proclaimed it would be so before the world. The notorious fickle finger of fate has again set the spirit of American freedom stirring in our soul with reminders of Reagan’s warning- we are one election away from socialism. My friends please recognize that individuals do exist in politics that are honorable, want the truth at all cost and walk amongst us unnoticed. These individuals are true statesmen. They are few and far between those who place resume building and higher office-leaping above serving those who took a chance and gave them the honor to serve a state and people these political salesman proclaim they care about, even love.
Our State Legislature is about to tip socialist if WE THE PEOPLE do not rise up and say, “NO!” Already socialist Democrats and very liberal Republicans are maneuvering for an office that will begin their march upward without looking back as to who placed them into office, and what oath did they sincerely take? The legislative concerns I mentioned above are real and not being addressed.Transformational issues attacking our American values, heritage, family dignity, even our founding principles are under direct assault, but we have few in elected office who will bravely come forward and push back. I want to encourage you to rise up and say, “NO” to those who give slick slogans but not careful answers to the problems I have briefly mentioned. I would like to encourage you to stand and say, “NO” to those who talk a good game but can’t come forward and clearly state their own principles, and then go a step further and share for all to examine what evidence do they have to support those principles?
Our Ship of State has hit an iceberg, and we are taking on water. If we do not begin taking charge of the various threats facing us, we will sink! As a member of the Legislative Liberty Caucus, I and nine of my legislative colleagues have chosen to stand together demanding answers from the Speaker of the House who has betrayed his own fellow Republican members, and from a Governor who has darn near betrayed our state. Thank you for standing with me, as I stand for you.
The Hon. Judy Burges
State Representative – LD #1
One capitol insider questioned how taxpayers “will receive the news that Rusty is using their hard earned dollars in this exercise in futility.”
Senate President Karen Fann will not call the senators back to work until there appears to be a budget deal that can get enough votes to pass.