Opinion

Now Republicans must govern

Dec 31, 2010

360

On Nov. 2 the ballots were cast; the votes were counted and the results are in. The Republicans won clear majorities in the state House and Senate as well as the governorship and other state offices. Now the Republicans must do something that they have failed to do for the past 40 years — govern.

You see for the past 40 years they have controlled the Arizona Legislature. In that position, they have been required by the state constitution to pass a balanced budget — something they failed to do over the past two years. In fact, it would be even longer if previous governors had not used the veto pen to get a balanced budget.

Now Republicans must dig Arizona out of the fiscal mess that they are mainly responsible for. However, given some of the rumbles we are hearing from their leadership it sounds like they going dig us deeper into debt.

The Republican legislature, with concurrence of the Republican governor, closed state parks, cut off funding for low income healthcare, closed highway rest areas and took away funding for numerous other programs that mainly effect low- and middle-income citizens of Arizona. Nothing has been done to secure more jobs in the state, even though it is clear that Arizona cannot rely on just the housing and tourist industries for employment.

In past sessions, Republicans have pushed more and more costs off onto cities and counties. Because of that practice, these entities are already strapped to the degree that our public safety and infrastructure are not just suffering, but may in fact put citizens of Arizona in imminent danger. Cities are laying off police officers and firefighters, closing parks and cutting back on essential services.

State government must stop the practice of forcing cities and counties to pick up the costs for their inability to do the job they were elected to do: Govern.

Yes, Republicans won clear majorities across Arizona. With that win comes responsibility. That is something that they have shunned for the past four decades.

Our education system is in serious trouble. Class sizes are ballooning, teachers are being cut, dropout rates are climbing and nothing has been done to curb any of it.

We continue to hear about proposals to increase border security and to chase down illegal immigrants. With Republicans in total control one would think that rather than spend Arizona tax dollars on what is clearly a federal responsibility they would be working with our congressional delegation, where Republicans have a majority, to have them secure our borders as they are required to do. Arizona’s tax dollars should be spent on our needs, not doing what the federal government is required to do.

I am clearly a partisan, but the election is over and now it is time to govern and tend to the state’s needs. All elected officials must be a part of solving Arizona’s problems. Balancing the budget, caring for our cities and counties, improving our crumbling educational institutions and creating jobs should not be partisan issues.

Getting Arizona’s house in good order takes input from everyone, Republicans and Democrats should be involved in crafting solutions to our pressing needs.

Good legislation comes from working with all parties and on some if not most occasions

making the necessary compromises to have our state move forward and start to

solve our many problems. We cannot wait another four decades to get the job done. The time is here for those elected to take responsibility and move Arizona forward.

Joe Robison is chairman of the Pinal County Democratic Party.

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