Arizona takes huge steps backward, throwback to the dark days of Mecham. (Phoenix: transplants, insurance)

[Java Jolt]

After excessive delays the state finally passes a budget and oh what a budget it is.

Kidscare has been permanently canceled, full-time kindergarten is virtually a memory, and 310,000 poorer adults will no longer be getting healthcare under AHCCCS.

Most of the state parks and rest areas are closing but they might as well, there's no money allowed in the budget for improving the highways to drive to them.

At the same time plenty of money continues to be available for Nickelbag Joe Arpaio's immigration sweeps.

Funny how our brilliant legislature can find ways of keeping their pet projects while cutting vital services for the public, but they didn't volunteer to cut their benefits or reduce their salaries. That alone would have cut a lot of fat from the budget.

On the sidelines they can sure find enough time and money to pass laws restricting adoption preferences to married couples, allowing guns in bars, and chipping away at abortion access.

People and businesses are not wanting to move to Arizona or visit the state as much because of so many services being cut, the speed radar cameras are also hampering visitors and newcomers.

As much as some of you people grumble about them, visitors and new transplants contribute a great deal to the state's economy. Growth and tourism are key economic indicators in this state.

In many respects this is kind of a throwback to when Mecham was the governor and embarrassed the state so much that people and businesses were not coming as much, and some were even moving out.

I wasn't in Arizona when Mecham was in power but I remember very clearly all the backlash that happened from his reign.

Mecham is long gone but Arizona is now facing a similar backlash from the rest of the country as well as within the state because of the actions of these ultraconservative clowns who call themselves legislators.

Thank goodness there are primaries and elections coming up, I feel confident we will have some positive change in November because most Arizonans I have met do not have the same mindset as the knuckleheads who presently run the state.

[las vegas drunk]

Very well said. Arizona is so corrupt it is not even funny. My best friend has just informed me that his warden now has been given a brand new company car. Of course, they can not cut that from the budget.

[ArizonaBear]

Perhaps if more illegal aliens were kicked out of Arizona; there would be more $$$ available for Americans.

[MotleyCrew]

Agree with the issue of illegals draining the funds.

[cap1717]

the "topic" was local government corruption, not money!

[canudigit]

To the OP, do you really think that the speed radar cameras are actually hampering visitors and newcomers? Wow. When we first visited Phoenix and later lived in the area, I was THRILLED with the speed cameras! Phoenix was like the one really large city where I felt like I could drive the speed limit or slightly over and not get blown off the road by angry, finger-flashing nutcases driving 85+ mph! I'm not a little old lady, I am a woman in my mid-40s who likes to feel safe on the road. If anything, I think that the speed cameras are an asset.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

Perhaps if more illegal aliens were kicked out of Arizona; there would be more $$$ available for Americans.

Most of the services being axed will hurt legal Arizona citizens, illegals will still find a way to milk the system no matter how many times we punish them or send them back where they came from.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by canudigit

To the OP, do you really think that the speed radar cameras are actually hampering visitors and newcomers? Wow. When we first visited Phoenix and later lived in the area, I was THRILLED with the speed cameras! Phoenix was like the one really large city where I felt like I could drive the speed limit or slightly over and not get blown off the road by angry, finger-flashing nutcases driving 85+ mph! I'm not a little old lady, I am a woman in my mid-40s who likes to feel safe on the road. If anything, I think that the speed cameras are an asset.

I read there is very little revenue given to the state from the camera tickets, many tickets are going unpaid and there is little being done about it.

Many motorists have become clever to the camera locations lately, they purposely slow down to the speed limit or less when they approach the cameras, and usually resume their fast speed when they are out of range. They still get away with speeding but avoid getting ticketed unless a police officer catches them in time.

Funding for police officers is being cut and slashed anyway so how can they enforce the speed limit laws effectively?

I don't condone speeding but the smile-for-the-camera program is no asset, surely not much of a deterrent.

[ji603]

No problem with it! We have to cut the spending to match what's in the piggybank. We could pay for such niceties if our tax rates matched Euro-zones but they don't, and Americans as a whole aren't willing to foot the bill for such a level of gov't spending.

It's not the government's responsibility to provide all day kindercare for peoples' rugrats. Don't have kids if you can't afford to feed, clothe, educate, or babysit them. If you need help, that's what charities and churches are for. Don't take it out of everyone's pocket in the form of tax money which is then redistributed via school lunch programs, WIC, daycare, etc. etc. ad nauseum.

On your other point, neither is it a 'right' to have the govt send you a free ACCHS card. Same principle applies. We're not a socialist country just yet, and if those are benefits and entitlements you'd like to receive (and pay for) then move to a European country with a tax rate of >40%.

I'm all for Sheriff Joe's sweeps... illegals have no right to be here, and their very presence detracts from Americans' quality of life ... even down to such as minor levels as decreased police and fire availability, increased traffic congestion, larger than they would otherwise be auto insurance premiums....

Nevermind the fact that they riddle the public housing projects, schools, and prisons - but there's already a forum for that topic.

[123.DieselBenz]

/\ +1 . . . What they said!