Statement by Governor Jan Brewer

Statement

Statement by Governor Jan Brewer

"I want to thank the leadership and members of the Arizona Legislature for their hard work and diligence in promptly addressing one of the most difficult budget challenges in the history of the State of Arizona. They have answered the call, and they have done the people's business.

"Make no mistake - the seeds of this significant budget crisis have been sown for many years, and thus the solutions are neither easy nor painless. In just over 5 years, spending in the state budget increased from
approximately $6 billion to $10 billion. Last year, with most economic indicators suggesting significant economic downturn, a new state budget was built on the false hope of increasing state revenues. More shockingly, new discretionary spending was approved without realistic funding and the state's rainy day fund was drained. This insatiable appetite for spending has left us with enormous challenges and few options.

"This is not a Republican or Democrat problem, it is a problem that all of us must confront with vigor and regardless of partisan affiliation. Additional fixes are very likely to be required for the fiscal year 2009 budget, and even more difficult decisions remain as we confront the realities of a $3.4 billion deficit for fiscal year 2010.

"We will be back working very hard next week to confront the adversity and to place our great State of Arizona back on the path to prosperity."

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