Democratic Party response to Gov. Doug Ducey's budget and spending plans for Arizona this year was swift and critical.
State Rep. Eric Meyer, D-Paradise Valley.Hours after the Republican Ducey delivered his first State of the State speech to a joint legislative session in Phoenix, Democratic legislative leaders said at a press conference that his economic recovery plan falls short of what the state needs.
"Nothing Gov. Ducey said indicates that he is pushing for real reform," House Minority Leader Eric Meyer said in a statement. "Instead, he seems to be championing the same failed policies that have stunted our state's economic recovery."
Senate Minority leader Katie Hobbs echoed Meyer, saying in a statement that if Ducey wants long-term sustainability and a balanced budget he should "take a serious look at corporate tax cuts and loopholes to make sure Arizona taxpayers are getting a return on those investments."
In his speech, Ducey rejected the idea of delaying or abandoning a series of business tax cuts worth hundreds of millions of dollars and scheduled to begin this year. Instead, he said, the path to economic growth is less government spending, elimination of many regulations on business and low taxes to attract businesses to the state.
State Sen. Katie Hobbs, D-Phoenix.
But Meyer and Hobbs said they feared spending cuts will hit public education yet again. They pointed out that the Legislature cut $3 billion or more from public education at the height of the recession and has yet to restore it.
"Gov. Ducey is talking about trimming government," Meyer's statement said. "In Arizona, when Republicans say they are trimming government, it means they are cutting back on teachers. ... These cuts have contributed to Arizona having some of the largest class sizes in the country. We cannot rebuild on that foundation."
Hobbs called out Ducey on his campaign run as a businessman who would bring that experience to state government.
"This is his chance to show it," she said. "When he releases his budget on Friday, we hope to see that he has made the wise decision to see our public schools, our transportation infrastructure, our vulnerable children and the health care of our people as priorities. We’re certain that if he does, we will all see a priceless return on the investment.”
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