Subject: State Budgets

• Dean Martin's war on Hispanic students...

  September 13, 2007

• Laurie Roberts, still the Queen of Mean; the devilish Dean Martin; and more on Virginia Gutierrez.

  September 15, 2007

• Dean Martin, State Treasurer, Takes Position Against State in Lawsuit by Cities

  State Treasurer Dean Martin (at left) is named in a lawsuit against the state by a group of Arizona municipalities who don't want to pay millions of dollars in new fees. And Martin hopes he and the state will lose. The treasurer sent a letter today (reprinted below) to state Solicitor General Mary O'Grady , who serves as attorney for the treasurer, asking her to "file a brief in this case that is in agreement with the charges filed by the plaintiffs..."

  November 24, 2008

• Janet Napolitano Sends E-mail to Democrats Announcing Acceptance of Cabinet Post Offer

  Janet Napolitano says in an e-mailed letter to Democratic supporters today that she will submit a balanced budget proposal for the state's fiscal year 2010 and keep working for Arizonans if she is confirmed as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The full text of her e-mail follows:

  December 1, 2008

• New Year's Financial Resolutions a Good Idea for State Residents and Government, Says Treasurer

  State Treasurer Dean Martin just put out a helpful list of New Year's resolutions that anyone could use to keep their finances in check -- especially state lawmakers. State budget watchdogs like Martin and others have been sounding the alarm, but outgoing Governor Janet Napolitano and a fiscally irresponsible state Legislature have allowed government spending to grow way out of control. Sure, all those social programs are wonderful -- and there's no lack of needs out there&n

  December 30, 2008

• Bob Burns, New Senate President, Vows No Bills to Committee Before a Balanced Budget

    We were scared even before lunch. The state's economy's in freefall, and, as she heads to Washington, D.C. in hopes of becoming the nation's Homeland Security honcho, Governor Janet Napolitano leaves behind a giant budget deficit. But after attending the annual Legislative Forecast Luncheon hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we've gotta admit: We're terrified! The state's newly elected legislative leaders -- Senate President Bob Burns (pictured),

  January 8, 2009

• Hot Links: Arizona Senators Differ on Approval of TARP Funds; Phoenix Police Say Girl Forced to Eat Off Floor; State Employee Unionization Upgrade Halted

  Senatorial differences: John McCain opposes giving bailout funds to the guy who stomped him in the presidential election. But Jon Kyl, who holds no such bias, says it's "too risky" to hold back on the funds. Another shocking case of child abuse: Police say a Valley couple forced their 9-year-old daughter to eat off of the floor. Janet Napolitano's push to make it easier for state employees to unionize has gone nowhere so far. They're doing it for the children: Republican lawmakers ham

  January 16, 2009

• Terry Goddard, State Attorney General, Says Proposed Budget Will "Endangers... Every Arizonan"

  Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard says the state's proposed budget will force him to lay off half of his criminal division staff and "endangers the future of every Arizonan." These strong words come from a news release just put out by Goddard in response to the proposed budget hammered out by state lawmakers and Governor Jan Brewer. Without further ado, here's Goddard's message: Proposed Budget Endangers Future of Every Arizonan (Phoenix, Ariz. - Jan. 29, 2009) Attorney General Terry

  January 29, 2009

• Cities and Towns Win Lawsuit to Block State From Taking Extra Money

  The Arizona Supreme Court today ruled that the state cannot collect an additional $30 million from cities and towns to help balance the budget. Back in November, it appeared the lawsuit against the state by the League of Arizona Towns and Cities was on firm footing when we wrote about how Dean Martin, the state treasurer, hoped the League would win. Martin figured the case would hinge on the legislature's failure to get a two-thirds majority of lawamkers to approve the collection of fu

  February 3, 2009

• DUI Task Force to Cover Areas With All-Star Game Events This Weekend

  Don't be like Sir Charles: If you get an offer for oral sex while drunk this weekend at NBA All-Star Game festivities, leave the driving to someone else.With parties and NBA-theme events erupting all over town, starting tonight, cops from Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe and the Department of Public Safety plan to blanket hotspots in Scottsdale, Phoenix and other areas from a base in Tempe.If the thought of hurting an innocent person doesn't faze you, don't forget that Arizona has among the stiffe

  February 12, 2009

• State Treasurer Dean Martin Says Arizona Refund Checks Will Spend Just Fine

  California nearly faced a revolt last month when officials announced that state tax filers would get IOUs instead of refunds.Arizona residents, however, can expect to receive state refund checks that banks will cash, says State Treasurer Dean Martin. Click here to read an MS Word version of Martin's news release.Like any good politician, Martin doesn't hesitate to pat himself and his buddies on the back, (even though we don't have the checks in hand quite yet):

  February 17, 2009

• Arizona Senator Jack Harper's Commentary in Arizona Capitol Times Draws Flak

  Jack Harper: Feel the love.Republican state Senator Jack Harper of Surprise really let it rip in a recent commentary for the Arizona Capitol Times, and some of his comments are under fire from the blogosphere.The commentary, published on the Cap Times' "Capitol Voices" page on March 6, 2009, is about 1,500 words long, and starts out with warm fuzzies about "thank you for the great honor of serving you in the state Legislature," and goes on to discuss Arizona's handling of the state bu

  March 11, 2009

• The "T" Word

  State leaders can't stomach the truth -- Arizonans need to be taxed more, and right away!

  January 30, 2003