When I speak to groups they seem surprised to discover that Janet Napolitano wants to spend our state right back into a significant deficit. Here is the analyis from the Goldwater Institute:
Governor Napolitano’s ‘07 budget calls for $10 billion in General Fund spending. That’s a 23 percent increase over 2006, almost four times faster than population and inflation growth, and three times faster than personal income growth. At this growth rate, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee projects a $375 million budget shortfall next year, growing to $755 million in 2008 and $832 million in 2009.
Janet knows she can rely on the legislature to ignore her irresponsible spending proposals. Then she’ll criticize them for lacking compassion and being insufficiently committed to children. And then she’ll take credit for the surplus they’ve created. It certainly has worked for her so far.