Reps. Jerry Weiers and Judy Burges provided key leadership
After calling a special session to deal with the state’s budget woes, Gov. Jan Brewer has signed a package of bills that cuts the state budget $1.6 billion. The bills erase the deficit via nearly $300 million in cuts to education, reductions in most state agencies and anticipated $500 million boost from the still-evolving federal stimulus package.
The 21st Century Fund, a three-year-old state program that provides grants to boost bioscience and technology has fallen by the wayside as lawmakers wiped out the program’s $22.5 million budget, in a move orchestrated by Rep. Sam Crump (R-Dist.6) and four freshman Republicans. They insisted the state should not favor one industry over another, and pushed to gut the program, a pet project of former Gov. Janet Napolitano and some business leaders.
Reps.Jerry Weiers (R-Dist12) and Judy Burges (R-Dist.4) also played key roles in providing senior leadership on this issue.
Their stance prolonged budget talks as proponents worked to save the program, including Gov. Jan Brewer, who called the four freshmen to her office for a discussion, according to a report in the daily.
Crump said the state’s budget crisis made the move all the more urgent.
“I don’t want to say, “Yeah, we took $120 million out of K-12 education and gave $22 million to the 21st Century Fund,” Crump said.
Great move Rep. Crump! Standing strong for fiscal responsibility first. Who are the mysterious 4 Freshman who stood with Rep. Crump? They deserve a big thank-you for starting their legislative careers by making the right, if not popular, call.
This “more conservative legislature” we elected is certainly living up to their promises. And Rep. Crump is proving to be a leader. No surprise there.
A big thank you to Reps. Crump, Burges, Jerry Weiers and team for cutting this corporate welfare program off at the knees. This is definitely not a program govt. should be funding in these dire economic times. Great work!
Sam Crump is willing to take the slings and arrows for making unpopular decisions. Here is a citizen legislator who “gets it.” The way the legislature has been burning the midnight oil these past few days, just think of all the good work Crump and team has been doing that we are not even aware of. Great work GOP team–enjoy Super Bowl Sunday and come back rested for more difficult decisions in the weeks ahead. You’re doing the peoples business the right way and we appreciate it.
Rep. Sam Crump is a man to watch. He is smart and a reliable conservative voice. The Republic is all too aware of his future potential and obviously wants to marginalize him by attributing the colloquial “Yeah” to his quote. The man is a practicing lawyer and speaks elequently.
Conservative freshmen with spine and showing clout!! Excellent news! I noticed the Republic didn’t list their names. Just as well for them for now. They were probably getting a barrage of pleas to cave. These people are heroes in my book!
The Republic probably doesn’t want to publicize them hoping to keep these fine freshmen under a rock. I think Seeing Red AZ should allow them a breather while they get the hang of what they’re sure to be up against.
Glad to see that we have state Reps such as Judy Burges, Sam Crump and Jerry Weiers to lead the way for the bold new freshmen legislators. Arizona voters did a fine job supporting and electing a GOP majority, including these conservatives in the state legislature and in our Republican party leadership with Randy Pullen and Rob Haney heading the state and dounty.
We can be proud that our hard work has paid off.
Good going, it looks like someone is finally looking out for us TAX PAYERS. Keep up the Good Work. Ruth Davis Sun City West
Congratulations to elected officials who are interested in all of the people of Arizona. Now it is time for those who have had cuts in their budgets to get to work and figure out where their waste is and what is most beneficial to all of their recipients and quit their whining.
Unreported is that Kirk Adams threatened Crump with the loss of his committee chairmanship and also tried to strong-arm a number of legislators, including at least five freshmen.
Murphy and McLain folded. Seel, Montenegro, Gowan, Antenori and Stevens held firm. Bravo to the five of them.
Murphy has folded so many times he is nearing the record. He has totally changed his colors since Nov. 5.
As to McLain, she has contributed more than anyone would have expected. She needs to be encouraged as we will need her support later on in the 2010 battle.
First of all, let’s correct John’s version of what was “unreported” and fill in the holes in his information.
John did correctly identify the five “principled” freshmen (the “Frosh Five”) involved in this ultimatum as Antenori, Gowan, Montenegro, Seel and Stevens. Crump and Jerry Weiers were the leaders, while Burges and Pratt were along for the ride for a while. He failed to mention that several members were supportive within reason, and happy about the increase in the initial cut, but unwilling to risk the budget deal. They were Barnes, Biggs, Boone, Hendrix, McClain, Murphy, Nichols, Quelland and Yarbrough. None of them folded; they just know how to pick their battles and gain incrementally so that ground isn’t accidentally lost in the process.
The high points of the sequence of events were as follows:
Wed afternoon/evening: Crump and Weiers are unhappy that the 21st Century Fund is only scheduled to be cut by $7.5 million, leaving $15-17 million in the fund. They begin identifying members willing to demand a complete defunding. Many members agree in principle, and help advocate for a larger cut, but have concerns about taking an “absolute” stance in the face of possibly losing $160 million in cuts if this demand delays the budget deal into February. The other main concern is whether the funding (est. $8-10 million) for contracts that have already been signed (“encumbered”) can be legally cut. About eight other members stick with Crump and Weiers at first, including the Frosh Five.
Thurs late morn/early afternoon: Word has gotten around and 2-3 Senators are said to be off the budget if the demand is granted. During a recess of Approps, there is wrangling in the back hallway about the demand. Adams is not happy that the entire budget deal has been risked on the eve of victory. Biggs and Murphy join leadership in trying to convince Crump to agree to cutting all unencumbered funds. Crump is adamant that encumbered funds can be cut (he’s a lawyer, you know), even though many members aren’t so sure and don’t want to risk delaying/killing the budget for no good reason. Murphy reluctantly agrees to sponsor Crump’s amendment (which increases the cut from $7.5 million to $22.5 million and has some other language) in Approps. He waits until “Sinema amendment fatigue” has set in and, much to most people’s surprise, succeeds in getting the amendment passed on a voice vote.
Thurs evening: Still no floor action by 8pm. Word is that the Senate “isn’t ready” and voting will have to wait for Friday. The Senate was ready earlier, but sure enough, when the deal changed, so did some votes.
Fri morning: Both the House and Senate lawyers say cutting the encumbered funds would be illegal. There is agreement in both houses to cut all unencumbered funds (all but $8-10 million). The proposed floor amendment would NOT change the dollar amount of the cut ($22.5 million), but would remove four words of Crump’s Approps amendment (“whether encumbered or unencumbered”). This would still be a huge victory for Crump, Weiers and his group. They would have gotten the cut doubled, maybe more. Instead, Crump insists that he knows better than all those other lawyers and the group decides to refuse to compromise. Leadership offers to put the amendment on the board for them, so they can get members on record, with the condition that they support the budget, either way. The offer is refused.
Fri afternoon: Many members try to convince the holdouts (by now only Crump, Weiers and the Frosh Five) that in light of the legal opinions, it makes no sense to keep demanding a total cut. Known “moderates” like Biggs, Murphy and Nichols (plus some others) try to get at least some of the group to listen to reason. Gould is even seen visiting Crump’s office. They are urged to claim victory and build on it later and that it makes no sense to hold out for something that may be unenforceable and, at worst, could cost about $160 million in lost cuts. Brewer even calls at least four of the “Frosh Five” up to the 9th Floor to explain that you don’t jeopardize your caucus and your long-awaited Governor for something as iffy as a cut that is most likely unenforceable. The group still doesn’t listen.
Fri evening: Still no voting by 9pm. The Senate still doesn’t have 16 votes unless the demand is lifted. As a last ditch effort, many of the committee chairs try to convince at least some of the group to stop throwing their caucus (and governor) under the bus. They even bring in Tom Jenney, the “Friend of the Taxpayer” guy, to talk to the group. He reportedly tells them that the bottom line to the taxpayer is what is most important and losing $160 million to save $10 million doesn’t make sense, no matter how egregious any particular item might be. They still refuse to listen to anyone but themselves. The remaining Senators are told to just go along with it so that the budget is balanced and that the language will likely be declared unenforceable, anyway. Thankfully, the Senators listened.
In the end, Crump, Weiers and their group stuck to it’s demand and got it. But at what price? Most of their caucus, in both houses, is unhappy with them, less because of the result than how they treated the rest of their caucus. The governor is reportedly irate, not because she cares much about the 21st Century Fund either way, but because they are so short-sighted and put their own aggrandizement ahead of their caucus. The worst part of the whole episode is that the provision they fell on their sword for will likely be reversed in court. The state will probably have to pay the legal fees, too. The group will make sure they get credit for the total cut. The eventual reversal and extra legal fees will probably not be as widely noticed. So much for protecting the taxpayers.
The “Frosh Five” stepped WAY over the line for being in their first three weeks on the job. To some extent, their error can be attributed to inexperience and following the wrong leader. However, Crump and Weiers knew better (or should have). They seemed to enjoy Adams’ discomfort at the prospect of the deal crashing. Not that either of them have any conflicting motivations or anything (lingering from the speaker’s race). The aspect of this that may be long-term is that most of the members of the group acted like anyone who didn’t agree with them was a big-spending liberal who had no spine. Never mind that the WHOLE CAUCUS supported the biggest cut to state government, including education, in history. Since they didn’t join the demand, everyone else was a wimp. Get over yourselves. Even if their precious $10 million was truly saved (which is in serious doubt), it is barely half of 1% of the total cuts. They risked $160 million of the taxpayers’ money and the cohesiveness of the caucus for that?!
What a load! Sounds like somebody doesn’t know how to read a contract. Try reading one sometime. You uneducated bafoon. AZ gets what it pays for. 24k a year for a loon who doesn’t know how to read a contract. The 21st century fund is nothing more than corporate welfare. Try explaining how you gave corporations taxpayer money when you are cutting into educational funding. You all should have been on Crump’s side on this. He is the smartest one down there. Did he stutter? Did you not understand what he was saying to you? Don’t quit your day job, you’ll be going back, hopefully, soon!
How is Rep. Adams performing on his promise of transparency? Sounds like the caucus would have benefitted from a timely look at budget proposals.
Copper Dome, You fail to acknowledge that Rep. Crump read the contract between State of Arizona and 21st Century Fund to come to the conclusion it made startingly good sense and policy to sweep $22.5 Million back into the state’s coffers.
Crump read the contract and therefore could provide sound judgment and recommendations to all the rest of the House Members. With the facts in hand thanks to Rep. Crump, the majority of the House agreed and voted accordingly.
Rep. Crump read the contract. Given that, take another reading of your post. Nice try at your slant on the story but, it doesn’t hold water.
Excellent work Republican members of the Arizona House of Representatives! Thank you for standing up for the citizens of Arizona.
As far as the Frosh Five stepping over the line, Arizona taxpayers are far better off that your advice isn’t heeded. Frosh, please continue to place the will of the taxpayer as priority in conducting the people’s business. You excercised sound judgment when you listened to Rep. Crump’s opinion and then took action. Nice job! Keep up the remarkably good work!