State of Arizona
Janice K. Brewer Office of the Governor Main Phone: 602-542-4331
Governor 1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007 Facsimile: 602-542-7601
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Paul Senseman
June 22, 2009 (602) 542-1342
psenseman@az.gov
Governor Brewer Releases List of Bipartisan, Statewide Support for Her State Budget Rescue Plan
PHOENIX – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today released a growing list of supporters endorsing her comprehensive, long-term solution to Arizona’s budget crisis. On June 1, 2009 Governor Brewer released details of her FY2010 budget proposal that would rescue the state from the looming General Fund budget deficit of $4 billion.
“I want to thank those who have taken the time to contemplate the dire situation the state is facing and have taken the time to learn about my long-term plan for Arizona,” stated Governor Brewer. “My plan to solve this crisis is a comprehensive plan that will not only guide the state through the tough times we currently face, but it is a plan that will set us up for long-term prosperity built on a solid foundation. My plan is a plan of responsibility and courage that will save our children and future generations from fiscal ruin and put Arizona back on the path to prosperity.”
Letters of support from dozens of private and public entities throughout the state have been received by the Governor’s Office in the last several weeks, and continue to be received this week. The letters call on Governor Brewer to hold the line on her budget and continue to stand for what she believes is the right direction for the State of Arizona.
The following excerpts have been taken from letters received, followed by a current list of supporters:
“There is no doubt that the State of Arizona is in a crisis. The Governor has taken a bold step in proposing a budget reform plan.”
- Roc Arnett, President, East Valley Partnership
“I encourage Arizona’s state representatives to support your budget initiatives and I plead with leadership from both sides of the aisle to lower the rhetoric and work together to seek added revenue sources to help solve our huge budget shortfall. I have never supported a tax increase in my five decades of involvement in politics. However, there has never been a crisis of this magnitude nor intensity in State history. Giving the voters a say in our future – and maybe our survival – is politically courageous, but it is also the right thing to do.”
- Mayor Kenny Evans, Town of Payson
“As a fiscal conservative, I do not like tax increases, temporary or not, and like most citizens I do not like cuts in services but these are unusual and dire times so we all have to be a little flexible. Sometimes, I know you must feel like the only adult in the room and you are fighting an uphill battle but hang in there as I am standing right beside you all the way.”
- Craig D. Smith, Huachuca City Councilman
“At this point in time, a tax increase is the only way to save the state from, in Governor Brewer’s words, “’-the worst catastrophe in the history of Arizona.’” Governor Brewer’s plan is the only viable solution.”
- William Toops, Publisher, The Peoria Times
“I am a Democrat and she [Governor Brewer] is obviously Republican. But Governor Brewer has taken off the partisan hat and has made this Arizona crisis a non-partisan problem.”
- Mayor Byron Jackson, City of Eloy
“Your Five Point Plan is the only approach we’ve seen that combines clear-eyed realism about the seriousness of our plight with a commitment to protect state government’s most essential services from even more draconian cuts. Your plan reflects a balanced approach that effectively deals with the current emergency while building a healthy fiscal foundation for the future.”
- Dr. Clinton M. Pattea, President, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
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Supporters of Governor Brewer’s Approach to
Resolving the Budget Crisis
-East Valley Partnership
-WESTMARC
-Southern Arizona Leadership Council
-Greater Phoenix Leadership
-Flagstaff Forty
-Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce
-Valley Partnership
-Tempe Chamber of Commerce
-Associated General Contractors
-Pinnacle West Capital Corporation
-Arizona Business and Education Coalition
-Arizona School Administrators
-Gilbert Public Schools, Parents Legislative Action Network
-Arizona Board of Regents
-Robert N. Shelton, President, The University of Arizona
-Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University
-John D. Haeger, President, Northern Arizona University
-Arizona Community College Presidents’ Council
-Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association
-County Supervisors Association of Arizona
-Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
-Jerry Brownlow, Chairman, Navajo County Board of Supervisors
-Cochise County Board of Supervisors
-Yuma County Board of Supervisors
-Shirley Dawson, Gila County Supervisor
-The Hopi Tribe
-Diane Enos, President, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
-Williams H. Rhodes, Governor and Joseph Manuel, Lieutenant Governor – Gila River Indian Community
-Ak-Chin Indian Community
-Tohono O’Odham Nation
-Norman J. Cooeyate, Governor, Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Indian Reservation
-Peter Yucupicio, Chairman, Pascua Yaqui Tribe
-Dr. Clinton M. Pattea, President, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
-League of Arizona Cities and Towns
-City of Phoenix
-City of Peoria
-City of Goodyear
-Mayor Paul Loomis, Town of Oro Valley
-Mayor Elaine Scruggs, City of Glendale
-City of Sierra Vista
-Mayor Jack D. Wilson, City of Prescott
-Mayor Robert Jackson, and the City of Casa Grande
-Mayor Vicki Kilvinger, and the Town of Florence
-Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla, and the City of San Luis
-Mayor Harvey C. Skoog, Town of Prescott Valley
-Mayor Kenny Evans, Town of Payson
-City of Globe
-Mayor Mark S. Nexsen, Lake Havasu City
-Mayor Michael Gomez, MD, City of Douglas
-Mayor Rick Fernau, City of Show Low
-Mayor Manuel B. Aguirre, Jr., and the Town of Winkelman
-Mayor Thomas L. Schoaf, and the City of Litchfield Park
-Town of Wickenburg
-Mayor Neil Young, and Bullhead City Council
-Town of Hayden
-Mayor Lynne Skelton, Town of Sahuarita
-Mayor Bob Rivera, Town of Thatcher
-Ken Larson, Town of Thatcher Councilman
-Craig D. Smith, Huachuca City Councilman
-Mayor Diane Joens, City of Cottonwood
-Mayor George Nerhan, Town of Huachuca City
-Mayor Byron K. Jackson, City of Eloy
-Mayor Robert Walkup, City of Tucson
-Mayor Jackie A. Meck, and the Town of Buckeye
-Mayor Anthony Smith, City of Maricopa
-Mayor Larry Nelson, City of Yuma
-Mayor John Salem, City of Kingman
-Mayor Art Sanders, Town of Queen Creek
-Town of Jerome
-Mayor Doug Von Gausig, and the Town of Clarkdale
-Mayor Mike LeVault, and the Town of Youngtown
-Apache Junction Main Street and Community Development Corporation
-Mercy Care Board of Directors
-Benton Davis, Western States CEO, United Healthcare of Arizona
-Reginald M. Ballantyne III, Vanguard Health Systems
-Peters S. Fine, Banner Health
-Tom Sadvary, Scottsdale Healthcare
-Valley of the Sun United Way
-United Way of Northern Arizona
-United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona
-Arizona Council of Human Service Providers
-William Toops, Publisher, The Peoria Times
-Arizona Foundation for Women
-Men’s Anti-Violence Network and Men’s Anti-Violence Partnership
-National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Arizona Chapter
-Arizona Association of Health Plans
-Arizona Office for Americans with Disabilities
-Arizona Association of Area Agencies on Aging
-Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse
-Community Partnership of Southern Arizona
-The Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council
-John R. Rivers, President and CEO, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association
-Mark Kem, Chandler Regional Medical Center
-Ruth W. Brinkley, Ascension Health
-Paul M. Jenson, Iasis Healthcare
-Rhonda Forsyth, John C. Lincoln Health Network
-Laurie Eberst, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center
-Linda Hunt, St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center
-Judith Rich, Tucson Medical Center
-Gregory L. Beckman, Yuma Regional Medical Center
-Victor F. Trastek, M.D., Mayo Clinic
-James A. Puffenberger, Northern Arizona Healthcare
-Amphitheater Public Schools Governing Board
-Arizona Health Care Association
-THE HAVEN, Women in Recovery
-CODAC Behavioral Health Services, Inc.
-Kevin J. Burns, CFO, University Medical Center
-National Trust for Historic Preservation
-Area Agency on Aging
-James J. Dickson, CEO, Copper Queen Community Hospital
-CHOICES Network of Arizona
-National Alliance on Mental Illness Arizona (NAMI AZ)
***Updates of supporters can be found on Governor Brewer’s Website at www.azgovernor.gov
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