State Rep. Sam Crump

The State of Arizona is facing a combined deficit of $3 billion for the two fiscal years of 2008 and 2009.  And yet the Governor seems committed to continuing her big spending ways.  Despite the fact that we have been overspending for the last six years (average increase of 14% per year), the Governor has proposed less than $100 million in cuts.  That’s less than 5% of the deficit we are facing, and it amounts to about 1% of the general fund budget. 

It’s time to get serious and make significant spending cuts.  Those who believe that the Legislative effort to permanently repeal the County Equalization Tax on property is a bad idea need to remember that if we had limited spending increases to the rate of growth in population and inflation, we would have a $500 million surplus right now.

Once again, it is over spending that has us in a serious deficit– not tax cuts.  In fact, the Governor herself declared during her campaign in 2002 that she would be okay with 10% budget cuts across the board to solve that year’s deficit.  Sounds good to me.

This is my new blog on my new campaign website.  I’m very excited about my re-election campaign in 2008.  I hope you will return here frequently for updates on what is happening in the Legislature and on the campaign trail.

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All the best.  –Sam Crump