NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday June 23, 2009

Supreme Court Settles What We Already Know: Republican Leadership is Failing our State

Today, critical budget negotiations were yet again set aside, so Republicans could engage in a court exercise symbolizing their inability to lead. Oral arguments, testimony, court briefs, and a legal opinion all confirmed that with only eight days remaining before the end of the fiscal year, there is still no state budget.

While Governor Brewer and the Republican Legislature continue to battle over who can do the most long-term damage to our state, the absence of a state budget in the short-term stands to jeopardize public safety in the following ways:

• Child abuse allegations might not be investigated by Child Protective Services. According to The Arizona Republic the state would be, “unable to take abuse reports for children and the elderly.” (AZ Republic, 6/17/09 )
• According to DPS, law enforcement, “will be acting more in a reactive state than doing much proactive stuff.” (AZ Capitol Times, 6/18/09 )
• Services for victims of domestic violence would also could come to a halt
• Assistance would halt for children with developmental disabilities who do not qualify for Medicaid

These are just some of the uncertainties Republican leadership has forced upon our state. Some agencies are still scrambling to determine what will happen to critical functions after July 1st.

“Failed Republican leadership appears to be offering Arizonans more questions than answers as the government shutdown deadline approaches,” said Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director Luis Heredia. “It is inexcusable that we are facing a suspension or curtailing of these critical functions. Arizonans are growing tired of the ineffective leadership of the Republicans, especially Governor Brewer. They have ignored bi-partisan solutions and have instead pressed forward with dueling press conferences and a court battle which has done nothing to solve Arizona’s problems,” said Heredia.