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Chewie thanks Phoenix New Times

January 31, 2009 By 1 Comment

Thanks to the efforts of the Phoenix New Times, a policy of prohibiting Bible Studies at the Dept. of Revenue state cafeteria has now been reversed. New Times also got it confirmed that the Dept. of Economic Security cafeteria would not ban them either, which is helpful considering it is the larger cafeteria with marginally better food. Thanks for the extra work guys, didn’t mean to confuse the two and give you extra work.

We’ll leave it to our readers to decide whether some Christians who wanted to hold a Bible Study were lying, or whether it was the DOR employees who would get in trouble if they admitted denying them.

We got what we wanted, to permit Bible Studies, and the Alliance Defense Fund is probably also grateful to the New Times since they won’t need to get involved. Maybe the New Times might like to attend Bible Study after all that effort helping it? Might do them some good.

Filed Under: Constitutional Law, Government, Religion, State Government

Governor Brewer on State Budget Crisis

January 31, 2009 By 7 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 31, 2009

Statement by Governor Jan Brewer

Phoenix – “I want to thank the leadership and members of the Arizona Legislature for their hard work and diligence in promptly addressing one of the most difficult budget challenges in the history of the State of Arizona. They have answered the call, and they have done the people’s business.

“Make no mistake – the seeds of this significant budget crisis have been sown for many years, and thus the solutions are neither easy nor painless. In just over 5 years, spending in the state budget increased from approximately $6 billion to $10 billion. Last year, with most economic indicators suggesting significant economic downturn, a new state budget was built on the false hope of increasing state revenues. More shockingly, new discretionary spending was approved without realistic funding and the state’s rainy day fund was drained. This insatiable appetite for spending has left us with enormous challenges and few options.

“This is not a Republican or Democrat problem, it is a problem that all of us must confront with vigor and regardless of partisan affiliation. Additional fixes are very likely to be required for the fiscal year 2009 budget, and even more difficult decisions remain as we confront the realities of a $3.4 billion deficit for fiscal year 2010.

“We will be back working very hard next week to confront the adversity and to place our great State of Arizona back on the path to prosperity.”

Filed Under: Press Release, State Budget