There are two reasons she has cut so much: Republican legislators making cuts and there was so much to cut in the first place because the budget has increased so much in the past few years. It’s not like these cuts demonstrate any leadership by Brewer.

Brewer’s 5 point plan, except for the tax referral, was very general and not much more useful than the generalizations other candidates have presented.

In addition, the legislature budgeted state spending on education and social services is not the majority of spending on these items. There are other funding sources such as local property taxes, federal grants, and other dedicated taxes and funding sources.

It should also be noted that most personnel cuts – as a percentage of workforce – have come from line staff rather than administrative and managerial staff. This increases the impact of the cuts on citizens in order to protect higher ranking civil “servants.”

Brewer would best serve the Republican Party and state of Arizona by following the advice of Republican legislators and getting out of the race for governor so a better qualified Republican has a clear field.

She had her chance and blew it. Brewer needs to make way for someone else.

Since the state is mandated to provide certain services to its citizens, I doubt that spending cuts by themselves will solve the state’s budget crisis. Revenues keep falling each and every month because of the current economy crisis.

To balance the budget with spending cuts, the legislature would need to cut spending 20% for this current fiscal year and an additional 25% for the fiscal tear starting July 1. With revenues continuing to fall every month these spending cuts would have to be even more than 45%.

The Department of Environmental Quality has already been cut 60% since 2008. The cuts would leave that agency with only 5% of its 2007 budget.

The Department of Economical Security has been cut 34% and an additional 45% would cut its budget by 79% meaning it would only have 21% of its 2008 budget. Because of the economy crisis an additional 20,000 new people are applying for aid each month.

Spending cuts by themselves is not the answer. The state does need additional revenue.