Democrats release fair 2010 AZ budget solution

House Democratic Leader David Lujan.

UPDATE, Sun. 4/5: Lots of people like our budget plan, including the Arizona Daily Star, who editorialized in favor of it today.

PHOENIX -- Today, House Democrats unveiled a comprehensive proposal to balance the state budget and protect children and middle-class families from deep cuts to jobs and education.

The plan, which utilizes every federal stimulus dollar available to Arizona, also includes strategic cuts, common-sense and responsible tax reform and restores funding necessary for middle-class families, our state’s economic engine.

“House Democrats’ plan is a long-term budget solution that ensures the future economic vitality of Arizona,” said House Democratic Leader David Lujan. “Our plan offers common-sense, practical and smart solutions that will get our state’s economy back on track, put people back to work and prepare kids for college and the work force.”

House Democrats’ budget proposal will:
-- Utilize $2.4 billion — the maximum — of the federal stimulus funding available to Arizona in 2010.
-- Clean up government waste by stopping tax giveaways to big corporations and closing corporate tax loopholes.
-- Implement smart, responsible cuts across state government, including in our own House of Representatives Restore necessary funding to education and middle-class families that makes our economy thrive.

“It is key to our economic recovery and stability that we invest in education so that our children are competitive in the global economy,” said Assistant House Democratic Leader Kyrsten Sinema. “House Democrats’ traveled around the state listening to Arizonans’ concerns about deep cuts to the state budget and we developed a comprehensive budget plan that will move Arizona forward to a brighter future.”

House Democrats’ plan saves money in all areas of government by cutting government waste and removing unnecessary policies that don’t work.

“It is time to put Arizonans’ priorities first and stop the giveaways to big corporations,” said House Democratic Whip Chad Campbell. “We need to create a revenue system that works for Arizona and protects education funding.”

"Our realistic budget is good for Tucson, southern Arizona and the whole state, and I urge my Republican friends to work with us in support of this responsible and fair plan," said Rep. Daniel Patterson (D-Tucson-LD29).

Accompanying their 2010 budget proposal, House Democrats also debuted their Roadmap for Arizona’s Future and new Web site, StrongerArizona.com, which keeps track of the impact of deep cuts to the 2009 budget and shows House Democrats’ plan for 2010 in comparison to legislative Republicans’ plan.

- adapted from House Dems PIO