CPB HEAD RESIGNS

posted to Political Buzz by Christopher Conover

In a written statement, Commissioner Bersin said he was “immensely proud of the significant and meaningful achievements” he made during his two years at the head of CPB.

Bersin was appointed to the position by President Obama during a congressional recess and was never confirmed by the US Senate.

Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar, the former Tucson Border Patrol chief, will take over as acting commissioner.

Bersin and Governor Jan Brewer verbally sparred earlier this year in Phoenix over whether or not the US-Mexico border is safer than in years past.

Bersin’s last day in office is December 30.

ARIZONA CREDIT OUTLOOK UPGRADED

posted to Political Buzz by Andrea Kelly

Governor Jan Brewer said the news that Standard and Poor's credit rating agency has upgraded Arizona's credit outlook from "negative" to "stable" is another sign the state is starting to get back into good financial shape.

In a statement, she said the upgrade is, “validation that we’re on the right path.”

This is just the latest sign of Arizona’s improving economy, she said. Other good indicators she cites are nearly thirteen thousand jobs added in November, and the higher-than expected sales tax receipts the state is seeing so far this year.

The state government needs to remain small and efficient, she said, so that growth in the private sector can continue the trend.

NAMES FOR THE PRIMARY

posted to Political Buzz by Christopher Conover

Texas Congressman Ron Paul, is the first GOP presidential candidate to file the paperwork to get on Arizona’s primary ballot. Nearly, two dozen Paul supporters went to the Secretary of State’s office to turn in the forms putting their candidate on the ballot.

Republican candidates who want to participate in the February 28, 2012 primary in Arizona must file with the state before the close of business January 9th.

Arizona’s primary comes early in the balloting process, only 11 other states have primaries or caucuses before Arizona Republicans head to the ballot box. The primary also takes place just days after a GOP Presidential debate in Phoenix.

LEGISLATORS DISAGREE ON USE OF STATE SURPLUS

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Michael Chihak

Republicans who control Arizona state government -- and its purse strings -- are beginning to discuss what might be done with the state's growing revenue surplus.

A very tight state budget, following three previous years of significant cuts, has caused teacher layoffs and crowded classrooms, reduced health care for the poor and crowded emergency rooms at hospitals that are absorbing the costs and local governments scrambling to cut because of state-taken revenues.

Now reports are that the state is taking in hundreds of millions more than budgeted. The surplus will be at a minimum $330 million and could go as high as $500 million by the end of the fiscal year June 30.

Here's what political leaders are saying so far:

• Gov. Jan Brewer, who said earlier this year that she fought for more funding for education but couldn't get all she wanted, now says the top priority for spending some of the state revenue surplus should be more money for tourism promotion. She is proposing adding $7 million to the tourism marketing pot.

• Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, says he wants to proceed cautiously but is included to support Brewer's proposal.

• State Senate President Steve Pierce, R-Prescott, says he wants to save all the surplus and keep next year's budget flat to this year's. His rationale is that the state will need the money by 2014 when the one-cent education sales tax expires and federal health-care regulations begin kicking in with pass-along costs to the states.

• Rep. Matt Heinz, D-Tucson, says he wants to see some of the surplus go to restoring health-care for poor children and childless adults who were cut from the rolls this year.

The legislative session begins Jan. 9 with Brewer's State of the State address. Look for her to outline what she thinks the budget ought to look like and what increases, if any, ought to be made in state spending.

Friday's Arizona Week will look at the possibilities for state spending in 2012.

NEXT STATE BUDGET: FLAT OR FATTER?

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Michael Chihak

Arizona tax revenues could exceed projections this fiscal year by $330 million, maybe even more, as the economy slowly emerges from the recession.

That's put a gleam in some eyes about the next state budget and what ought to be done with it.

Most Republicans agree that much if not all of it should be set aside for the rainy day that's sure to come in a couple of years when the one-cent education sales tax expires. That will leave a $900 million hole in the budget.

Here are some ideas for what to do with at least a portion of the surplus:

• Gov. Jan Brewer says state tourism marketing and promotion spending should be jacked up by $7 million, which House Appropriations Chairman John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, says he is willing to go along with.

• State Senate President Steve Pierce says he prefers to see the entire surplus squirreled away for that "fiscal cliff" coming in 2014.

• House Appropriations Committee member Matt Heinz, D-Tucson, says some of the surplus should be spent on restoring funding for health care for the poor and, perhaps, for education.

On Friday's Arizona Week, we will look at the options and alternatives for the next state budget. Interviews on the program will be with Pierce and Heinz.

Journalists Andrea Kelly of Arizona Public Media, Mary Jo Pitzl of the Arizona Republic and Luige del Puerto of the Arizona Capitol Times will analyze and comment on the coming session.

MARK KELLY: COULD HE BE A CANDIDATE?

posted to Political Buzz by Michael Chihak

Retired Navy Capt. and astronaut Mark Kelly says he has been approached about running for Congress.

For now, Kelly says, he won't spend much time thinking about that possibility, because he is focused on helping his wife, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, recover from the gunshot wound she took to the head on Jan. 8.

When we interviewed Kelly in the suburban Houston home where he and Giffords are living during her rehabilitation, he was insistent on his priority -- "motivator in chief" for his wife, as he put it.

Yet, he spoke with intelligence and clarity about issues near and dear to Giffords and said he has sat in on some of her congressional office briefings and is following the issues along with her.

He declined to absolutely rule out a run for political office.

In the interview, Kelly said there's a need for more balance in politics.

"It would be nice to move back towards more moderate politics and, to be honest, more moderate politicians, more people in the middle," Kelly said in the interview. "But civility in politics and being able to listen to your opponent and try to understand where they 're coming from is really important.

"I think you see a lot of people that don't want to have a discussion. They just want to be on transmit and not the receive mode."

Is that a hint that Kelly wants to have a discussion, perhaps as a candidate?