Printable VersionKINGMAN — The budget is the issue when it comes to the race for the state House of Representatives.
“The state’s fiscal situation is the top issue and hand-in-hand with that is illegal immigration,” Groe said. “The fact that the border remains unsecured is a threat to this country plus there is all the money spent on education and health care for illegal immigrants. It has a tremendous impact on the budget situation.”
Goodale said the issue is “not cuts but how we spend.”
“Too many (state agency) budgets are out of habit,” Goodale said. “I would support the Auditor General do a program audit and service audit of each agency. Let’s put all the issues on the table, no sacred cows.”
She said she “strongly believes” in zero-based budgeting, where each department starts at zero each year and justifies its financial needs, rather than starting each fiscal year at the previous budget level and seeking increases.
McLain said she believes the next legislative session will be focused on balancing this year’s budget, with even more fallout at the local level.
“Without the cuts that should have been made in the 2008-09 budget, the cuts that will have to be made for 2009-10 will be even more drastic,” McLain said. “If the cuts had been made in stages over the past two years, it would not have been as devastating to the economy. It’s not bad to shrink government, but too many layoffs at one time also has a negative impact on the economy. That’s a lot of people out of work and unable to pay bills.”
Conservative Republicans in Mohave County received good news, as the district received the highest honors from the Arizona chapter of Americans for Prosperity, formerly known as the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers.
Groe was named the state’s top legislator — the “Hero of the Taxpayer” — just beating out Sen. Ron Gould of Lake Havasu City.
“It was a tremendous honor,” Groe said. “And a surprise to be sure, considering the stiff competition from our Senator.”
The Arizona chapter of Americans for Prosperity had named Gould the state’s top legislator the three previous years.
Groe scored a 99, Gould a 96. McLain was named a “Champion of the Taxpayer” with a score of 82.
You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.
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