http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/knau/local-knau-943213.mp3
Phoenix, AZ – In taking the oath of office, the governor noted that this time,
she was actually elected rather than inheriting the post after
Janet Napolitano quit two years ago to take a job in the Obama
administration. Brewer pronounced herself a fortunate woman.
(But there's an unfinished task ahead of me. When I took the oath
of office two years I took the helm of a marvelous state that had
been poorly commanded, badly navigated and was dead in the
water.)
Brewer said she inherited a budget deficit of $5 billion over two
fiscal years plus unfair and expensive federal mandates.
(But I did what my mother taught me. I did not give up. I did not
give in. I fought for what I knew was the right thing to do.)
Brewer detailed extensive budget cuts, arguing they did not hurt
education or public safety. And the governor said her plans to
establish a commerce authority will help grow the economy. House
Minority Leader Chad Campbell said the speech was filled with too
much blame.
(There wasn't a lot of detail, a lot of planning for how we're
going to move forward. And I think we need to stop looking in the
past. We need to figure out how we're going to get the state back
on track. And I hope that the governor and Republican leadership
has a plan.)
Brewer gives her state of the state speech this coming Monday.
For Arizona Public Radio this is Howard Fischer.