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Truthteller in chief? Not exactly

Posted on 06/17/2010 @ 12:17 AM

In last night's GOP gubernatorial debate, Gov. Brewer repeatedly said, "I'm a truthteller," as if saying it would somehow make it so. But the truth is harder to find in what Brewer says than in what she does. Here's a comparison of the two:

Brewer says: "I will NOT give up on education." (Brewer statement, 9/4/09)
Brewer does: Cuts more than $1 billion from education. (HB2001, signed 3/18/10; SB1002, signed 11/23/09; SB1006, signed 1/31/09)

Brewer says: The federal government is "the largest external threat to Arizona's budget." (Brewer's State of the State address, Jan. 11, 2010)
Brewer does: Asks the federal government for stimulus funds and then touts Arizona's share of the funds 23 times in official press releases. (http://azgovernor.gov/media/PressReleases.asp)

Brewer says: Vows to "protect our children and our families" (ironically, by opposing health reform that would extend them coverage). (http://azgovernor.gov/dms/upload/PR_032210_StatementByGovernorBrewer.pdf)
Brewer does: Signs a bill making Arizona the only state to eliminate its children's insurance program. (HB2001 cuts KidsCare, AHCCCS, signed 3/18/10)

Brewer says: "I have no greater focus than to grow jobs in Arizona" (Brewer on 3/4/09: http://azgovernor.gov/dms/upload/NR_030409_Address49thLegislature.pdf)
Brewer does: (nothing)

The hard truth is that Brewer is avoiding the elephant in the room: our state's economic crisis. Her budget proposal and rhetoric have done absolutely nothing to create jobs and put Arizona on track for a stable economic foundation. Arizona needs real leadership now more than ever - it's time to replace rhetoric with bold action.