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Candidate Brewer contradicts Gov. Brewer

E.J. Montini is a columnist for The Arizona Republic

October 10, 2010

Candidate Jan Brewer hates the federal stimulus program.

Governor Jan Brewer loves it.

On her campaign website Candidate Brewer has a long essay under the heading “Arizona can't afford Obama” in which she calls the stimulus “poorly structured” and “overtly politicized.”

On her state website Governor Brewer has a special “stimulus map” where viewers can check the many locations where federal money is being spent in Arizona.

Candidate Brewer says on her website that “Democrats purposely used the recession as a political opening to redistribute income, reverse the free-market reforms of the Reagan era, and put government at the commanding heights of economic decision-making.”

Governor Brewer, on her state website, has a section called “Governor Brewer's Office of Economic Recovery,” within which there is a big long list of projects in Arizona that are being funded by federal money.

Last month, speaking before a Mesa Chamber of Commerce gathering, Candidate Brewer said, “Government needs to get out of the way and let you, our true job creators, grow your business the way you want to, not the way the state wants you to.”

A few days later Governor Brewer issued a press release announcing that she had distributed $4 million in stimulus funds to rural counties, saying, “Counties are important partners in Arizona's success. In the current budget climate, the availability of these funds for rural areas is critical in maintaining services.”

A Graham County official says the grants will “save jobs.”

Then, a day after announcing the $4 million grants to rural counties, Governor Brewer announced a $39.2 million grant – another stimulus program – to a Scottsdale company that will increase “broadband capacity and internet connectivity opportunities to all 15 counties in Arizona.”

Of this project Governor Brewer said, “Not only will this project create Arizona jobs, the broadband capacity it brings will help with everything from enhancing rural schools and libraries to networking hospitals and healthcare providers.”

Creating jobs?

Enhancing schools and libraries?

That kind of talk from Governor Brewer doesn't sound very much like the opinion of Candidate Brewer, who says on her website, “Mr. Obama and the Democratic Congress have succeeded in doing all of this despite the growing opposition of the American people, who are now enduring the results.”

By “enduring the results” does Candidate Brewer mean the hundreds of stimulus projects on Governor Brewer's website?

Candidate Brewer says, “The only path back to robust growth and prosperity is to stop this agenda dead in its tracks, and then by stages to reverse it.”

If that is true why didn't Governor Brewer stop the president's agenda dead in its tracks – at least in Arizona – by not accepting stimulus money?

Why go along with the transportation department projects? Why take the grants to Arizona's universities?

Why accept federal money for Arizona government departments ranging from commerce to education to health services to veterans services?

And what about the six projects listed as having gone to the governor's office? One worth over $9 million.

When looking in the mirror, Governor Brewer shouldn't mention any of those.

Candidate Brewer would be appalled.