Budget causes ire based stalemate at AZ Capitol

On Friday, we got a taste of what a foot-stomping, red-faced tantrum looks like when Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey took to Twitter to shamefully brag about vetoing 22 bills including election integrity and anti-critical race theory legislation. Read his veto letter sent to Senate President Karen Fann and House Speaker Rusty Bowers, with copies to legislative leadership.

Ducey’s ire is based on the legislature’s equally petulant refusal to pass a budget that includes a 2.5% flat state income tax which would include a tax cut for all Arizona taxpayers, force the state to live within its budget and stop viewing us as golden egg laying geese. Republican Steve Forbes, a successful businessman, twice ran for president based on this core concept.

The legislators responded by deciding to take a hike and are out until June 10, though the fiscal year ends June 30.

The Epoch Times covers the absurdity of the termed-out governor, who at 57 is not ready to retire. Whatever his aspirations are, he is backing himself into a McCorner that excludes the conservative base he needs. When he initially ran, he gladly accepted the endorsement of RINOcrats John McCain and Jeff Flake, both anathema to GOP stalwarts.

At his core, Doug Ducey is a political opportunist, foolishly miscalculating who we are. When then-President Trump held a massive Phoenix rally on February 19, 2020, Doug Ducey was happy to be called on stage to stand beside President Trump. Trusting this duplicitous character is an act of naiveté.

There’s too much at stake.