Republicans offer frosty assessment

Associated Press
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Associated Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Top legislative leaders offered cool assessments of Governor Napolitano's performance on budget issues and suggested that they expect the GOP-controlled Legislature to be at odds with her on spending and tax issues during the upcoming session.

Senate President Ken Bennett told a business-oriented tax lobbying group that the state's fiscal picture is brightening but that the state would be in relatively poor shape if lawmakers had gone along with past Napolitano proposals on spending and borrowing.

Bennett and House Speaker Jim Weiers (wires) also said they and fellow lawmakers should be more assertive about publicly taking credit for the state's fiscal shape.

Earlier, Napolitano budget director Gary Yaquinto told the Arizona Tax Research Association that the state's spending rate is relatively low compared with other states and that imposition of new spending limits would crimp such areas as education and health care.

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