Opinion: History has taught me that it would be imprudent to base a large, permanent tax cut on a snapshot forecast artificially bolstered by federal largesse.
Gage Skidmore/Flickr
By Jan Brewer | Arizona Republic
As our state leaders are toiling under the Copper Dome to finalize our 2022 state budget, some very prophetic words spoken by Warren Buffett are ringing in my ears:
“What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history.”
We are at that moment, I am afraid.
With all the recent financial good news for Arizona – a rebounding economy, declining unemployment, record budget surpluses and $1 billion-plus in the rainy day fund – you might wonder: Why is Jan Brewer raising the yellow flag of caution?
Proposing to permanently eliminate a $1.9 billion annual revenue stream for Arizona should always bring great scrutiny, in-depth analysis and robust debate. But sadly, none of that is happening now.
Instead, soundbites and feel-good tweets are carrying the day in an apparent rush to do something very big politically. There is an urgency framed squarely in the political dynamic of résumé padding as high offices are sought in the 2022 electoral sweepstakes.
There is already a lot of economic uncertainty
When I ascended to governor in 2009, I said in my inaugural address that it felt like I showed up at a giant party, where all the guests had left and I was handed the bill. Gov. Janet Napolitano had resigned and jetted off to join the Obama administration.
