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Change coming to Arizona?
With Gov. Janet Napolitano's expected departure to serve as President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of homeland security, several policies are up in the air.
Here's a look at a few of them.
Permanent repeal of state property tax:
Napolitano vetoed a Republican attempt to make a cut in the state property tax permanent, saying the state could better utilize the money. The tax amounted to about $95 on a $250,000 home, and it's set to go back into effect unless Republicans block it.
Brewer's view on the issue is unknown, but she indicated Dec. 5 that a tax increase isn't off the table — surprising both sides of the political aisle. At the same time, she said she's not a "taxer."
"That's not something I would like to happen in the state of Arizona," she said.
Budget fix:
Brewer has said all options are on the table, while Napolitano specifically took funding cuts for K-12 education and prisons off the table while also pledging not to raise taxes. Much of that, however, was political reality — voter mandates prevent lawmakers from touching much of the budget.
Brewer has said her lack of specificity has to do with not yet having been briefed entirely on the budget.
But in prepared remarks to the media last week, Brewer said, "We have spent the first two years of a down cycle reaching for accounting tricks and debt rather than true fiscal reform."
Ban on late-term abortions:
Napolitano has vetoed two bills in the last two years that would have outlawed late-term, or so-called partial-birth, abortions.
Both bills provided an exception to save the life of the mother, but Napolitano wanted more focus on services such as family planning and the prevention of sexual violence against women. And she's stood in the way of other efforts to scale back abortion rights.
Brewer is anti-abortion, and conservative activists hope she's more accepting of such legislation.
Gun restrictions:
Napolitano has continuously blocked attempts to loosen gun laws in the state.
In the last session alone, Napolitano vetoed five gun bills, including one to reduce the penalty for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Lawbreakers would have paid a fine rather than serve jail time.
Another bill would have allowed people who say they felt threatened to unholster a gun without being charged with a crime.
And one bill would have allowed people to keep guns anywhere in their car, just like in a home, including under the seat.
Domestic partnership benefits:
Napolitano recently instituted a new state policy, through an administrative rule change, that allows the domestic partners of state employees to receive benefits.
Republicans, upset that Napolitano went around the Legislature, have already said they want Brewer to repeal the rule change. Early this month, Brewer said she hasn't made a decision.
"I'm going to bone up on that issue and make a decision and let you know, maybe later on," Brewer told reporters.
Vehicle emissions standards
Under Napolitano's administration, the state Department of Environmental Quality has moved to institute stricter vehicle emissions standards for greenhouse gases. The Legislature passed legislation last session, which Napolitano vetoed, to restrict her authority.
Napolitano has said existing law already gives the DEQ full authority to set emissions standards for vehicles.
The fight is not over.
A legislative committee met last month to discuss new restrictions as DEQ looks to impose carbon dioxide limits on commercial and industrial plants.
Local police departments enforcing immigration law:
Napolitano has vetoed legislation requiring police departments and sheriff's deputies to enforce federal immigration law.
And while some have characterized those efforts as extreme, a bill last year passed with bipartisan support.
Photo radar:
Napolitano's idea of expanding the state's photo radar to generate more state revenue could be up in the air.
A budget plan passed earlier this year calls for 100 photo-radar cameras to catch speeders.
Napolitano estimated that the program could rake in $90 million in its first year.
While members of both parties were critical of the move, the state shortfall is only growing.
9/11 memorial:
At this point the issue appears mostly resolved, but Napolitano and Republicans have bumped heads over a memorial outside the state Capitol memorializing the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Napolitano vetoed legislation that would have basically torn down part of the memorial because of statements that some found offensive, like "You don't win battles of terrorism with more battles."
Faced with criticism, the commission that oversaw the construction voted to remove the two offending statements, replacing them with things like "God Bless America."

Tucson Region

With Brewer in office, change may be tangible

By Daniel Scarpinato
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.14.2008
PHOENIX — What exactly does Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano's likely departure from the state mean to your daily life?
Well, if Republicans seize the opportunity to enact their own policies on issues where Napolitano blocked them in the past, gun laws are likely to be loosened, late-term abortions could be illegal, your property taxes might just go down, and those new radar cameras on the freeway could be history.
A look back at Napolitano's frequent vetoes — the most of any Arizona governor in history — highlights her tendency to effectively block Republican legislation.
And through executive orders and administrative rulings, Napolitano has managed to get around the Republican-controlled Legislature on issues such as vehicle emissions standards and domestic partnership benefits.
Lawmakers on both sides anticipate many of those policies could be flipped under her successor, Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer, who will take over once Napolitano is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the nation's homeland security secretary.
Brewer's positions on some specific issues of the last two years are largely unknown. And she's indicated over the past week that she's keeping an open mind, particularly on how to manage an escalating state budget shortfall.
Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, a moderate Republican who is on Brewer's transition team, said the differences between Brewer and Napolitano may not be as vast as many people anticipate.
"I think that Jan will rally to being governor and facing the issues of the state just like Napolitano did," he said. "So, I'm not anticipating a much significant difference, frankly."
But Walkup did predict that Brewer and the GOP-run Legislature will be "closely connected at the hip."
"There was always that difference between party lines," he said of the Napolitano years.
And while even some Republicans say Brewer is still an open book at this point, many are betting it means there's a better chance their pet causes will get a gubernatorial OK.
"Obviously, it's going to be easier," said incoming state Rep. Frank Antenori, a Tucson Republican elected last month. "She's similar in ideology, compared to what Napolitano was."
● Contact reporter Daniel Scarpinato at 307-4339 or dscarpinato@azstarnet.com.
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