Women in Leadership

The State Press's Phil Haldiman has a unique angleon the transition from Napolitano to Brewer.

With Gov. Janet Napolitano all but a forgone conclusion to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security, Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer stands to continue a strong female force in the high offices of state government.

Haldiman asked me what changes we would see under Brewer and here was my two cents.

Brewer has more than 25 years of experience in politics. She served as an Arizona state senator from 1987 to 1996, when ASU law student and blogger Greg Patterson was serving in the House.

Although Brewer understands the legislative process and will be able to work with legislatures, Patterson said, on the budget front, things aren’t likely to change if she ends up taking office.

“Napolitano’s team didn’t understand how the Legislature works, which is why bills didn’t get through the Legislature and she ended up vetoing so many bills that reached her desk,” Patterson said. “The state is out of money and out of gimmicks. The only thing left is to cut programs.”

In case you are inclined to quibble with my two points--Team Napolitano didn't understand the legislative process and cuts are inevitable--let me add more detail. 

With the second point, you don't need to believe me, here's a similar analysis  from Assistant Minority Leader Kyrsten Sinema

Now, the recovery could be as much as two years away, according to legislative budget analysts. In the meantime, the state faces the prospect of major and growing budget shortfalls while state reserves and fiscal gimmicks have already been all but tapped and exhausted. Major cuts in programs protected by Napolitano may be unavoidable.

"We're facing the most severe fiscal situation our state has ever seen," said incoming Assistant House Minority Leader Kyrsten Sinema, a Phoenix Democrat.

So, in that regard, it may not matter who's governor at all.

As to my first point that Team Napolitano was ineffective at the Legislature because they never really understood the legislative process, I wrote an entire post on that topic. 

The governor has shown a complete disregard for these complex traditions and has a dismal relationship with the legislature.  After six years in office, her legislative agenda is often dead on arrival and she famously refuses to discuss legislation until it ends up on her desk.  Not surprisingly that legislation often contains features she considers objectionable and she's "forced" to veto scores of bills.  Her string of vetoes is not a sign of strength.  It is an indication that she and her team don't really understand the legislative process. 

Comments

[No name]

The guv's problem with the legislative process is that she surrounded herself with Democratic advisors.

As we know, with rare exceptions, Democrats have not had any significant bills pass through the Legislature for years, so the ninth floor had no clue how to get things done legislatively.

Her failure to be proactive about the budget may have won her a few 'battles', but the Democrats, and the state as a whole have ended up losing the war.

A prediction, if Janet does in fact leave to take a spot in Obama's administration, Arizona will never see her again. (thank goodness).

[Dewey]

Aspiring Journalists of America: Drop a journalism class and pick up a novel by Dickens. You'll learn more by reading any one of his novels than you will in some journalism class. And, reading him will make you a better writer. People will want to read your stories--they'll SEEK YOU OUT no matter WHO YOU'RE WRITING FOR--if your stories reflect a command of the vocabulary and an ability to write with clarity. You'll be one of those few good journalists whose byline is a brand all its own.

PS: I think you meant "legislators," not "legislatures."

PPS: A governor can't really be a "conclusion," but an appointment could be one.

PPPS: It's "foregone" with an "e".

[Thane Eichenauer]

I don't see any reason why an Arizona Governor should be required to comment on bills (unless you want people to know what your position is). Those legislators who already agree with you philosophically are probably going to consult with you privately. Those legislators who don't agree with you philosophically probably don't want to change their bills to reflect the Governors political opinion.

The lack of a string of vetoes is no sign of strength. If a Republican Governor (former NM governor Gary Johnson comes to mind) has a legislature that wants to spend beyond its means many vetoes simply would mean that some people think government programs can be paid for by other than taxes and that one person (the governor) knows otherwise.

[nick]

Dewey Nitpicker!

[Jim Torgeson]

If the Gov. would comment on bills, amendments could be made to get it passed.

In other words, bills could come through faster and more efficiently if she didn't expect mind reading.