How crazy are republicans? How stupid can they get? Today, we have an answer. In the state of Arizona--where Republicans control all branches of government--the legislature passed a law allowing concealed weapons in bars. Now that might seem run-of-the-mill crazy...but wait, there's more! At the same time, the legislature failed to pass a budget before the start of the new fiscal year. But wait, there's more below the fold.
A bit of background. For the last several months, the state of Arizona has been trying to figure out what to do about the budget. Things are tight. Over the last few years the state has trimmed, cut and amputated sections of the state budget. Social services have been slashed, education funding cut to the point where Arizona rests somewhere around 48th or 49th in spending per pupil.
Given this, the republican governor has argued that a small (1%) increase in the sales tax is needed to prevent a complete deterioration of education and social services. She has asked that this increase be put to a statewide ballot. This one percent won't actually improve Arizona's standing, just keep it from reaching the absolute bottom of the list.
But, you see, the republicans in the legislature have almost all signed anti-tax pledge and, last night, refused to enact a budget compromise that included draconian budget cuts, and the ballot measure proposing the tiny 1% sales tax increase. Rather, these republicans believe that the cuts are not draconian enough. At 3 AM they passed a budget with even more drastic cuts than the republican governor asked for. The legislature then paused and voted to allow concealed weapons into bars (I am not kidding).
The governor will now likely veto the budget and sign the new gun law.
So, in celebration I suggest every Arizona resident go to a bar and get drunk--and bring your gun when you do it. Cause this state is about to plunge into complete raging anarchy, and we might as well be drunk and armed when it does.
UPDATE: Early this morning, in their final act of this legislative session, the republicans defeated the Clean Elections bill. I guess if the republicans run the state this badly, they know they will need unclean elections if they want any chance in 2010.
UPDATE 2: Governor Jan Brewer has now officially rejected the budget, through what appears to a fairly extensive use of the line item veto. Hard to say what's next, but expect some government closures soon.