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Arizona Wants to Buy Back State Capitol It Inexplicably Sold
If there were still such a thing as investigative reporting, the obvious play here would be to investigate whether Brewer or any other high-ranking republicans were running a scheme to enrich themselves or their connections. Letting people buy the land and now sell it back to the state for a higher price. Oh, and doing it on the backs of the 99% as usual.
State governments have taken a number of different steps to balance their books in recent years. Texas Gov. Rick Perry (remember him?) proposed a new tax on strip clubs, for example, and a Utah state rep. suggested saving $60 million per year by abolishing the 12th grade. But no proposal struck as much metaphorical gold as Arizona's decision to sell off the state capitol (and a whole bunch of other state properties, such as maximum security prisons) for $735 million in 2009. Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed off on the deal, and the state now leases the House and Senate chambers from a private real estate company at a considerable long-term cost.
But now, presumably still a little embarrassed by the whole episode, presented with the unfamiliar feeling of cash on hand, and rapidly approaching the state's 100th birthday, Brewer wants the Arizona capitol back in the hands of Arizonans.
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2012/01/arizona-wants-buy-back-state-capitol-it-inexplicably-sold
But now, presumably still a little embarrassed by the whole episode, presented with the unfamiliar feeling of cash on hand, and rapidly approaching the state's 100th birthday, Brewer wants the Arizona capitol back in the hands of Arizonans.
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2012/01/arizona-wants-buy-back-state-capitol-it-inexplicably-sold
8 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Totally FUBAR. I live here, and I gotta say, that the long term republican legislature here has taken this state to hospice care stage.
They are the consummate, indisputable proof that Republicans are just plain effin greedy and stupid and have absolutely no ability whatsoever to govern in any type of rational manner whatsoever.
This state has gone beyond broke, and it is not just because the economy is in the toilet. It was already toast before 2008.
AZ has been mismanaged so badly by republicans it's like the Freak Brothers got a free years supply of blow and decided they would snort it up while governing until the money ran out, and then borrowed more money to buy more blow with until the borrowed money ran out. Wash, rinse, repeat.
It's sad, this state is beautiful and has so much potential.
Potential that can never be realized until the people here pass a law making it illegal for republicans to come within 100 yds of a government building.
Honestly it's unbelievable what they've done here.
