Munsil Goes Negative

I don’t know which is worse, Len Munsil’s going negative (in Sunday's East Valley Tribune OpEd Letters Section) on the Governor using debatable assumptions from a Republican-leaning special interest tax group, claiming she is committed to higher taxes when no legitimate proof exists, or that as Governor he would forgo investment in the very things the voters have just indicated they want and are willing to pay for.

Arizona remains the second-fastest growing state in the country with some of the lowest tax rates. But we have poor performing schools, bad roads, lousy tasting water, and increased congestion, clearly indicating specific and immediate needs. Ignoring those needs for the sake of ideological tax cuts isn’t my idea of a fiscally responsible or forward-looking Governor.

Munsil’s criticism of the Governor’s budget submission indicates either questionable knowledge of how budgets are developed or his own desire to mislead. No governor expects they’ll get everything in their budget passed and it’s wrong for Munsil to suggest otherwise. There’s give and take on both sides. That he doesn’t seem to know this indicates a Munsil government would be no more fiscally responsible than the Republican-controlled government in Washington.

One thing’s certain, however. The Munsil campaign will be negative, misleading and fiscally irresponsible.