Robert Robb - Promoting a Weaker Arizona

I don't read Robert Robb's column much anymore because I have generally found him to be more ideological than practical. I read his column in today's Arizona Republic titled "Arizona is rolling in dough; will it give some back?" and my opinion still hasn't changed.

Here's the gist of his argument: Arizona has a surplus, so cut taxes. States with rainy day funds spend the money and have high tax burdens. States with no rainy day funds have low income tax burdens. One professor at Ohio University says we should be the latter, therefore it must be true (even though he cites data almost 10 years old). I'll bet Mr. Robb buys into the Laffer Curve argument without understanding the conditions and assumptions under which that economic theory must have to stimulate economic growth (such as menial things like increases in jobs, increases in productivity, and a few more things we don't have right now).

So, as a result of his blind belief in economists, Mr. Robb is arguing for cuts in taxes to reduce a budget surplus at a time when:

1. Our schools are 50th out of 50 states in many rankings of student achievement
2. More children have little or no access to health care
3. State and local police need resources to secure the border
4. Crime rates are increasing
5. Increased demand for increased state and local services as a result of population growth.

Mr. Robb must think growth comes with no cost. Mr. Robb must think adding new school buildings is as easy as pulling some new trailers onto the school yard. Mr. Robb must think that border security can be improved by keeping state support for law enforcement spending at the same level. Mr. Robb clearly thinks government has no role in solving these problems. Mr. Robb is wrong. These things are not government's responsibility because some politician decided they are, they are government's responsibility because the state's Constitution says they are government's responsibility.

The smart thing to do is to see where the money can best be used for the people who provided it and thank our lucky stars we have at least one bright spot in our list of happenings in the state. Thoughtlessly giving it back when there are legitimate needs is not smart governance. It is thoughtless governance.

Way to go, Mr. Robb. Thanks but no thanks for working to keep Arizona at the bottom.