Editor's Notes: Bee juggles ‘event after event’ amid budget crisis

State Senate President Tim Bee, R-Corona de Tucson, has been finding receptive audiences on the campaign trail as he challenges U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., for her seat.

A wave of anti-incumbent sentiment seems the early trend in Election 2008, with voters giving low approval rates to anyone associated with Washington, D.C.

Giffords, a first-term congresswoman from Southern Arizona, has been part of the solution with Beltway politics, but a recession will not help her prospects. The economic stimulus plan, which should benefit incumbents by putting checks into the hands of taxpayers beginning in May, will be negated if gas prices rise to $4 a gallon and if foreclosures continue to rise.

Voters could throw out Giffords with the bath water after two short years in office. Just as Bee must give voters a compelling case why he should be sent to Washington, D.C., to replace her, Giffords must point out positive things she did to fight the slowdown and end the war in Iraq against a stubborn White House.

Bee was swamped with crowds at the Marana Founders’ Day on Saturday. He made a decision to stay in Marana and meet voters in an area, where he’s rarely campaigned, rather than appear at the Green Valley Mall’s Spring Market. Bee is a household name in Green Valley, serving District 30 in the State Senate.

“I have the entire family campaigning,” Bee said. “We’re finding people to be receptive, excited and interested in our campaign. We’re running a competitive race, and we expect to do well.”

As expected, Bee has been swamped with work in Phoenix. The state budget deficit is approaching $1.4 billion for 2008. It will rise to $1.9 billion in 2009. Bee will have to broker any compromise deal with Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano. He’ll have to do it without raising taxes and draining the state’s $700 million rainy day fund.

“Running for Congress and serving in the State Senate has been a big challenge,” Bee said. “Negotiations on the budget are ongoing and positive.

“Luckily, I have a great staff in Southern Arizona, arranging my schedule. I am at the Capitol most of the week. Then my schedule has me going from event, to event, to event on the weekend.”

The pain associated with cutting Arizona’s budget will have an impact on Bee’s legacy. He has forged a reputation as a consensus builder. But in a state where the deficit is about 16 percent of state spending, the worst ratio in the country, his challenge is daunting.

“We are getting close to a solution for 2008,” Bee said. “How much of the rainy day fund should we use? How many capital projects do we want to undertake for school construction?”

The Arizona economy has been ravaged by foreclosures, a slow housing market and the credit crunch. Tax cuts for individuals and businesses would spur the economy, but the short-term shortfall would make the budget deficit worse through 2008.

The governor wants to use debt financing to pay for school construction instead of the usual practice of paying cash. Republicans have opposed her idea to install traffic surveillance cameras on state highways to raise $90 million in new revenue from speeding fines.

Napolitano vetoed a bill Friday that would have required state agencies to freeze hiring and promotions. She said it was unnecessary, since she’s already ordered a freeze, and unconstitutional because it’s the legislative branch telling the executive and judicial branches what to do.

“The bill constitutes an unwarranted intrusion into the distribution of powers and responsibilities among the three branches of government,” Napolitano wrote in explaining her veto. “One branch of government cannot exercise the powers and authority properly belonging to another branch of government. This reason alone demands a veto of this bill.”

Once Bee clears the budget crisis, he’ll be able to focus more on Giffords and align himself more clearly with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who has clinched the GOP presidential nomination. McCain’s candidacy should inspire more Arizona Republicans to go to the polls in November.

“We’re excited to have Sen. McCain at the top of the ticket,” Bee said. “The last election cycle, Republicans did not do as well throughout the state. This time, I think we will.

“The State Legislature — unlike Congress — has high approval ratings, above 50 percent,” he said. “I think voters are in an anti-incumbent mood. They want new candidates with leadership and character to move this country forward.”

Contact Editor James Bennett at 547-9770 or jbennett@gvnews.com. Respond to this column by e-mailing letters@gvnews.com. Comment online at www.gvnews.com.