Back to Joint Republican Majority Program

January 6, 2005

Good government is, in many ways, the art of meeting infinite needs with limited resources. It is a balancing of available funds with the claims on those funds as well as a balancing of the need for funds with the supply. As Ronald Reagan noted in his farewell address, “There’s a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts.” Our duty as good stewards of the funds entrusted to us by the citizens is to ensure that the money spent is having the desired outcome. Too often political debate loses its focus. We talk more about amounts spent than we do on results achieved. To fix this disparity, the Republican Caucus will examine the mission of the various state agencies and require measurable indicators of success.

By working together the House and Senate Republican Caucuses will work toward the following goals:

• Eliminate the state’s structural deficit.
• Promote additional educational opportunities so that every student attends the school that best meets their needs
• Minimize the use of school construction financing methods that incur additional long-term debt.
• Promote policies that take into consideration the financial constraints of families whose children are attending Arizona’s universities.
• Evaluate the growth of AHCCCS enrollment.
• Address medical malpractice liability and procedural reforms.
• Promote tax reforms that ensure all businesses and individuals in Arizona are treated fairly.
• Assess long-term water planning and management policies.
• Enact state trust land reforms to increase revenues for our public schools and other beneficiaries.
• Ensure law enforcement has the tools necessary to provide public safety.
• Establish measures to protect against identify theft.
• Strengthen penalties against those who commit human trafficking violations.
• Support the institution of traditional marriage.
• Promote policies to encourage adoption.