Silence of the hawks: Response muted to Ducey’s billion-dollar borrowing plan

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Gov. Doug Ducey is proposing to add a billion dollars to Arizona’s outstanding borrowing load of $7.3 billion, a dramatic leap into indebtedness, and yet the opposition to it has been mostly muted, even from groups that traditionally balk at borrowing.

The Goldwater Institute, a fierce foe of government indebtedness, declined to comment on the grounds that none of its staffers has had the chance to review the governor’s proposal, and it doesn’t include specific details as of yet.

Other groups said they oppose the bonding pitch, but added that the governor’s spending bottom line remains fiscally prudent.

The near silence of the fiscal hawks has led to speculation that they’re holding their tongue out of political calculation, or that, maybe, they don’t want to tarnish the image of a politician they have deemed to be a conservative warrior.

Lobbyist Chuck Coughlin, who advised Ducey’s predecessor on the Ninth floor, said people are politically intimidated.

Despite his acerbic assessment of the political situation, Coughlin supports the governor’s plan, arguing that borrowing for capital projects is wise.

Read the full story at AZ Capitol Times

Corrie O'Connor