Reducing the Size of State Government
- Enacted a total of $1.05 billion in permanent budget reductions, eliminating state programs and services, and substantially reducing the state’s work force – the most of any Arizona governor in state history.
- Reduced the number of state employees by 8%.
- As Secretary of State, Brewer consolidated her workforce assignments, eliminated staff overtime, and eliminated various other non-essential expenditures.
Curbing the Regulatory State
- Issued an executive order as her first official act to impose a moratorium on most new state regulations and has ordered state agencies to get rid of state regulations.
- Met with members of Arizona’s federal delegation to encourage defeat of an expensive expansion of federal health care mandates on the states.
- Fought against Federal permanent service and spending mandates that are not affordable or sustainable even under the best economic conditions.
Supporting Right-to-Work
- Signed an executive order to reaffirm the State of Arizona’s longstanding prohibition against mandatory union activity as a condition of employment.
- Also overturned a previous Napolitano executive order granting state employee unions “meet and confer” rights.
Stopping Illegal Immigration
- Prohibited state and local governments from giving any public benefits to illegal aliens. Governor Brewer is vigorously defending this law in the Arizona Supreme Court.
- Made it a misdemeanor for a state or local government employee to fail to report immigration law violations detected while administering a public benefit or service.
- As Secretary of State, Governor Brewer defended the Prop. 200 Identification requirements all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court – demanding that Arizona require all voters to provide proof of identification to register to vote and to cast their ballot at the polls.
- Lead national effort to re-deploy National Guard on the border.
- Worked hard to pass legislation to crack down on illegal notarizations and expand oversight over unlawful notary activity.
Doing Away With Political Correctness
- Prevented executive agencies of the State of Arizona from participating in any censorship of the lawful celebration of Christmas and Hanukkah.
- Did away with the “Holiday Tree” and returned the “Christmas Tree” to the State Capitol.
- Did away with the “Candlesticks” and returned the “Menorah” to the State Capitol.
Protecting Second Amendment Rights
- Proud member and longtime supporter of National Rifle Association.
- Proud member and longtime supporter of the Arizona Rifle and Pistol Association.
- Throughout her career, Brewer has consistently supported pro-firearm legislative initiatives.
- As Governor, she has expanded gun owner rights to carry firearms while respecting private property rights.
Protecting the Sanctity of Life
- Prohibited partial-birth abortions based on the federal model that has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Required that minor girls receive written, notarized consent from a parent or guardian prior to obtaining an abortion.
- Mandated that women receive information they need prior to deciding on whether to have an abortion and allow for at least 24-hours to reflect on that decision. Arizona is now the 22nd state to require a 24-hour waiting period and the 34th state to require informed consent.
- Required that doctors perform surgical abortions in order to protect the health of women.
- Expanded existing protections for doctors, pharmacists and other health care workers to refuse to participate in surgical abortions or prescribe prescriptions for chemical abortions.
Restoring Traditional Values in Our Youth
- Restored abstinence-only sex education in our schools by applying for federal grants for such programs that Governor Napolitano opposed in lieu of programs including teaching students how to use birth control.
- Made it possible for our overseas military men and women to register to vote and vote by internet or fax. In the 2008 General Election, hundreds of Arizona military and overseas citizens cast ballots over the internet from over 60 countries throughout the world.
- Promoted Arizona as a Golden Rule state and actively recognizes those who “treat others the way you would like to be treated” and who make a difference in Arizona.
Supporting Traditional Marriage
- Prohibited the unmarried “domestic partners” of state employees from receiving state employee benefits.
Cutting Spending
- Transformed Maricopa County form a local government bogged down so deep in debt that it had utilized $165 million in short-term borrowing just to meet cash flow into one of the fiscally healthy counties in the nation.
- Created a centralized, statewide voter registration database reducing the duplication on the voter rolls increasing accuracy and efficiency while cutting costs.
- Created a budget plan that included budget cuts and tax cuts to attract businesses to Arizona. The plan, hailed by the Wall Street Journal, would have cut state property taxes, the corporate tax and personal income taxes in exchange for short-term revenue.
Jan Brewer Governor - Tough Times Call for a Tough, CONSERVATIVE Leader
