Governor

After three years on the job, Susan Gerard is resigning as director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. Gov. Janet Napolitano's office announced the decision today.

"I think this is the right time for me to move on," said Gerard in a statement. "I'd like to thank Governor Napolitano for giving me the opportunity to work at my dream job for the last three years."

Gerard served as a Republican state representative and senator from LD18 before being appointed to the DHS directorship in 2005 by Napolitano. At that post, Gerard spearheaded enforcement of the Smoke Free Arizona Act and was credited with increasing the agency's access and transparency.

The AP is reporting Governor Janet Napolitano has vetoed the revised late-term abortion bill after the legislature made changes to her previous vetoed bill.  One insider told Inside Edge they may consider trying to have the bill put before the voters.

Newly released data from Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer's office shows the Arizona Democratic Party has grown its ranks by almost 20,000 registered voters since March, over twice as many as new Republicans or independents added.

According to the Arizona Republican Party, though, the secretary of state's figures can be misleading, and don't take into account factors such as purges in voter rolls, the impact of the Democratic presidential primary and underhanded tactics by Democratically-affiliated groups.

"Democrats' efforts to move Arizona forward and put this country back on track are clearly moving new voters to register as Democrats," said Don Bivens, Arizona Democratic Party chairman, in a release announcing the numbers. "These new registration figures confirm our Party's upward trajectory in Arizona. These new registrations also confirm our excellent opportunities to pick up Congressional and state Legislative seats in November."

Democrats have been making strides toward leveling the playing field with their GOP rivals in terms of voter registration since the 2006 election, and now lag behind Arizona Republicans by around 110,000 voters. In 2006, Republicans had over 150,000 more voters than Democrats in Arizona.

State Senate President Tim Bee: Campaign photoPHOENIX -- A day after Arizona House Speaker Jim Weiers (R-Phoenix) announced a proposal to resolve the roughly $2 billion budget shortfall the state faces in fiscal year 2008-2009, the state Senate has followed suit, rolling out its own plan to cover the gap. State Senate President Tim Bee (R-Tucson) and state Senate Minority Leader Marsha Arzberger (D-Willcox) appeared jointly at a capitol press conference to announce the Senate version, which Legislature Democrats and Gov. Janet Napolitano are likely to find more palatable.

"We believe this budget is reasonable, responsible and sustainable," said Bee at the press event announcing the breakthrough.

The Senate proposal calls for a $361 million in cuts to state agencies - $140 million less than what the House plan calls for. It also includes a K-12 rollover, in which payments to public schools are delayed by four weeks, which has the effect of pushing some payments into the next fiscal year. Coupled with reductions in building renewal, bonding for new school construction and $106 million in transfers out of the Highway Users Revenue Fund, the budget package totals $2.02 billion, which should make up the projected shortfall.

Despite recent reports of doom and gloom in regards to the budget being passed and signed in time for the July 1st deadline, insiders are confident a deal will be in place. Inside Edge has noticed that almost all of the reports over the last week have been about the breakdowns so we decided to reach out to some of the insiders. Despite those breakdowns insiders feel good about the process as a whole and believe an agreement will be reached in which Governor Janet Napolitano will sign. After talking to a staff member from both sides of the isle and a house member on background, all sides seem confident it will come together.

A debate is brewing around the country over the future of the new federal government plan for Real ID.  Democrats and Republicans around the country are concerned the Real ID program is opening the door and moving towards a national ID program.  Arizona has now joined the growing list of states that have rejected the Real ID program.

A late-term abortion bill, which Governor Janet Napolitano had earlier vetoed, was resurrected in the senate today.  The measure has been changed to allow a doctor to request a hearing if the procedure is needed to save the life of the mother, which was a concern for Napolitano.  The bill now heads to the house.   

MSNBC has launched a democratic version of their VEEPSTAKES tournament where readers can vote for their choice for Barack Obama’s running mate.  In the first round Governor Janet Napolitano received a bottom number eight rating and is pitted against top seeded Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.  Napolitano needs help.  Today is the last day of voting and the governor has only 28% against Sebelius’ 72%. 

Gov. Janet Napolitano: Getty Images PhotoDespite her inclusion on at least one Clinton supporter's list of personae non gratae, Gov. Janet Napolitano, who backed U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) against U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) early in the presidential primary process, sees no reason for alarm, according to her spokeswoman.

"The person keeping the list is certainly within her rights to do so," said Jeanine L'Ecuyer, Napolitano's press secretary.

A report by the New York Times Wednesday revealed numerous of Clinton's intimates and big-time backers had developed lists of "traitors" or "enemies" who either refused to support Sen. Clinton's nomination or initially backed her but switched to Obama. Susie Tomkins Buell, who founded the Esprit clothing line, has included Gov. Napolitano on her list.

If Barack Obama were to beat John McCain, there is a very good chance Governor Janet Napolitano could be offered a job in the administration.  While it is very unlikely she would be offered the VEEP spot, there is a strong possibility her early loyalty would be rewarded with a cabinet position.

If Napolitano were to move on to Washington, Arizona’s political landscape would be tossed on its head overnight.  Look into the Inside Edge crystal ball as we predict what that week’s Winners and Losers would look like.  

If Barack Obama were to beat John McCain, there is a very good chance Governor Janet Napolitano could be offered a job in the administration.  While it is very unlikely she would be offered the VEEP spot, there is a strong possibility her early loyalty would be rewarded with a cabinet position.

If Napolitano were to move on to Washington, Arizona’s political landscape would be tossed on its head overnight.  Look into the Inside Edge crystal ball as we predict what that week’s Winners and Losers would look like.  

Winners

Jan Brewer
Not only would the secretary of state become Governor Jan Brewer overnight, she would then be in office as a sitting incumbent come 2010.

Dennis Burke
The governor’s Chief of Staff would almost certainly end up as the Chief of Staff to the U.S. Attorney General or Department of Homeland Security and would be on his way to D.C. 

Leezie Kim
Kim, who recently moved from private practice to become the governor’s general counsel, would be on a short list for a U.S. Attorney spot.

Pro-life movement
With Napolitano out of the way the pro-life community could start moving legislation forward with hope of it being signed by the governor. 

State Republican Party
If the party holds both the Senate and the House in November, the party would have total control over state government and could use it to their advantage in fundraising. 

Losers

Gubernatorial hopefuls on the Republican side
Mary Peters, Andrew Thomas and any other prospective candidates would now be facing an incumbent from their own party.  While someone may still step up to the plate and challenge Brewer, their job becomes a whole lot harder.

Randy Pullen
With Brewer in charge and gearing up for re-election she would more than likely want someone she trusts completely running the office that will be out to protect her and prevent a primary.

Terry Goddard
The Attorney General would become the highest elected Democratic official in the state, but assuming he is the nominee in 2010 he now has to challenge a sitting governor.  He would be trying to do something that hasn’t been done since 1966, unseat a sitting governor in an election.  And it should be noted that governor who lost re-election was Samuel Goddard, Terry’s father.

LGBT community
They lose the strongest advocate they have had in Arizona and would likely be facing a rollback of Napolitano’s executive order banning discrimination in state government based on sexual orientation.

Jim Weiers
It may seem weird to place a Republican Speaker of the House as a loser when a Republican takes over the governor’s office, but it’s true.  Right now Weiers gains his power as the leader of the opposition party.  With a Republican governor Weiers would lose that power and for the most part would need to follow the governor’s lead.

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