Fourteen Days By Mark R. Kerr

Fourteen days until Arizona's government will shut down, thanks to the Republicans who control both chambers of Arizona's Legislature and their unwillingness to reach a consensus or compromise with each entire body in the chambers to craft a budget for the next fiscal year.

Republicans are saying the negotiating with other Legislative Republicans to get a majority for a budget that Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano could sign.

Napolitano's office has said they don't want a last-minute deal sent over and are willing to communicate for the good of the state but are the Republicans?

They're just following the same pattern Newt Gingrich and his elephantine minions did in Washington D.C. in 1995 and 1996 and the result was the federal government was shut down, twice!

So are the citizens of Arizona ready to deal with the shutdown of the state and county governments?

It would be both since the county government is just an extension of the state government.

Essential services, such as law enforcement and the prison system would still operate but not much more.

Road construction projects, such as the I-10 work that has tied Tucson in knots would stop;

Health programs and services through the auspices of the county and state would cease;

Sewer and water systems would stop flowing with the shutdown of the government and

Arizona's educational system, kindergarten through high school, community college through the state's three Universities wouldn't be able to open a book, just to cite a few of the many examples how the lives of Arizonans will be affected by the elephantine behavior being exhibited at the Arizona Legislature, resulting in no budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

To Arizona House Speaker James Weiers and Arizona Senate President Tim Bee, who represent all the people, not just 33 state Representatives and 17 Senators, its time to live up to and affirm the oath you took in January 2007.