Jan Brewer

Jan Brewer
File:Jan Brewer 04-22-2010.jpg
22nd Governor of Arizona
Incumbent
Assumed office January 21, 2009
Preceded by	Janet Napolitano
Secretary of State of Arizona
In office 2003–2009
Governor	Janet Napolitano
Preceded by	Betsey Bayless
Succeeded by	Ken Bennett
Personal details
Born	(1944-09-26) September 26, 1944 Hollywood, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse	John Brewer
Residence	Glendale, Arizona
Alma mater	Glendale Community College

Janice Kay "Jan" Brewer (born September 26, 1944) is the 22nd and current Governor of the U.S. state of Arizona and is a Republican. Jan Brewer automatically became governor of Arizona as part of the line of succession as determined by the Arizona constitution, replacing former governor Janet Napolitano. Jan Brewer became governor at a time of extreme economic upheaval for the state, and issues such as a dwindling tax base, record foreclosures, public education funding, illegal immigration and healthcare have all been key issues during her time in office.

Early life

Brewer was born in Hollywood, California to Perry and Edna Drinkwine. Her father died of lung disease when she was eleven years old. She married John Brewer and worked in Glendale, California before moving to his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona in 1970. They later moved to Glendale, Arizona where he became a successful chiropractor and found success in real estate as well. She gave birth to three sons, one of whom died from cancer in 2007.

Brewer attended Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona.

Political career

Brewer served as a Republican in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1983 to 1986. She was then a state senator from 1987 to 1996. During her last three years as a state senator, she held the senior leadership position of majority whip. In 1996 Brewer ran for chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors defeating incumbent Ed King and served six years. She was elected Secretary of State of Arizona in 2002 and served until 2009.

Governor of Arizona

Brewer, as Arizona Secretary of State, was the first in line to succeed Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano when she resigned to become United States Secretary of Homeland Security on January 21, 2009. Brewer is Arizona's fourth female governor and its third consecutive female governor.

Brewer is running for election to a full term in 2010.

She was also a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention.

Governor Napolitano was officially nominated by President Barack Obama to be his Secretary of Homeland Security. She was confirmed in the post on January 20. Because Arizona does not have a Lieutenant Governor, Brewer, as Secretary of State, stood first in the line of succession, and was sworn in as governor the next day.

Brewer will be up for election to a full term in 2010. If she does win a full term, she will have to leave office in 2015; the Arizona Constitution limits members of the executive branch to two consecutive terms, with partial terms counting toward the term limit.

Political Views

Immigration and Border Security

More Information: Mexico – United States border

Governor Brewer signed Arizona SB1070 into law, making it "a state crime for illegal immigrants to not have an alien registration document", and requiring police "to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants." It also makes it illegal for people to hire illegal immigrants for day labor or to knowingly transport them. In addition, it provides provisions to allow citizens to file lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws.. The bill passed was signed into law on April 23, 2010.

Gun Rights

Jan Brewer also signed legislation that entitled persons in Arizona to carry guns into bars, unless the bar has specifically stated that guns are not to be permitted. She also signed a bill that allows Arizona citizens to conceal weapons without having to get a permit. The new law has proved to be controversial in the state with passionate views and opinions on both sides of the debate.

Budget Issues

Arizona is essentially in a state of budget crisis. The governor has repeatedly called on the state legislature to work together to find solutions and to work across party lines to reach a solution. In addition, the governor has called for a state sales tax hike, an issue which state Republicans in the legislature wish to avoid.

Whether or not the sales tax hike goes into effect is based on Prop 100, which voters will decide on within the coming months as part of a special election.

LGBT Issues

Jan Brewer signed a bill repealing legislation put into place by the former governor Janet Napolitano, which had granted domestic partners of state employees the ability to be considered "dependents," similar to the way married spouses are handled.

About 750 state workers will be affected, they currently receiving $3 million of the state's $650 million budget for employee health care.

Healthcare

Discontinuation of S-CHIP and clawback of AHCCCS

S-CHIP in Arizona is known as "KidsCare." By enacting the 2011 budget, Brewer and the legislature have eliminated the Arizona variant of the State Children's Health Insurance Program program that provides health insurance to uninsured children whose families do not make little enough to qualify for Medicaid.. According to the FY 2011 budget, enrollment caps will also be put into place for AHCCCS, thereby limiting access to the insurance program for the needy. Brewer, at a press conference to criticize the Democratic health care plan being considered in Washington, said the state had no choice but to eliminate free health care for more than 310,000 now enrolled in the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state’s Medicaid program. The budget also eliminates the Kids Care program that provides nearly free care to more than 40,000 children of the working poor. The governor acknowledged that will increase the number of people in the state without coverage. “We do not have the money,’’ she said. “We are broke.’’

Reaction to Federal Health Care Bill Mandates

Brewer has responded to the recent passing of health care bill in the US Congress by calling upon a special state legislative session to join in the class-action lawsuit by eighteen state Attorneys General to challenge the constitutionality of the federal mandate to purchase health insurance.

External links

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• Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Official state site
• The Arizona Republic December 7, 2008
• Follow The Money - Jan Brewer
  • 2002 2006
• Project Vote Smart
• [1] Slide show of images of the governor from AZCentral