Jan Brewer has been governor of Arizona since 2009 and decided not to seek re-election in 2014. Her combative style, including opposition to President Obama’s immigration and health care policies, have made her a presidential hopeful for conservatives in 2016.
Here are her views and background on seven key political issues:
1. Brewer can boast of a greatly improved economy in Arizona. The state had a surplus by her sixth year in office after she became governor facing a $3 billion deficit. She attributes growth in business and new jobs in the state to lower business property and equipment taxes, lower corporate income taxes, and lower capital gains taxes. She continued to strive for lower business taxes for increased job growth in her last year in office.
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2. She initiated proposals to improve education through programs that reward and create incentives for school students. She also encouraged plans to keep in-state tuition levels stabilized for college students.
3. Brewer was at the forefront of the illegal immigration issue, as Arizona was faced with federal officials “dumping” illegals into the state when the Obama administration began allowing the influx of families and children from Central America in 2014. Brewer wrote to the president, stating, “This is a crisis of the federal government’s creation.” It left the U.S. border insecure. She called the practice a “dangerous and inhumane policy” that threatened Arizona and U.S. citizens. She had signed an immigration crackdown law in 2010.
4. She called Obamacare a mistake, but favored the expansion of Medicaid, a part of the program. She worked with Republicans and Democrats to get the measure passed so 300,000 more Arizonians could apply for free health care, showing her abilities to work across the aisle if there is a 2016 presidential run in her future.
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5. Brewer is a friend to gun owners, opposing restrictions on the right to bear arms. She received an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association for her voting record and for her efforts to promote and defend Second Amendment rights.
6. She showed her concern for family issues by seeking help for abused and neglected children in the state. Brewer also took steps to clean up and revamp the state’s troubled child welfare system.
7. On the environment, Brewer encouraged the attraction of solar manufacturers to the state with tax incentives and supported renewable energy tax credits. However, she made clear her opposition to federal involvement, an issue that could define a possible 2016 campaign. She called the EPA regulations of greenhouse gas emissions harmful. She also favors the Keystone XL pipeline, which she says is fundamental to economic prosperity.
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