I got to thinking about that question this morning as I drank my coffee and read E.J. Montini’s column (you can read it here) about the Goldwater Institute.  

I guess I wonder just  how selective the Goldwater Institute’s outrage is concerning various government’s violation of the gift clause in our constitution.

Sure, they allegedly protect Glendale and Phoenix taxpayers from those cities’ “gifts” to the Coyotes and police unions and shopping malls.

But what about the rest of us, all of Arizona taxpayers?

Because when you look at “gifts” governments give, the Republican legislative majority and the Guv created a doozy:  The Arizona Commerce Authority.

By definition, that public/private group — with a nice taxpayer funded slush fund — is authorized to give all kinds of “gifts” to private businesses.  Millions of “gifts,” in fact, up to 150 million of these “gifts” a year.  And often with zero accountability.

No doubt the Goldwater Guys and Gals are up in arms, right?

What, they aren’t?  Not a peep from them.  Say what?

That’s right:  Not a word of protest from the Goldwater folks, the ones who’d like us to believe they are protectors of taxpayers.

Which leads to this question:  Just which gifts are okay, Mr. and Mrs. Goldwater people?