2009/2010: Arizona sells off its state capitol to a private real estate company. AZ receives $81 million for the state House, the Senate and [a] nine-story executive tower.


2012: Arizona is preparing to spend $105 million to get those same buildings back. BUT, the Governor’s press aide assures, “that $24 million difference should not be seen as an exorbitant interest rate for just two years of borrowing. Instead, it actually is a savings: If the state had taken the full 20 years to pay off the debt, the cost would be far more.” Or, you know, the state could have never taken on a 20 year lease to begin with…