State Budget Rubik's Cube
The State Legislature continues to study how to solve the seemingly-unsolvable, ever-widening gap in the FY10 budget now reaching north of $3 billion. This is an increase of $600 million over the previous estimate of $2.4 billion. Both the House and Senate are drafting budgets to address the shortfall and anticipated federal stimulus dollars are an important piece of the remedy. There are, however, some strings attached to receiving these dollars. For example, the $160 million that was cut from the FY09 higher education budget may need to be restored in order to maintain eligibility for nearly $800 million in stimulus money for education in FY10. If so, the legislature will have to find another $160 million to balance this year's budget.
Urban Revenue Sharing
Last Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee chaired by Senator Jim Waring (R-Phoenix) delved into Urban Revenue Sharing and its history in Arizona. The committee heard a staff presentation and then testimony from the League of Arizona Cities and Towns and other organizations. Archived video of this committee hearing is available at http://azleg.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=13 on the Arizona State Legislature Web site.
Special Stimulus Delivery
This week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was in town with a couple of exciting announcements. First, he visited Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to announce that Arizona airport construction projects will receive $28 million in federal stimulus money, of which Sky Harbor will receive $10.5 million for taxiway repair. Today, U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., and Secretary LaHood announced that the Metro light rail system will get $36 million from the federal stimulus spending program, which is early delivery of federal funds scheduled for next year. As described in our message last week, stimulus funding doesn't backfill the City budget like it does for the State. It will put people to work, mostly in the private sector, on priority projects that are ready to go. Stay up-to-date with stimulus dollars awarded to Phoenix at phoenix.gov/recovery.
Remember to SHOP PHOENIX and tell your legislators to protect city revenues!
Source: P.L.A.N.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
City of Phoenix Voting Center Proposal
The City of Phoenix City Clerk Department is seeking community input on a proposal to implement Voting Centers in City of Phoenix elections. Voting Centers would provide city voters with more flexibility and convenience when voting at the polls, while maintaining the existing early voting by mail program.
We would appreciate your valuable feedback on this proposal and your assistance with informing your community about this proposal and the public meetings.
Citywide community meetings will be held in late March and early April (Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 10AM - Steele Indian School Park Memorial Hall - 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ) to gather public input on the Voting Center proposal. City of Phoenix voters are encouraged to participate in this important process. We invite you and your community members to attend one of the public meetings to provide comments.
Click HERE to read the following information about the Voting Center proposal:
A summary of the proposal including current challenges and the benefits of Voting Centers
A Chart showing the City's recent voting trends
A schedule of the community meetings
Please feel free to distribute the meeting schedule and other material.
Your feedback is important to us. If you are unable to attend one of these public meetings, but would like to provide feedback, or if you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk Department by phone at 602.261.VOTE (8683) or TTY 602.534.2737, or by email at elections@phoenix.gov. Information is also available at phoenix.gov.
Source: Mario Paniagua, City Clerk
Friday, March 20, 2009
Show Me the Money
True to transparency in government, this week Governor Brewer announced azrecovery.gov. This website is designed to track the State's portion of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) economic stimulus legislation adopted by Congress and signed by President Obama last month. The site includes guidelines from the federal government about how and when these dollars must be used.
On March 5, the Governor sent a letter to President Obama applying for Arizona's portion of the money. By applying, she is not obligated to accept all funding streams available; she can review each funding option to determine whether Arizona's current spending level will qualify according to the federal guidelines.
The City is also transparent about the pursuit of the federal stimulus dollars. At phoenix.gov/recovery, the variety of funding available to Phoenix is displayed. As mentioned in last week's message, while the state has the ability to use the stimulus dollars to backfill its budget shortfall, Phoenix instead must use stimulus dollars for specific projects or programs.
Getting Ready for FY10
This week, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) presented Budget Options by Agency to the Appropriations Committees as the Legislature prepares to address the current budget shortfall of about $475 million and the FY10 budget shortage of over $3 billion. The deficit is growing as revenues decline and spending continues at the current pace.
Shared Revenue
Last week the Legislature unsuccessfully tried to take shared revenues from cities and towns for the State's budget balancing purposes. On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee had scheduled an informational hearing about shared revenues, since there are many new legislators who may have questions about this important issue. Although the meeting was cancelled, the presentation is set again for the next Senate Finance Committee meeting -- 1:30 p.m. next Wednesday in Senate Hearing Room 3.
Remember to SHOP PHOENIX and tell your legislators to protect city revenues!
Source: P.L.A.N.
On March 5, the Governor sent a letter to President Obama applying for Arizona's portion of the money. By applying, she is not obligated to accept all funding streams available; she can review each funding option to determine whether Arizona's current spending level will qualify according to the federal guidelines.
The City is also transparent about the pursuit of the federal stimulus dollars. At phoenix.gov/recovery, the variety of funding available to Phoenix is displayed. As mentioned in last week's message, while the state has the ability to use the stimulus dollars to backfill its budget shortfall, Phoenix instead must use stimulus dollars for specific projects or programs.
Getting Ready for FY10
This week, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) presented Budget Options by Agency to the Appropriations Committees as the Legislature prepares to address the current budget shortfall of about $475 million and the FY10 budget shortage of over $3 billion. The deficit is growing as revenues decline and spending continues at the current pace.
Shared Revenue
Last week the Legislature unsuccessfully tried to take shared revenues from cities and towns for the State's budget balancing purposes. On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee had scheduled an informational hearing about shared revenues, since there are many new legislators who may have questions about this important issue. Although the meeting was cancelled, the presentation is set again for the next Senate Finance Committee meeting -- 1:30 p.m. next Wednesday in Senate Hearing Room 3.
Remember to SHOP PHOENIX and tell your legislators to protect city revenues!
Source: P.L.A.N.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The next tax and spend power-grab
Washington , D.C. right now is like one of those old fashioned records that scratched and so it keeps playing the same tune over and over.
President Obama and Speaker Pelosi slam through a $787 billion “stimulus” bill to “save the economy.” Then, they pass a $410 billion omnibus spending bill with 8,500 earmarks even though Obama campaigned on a promise to end earmarks.
Let your Senator Know that a Trillion Dollar Tax Hike Deserves Proper Debate on the Senate Floor
Call the Senate Switch Board at 202-224-3121
or Click here to Send Your Senator a Direct Message
Working with 465,000 Americans who signed on through NoStimulus.com we fought them every step of the way and came within 1 vote of victory in the Senate. We said the “stimulus” bill had waste and abuses in it and we were right more than even we knew.
Did you see the latest outrage?
These $165 million in bonuses to the people who ran AIG into the ground and have now taken over $130 billion in taxpayer bailout money – turns out someone slipped into the 1,000 page “stimulus” bill a provision allowing these bonuses to be paid even after our taxpayer bailout money was given to the company.
That’s what happens when they pass a 1,000 page $787 billion wasteful spending bill…especially when they pass it with no oversight and little study under pressure of politicians like President Obama and Speaker Pelosi.
But now we need to make sure your Senator is aware that we will be paying attention to the truly dangerous $3.6 trillion 2010 Obama budget. Some quick numbers:
Raises taxes by a net of $1.35 TRILLION in next decade – big increases in income taxes and the death tax comes back.
Adds an estimated $1.7 TRILLION in new debt just this year – the actual budget deficit will be an estimated 12% of our total GDP (gross domestic product).
Federal Government spending will account for 27.7% of our total economy. Think about it – the federal government will be spending more than $1 in every $4 spent in the American economy under the Obama budget.
Institutes an Enery Tax on energy totaling over $1 trillion. Gasoline will go up by at least 50%. Home energy costs will skyrocket. Food costs and consumer product costs will rise. This Energy Tax is hidden in a scheme called “Cap and Trade.” This “Cap and Trade” scheme will have the government rationing energy and thus driving up the costs of energy to consumers.
There’s more. President Obama is attempting to pass his “Cap and Trade” scheme with only 50 votes in the Senate instead of the 60 required for most legislation by using a Washington procedural trick called “reconciliation.” Click here for an article by Americans for Prosperity’s own Phil Kerpen that provides more details.
But the bottom line is simple. Unless we act now the Senate may very well use a procedural maneuver to pass this massive Energy Tax called “Cap and Trade” without proper debate and with only 50 votes instead of the 60 that should be required under Senate rules.
I’m asking you to call your Senator now at 202-224-3121 and demand that the Energy Tax vote on “Cap and Trade” be done without “reconciliation” – for a $1 trillion tax increase the Senate should have to have 60 votes instead of 50!
That’s the message in a nutshell.
It’s hard to believe the assault our economic freedoms are under. In fact, it can get down right maddening.
But as Americans we can and must respond the way we do to every serious challenge to our freedom and prosperity – by standing up and fighting.
At Americans for Prosperity, that’s exactly what we are doing.
Source: Tim
President Obama and Speaker Pelosi slam through a $787 billion “stimulus” bill to “save the economy.” Then, they pass a $410 billion omnibus spending bill with 8,500 earmarks even though Obama campaigned on a promise to end earmarks.
Let your Senator Know that a Trillion Dollar Tax Hike Deserves Proper Debate on the Senate Floor
Call the Senate Switch Board at 202-224-3121
or Click here to Send Your Senator a Direct Message
Working with 465,000 Americans who signed on through NoStimulus.com we fought them every step of the way and came within 1 vote of victory in the Senate. We said the “stimulus” bill had waste and abuses in it and we were right more than even we knew.
Did you see the latest outrage?
These $165 million in bonuses to the people who ran AIG into the ground and have now taken over $130 billion in taxpayer bailout money – turns out someone slipped into the 1,000 page “stimulus” bill a provision allowing these bonuses to be paid even after our taxpayer bailout money was given to the company.
That’s what happens when they pass a 1,000 page $787 billion wasteful spending bill…especially when they pass it with no oversight and little study under pressure of politicians like President Obama and Speaker Pelosi.
But now we need to make sure your Senator is aware that we will be paying attention to the truly dangerous $3.6 trillion 2010 Obama budget. Some quick numbers:
Raises taxes by a net of $1.35 TRILLION in next decade – big increases in income taxes and the death tax comes back.
Adds an estimated $1.7 TRILLION in new debt just this year – the actual budget deficit will be an estimated 12% of our total GDP (gross domestic product).
Federal Government spending will account for 27.7% of our total economy. Think about it – the federal government will be spending more than $1 in every $4 spent in the American economy under the Obama budget.
Institutes an Enery Tax on energy totaling over $1 trillion. Gasoline will go up by at least 50%. Home energy costs will skyrocket. Food costs and consumer product costs will rise. This Energy Tax is hidden in a scheme called “Cap and Trade.” This “Cap and Trade” scheme will have the government rationing energy and thus driving up the costs of energy to consumers.
There’s more. President Obama is attempting to pass his “Cap and Trade” scheme with only 50 votes in the Senate instead of the 60 required for most legislation by using a Washington procedural trick called “reconciliation.” Click here for an article by Americans for Prosperity’s own Phil Kerpen that provides more details.
But the bottom line is simple. Unless we act now the Senate may very well use a procedural maneuver to pass this massive Energy Tax called “Cap and Trade” without proper debate and with only 50 votes instead of the 60 that should be required under Senate rules.
I’m asking you to call your Senator now at 202-224-3121 and demand that the Energy Tax vote on “Cap and Trade” be done without “reconciliation” – for a $1 trillion tax increase the Senate should have to have 60 votes instead of 50!
That’s the message in a nutshell.
It’s hard to believe the assault our economic freedoms are under. In fact, it can get down right maddening.
But as Americans we can and must respond the way we do to every serious challenge to our freedom and prosperity – by standing up and fighting.
At Americans for Prosperity, that’s exactly what we are doing.
Source: Tim
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 15 (Republican monthly meeting 2/19/09)
Meeting Minutes
- Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by chairman Ed Hedges
- Invocation led by Milton Wheat
- Pledge of allegiance led by Dick Bauer
- Precinct committeeman Alton Jones tells of his oportunity to attend the Obama inauguration in Washington, D. C on January 20th.
- Guest speaker Nathan Nasciemento of Arizonans in Action, spoke about propositions to protect property rights, limiting government , education reform, transparency and government accountability. He also spoke of a meet and confer order inacted by form Governmor Napolitancy by executive order to empower governmnent service unitions.
- Guest speaker Tom Jenny of Arizonans for prosperity spoke on the state budget and the gaping deficit ahead for 2010 as well.
New Business
Precinct Committeeman John Waughtal read a quote from the January 2009 issue of Imprimus magazine by Henry Morgenthau Treasury Secretary for the FDR administration. “We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work . . . We have never made goon on our promised . . . I say after ieght years of this Administration we have just as much unemployment as when we started . . . And an enormous debt to boot.!”
Secretary Milton Wheat tendered his resignation as secretary for health reasons.
Announcement on the Lincoln Day dinner March 28.
Redistricting will occur after the 2010 census which should affect the Nov. elections. The Democrats in the Legislature will also face term limits.
Ed Hedges announces new incentives for voter registration and PC sign ups.
Work opportunities include County Fair, Crossroads of the West Gun show, voter vault, waling lists, and the National NRA convention in Phoenix..
The meeting concluded with each person sharing their positive story or thoughts.
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Source: Ed Hedges, President, LD15 (Republican)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Arizona Tax Day Tea Party
Dear Arizona Taxpayer:
Please add this important date to your calendar:
What: Arizona Tax Day Tea Party
When: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Where: Arizona State Capitol, Senate Lawn
Who: The AZ chapter of American for Prosperity
-Allied pro-taxpayer organizations
-Hundreds of taxpayer activists from around the state
-Arizona’s best legislators
Why: We need to protest (and stop!) the tax increases proposed by big-spending politicians at the federal, state, and local levels.
How: Please let us know you will attend by sending an email to infoAZ@afphq.org.
More details to come, including information about AFP Arizona’s 2009 Day at the Capitol event, which will take place at the Capitol from noon to 5pm on April 15th, before the Tax Day Tea Party. The Day at the Capitol event will feature training for grassroots taxpayer activists, policy panel discussions, and interaction with state legislators.
Thank you for taking a stand to defend American prosperity!
And please forward this announcement to your friends and family in Arizona.
For Liberty,
Source:
Tom Jenney
State Director
Americans for Prosperity
Please add this important date to your calendar:
What: Arizona Tax Day Tea Party
When: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Where: Arizona State Capitol, Senate Lawn
Who: The AZ chapter of American for Prosperity
-Allied pro-taxpayer organizations
-Hundreds of taxpayer activists from around the state
-Arizona’s best legislators
Why: We need to protest (and stop!) the tax increases proposed by big-spending politicians at the federal, state, and local levels.
How: Please let us know you will attend by sending an email to infoAZ@afphq.org.
More details to come, including information about AFP Arizona’s 2009 Day at the Capitol event, which will take place at the Capitol from noon to 5pm on April 15th, before the Tax Day Tea Party. The Day at the Capitol event will feature training for grassroots taxpayer activists, policy panel discussions, and interaction with state legislators.
Thank you for taking a stand to defend American prosperity!
And please forward this announcement to your friends and family in Arizona.
For Liberty,
Source:
Tom Jenney
State Director
Americans for Prosperity
Friday, March 13, 2009
Apples and Oranges - "Stimulus" Fact and Fiction
We've all read or heard the media stories about the federal "economic stimulus" package that Congress passed at President Obama's urging last month. Love it or hate it, dollars from Washington are coming to states and local communities across America in an effort to jump start the failing economy. One of the big elements of the stimulus legislation is "State Fiscal Stabilization" -- $144 billion that is divided up among each of the 50 state governments to help shore up their operating budgets, mostly to pay for teacher salaries and health care for low-income families or people with disabilities. In Arizona, Governor Brewer has indicated that she's willing to accept stimulus dollars to help deal with the massive deficit we are facing in both the current budget and next year's budget.
In Phoenix, we have been dealing with slowing revenues for many months, and in February approved about $200 million in budget cuts to maintain a balanced budget this year and next as the law requires. These cuts impacted hundreds of City jobs and will reduce services we provide in the community. Because of all of the media attention on the federal stimulus package and our aggressive efforts to bring some of those dollars to projects in our city, you might think that our budget problems will be solved with stimulus money much like the state's budget problem is partly solved with those dollars. If only that were true!
Unlike for state governments, the federal stimulus law provides NO DIRECT FUNDING to cities for ongoing services or operating costs. The vast majority of funding that cities like Phoenix will receive is for capital projects -- much like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) paid for public works all over America during the Great Depression. Stimulus dollars will not, with very minor exception, help with the Phoenix budget shortfall. Unlike the states, we have to solve that problem on our own.
Remember to SHOP PHOENIX and tell your legislators to protect city revenues!
Source: P.L.A.N.
In Phoenix, we have been dealing with slowing revenues for many months, and in February approved about $200 million in budget cuts to maintain a balanced budget this year and next as the law requires. These cuts impacted hundreds of City jobs and will reduce services we provide in the community. Because of all of the media attention on the federal stimulus package and our aggressive efforts to bring some of those dollars to projects in our city, you might think that our budget problems will be solved with stimulus money much like the state's budget problem is partly solved with those dollars. If only that were true!
Unlike for state governments, the federal stimulus law provides NO DIRECT FUNDING to cities for ongoing services or operating costs. The vast majority of funding that cities like Phoenix will receive is for capital projects -- much like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) paid for public works all over America during the Great Depression. Stimulus dollars will not, with very minor exception, help with the Phoenix budget shortfall. Unlike the states, we have to solve that problem on our own.
Remember to SHOP PHOENIX and tell your legislators to protect city revenues!
Source: P.L.A.N.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
CITY REVENUE SHARING UNDER ATTACK!!!
We understand that this Thursday morning the Legislature will consider legislative bills to address a few outstanding FY 2009 budget issues, including, unfortunately, a raid on shared revenue in the current fiscal year.
The information that we have seen contains $17.5 million in shared revenue cuts. If they succeed, Phoenix will take a $5.3 million hit. The City has already made deep budget cuts, totaling more than $200 million. Reductions in public safety, parks, libraries, and street services have already been made. Losing additional monies will place these programs at further risk.
Please take a moment to call your state legislators to express how difficult it would be to wring another $5.1 million out of the current year's City budget. Please ask them not to harm cities by cutting revenue sharing.
Source: P.L.A.N.
The information that we have seen contains $17.5 million in shared revenue cuts. If they succeed, Phoenix will take a $5.3 million hit. The City has already made deep budget cuts, totaling more than $200 million. Reductions in public safety, parks, libraries, and street services have already been made. Losing additional monies will place these programs at further risk.
Please take a moment to call your state legislators to express how difficult it would be to wring another $5.1 million out of the current year's City budget. Please ask them not to harm cities by cutting revenue sharing.
Source: P.L.A.N.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Tell Gov. Brewer, NO NEW TAXES!
Dear Arizona Taxpayer,
Gov. Jan Brewer is trying to get the Arizona Legislature to send a tax increase proposal to the ballot.
The proposal would increase state taxes by a billion dollars a year for three years.
In the middle of a recession.
At a time when many families are already struggling financially and when many businesses are already laying off workers and cutting back on production.
PLEASE CONTACT GOV. BREWER TODAY and tell her you think raising taxes on families and businesses during a recession is a BAD IDEA.
Please send Gov. Brewer a quick email, or better still, leave her a phone message, and ask her to start listening to taxpayers, and to stop listening to the political consultants and fixers who have given her such bad advice.
Source:
Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
Gov. Jan Brewer is trying to get the Arizona Legislature to send a tax increase proposal to the ballot.
The proposal would increase state taxes by a billion dollars a year for three years.
In the middle of a recession.
At a time when many families are already struggling financially and when many businesses are already laying off workers and cutting back on production.
PLEASE CONTACT GOV. BREWER TODAY and tell her you think raising taxes on families and businesses during a recession is a BAD IDEA.
Please send Gov. Brewer a quick email, or better still, leave her a phone message, and ask her to start listening to taxpayers, and to stop listening to the political consultants and fixers who have given her such bad advice.
Source:
Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
Friday, March 6, 2009
Brewer's Ballot Bargain is a Bad Deal for Taxpayers
Dear Arizona Taxpayer,
Gov. Jan Brewer has suggested sending to a special election two proposals designed to help close the gap in the state’s budget deficit.
One proposal is to ask voters to increase state taxes by a billion dollars a year for three years. The other proposal is to ask voters to let the Legislature make cuts to areas of the budget that have been protected from cuts by past voter mandates.
The obvious danger is that if the two proposals go to the ballot separately, the spending lobbies and tax-takers (who are much more well-funded and well-organized than taxpayers) will pass the tax increase and shoot down the authorization for spending cuts.
Even if the Legislature is able to evade the single-subject rule and legally bind the two proposals together (though conditional enactment clauses in both referenda), here is the result:
The spending lobbies get a guaranteed tax increase, but taxpayers only get the possibility of spending reductions in formerly protected budget areas.
In other words, the spenders and tax-takers get their piece of the pie. But we taxpayers might get our piece of the pie, if the political will can actually be found in the Legislature to make the cuts.
Furthermore, there is nothing in the package to keep the state from resuming its pattern of rollercoaster budgeting as soon as the recession is over. Even if the tax increases really are temporary, and really do expire in three years, the state will still be on a budget rollercoaster.
When the tax money comes pouring in again, the politicians will spend every penny that comes in, and leverage that money to spend yet more. They will raise spending to unsustainable levels in order to please the tax-takers and the spending lobbies, just as they did during the last six years. They will create yet another gigantic budget deficit crisis during the next economic downturn, when the revenue falls off. Once again, the politicians will come at us with tax increase proposals. And next time, the “fix” may be a permanent tax increase, rather than a temporary one.
If Arizona taxpayers and fiscal conservatives are even going to begin to consider a ballot bargain package that includes a temporary tax increase, it will have to include the Taxpayer Bill of Rights—the only reform that can stop the spending rollercoaster. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) would create a sustainable upper limit to state spending growth, by limiting the growth in state government to the rate of growth of population plus inflation, with immediate refunds to taxpayers of excess monies.
See this chart for a visual of how TABOR would have worked, had it been in effect since 1993:
http://www.americansforprosperity.org/files/AzGenFund2003-2012--01-31-09.pdf
If TABOR is not in the package, Arizona is better off balancing the budget with the tools currently at the disposal of the Legislature and Governor. They should start with the $2.2 billion in spending reductions suggested by the appropriations chairmen in their January 15 budget, and find creative ways to save the other $1.5 billion by selling state assets, privatizing state functions, and eliminating entitlement fraud.
Source:
Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
Gov. Jan Brewer has suggested sending to a special election two proposals designed to help close the gap in the state’s budget deficit.
One proposal is to ask voters to increase state taxes by a billion dollars a year for three years. The other proposal is to ask voters to let the Legislature make cuts to areas of the budget that have been protected from cuts by past voter mandates.
The obvious danger is that if the two proposals go to the ballot separately, the spending lobbies and tax-takers (who are much more well-funded and well-organized than taxpayers) will pass the tax increase and shoot down the authorization for spending cuts.
Even if the Legislature is able to evade the single-subject rule and legally bind the two proposals together (though conditional enactment clauses in both referenda), here is the result:
The spending lobbies get a guaranteed tax increase, but taxpayers only get the possibility of spending reductions in formerly protected budget areas.
In other words, the spenders and tax-takers get their piece of the pie. But we taxpayers might get our piece of the pie, if the political will can actually be found in the Legislature to make the cuts.
Furthermore, there is nothing in the package to keep the state from resuming its pattern of rollercoaster budgeting as soon as the recession is over. Even if the tax increases really are temporary, and really do expire in three years, the state will still be on a budget rollercoaster.
When the tax money comes pouring in again, the politicians will spend every penny that comes in, and leverage that money to spend yet more. They will raise spending to unsustainable levels in order to please the tax-takers and the spending lobbies, just as they did during the last six years. They will create yet another gigantic budget deficit crisis during the next economic downturn, when the revenue falls off. Once again, the politicians will come at us with tax increase proposals. And next time, the “fix” may be a permanent tax increase, rather than a temporary one.
If Arizona taxpayers and fiscal conservatives are even going to begin to consider a ballot bargain package that includes a temporary tax increase, it will have to include the Taxpayer Bill of Rights—the only reform that can stop the spending rollercoaster. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) would create a sustainable upper limit to state spending growth, by limiting the growth in state government to the rate of growth of population plus inflation, with immediate refunds to taxpayers of excess monies.
See this chart for a visual of how TABOR would have worked, had it been in effect since 1993:
http://www.americansforprosperity.org/files/AzGenFund2003-2012--01-31-09.pdf
If TABOR is not in the package, Arizona is better off balancing the budget with the tools currently at the disposal of the Legislature and Governor. They should start with the $2.2 billion in spending reductions suggested by the appropriations chairmen in their January 15 budget, and find creative ways to save the other $1.5 billion by selling state assets, privatizing state functions, and eliminating entitlement fraud.
Source:
Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
Payday Loan Bill Fails For Now
The payday loan industry cropped up in Arizona in 2000 after the Legislature approved a temporary exemption from consumer loan rules on interest rates. These rules, which cap the interest rate that lenders may charge at 36 percent, are waived until 2010. The debate about payday loan practices has raged ever since. Proposition 200, The Payday Loan Reform Act, would have extended the exemption but was defeated on the 2008 November ballot.
This session, Representative Andy Biggs (R-Gilbert) has introduced HB 2608: Small Installment Loan Acts, that would change Arizona laws relating to small installment loans. Payday loans are a type of small installment loan. The bill would create separate regulations for small installment lenders, including allowing them to charge administrative fees up to 4% of the loan every month. Phoenix staff calculated that the bill could allow interest rates as high as 425%. On Monday, this bill failed in the Banking and Insurance Committee Monday by a vote of 4-4.
Governor Brewer Plan for Remaking State Finances
On Wednesday, Governor Jan Brewer proposed a five-point plan to address Arizona’s budget deficit to a joint House and Senate session. The Governor’s plan includes an additional $1 billion in budget cuts, “structural budget reform,” a special election on whether to reform Proposition 105 (the Voter Protection Act, which prevents lawmakers from changing any voter-approved initiative without a 3/4 supermajority), modernization of the state’s tax structure, and a temporary tax increase. The FY 2010 budget is projected at $3 billion in the red.
The Governor is asking the legislators to avoid a short term view of fixing only the FY10 budget, but rather to submit bills that align with her 5-point, long-term solution. Legislators have a difficult challenge ahead, balancing the concerns of potentially raising taxes, cutting programs and the deciding how to approach Voter Protection Act reform.
Jumpstarting the Phoenix Economy
The Governor says she plans to accept federal stimulus money, and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon has similar plans. The Mayor and Council have endorsed a comprehensive strategy to identify and pursue grant dollars for programs and "shovel ready" projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed by President Obama on February 17. Stay tuned. Until then,
Remember to SHOP PHOENIX and tell your legislators to protect city revenues!
Source: P.L.A.N.
This session, Representative Andy Biggs (R-Gilbert) has introduced HB 2608: Small Installment Loan Acts, that would change Arizona laws relating to small installment loans. Payday loans are a type of small installment loan. The bill would create separate regulations for small installment lenders, including allowing them to charge administrative fees up to 4% of the loan every month. Phoenix staff calculated that the bill could allow interest rates as high as 425%. On Monday, this bill failed in the Banking and Insurance Committee Monday by a vote of 4-4.
Governor Brewer Plan for Remaking State Finances
On Wednesday, Governor Jan Brewer proposed a five-point plan to address Arizona’s budget deficit to a joint House and Senate session. The Governor’s plan includes an additional $1 billion in budget cuts, “structural budget reform,” a special election on whether to reform Proposition 105 (the Voter Protection Act, which prevents lawmakers from changing any voter-approved initiative without a 3/4 supermajority), modernization of the state’s tax structure, and a temporary tax increase. The FY 2010 budget is projected at $3 billion in the red.
The Governor is asking the legislators to avoid a short term view of fixing only the FY10 budget, but rather to submit bills that align with her 5-point, long-term solution. Legislators have a difficult challenge ahead, balancing the concerns of potentially raising taxes, cutting programs and the deciding how to approach Voter Protection Act reform.
Jumpstarting the Phoenix Economy
The Governor says she plans to accept federal stimulus money, and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon has similar plans. The Mayor and Council have endorsed a comprehensive strategy to identify and pursue grant dollars for programs and "shovel ready" projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed by President Obama on February 17. Stay tuned. Until then,
Remember to SHOP PHOENIX and tell your legislators to protect city revenues!
Source: P.L.A.N.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Payday loans
In the case you haven’t heard, Tuesday night was a great night for Arizona. The House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Insurance refused to pass HB2608 because high-cost lenders are not welcome in this state.
This is a great victory, and it’s because of YOU! The committee members reported they received floods of emails and phone calls asking them to vote NO. This bill did not pass because of your civic engagement. THANK YOU.
Here are just a few of the organizations that opposed the measure: Arizona AARP, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, William E. Morris Institute for Justice, Attorney General Terry Goddard, Arizona Consumers Council, All Arizona School Retirees Association, SEIU Arizona, Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition. Numerous individuals wrote in as well. We couldn’t have done with out you!
And, we couldn’t have done without the legislators who know that Arizonans deserve better. Please take the time today to thank them doing what is right.
Doug Quelland (Vice Chair of Banking and Insurance Cmte, District 10), dquelland@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3024, fax: 417-3110
David Bradley (District 28), dbradley@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3300, fax: 417-3028
Cloves C. Campbell, Jr.(District 16); clcampbell@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3042, fax: 417-3117
Robert Meza (District 14), rmeza@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3425, fax: 417-3114
The following members voted YES to HB 2608, which authorizes triple-digit interests and a special carve for a new group of high-cost lenders in this state.
Nancy McLain (Chair of Banking and Insurance Cmte, District 3), nmclain@azleg.gov, phone: 926-5051, fax: 417-3003
Cecil P. Ash (District 18), cash@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3160, fax: 417-3151
Carl Seel (District 6), cseel@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3018, fax: 417-3006
Andrew M. Tobin (District 1), atobin@azleg.gov, phone: 926-5172, fax: 417-3085
Thank you all again for a great victory! We don’t think we have heard the last of this bill, so please stay tuned for updates and stay involved.
Source: Walt Gray
This is a great victory, and it’s because of YOU! The committee members reported they received floods of emails and phone calls asking them to vote NO. This bill did not pass because of your civic engagement. THANK YOU.
Here are just a few of the organizations that opposed the measure: Arizona AARP, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, William E. Morris Institute for Justice, Attorney General Terry Goddard, Arizona Consumers Council, All Arizona School Retirees Association, SEIU Arizona, Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition. Numerous individuals wrote in as well. We couldn’t have done with out you!
And, we couldn’t have done without the legislators who know that Arizonans deserve better. Please take the time today to thank them doing what is right.
Doug Quelland (Vice Chair of Banking and Insurance Cmte, District 10), dquelland@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3024, fax: 417-3110
David Bradley (District 28), dbradley@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3300, fax: 417-3028
Cloves C. Campbell, Jr.(District 16); clcampbell@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3042, fax: 417-3117
Robert Meza (District 14), rmeza@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3425, fax: 417-3114
The following members voted YES to HB 2608, which authorizes triple-digit interests and a special carve for a new group of high-cost lenders in this state.
Nancy McLain (Chair of Banking and Insurance Cmte, District 3), nmclain@azleg.gov, phone: 926-5051, fax: 417-3003
Cecil P. Ash (District 18), cash@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3160, fax: 417-3151
Carl Seel (District 6), cseel@azleg.gov, phone: 926-3018, fax: 417-3006
Andrew M. Tobin (District 1), atobin@azleg.gov, phone: 926-5172, fax: 417-3085
Thank you all again for a great victory! We don’t think we have heard the last of this bill, so please stay tuned for updates and stay involved.
Source: Walt Gray
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Debate on Economic Stimulus
Upcoming Events for Valley Taxpayer Activists:
AFP Arizona on KJZZ. Wednesday, March 4, 11:00 a.m. to noon, 91.5 FM. AFP Arizona director Tom Jenney, Eileen Klein, and Alfredo Gutierrez will discuss whether the state should use tax increases to cover its gigantic deficit. My answer is No.
Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Is stimulus spending by government one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century? Or is it the economic equivalent of crystal meth? (You know where I stand!) Local policy experts (including your AFP Arizona director) will debate the wisdom of government fiscal stimulus at a forum sponsored by the Phoenix College Business Club. The debate will take place from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in room C102 at Phoenix College, which is located at 1202 W. Thomas Road in downtown Phoenix.
I’m not sure if you’re supposed to bring signs saying “No More Bailouts!” to an Oxford-style debate, but why not?
Source:
Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
AFP Arizona on KJZZ. Wednesday, March 4, 11:00 a.m. to noon, 91.5 FM. AFP Arizona director Tom Jenney, Eileen Klein, and Alfredo Gutierrez will discuss whether the state should use tax increases to cover its gigantic deficit. My answer is No.
Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Is stimulus spending by government one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century? Or is it the economic equivalent of crystal meth? (You know where I stand!) Local policy experts (including your AFP Arizona director) will debate the wisdom of government fiscal stimulus at a forum sponsored by the Phoenix College Business Club. The debate will take place from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in room C102 at Phoenix College, which is located at 1202 W. Thomas Road in downtown Phoenix.
I’m not sure if you’re supposed to bring signs saying “No More Bailouts!” to an Oxford-style debate, but why not?
Source:
Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
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