In the era of the stupid voter, I have to agree with the Senate President on this one.

Here are the key sentences from Howie Fischer and Capitol Media Services:

Senate President Bob Burns, R-Peoria, said Monday he has a “gut feeling” that a proposal for a temporary tax hike would turn into a one-sided campaign, with his personal position against the increase on the losing side. Burns said he believes that every group that hopes to get money from the taxes would pull out all the stops – and spend whatever it takes – to get it approved.

But the governor said that won’t be enough to deal with an anticipated $3 billion deficit. So she asked lawmakers to raise an extra $1 billion a year for up to three years in new taxes.

The governor said lawmakers are free to do that themselves. But Burns said there isn’t the necessary two-thirds margin in the House and Senate to do that.

Putting it on the ballot takes only a simple majority.

“This would probably not be a fair fight if it went to the ballot,” Burns said. “The group that would be loaded with resources to run a campaign would be those who would end up on the receiving end of those increased tax dollars.

“I don’t know we would have the same level of resources and so forth to hold that off. If it goes to the ballot and it’s a one-sided campaign, that’s dangerous.”

The same is true, he said, of a call by Brewer to alter a 1998 constitutional provision that now bars legislators from altering anything that voters themselves have adopted.

The governor said that change is necessary to give legislators maximum flexibility in deciding how to allocate the dollars they have to meet the state’s needs.

Voters also have mandated that everyone below the federal poverty level get free health care. And they also enacted an 80-cents-a-pack tax on cigarettes with the cash specifically earmarked for programs on early childhood development.

Burns said none of those special interests are likely to give up the funding without a fight.

Lawmakers shouldn’t refer tax increase to the ballot
By Tom Patterson

Harry Truman once said of tough decisions, “the buck stops here.” Some Arizona lawmakers, though, appear to prefer that the buck stop “over there” as they consider referring a tax increase to the ballot rather than making the call themselves.

It’s understandable. They’re truly in a tough spot dealing with the massive fiscal irresponsibility of the Napolitano years. Now legislators who promised not to raise taxes are wavering and would like some cover.

But this is a bad idea. A vote to refer a tax increase to the ballot is a vote for a possible tax increase. Most legislators campaigned as fiscal conservatives who would protect taxpayers in these tough times. Now we need for them to stand up to their promises. The effect of a tax increase on Arizona’s struggling families and businesses is identical whether passed at the ballot or by the Legislature.

Citizens aren’t being cut out of the process either–they can’t be. If a tax increase is so popular and necessary, they always have the right to put one on the ballot themselves through the initiative process.

Moreover, a legislative tax increase would require a 2/3 super-majority vote, while referral to the ballot requires only a majority. Lawmakers would actually be doing an end run around a major taxpayer protection by referring the tax increase to the ballot.

Lawmakers would like to put the onus for a tax increase back on the voters and pretend that they had no primary role. But they can’t avoid responsibility. Lawmakers should step up, be accountable and do the job they were elected to do.

Tom Patterson is chairman of the Goldwater Institute and a former state senator.