In case you missed it, the Arizona Executive and Legislative branches are embroiled in a battle over expanding Obamacare’s Medicaid program in Arizona. Here is the latest Friday poll gauging our reader’s position on this issue. Votes are scheduled in the Arizona House next week.
Friday Poll: Do You Support/Oppose Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion in Arizona?
May 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Medicaid Expansion: Been There, Done That
May 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
To all Arizona taxpayers and health care consumers:
When it comes to the fiscal costs and human damage of expanding Medicaid/AHCCCS under ObamaCare, we know that things will turn out badly. How do we know? Because we’ve been there, and we’ve done that. Here is what past experience, here in Arizona and elsewhere, tells us about the proposed expansion:
1) The Medicaid expansion will cost much more than projected.
2) The expansion may do nothing to help low-income Arizonans — and could hurt them.
3) The so-called “hidden health tax” won’t get fixed.
4) Arizona must bargain hard to get a better deal.
5) The disgusting ploy to gut Prop 108 taxpayer protections will lead to more tax hikes.
You can read more about each of those items below, and TAKE ACTION HERE. And click onthis link for info about the health care freedom protest at the Arizona Capitol on May 15.
1) The Medicaid expansion will cost much more than projected.
None of the promised fiscal results of Arizona’s last Medicaid/AHCCCS expansion (enacted by voters through Prop 204 in 2000) actually materialized. Prop 204 backers promised that the AHCCCS expansion would save money in the state budget. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee was somewhat wiser, knowing that the expansion would cost the state money. The committee projected that covering the Prop 204 population would cost $389 million in 2008. But the actual cost was $1.623 billion — four times as expensive as projected!
And of course, the projected $2 billion in federal matching funds is not “free.” Certainly not for federal taxpayers — including millions of Arizonans. According to the Goldwater Institute’sChristina Corieri, if Arizona and 11 other fence-sitter States join the 18 States that have already said No to the ObamaCare Medicaid expansion, the country could save $609 billion by 2022. That’s real money — even in Washington!
2) The expansion may do nothing to help low-income Arizonans — and could hurt them.
Several studies suggest that Medicaid may actually hurt its supposed beneficiaries, but there has been only one randomized study (the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment) comparing persons on Medicaid to persons having no insurance at all. According to results released last week, the study has so far failed to find any evidence that putting people on Medicaid saved any lives or made any improvements in several objective health markers (blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes).
Things will get worse in AHCCCS the longer ObamaCare goes without being repealed. In Arizona, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 23 percent of doctors say they will not accept AHCCCS patients. Combine large increases in the Medicaid population with a declining number of doctors, and the result will be longer waiting times for patients. In medicine, longer waiting times often mean discomfort, disability and death. Read more about the human cost of the Medicaid expansion HERE.
3) The so-called “hidden health tax” won’t get fixed.
The proponents of the current Medicaid expansion estimate that there is a “hidden health tax” of $2,000 per family per year in higher insurance premiums caused by uncompensated care(uninsured or underinsured people using the emergency room). 13 years ago, backers of the Prop 204 Medicaid expansion made the same argument, claiming that the expansion was going to relieve the state’s uncompensated care problem. But according to a Lewin Group study,uncompensated care in Arizona increased by an average of nine percent per year during the first seven years of the Prop 204 Medicaid expansion, and the average family’s health insurance premium increased from $8,972 in 2003 to $14,854 in 2011 – a 66 percent increase.
Before you believe the hospital lobby’s arguments about uncompensated care, be sure to read Christina Corieri’s latest post: Medicaid expansion will line hospitals’ pockets.
4) Arizona must bargain hard to get a better deal.
The main reason Arizona’s Medicaid system (AHCCCS) is not as bad as that in most other States is that Arizona waited two decades to join the Medicaid program. Because we held out, we were able to bargain for a better deal – a Medicaid program that has been better at controlling costs and has provided better options for patients than in many other States.
But Governor Brewer’s team has failed to even try negotiating with Obama’s department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In its most recent message about the Section 1115 waiver, HHS said “we do not anticipate that we would authorize enrollment caps or similar policies” while still letting States get 2-to-1 matching dollars. But of course, “we do not anticipate” is not the same thing as saying “No.” Right now, HHS is in the position of having to negotiate with States, because 18 States have already said No to the Medicaid expansion, and 12 States are still on the fence. At this point, we don’t know if HHS really means “No,” because the Governor’s team simply threw up the white flag and capitulated to the demands of the Obama Administration.
Further, the Governor’s cost projections are based on AHCCCS coverage under cookie cutter Medicaid rules – in other words, how much things will cost if we capitulate and run AHCCCS according to federal diktat, without negotiating for better ways to run the program.
5) The disgusting ploy to gut Prop 108 taxpayer protections will lead to more tax hikes.
Proponents of the ObamaCare Medicaid expansion are trying to do an end-run around Prop 108, the most important taxpayer protection in the Arizona Constitution. Under Prop 108, it is supposed to take a two-thirds majority of the Legislature to raise taxes. But Medicaid expansion proponents want to allow an unelected bureaucrat at AHCCCS to raise state taxes (mainlyhospital bed taxes) by hundreds of millions of dollars per year — without a two-thirds vote of the Legislature!
In their efforts to squeeze a giant hospital bed tax (“provider tax”) through a tiny loophole in Prop 108, Governor Brewer and others are trying to pretend that the provider tax is not a tax — even though the provider tax is a TAX under the Social Security Act. They are also trying to pretend that: the provider tax is not allocated according to formula, although it plainly is; the provider tax does not have a limit, although it is limited by federal law to six percent; and, we don’t know how much money will be raised by the tax, even though the Governor and some Legislators are building budgets around the expected revenue.
History shows that removing taxpayer protections inevitably leads to higher taxes. If Arizona’s Legislators delegate to an AHCCCS bureaucrat the authority to impose gigantic taxes on hospital patients, they will kill Prop 108, clearing the way for other departments and agencies to raise taxes without getting approval by legislative supermajorities.
To block the ObamaCare Medicaid expansion and to stop the end-run around Arizona’s constitutional taxpayer protections, TAKE ACTION HERE. For more information about the May 15 health care freedom protest at the Arizona Capitol, go here.
For Liberty, Tom
Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
www.aztaxpayers.org
Phoenix Business Owner Says Mayor Needs To Keep Campaign Promise Regarding Food Tax
April 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
(Phoenix, AZ) It seems there were a lot of questions directed at Mayor Stanton at a community meeting held at the Mayo Clinic on April 23rd. But it wasn’t zoning laws or the need to fix our streets that was on most people’s minds, it was the food tax. In fact some of the residents that attended wanted to know why Mayor Stanton isn’t keeping his campaign promise that he made to repeal it like he did during his campaign. While Mayor Stanton continued to tell residents that the tax is needed to keep fire and police services operating, Phoenix business owner and city resident Nohl Rosen reminded him that he needs to keep his promise to the people.
“As a business owner when I make a promise to a customer, I honor it as that is what your supposed to do because it’s good service. I simply reminded the Mayor that he made a promise to the citizens of Phoenix and that he needs to keep it,” Rosen said.
However, during the meeting which was also attended by City Council members Jim Waring and Bill Gates, it was revealed that the food tax was used to give pay raises to city employees and also fund golf courses.
“When the food tax was put into affect 3 years ago, the citizens were told that it was to keep fire and police services going. Now we find out that the money wasn’t used for its intended purpose. Still, Mayor Stanton during his campaign said he would repeal the food tax and hasn’t done it. That would be the honorable thing to do and also sets things right. Just what is the Mayor waiting for?” Rosen further asked.
Rosen says he’s considering doing more of his shopping in Scottsdale and other neighboring cities to fulfill regular household needs until the food tax is repealed and encouraging others to do the same.
Sal DiCiccio: Phoenix Food Tax, Broken Promises
March 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Follow me on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.
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Mayor Stanton made an announcement on Thursday that he would not fulfill his campaign promise to repeal the food tax. Along with many Phoenicians, I am very disappointed in his decision. The citizens have relied on this commitment and, once again, their city is letting them down.
The middle class and the poor are the ones who will be impacted the most. What makes this decision even more unfortunate is that over $106 million in pay raises have been doled out to city employees while Phoenix citizens have not seen one penny of relief.
You have my commitment to protect you and your family. I will continue to push for the repeal of this tax that was passed deceptively with barely 24 hour notice.
The credibility of the City of Phoenix has been damaged. The ability of people to trust the word of Phoenix officials has further diminished. As I continue my fight to repeal the food tax, I will also strive to restore people’s faith in government.
AZ Republic columnist Laurie Roberts’ article on Stanton’s announcement
My best to you and your family,
Sal DiCiccio
City of Phoenix Councilman, District 6
602-262-7491
council.district.6@phoenix.gov
*Any e-mail you send to council.district.6@phoenix.gov will be subject to the Arizona Open Records Law and may be reviewed by the Arizona Republic.
Provider Taxes: The Medicaid Funding Scam
March 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Medicaid is a complex and burdensome system, nationally covering 55 million low-income individuals, and costing taxpayers $400 billion per year. Watch the video below to find out how states work with providers to fleece federal taxpayers – that’s You! – by using “provider taxes” as an excuse to increase funding.
#SayNOtoMedicaidDependency
Maricopa GOP Votes Down Medicaid Expansion in Arizona
March 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
March, 2013
A RESOLUTION OF THE EXECUTIVE GUIDANCE COMMITTEE (EGC) OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE (MCRC) MARICOPA COUNTY, STATE OF ARIZONA
IN OPPOSITION TO
THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED EXPANSION OF MEDICAID (AHCCCS) IN SUPPORT OF OBAMACARE
WHEREAS, Arizona voters clearly expressed their will to reject implementation of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the individual mandate by amending the Arizona Constitution in 2010 via the Arizona Health Insurance Reform Amendment, Proposition 106; and
WHEREAS, the “circuit breaker” clause is insufficient to prevent out of control escalation of enrollment and the long term costs will cause severe financial hardship on Arizona’s budget; and
WHEREAS, the “assessment” on hospitals is actually a tax and a disingenuous attempt to subvert Arizona’s Constitution and legislative process requiring tax increases receive supermajority approval in the legislature; and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court ruled that each State may reject the expansion of Medicaid and Insurance Exchanges, the two cornerstones of Obamacare, without which it collapses; and
WHEREAS, the best method to honor Arizona voters’ wishes to reject Obamacare is for each State to refuse implementation and allow Obamacare to fail; and
WHEREAS, supporting a government takeover of Arizona’s health care system, even to secure large amounts of federal funds, does not reflect the values of the Republican Party or the interests of the taxpayers of Arizona.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Executive Guidance Committee of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, Maricopa County, State of Arizona, does affirm and declare our opposition to the Governor’s plan to expand Medicaid; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Executive Guidance Committee of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, Maricopa County, State of Arizona, demands that the Arizona State Legislators uphold the rule of law set forth by Proposition 108 requiring a supermajority vote in this matter; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED by the Executive Guidance Committee of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, Maricopa County, State of Arizona, demands that the Arizona State Legislators stand with the people of Arizona in opposition to the Governor’s plan to expand Medicaid by defeating any bill to such ends.
Author: Eric Morgan, Chairman, LD22 Republican Committee
PASSED & APPROVED this 7th day of March 2013, by a vote of 26 (ayes) to 2 (nays) to 0 (abstentions) of the Executive Guidance Committee of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, Maricopa County, State of Arizona.
MARICOPA COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
MARICOPA COUNTY, STATE OF ARIZONA:
A. J. LaFaro
________________________________________
by: A. J. LaFaro, Chairman
Maricopa County Republican Committee
The Shadow of Big Government
March 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
By Thomas Purcell
It’s been said that ennui and employment are simply incompatible. Obviously the person that said that has never lived in a country run by statists.
Yesterday I spoke with an old friend; we worked together for a few years back in the early 90’s during a roaring economy here in Arizona. He was still in the same business today, but was explaining that he was going to leave the business to sell something else, as his business was awful.
He explained some issues revolving around his financial situation, living condition etc. but basically all his problems revolved around a lack of money.
“People just aren’t buying stuff. It’s not 1995 you know” he explained.
As the conversation ended I realized that this was not the first time I heard it. Everywhere people were saying that exact expression, ‘it’s not the 1990’s you know’ or ‘it’s not what it was’. Funny thing though, the President swore his policies were the same as Clinton’s just a few short months ago at the Democratic convention.
Even people who are working are taking on roommates, working two jobs, or doing something more to make ends meet. They stay in unhappy or violent relationships because they have no other place to go; they stay in jobs with bosses they hate because they are uncertain about their prospects for another job, they take less money than they think they are worth to avoid layoffs.
Thomas Purcell
Then they go home at night and sit in front of the TV or computer rather than going out because they are worn out from work and have no money for extras and take their medication to get through another day.
A quiet ennui has settled over the land as we continue to accept less, work more, and feed more of our money to a hungry government. We worry about government inspectors who look over our shoulder, we worry about that report that needs to be filled out for the state, and we read the emails from the boss on the new regulations and change our procedures once again.
This is the legacy of big government. It’s not the promise of a utopic society; it’s the nightmare of government telling us what to do and how to behave. It’s like living with your parents again and working for minimum wage hoping that you can save enough to move out.
We passed laws yesterday to enhance programs to protect women from violence, but fail to address the real issue causing societal unrest—the pressure of working too hard, for too little, with too much oversight—which leads to violence in the first place, not just at home, but at work and school. Like too many rats in cage with too little cheese, eventually the rats being to prey on each other. Men blame women for a feeling of emasculation and so they kill their wives in a fit of rage. School kids blame classmates for being bullied and the schoolmasters for allowing to happen and so they go ballistic and massacre them. Workers ‘go postal’ at the guy in the cubicle next to them as they pop their gum one too many times, or they fail to get that promotion that the boss decides they can’t afford.
How often do we see it happen where men prefer killing everyone rather than go through the financial chaos of divorce? Or criminals commit suicide rather than face the prospect of prison and humiliation?
Instead we decide more programs are necessary and exacerbate the problem. Each new program now costs 5 times what they say, since we have to borrow to pay for it, increase the taxes to compensate, and return the principle at compounding interest. The debt piles up and the pressure piles on. All those little programs are straws that beginning to break the camel’s back—we are bankrupt and are foolishly thinking of cutting the defense of our nation and the safety net for our elderly when we are sick and old.
A pall has fallen over the land; the shadow of big government.
Read more of Thomas Purcell at his blog: www.Thomas-Purcell.com
NFIB Statement on Defeat of Proposition 116
November 9, 2012 by 1 Comment
Statement from Farrell Quinlan, the Arizona State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB):
“Arizona’s small business job creators experienced a very discouraging and disappointing election night. As the prospects for repealing and replacing the federal health-care law faded, we also learned that Proposition 116 had failed — attracting only 43.5 percent of the vote in Arizona. The NFIB-written constitutional amendment, called the Small Business Job Creation Act, would have rolled back the job-killing personal property tax and spurred small businesses to invest in the new equipment and machinery necessary to sustain new job creation.
“We are grateful to Senate President-elect Andy Biggs for sponsoring the referendum and NFIB-member, small-business owner Doug Click of Arizona Hi-Lift for serving as chairman of the Vote YES on 116 campaign. Moreover, we are thankful for and proud to serve the thousands of small-business owners throughout the state who backed Proposition 116 and support NFIB’s continuing efforts to make Arizona a more job-friendly state.
“It is hard to amend the Arizona Constitution, and it ought to be hard. We knew more than a year ago when we began drafting the referendum that success at the ballot would be difficult under the best of circumstances. Despite over-performing in fostering those ‘best of circumstances’ by gaining unanimous, bipartisan support in the Legislature and satisfying potential opponents that Proposition 116 was good public policy, we under-performed in making our case to voters.
“Ironically, the lack of opposition to Proposition 116 and its broad support among opinion leaders stubbornly worked against the Vote YES on 116 campaign’s effort to raise enough funds to take our message to a wider audience on television and radio. Its charmed status as a ‘no-brainer’ made it nearly impossible to convince enough potential contributors that giving to the Vote YES on 116 campaign was a more critical investment than other priorities.
“NFIB remains committed to lowering the cost of private investment in job creation in Arizona. We look forward to continuing our excellent working relationships with Gov. Jan Brewer, House Speaker Andy Tobin, Senate President-elect Andy Biggs, Senate Democratic Leader Leah Landrum Taylor, House Democratic Leader Chad Campbell and every lawmaker. As always, NFIB will work to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses.”
NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association with 350,000 members nationwide and 7,500 in Arizona and has offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.
ACT NOW to stop the Prop 204 Tax Hike
November 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment
URGENT Action Items Below
Dear Arizona Taxpayer,
AFP-Arizona Needs YOU to help us defeat Proposition 204!
While current polling shows that Arizona voters are prepared to reject the Prop 204 tax hike on Tuesday, we must keep the heat turned up in the last days before the election.
The facts on Proposition 204 are simple: It makes the temporary sales tax increase PERMANENT, which would cost Arizona taxpayers an additional $1 billion per year and potentially cost the state 15,000 jobs. Arizona families are already hurting in a bad economy, and this is worst time to raise taxes and harm economic growth. Prop 204 also provides an already bloated education bureaucracy – Arizona’s total education spending has increased over 60% in the last decade, even as a smaller percentage of funds has gone to the classroom – with even more money, while failing to provide real reform to Arizona’s education system.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION!
AFP-Arizona is asking you to do the following:[1]
• Take whatever NO on 204 yard signs you may have to your nearest polling location on Monday night (Nov 5).
• Take any extra NO on 204 yard signs you may have to key polling locations (use the email below to ask Bill where your closest key locations are).
• Hand out anti-204 literature at your nearest polling place on Tuesday (use the email below to ask Bill for a printable version of AFP-AZ’s anti-204 talking points).
• Per Arizona law, no materials (yard signs, literature, etc.) may be distributed or placed within 75 feet of polling locations.
Please contact Bill Fathauer AS SOON AS POSSIBLE at 480-332-0477 orbfathauer@afphq.org to volunteer for these actions. (If you contact Bill today, or over the weekend, you will help us reduce our workload on Monday and Tuesday.) Even if you can only volunteer for an hour or two, your help will be vital in stopping a massive tax hike that will damage the Arizona economy.
Thank you and keep up the good fight!
For Liberty, Tom
Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
tjenney@afphq.org
(602) 478-0146
No New Taxes, No on 204 Releases “5 Reasons”
October 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
PHOENIX — No New Taxes, No on 204 today released its newest television advertisement titled, “5 Reasons.” Business and community leaders across the state all agree that the $1 billion permanent sales tax burden that Prop 204 will place on hardworking families and small business owners is bad public policy. Although there are 100 things wrong with the initiative, the top five reasons are highlighted in this 30 second spot.
Script For “5 Reasons:”
VIDEO TEXT: 5 REASONS TO VOTE NO ON PROP 204
VIDEO TEXT: 1 – LARGEST PERMANENT TAX INCREASE IN ARIZONA HISTORY
1 BILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR
ANNOUNCER: “5 reasons to vote no on Prop 204. 204 is the largest permanent tax increase in Arizona’s history.”
VIDEO TEXT: 2 – SECOND HIGHEST SALES TAXES IN AMERICA
ANNOUNCER: “Arizona would have the second highest sales taxes in America.”
VIDEO TEXT: 3 – NO EDUCATION REFORM
ANNOUNCER: “Groups all across Arizona say 204 has no education reform.”
VIDEO TEXT: 4 – WRITTEN BY SPECIAL INTERESTS IN SECRET
ANNOUNCER: “204 was written by special interests in secret.”
VIDEO TEXT: 5 – ARIZONA REPUBLIC STRONGLY OPPOSES
ANNOUNCER: “And The Republic opposes 204 saying it:
“…is bad public policy…burdening the poor far more than the well-to-do…”
VIDEO TEXT: VOTE NO ON PROP 204
ANNOUNCER: “Vote No on 204.”
To learn more about Proposition 204, please visit www.VoteNoOn204.com.
Five Reasons to Vote NO on Proposition 204
October 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The No New Taxes, No on 204 campaign committee released the following new ad this morning. The ad takes 30 seconds to describe five reasons why Arizona voters should vote NO on the proposition.
Arizona Proposition 204: No tax rate should be permanent
October 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
By Graydon Holt
One of the most outlandish aspects of the Proposition 204 power grab is the permanent increase in the state sales tax rate. It is a poison pill that should sink the initiative on Election Day.
No tax rate should be permanent. Elected officials should always have the authority to set tax rates to meet changing economic conditions and the will of the taxpayers.
The one-cent increase would give Arizona the second highest sales tax in the nation, a sure fire way to gouge family budgets and hurt every business in the state. The regressive sales tax hits low and medium income the hardest. It makes everything consumers buy more expensive.
The Proposition 204 sales tax increase is a shameless exploitation of the genuine financial crisis in 2010 during the darkest days of the recession when state tax revenue went way down. Both taxpayers and lawmakers rallied to increase the sales tax rate by one cent to fund education and other essential services.
Everyone understood that the sales tax increase was temporary. It is set to expire next year. Proposition 204 supporters want to exploit the 2010 crisis, make the tax hike permanent, and take tax policy out of the hands of state lawmakers.
No wonder every business group in the state opposes Proposition 204. Every taxpayer should oppose it too. It is bad tax policy that should be rejected on November 6.
Follow Graydon Holt’s columns at Western Free Press.
Proposition 204 is More Trick than Treat
October 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Dear Friends,
Over a year ago, proponents of Prop 204 thought that their special interest funded ballot initiative would pass without protest. Now, as the campaign heads into its final week, Prop 204, the $1 Billion dollar permanent tax increase, is more unpopular than ever.
Proponents of Prop 204 thought their taxpayer giveaway would go unchallenged, but because of you, polls are showing that Arizonans are not interested in an initiative that does not promise real reform, accountability, or oversight. The message that Prop 204 is bad for Arizona families and business is spreading throughout the state.
We are grateful for the momentum that has been created by community activists, elected officials, and business leaders who have publicly opposed and continue to fight this horribly misguided ballot initiative.
The coalition to defeat Prop 204 grows by the day. The list is made even more impressive by your continuous support and effort. Even the Arizona Republic agrees:
“While the intention may be laudable, the likely unintended consequences of Prop. 204, the largest permanent tax increase in state history, are deeply worrisome.”
Please join US Senator Jon Kyl, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, and over 45-mayors and city councilmembers from across the state by voting NO on Prop 204 on November 6.
Lastly, let your family, neighbors, and coworkers know about how Prop 204 actually does very little for education, but fills the pockets of politically connected special interests.
We need to finish strong; we need to defeat Prop 204 and send the message that we want real education reform. Thank you for your continued support!
Thank you,
Doug Ducey
Chairman – No New Taxes, No on Prop 204
Proposition 116′s Fate Awaits Election Day
October 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Facebook: Vote YES on 116
Twitter: @VoteYESon116
As the VoteYESon116 campaign heads into the home stretch, small business job creators are optimistic that Arizona’s voters will pass Proposition 116, the Small Business Job Creation Act. The unanimously-passed referendum would create new jobs in Arizona by rolling back the burdensome annual equipment and machinery tax that’s levied before a small business hires its first worker, makes its first sale or even turns a profit. To keep up on developments with the campaign, visit these sites and share them with your family, friends, neighbors and anyone who values your opinion:
OFFICIAL RESOURCES
VoteYESon116 – visit the official “yes” campaign website to learn more about the referendum
“What’s on My Ballot? – Proposition 116, Arizona’s General Election Guide 2012” – an official publication of the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office
NEWS COVERAGE
“Voters to decide fate of tax exemption for businesses” – newspaper coverage by the Arizona Republic’s Ryan Randazzo
“Proposition 116 supporters say it would spur hiring” – Cronkite News’ Sarah Pringle explains Proposition 116′s impact on job creation
“Prop. 116 supporters: Lower business property taxes would spur hiring” – wire service coverage at KTAR radio’s website from the Associated Press
“Prop 116: Business tax exemption on ballot” – newspaper coverage in the Yuma Sun by Capitol Media Service’s Howard Fischer
NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS
“Our position… Proposition 116: Support” – Arizona Republic, October 18, 2012
“Courier: Yes on Proposition 116” – Prescott Daily Courier, October 20, 2012
“Proposition 116 — Yes” – Casa Grande Dispatch, October 24, 2012
“Vote for the good of business” – Inside Tucson Business, October 12, 2012
“Proposition 116 would stimulate state economy” – Yuma Sun, October 4, 2012
VIDEOS
VoteYESon116 “I’ll Hire” Commercial
VoteYESon116 “Cupcake” Commercial
“Vote 2012: Proposition 116” – a 7 minute 23 second video from Eight, Arizona PBS’s Arizona Horizon program on Proposition 116 with NFIB’s Farrell Quinlan
“Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett’s 2012 Ballot Measure Town Hall. Proposition 116 – Taxes on Business Equipment & Machinery” – a two-minute video on why voters should pass Proposition 116 featuring NFIB/Arizona’s Farrell Quinlan
“Proposition 116 increases tax exemption for businesses” – a 1 minute 26 second video from Cronkite News reporter Mugo Odigwe features small-business-owner Margie Long of Hot Air Expeditions and NFIB’s Farrell Quinlan on the effects of Proposition 116 on job creation
ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS
Americans For Prosperity – Arizona
American Rental Association – Arizona
AMIGOS (Arizona Mining and Industry Gets Our Support)
Arizona Cattle Feeders’ Association
Arizona Cattle Grower’s Association
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Arizona Farm Bureau Federation
Arizona Multihousing Association
Arizona Technology Council
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce
Goldwater Institute
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
National Federation of Independent Business – Arizona
Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce
Printing Industries of Arizona
Tempe Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce
United Dairymen of Arizona
Western Growers
VOTER GUIDE: Democrat Kyrsten Sinema on Taxes, in Her Own Words [ @KyrstenSinema ]
October 30, 2012 by 1 Comment
Democrat congressional candidate and criminal defense lawyer Kyrsten Sinema served for six years in the State House under Republican control, and one year in the State Senate under Republican control. She complained throughout those years that Arizona families were undertaxed. She even called Arizona “our tax-starved state.” Fortunately, Republicans would not let tax increase bills be voted on during her years in office, denying her a chance to raise your taxes. (Now, like a guy who kills his parents then pleads for mercy as an orphan, Sinema boasts she did not vote for tax increases, after complaining for years that the GOP would not act on her tax increase demands!) She must think Arizona voters are stupid … or perhaps leeches. Let’s look at her own words.
Here is Sinema’s state tax increase plan as provided to the Arizona Republic. Note that each one of her ideas would devastate entire sectors of the state’s economy:
[R]aising taxes is more economically sound than cutting vital social services …. In Arizona, there are a number of techniques that we could use …. Broadening the sales tax to include services, closing exemptions on sales tax items, reinstating the state property tax, and eliminating tax credits are just some of the strategies to create a more broad revenue stream to fund Arizona’s important programs. I do not support irresponsible pledges to “not raise taxes” … our tax-starved state relies on.
…
We are a starved budget in a recession…. As mentioned above, I advocate broadening the sales tax to include taxing personal and business services, such as telemarketing, auto repair, and hair and manicure services. This alone would generate roughly $565 million to the state budget per year. I support restoring the sales tax to items currently exempted, such as health club memberships. By restoring the sales tax by closing these exemptions, the state’s revenue would increase about $1.4 billion per year. I support expanding the sales tax to include Internet sales…. I advocate eliminating tax credits such as the education tax credit … and the enterprise zone tax credit.
Wow: by her own calculations, in a failing economy, she is demanding $2 BILLION annually in new state taxes, and that’s not even counting her plan to reinstate the state property tax. She is virtually alone in America in calling for tax increases during a recession.
Separately, she promised to “greatly increase” capital gains taxes on families and “greatly increase” corporate taxes. ["Kyrsten Sinema – Political Positions,” Project Vote Smart 2006.] America already has the highest corporate taxes in the world, which helps drive jobs overseas. Even Barack Obama said he is open to reducing the corporate tax rate. What’s more, guess what happens when corporate taxes are increased? Companies raise their prices. So this is a hidden way for liberal Democrats to stick it to the middle class to fund their pet projects: raise taxes on businesses, and the higher retail prices that result are seldom linked back to the politicians who caused it.
But there’s more! Sinema wrote a bill to create a new, 25-CENT TAX on EVERY plastic bag you use at a supermarket, convenience store, fast food restaurant and other retail establishment – even including dry cleaner bags. She’d also nail you with a 15 cent tax for every paper bag. That’ll teach those work at home moms she calls leeches!
She also opposed a 2008 Arizona ballot initiative to ban all real property sales or transfer taxes, and another one to make it harder to raise taxes or increase government spending by requiring initiatives to pass by a majority of all registered voters. She called them “stinkers” and organized a group to oppose them. [“Unite and Conquer: How to build coalitions that win—and last,” by Kyrsten Sinema (2009), p. 67.]
What about federal taxes?
In June of this year, Sinema said we should let all the Bush-Obama tax relief expire this coming January, which would be a $5.4 TRILLION tax increase over 10 years. Even her Democratic primary opponents were flabbergasted by this job-killing promise. Fellow Democrat Andrei Cherny wrote:
“this is not the time to be raising taxes on the middle class. Just recently, one of my opponents, Kyrsten Sinema, vowed to repeal the Bush tax cuts in total …. This speaks to her values and approach and I think it is the wrong way to deal with a middle class that is getting battered.”
The Sinema tax increase would nail every middle class taxpayer in America and drive our teetering economy off a cliff. US economic growth in 2012 under President Obama is less than 2% (by contrast, growth in China is around 8%). Her tax increase would send us back into recession.
Finally, consider all her massive promises of more and bigger government programs: where will she get the funding for all of them? As a member of Obama’s health care taskforce, she already helped craft his healthcare takeover bill, Obamacare, which includes a $716 BILLION cut to Medicare over the next 10 years. She can’t pay for all her promises by raiding Medicare — she’ll need to jack up taxes, including on working families and job-creators. That’s bad news for all of us.
Kyrsten Sinema has been quite candid about her plans to raise your taxes. Will you let her? The clear choice for Arizona is Vernon Parker.
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Arizona State Treasurer Doug Ducey Explains Why Arizonans Should Vote NO on Prop 204
October 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Watch as Arizona State Treasurer details why Arizona voters should vote NO on Proposition 204 – the $1 BILLION permanent sales tax increase that funds special interest and more big government.
