by Byron Schlomach, Ph.D.
Goldwater Institute
 
Governor Jan Brewer recently sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Arizona’s congressional delegation asking for a change in federal law to allow private companies to operate rest stops on interstate highways. Federal law prevents “automotive service stations or other commercial establishments for serving motor vehicle users to be constructed or located on the rights-of-way of the Interstate System.” Right now, 13 of the state’s 18 roadside rest stops are closed as part of the state’s efforts to save money. They could be re-opened sooner if Governor Brewer’s recommendation were adopted.

In exchange for maintaining clean public restrooms, parking areas, and places for drivers to leave their refuse, companies could operate drink and snack concessions at roadside rest stops. This would be a source of revenue because private companies would have to bid for the privilege of operating within the confines of the rest stops. While federal law should be written to give states maximum flexibility, a state could restrict vendors to selling only food and beverages to minimize taxpayer-subsidized competition with other established businesses.

The federal government already allows for states to contract with private companies to provide vending machines and “motorist call boxes” at interstate rest stops. A change in federal law to allow private food-and-drink concessions would be a win for everybody. Well-written contracts would mean better-maintained facilities and more services for weary travelers.

One thing is for certain. Open roadside rest stops are better than closed roadside rest stops. If letting the private sector operate rest stops means they will stay open, then let the private sector prevail.

Dr. Byron Schlomach is an economist and the director of the Center for Economic Prosperity at the Goldwater Institute.

A friend forwarded me the below fundraising solicitation on behalf of Gov. Jan Brewer’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign.  She found it interesting that a 501(c)(6) corporation sent this disclaimer-free $5 dollar political solicitation to their entire membership though it’s made clear it’s coming from the former U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters in her role as co-chair of the Brewer campaign.  The provision of the Associated General Contractors’ e-mail distribution list has real value to a political campaign as the administration@azagc.org mail stamp indicates.

I’m not an election lawyer nor the son of an election lawyer but does the fact that our governor is running “Clean” make this kind of corporate campaign largess particularly squalid? Does this potential corporate contribution warrant a Citizens Clean Elections Commission investigation?  I don’t know but maybe someone in the Munger, Parker, Mills or Graham campaigns might look into it.

Regardless of the legalities of this assist from the road-building Associated General Contractors, isn’t it interesting whose providing the Brewer campaign with it’s five-dollar qualifying contributions?  The fact that Gov. Brewer “will continue her strong efforts to provide funding for transportation upon her re-election” pretty much says it all.  Those with their snouts deepest in the federal stimulus trough are lining up behind their girl for governor.  Just like they did in 2006 when they lined up “unanimously” behind their other girl for governor, Janet Napolitano.

__________________________________________________________________________

From: Mary E. Peters [mailto:administration@azagc.org]
Sent: Tue 12/29/2009 10:17 AM
To:
Subject: Important message from Mary Peters

Dear AGC Member and Industry Partner:

As we approach the end of what has been a very challenging year for our nation and for Arizona, it is a time for reflection on what is really important.  It is a time to focus on what it will take to resolve our significant economic challenges.  It is a time when we as an industry need to band together and chart a course to a more prosperous future. 

We have the opportunity to support a Governor who will lead our state out of today’s challenges and a return to economic stability. 

These tough times call for a tough leader – a proven leader who is not afraid to make the right decisions for our State.  We need a leader who will put the people’s interests above political interests.  We need a leader who will make the right decisions for Arizona’s future.  That is exactly why we as an industry need to band together and create a united front to support a Governor who will do just that.  

Jan Brewer is that leader, but she cannot do it alone — she needs our support.

She understands that Arizona’s families and businesses are going through hard times.  She knows that we have to balance the budget today and provide long-term, sustainable solutions to stabilize and grow our economy for the future.  Governor Jan Brewer has made over $1 billion in cuts in order to put us on track to balance Arizona’s budget while still making sure the most critical programs are meeting the needs of individuals who need them most. Her plans for the future include high-paying jobs, investments in Arizona’s infrastructure and a strong education system for our children.

• As a State Representative and State Senator Jan Brewer supported transportation funding for the State.  Under her watch at the State Legislature from 1983 – 1996, she placed emphasis on transportation projects, such as funding for Prop. 300 freeways. 
• As a County Supervisor, Jan Brewer helped balance the county budget to provide resources for Maricopa County transportation priorities.
• As Secretary of State, Jan Brewer supported Prop. 400 to ensure a continued revenue source for Maricopa County freeways to build the critical infrastructure we need to continue to build a business friendly environment in Arizona. 
• As Governor, Jan Brewer has worked to ensure Arizona receives every dollar due to the state in the ARRA/Stimulus bill, advocated for the Canamex Corridor and designation of I-11. She works diligently to prevent further erosion of transportation funds by the State Legislature, and is working to make sure Arizona receives our fair share of federal funding from both high speed rail funding and the reauthorization of Surface Transportation programs.   
• Gov. Brewer recognizes the important link between transportation infrastructure and economic development.  She appreciates the significant value Arizona contractors and consultants provide to our economy, and will continue her strong efforts to provide funding for transportation upon her re-election.

Jan Brewer is making, and will continue to make, the tough decisions for Arizona to put our state on a permanent, strong economic foundation. But, she can’t do it alone. She needs you to stand behind her, fight with her and support her.

Please click here now to support Governor Jan Brewer’s re-election campaign.

The time to act is now.  The time to join together to support a proven leader is now.

Sincerely,

Mary E. Peters
Governor Brewer 2010 Co-Chair
Former United States Secretary of Transportation

The County Supervisors are considering increasing photo speed camera revenues. This is a mistake, considering Napolitano has already placed more speed cameras around the state than any other state in the country, turning us into a big brother state with these cameras that are nothing more than hidden taxes, yet Arizona has the second worst budget crisis in the country after California. Speed cameras do not work as revenue generators, because the private companies take too much of the profit. 40% of speed camera tickets are appealed, which puts a huge financial and resource strain on our justice courts, since many of them end up being thrown out. Considering the Supervisors’ poor record of overspending on items like the $340 million court tower Taj Mahal, they should not be voting to increase the fines on speed camera tickets by another $20. It is not surprising that instead of cutting taxes and spending, the Supervisors are about to increase another hidden tax that does not work.

From Supervisors agenda for today -

ESTABLISH A PHOTO ENFORCEMENT FEE
Pursuant to A.R.S. §11-251.08, convene the scheduled public hearing, to solicit comments and consider the adoption of Photo Enforcement Fee of $20.00 per defendant to begin December 1, 2009. The proposed photo enforcement fee will be assessed against each individual charged

By insisting on a sales tax, our Republican governor has put herself into an untenable position. Republicans in the legislature refuse to include it in their budget, and ironically Democrats won’t support it either, noting that it will cost familes an extra $438/yr, more than the governor admits. Now columnist Robert Robb has come out with a column observing that Brewer’s line-item vetos are “irresponsible” and would actually ADD to the budget – not the purpose of the line-item veto.

What Brewer did instead is fiscally insane…Brewer’s vetoes added hundreds of millions, and perhaps billions, in spending to the underlying budget…So, she hugely added spending while eliminating the means of paying for it. She kept the doors of state government open, but at an utterly unsustainable spending pace…And then she vetoed the K-12 budget entirely. She’s in essence holding the schools hostage for her sales tax increase…Brewer’s rhetoric in taking this action was grotesquely disingenuous. She said that the legislative budget “incorporates devastating cuts to education, public safety and our state’s most vital health services for the frail.”…It was, however, a budget she agreed to just a week earlier. And there was not a single dime in 2010 restorations for public safety and health care in the sales tax referral agreement.

Brewer is going to meet with the legislature today or tomorrow to discuss working out a new budget. It’s reported that Senate Majority leader Bob Burns is already out of town on vacation, and he was one of the few Senators who had agreed to support her tax increase. Without his support any longer, the legislature should have no problem stopping her, she has no support left.

The blog Gila Courier is already discussing which Republicans will run against her for governor in 2012. Her political career appears to be over because of stubborn insistence on a tax increase. It has already been exposed on this blog and elsewhere that Brewer’s political consultant Chuck Coughlin is behind the tax increase, because his contractor clients will benefit from infrastructure projects. How long is Brewer going to continue to fight for him and his special interests, while using a fake “it’s the children” excuse as cover? It’s been disappointing watching her ruin her career over this, transforming into a Democrat.

Kudos to the principled Republican legislators who kept the Chuck Coughlin tax increase ballot referral out of the budget! It was referred yesterday to Governor Brewer WITHOUT her tax increase in it, despite the efforts of infrastructure lobbyist Chuck Coughlin and the State Republican Party. We are going to find out exactly who gets the credit and will let you know. We know the principled legislators included Gould, Pearce, Gorman, and Harper, but we’re sure there were plenty more.  Now, we’ll wait to see if Brewer signs it, adhering to GOP principles, or if she refuses to sign it, shutting down government and ruining her chances in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary because she’s beholden to Coughlin and his infrastructure clients.

UPDATE: Legislative Reports says that the final defeat of the sales tax referral (SCR1046) is credited to the Senate Rules committee yesterday voting it down. The taxpayer heroes who voted no were Gray, Gorman and Verschoor. Democrats Garcia and McCune also voted no. Only Senate Majority leader Bob Burns voted in favor of it. Shame on him.

The voting broke down along party lines. The legislators in the Rules committee all voted in favor of HB2106 to ban speed cameras: Kirk Adams, Jack Brown, Martha Garcia, John McComish, Ben Miranda, Andrew Tobin, Steven Yarbrough, and Warde Nichols.

In the Appropriations committee, legislators Nancy McLain, Rick Murphy, Russ Jones, Vic Williams, Andy Biggs, and John Kavanagh voted in favor. Legislators Steve Court, Matt Heinz, David Schapira, and Kyrsten Sinema all voted against the ban.

In the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, legislators Judy Burges, Sam Crump, Nancy McLain, Frank Antenori and Andy Biggs voted in favor. Legislators Eric Meyer and Rae Waters voted against the ban.

Read more about the bill, sponsored by Sam Crump, here.

Hat Tip to Mesa Issues for first posting on this and JD Hayworth for giving it air time on KFYI-550!

As Valley Metro finds its budget in the pooper and homeless individuals spread feces on the floor of the train, maybe Valley Metro should approach Depend for a sponsorship in its naming rights solution? Now there’s a solution we can wrap our you-know-what’s around!

We’d love to hear your suggestions…

Credit to EspressoPundit who first posted on this.

Arizona Republican Party Executive Director, Brett Mecum, has had the charges of driving 109 dismissed with prejudice. That means that he cannot be charged again. The judge presiding over the charges is none other than John C. Keegan the former mayor of Peoria, a “moderate” Republican who ran against Trent Franks in the CD-2 primary in 2002 and the husband of former Superintendent of Public Instruction and Deputy County Manager, Lisa Graham Keegan. (It is fair to say that the Keegans are liberal on social issues.) Keegan was elected to the post in November, 2006

Keegan is outspoken on the issue of photo radar. He believes the system is unconstitutional. Many of us agree with Keegan. Although it is the law, Keegan decided to dismiss the case against Mecum based on his objection to the law. According to TheNewspaper.com, Keegan made the following statement on enforcement of photo radar:

The clear meaning of these provisions of the Arizona and United States constitutions is that it is unconstitutional to create one set of laws that applies only to a particular class of defendant and not to other defendants based solely on the mechanism employed by the government,” Keegan ruled. “Given the not uncommon set of circumstances where two drivers are traveling on the same highway, at the same speed in excess of the speed limit, at the same time, in essentially the same location and are cited by the same agency into the same court, [the freeway photo radar statute] ARS 41-1722 creates a distinction whereby one class of defendant is subjected to a significantly different array of penalties than another class of defendant based solely on the use of photo enforcement.

It is the determination of this court that the provisions of ARS 41-1722 are unconstitutional and unenforceable within the jurisdiction of this court.

It’s pretty clear what perception the dismissal of charges against Mecum signal:

1. Anyone can drive whatever speed they want in Judge Keegan’s jurisdiction and a photo radar ticket will be thrown out. This doesn’t mean a traffic cop ticket will be dismissed.
2. Photo radar will remain controversial in Arizona and will likely work its way through revisions in the legislature and courts.
3. If you’re a party official, it “helps” to know someone in elected office to get you off the hook.
4. Republicans with fast cars can ignore the conventional wisdom that driving at excessive speeds is dangerous.

Democrats are going to have a field day with this.

As if Valley Metro’s budget was not already in the pooper, today we learn that a homeless man boarded one of the light rail cars with a box of feces. He then proceeded to spread the contents of the box on the floor of the train. Needless to say, passengers made a hurried exit and departure from that car.

No word on whether the man was arrested but if he is, maybe the ACLU will be excited to take on the case? We suggest that he decry discrimination based on hygienic orientation.

OK, so it’s not what Valley Metro is really proposing but it does go to illustrate the absurdity of this taxpayer-subsidized system.

According to The East Valley Tribune,

Metro light rail believes it has found a solution to its budget woes: Smaller trains running with less frequency.

Facing a $1.3 million deficit in the coming fiscal year, the agency is considering as a cost-cutting measure the occasional use of single-car trains.

Also, Sunday’s schedule would be cut back, with any given station seeing in an hour three trains rather than the current four.

According to Metro, these changes, plus unspecified cuts in administrative costs, will result in an annual savings of $885,000. Making up the rest of the deficit is the expectation fare revenue will rise in the coming year.

Last week, Valley Metro revealed the “free rider” problem they were also facing as Phoenix employees were failing to swipe their ride cards as they boarded to travel to and from work.