LE$$ for Education. It’s Good for Business
by David SafierRepublicans say they're turning Arizona into a business magnet. Companies fleeing high tax states like California will flock to Arizona for our low tax rates. Maybe. But it won't happen without a good PR campaign to sell the state. Since we don't have much money for the campaign, what with all the budget … Read more
Melvin: Taxes for backsides and baseball
by David SafierI've mentioned before that Al Melvin didn't sign the recent No Tax Pledge, even though he supported it earlier, because he liked the idea of new taxes to improve local roads. He was absolutely against taxes . . . until his backside met too many potholes. "I feel my pain," he muttered and … Read more
Budget Update: No Budget Vote Until Monday
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Arizona Senate has finished for the day and will reconvene on Monday at 9:30 a.m. The House is working through a series of budget resolution bills, but will not address the sales tax ballot measure or the flat tax proposal until Monday. We're going down to the wire on this budget. … Read more
UPDATE: March4Schools Coalition rally briefly shuts state house doors
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The March4Schools Coalition rally at the State Capitol building today caused a brief ruckus. Boisterous education rally briefly shuts state House doors Several hundred education supporters chanting "save our state" flooded the front of the House of Representatives this morning, prompting security to briefly lock the House doors. Your Arizona state legislators: … Read more
Giffords votes for cap and trade. Now, health care?
by David SafierI got a news release from Giffords trumpeting her Yes vote on the energy bill that just passed the house. A good vote, but not a surprise. Energy is Giffords' signature issue. But her position on health care legislation is still up in the air. Mike Bryan took apart the hybrid health care … Read more
Action Alert: Bad Budget Compromise Being Heard Today, Rally in Opposition at The Capitol
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Geezus, I spend a couple of days in Phoenix attending the Arizona State Bar convention and all hell breaks loose (and I don't mean the wall-to-wall entertainment idol worship of the media villagers over the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson). No, as Michael Bryan reported, our Accidental Governor and the … Read more
Budget Deal Struck?
By Michael Bryan AP Wire as well as informal sources report that a budget deal has been struck between the Governor and the Legislature: the legislatures brutal program cuts in exchange for a November ballot on a 1 cent sales tax boost. Yay. There will be much more to say about this subject, but let … Read more
