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Why is the AZ GOP’s Top Legislative Priority the Elimination of the State Education Equalization Property Tax Levy?
The AZ GOP caucus has made a quarter-billion dollar property tax cut the
non-negotiable centerpiece of this years budget process as we face as much as a
$1 billion budget shortfall and even bigger budget deficits projected for 2009
and even 2010.
Why does the GOP want to cut taxes in the middle of a looming national
recession and huge (~10%) state budget deficit?
There are very good reasons, none of which has anything to do with fiscal
prudence, and everything to do with politics and ideological commitments:
First, and most obviously, they get to have their cake and eat it too by eliminating this property tax. The reinstatement of the state equalization property tax levy
will take effect next year, and
thus repealing it is budget neutral this year,
yet the GOP gets to claim a quarter-billion dollar tax cut going into a tough
campaign season in which the Democrats could quite conceivably take away their
majority. They get to lock in a tax cut, and transfer the cost of that $250
million dollar cut to the General Fund next year.
Learn the next two reasons after the click…
Blogging About Education
by David Safier
When Mike and I worked together blogging the election integrity trial last December, I asked if he would give me the opportunity to blog about education on this site once the trial was over. He grilled me during a lunch break to see if I had anything to say, and I guess he decided I did. So here I am.
Let me tell you a little about myself. I taught high school, mainly in Portland, Oregon, for over 30 years. My field was English — I taught all grade levels and ability groups –- then I took a break for awhile to teach photography and advise the yearbook. I ended where I began, teaching English. When I retired a few years ago, I moved to Tucson.
I taught at three public high schools. Most students at the first school were at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale. The teachers were mediocre, the administration was mediocre, and the school’s budget was in such bad shape, we had to cut back from a seven to a five period day. The school didn’t do a very good job educating its students, and, to be honest, neither did I.
Read more about David’s calling to the blog after the flip…
