Better late than never.
The 2022/23 Arizona Legislative Session has finally ended.
Sine Die is here.
Fortunately, it ended with, after much deal-making with Republicans who detested light rail in the Phoenix area, the bipartisan passage (with mostly Democratic votes) of the headline bill designed to refer Proposition 400, the measure that will fund various road, highway, street, and public transit projects in Maricopa County and the rest of the Grand Canyon State.
Commenting on the passing of Prop 400, Senate Democratic Leader Mitzi Epstein offered:
“As is customary, Republicans have waited until the very last minute to pass widely popular legislation that invests in the daily lives of Arizonans. These infrastructure investments and improvements are desperately needed for economic development in Maricopa County and across the state. Prop 400E will create $40 billion in new income, increase local business sales by $113 billion, reduce traffic congestion throughout the valley, and create or support 32,000 jobs annually. Our state should not have had to wait until July 31st to see this measure, which has had legislative support since the start of the session, get sent to the ballot. However, with the support of Arizonans cities and towns, I am proud to join my Democratic colleagues in delivering the key votes needed to send the extension of the regional transportation tax back to the voters of Maricopa County.”
House Democratic Leader Lupe Contreras relayed:
“Proposition 400 has helped our region grow and prosper for nearly 40 years. More growth is on the way, so it is vital that we give Maricopa County voters the opportunity to extend that investment with a smart plan that meets the needs of all our residents, whether it’s freeways, streets, buses, or light rail. Democrats were determined to deliver on that plan. We stuck together and we overcame every obstacle put in our way. When Maricopa County voters approve this plan — and I know they will — then we can proudly say this bi-partisan effort improved the quality of life for generations to come.”
Governor Katie Hobbs praised the bipartisan agreement on Proposition 400, posting on social media:
Phoenix Mayor and current Maricopa County Associations Government Chairperson Kate Gallego also issued a statement on Proposition 400, writing:
“After months of negotiations, I am glad that our robust, unanimously approved transportation plan will finally reach the voters of Maricopa County. This legislation is how we will continue to support our region’s record growth, and with approval from our voters, its passage will ultimately mean that we can deliver on improved and expanded transit and transportation services that connect county residents to jobs, education, and more.
“While it’s exciting that we’ve advanced Proposition 400, I remain disappointed that this critical legislation was coupled with an effort to cut revenue to cities, including Phoenix, as soon as in the next budget year. As such, I cannot and will not support any action that would take away the power of cities to levy a residential rental tax, as this revenue is how we fund public safety hiring, improvements to parks and preserves, and neighborhood public safety grants. If the legislature wishes to push forward attempts to effectively defund our police and firefighters, I strongly urge them to come to the table and discuss how they can help us recoup the lost funding.”
She also posted on social media:
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I cannot believe the hypocritical spin that is being spun around this issue. The bill that was passed was every conservative’s dream. . We killed new light rail, made it very difficult to convert traffic lanes into bike lanes or bus lanes, stopped the funding of bus routes that didn’t have enough passengers, protected gas vehicles, and even shave 5 years off the tax. This bill is every conservative’s dream and is anathema to what MAG and Phoenix and the Democrats supported. Yet to save face, everyone is saying doing all these right wing things is great.
Like gas vehicles are under threat by state or local governments. Then again the price of electric vehicles, like VCRS and DVDS afterward are coming down. Gas vehicles like the record player will be going the way of the dodo in the next 10 to 15 years if not sooner.
If the bill was such a conservative dream, why didn’t the majority of Republicans or all of them vote for it?
You are correct. Killing light rail expansion, making it difficult to. change traffic lanes to bike and bus lanes , defunding low ridership bus routes, shaving 5 years off the life of the tax and stopping already funded light rail expansion are all liberal Democrat wishes and we conservatives got rolled. Who could gave guessed?
You did not answer my question about why the majority of your party did not vote for it.
Because you and most of the bloggers here never answer my questions, I assumed it was not allowed.
In the House, 17 Rs out of 31 voted yes. In the Senate, 8 of 16 Rs voted yes with 2 absent, 1 of whom I know would have been a yes and the other I am unsure about. So I don’t know how you can say a majority did not support it, but admittedly it was very close.
Some of the Republican “no” votes were simply based on the fact that it’s continuing a tax and they don’t vote for taxes at all. Some others didn’t have enough time to read the late added amendments that took care of the problems conservative groups had raised, so they weren’t comfortable voting yes. It is also possible that a few would have been yes votes, if their vote was needed but because it was not needed, they spared themselves criticism from some constituents. However, keep in mind that Senator Jake Hoffman, the head of the Freedom Caucus, came out publicly and said it was a conservative bill. It was clearly not a liberal bill that Democrats could like or even a moderate bill they might tolerate – it was a big conservative victory, just like the budget.
OK, now that I answered your question, why don’t you answer mine?
Is killing light rail expansion, making it difficult to change traffic lanes to bike and bus lanes, defunding low ridership bus routes, protecting gas cars for 20 years, shaving 5 years off the life of the tax, and stopping already funded light rail expansion liberal Democrat wishes? If not, why did they vote yes? Did the governor herd them in? Inquiring minds want to know?
I would disagree with the premise of your question because even though those items did not make it into the legislation, it is probably true that enlightened Mayors and City Council representatives (including Republican ones whose perspectives are grounded in reality) will incorporate said items into future municipal budgets. As to bloggers not answering your questions, that is a bunch of fecal matter. You know better.
Sometimes in a democracy, one has to eat a shit sandwich in order for anyone to get fed. Especially when a majority is held by people unremittingly hostile to the very idea of government. Simple as that Johnny Blog Jester. We will pay a price for Prop 400. We judged that the price was worthwhile and subject to later revision and compensatory mechanisms to lessen the impact going forward. We did what was needful to get what we needed. Come 2025 we will no longer have to make such concessions as you and your nutjob caucus will be in the minority and will therefore be largely ignorable.
Oh and none of this: “killing light rail expansion, making it difficult to change traffic lanes to bike and bus lanes, defunding low ridership bus routes, protecting gas cars for 20 years, shaving 5 years off the life of the tax, and stopping already funded light rail expansion” is written in stone. We can and will reverse much or all of it once we are fully in charge of Arizona’s state government. Given how reckless and stupid your party has become – it won’t be long now…
OK . So if the legislature defunds some program it is OK with dems, so long as cities pick up the tab. Really!!!!!!!!!!! Did you really mean to say that???
Regarding, bloggers not answering my questions, I ended my last post with a request that you answer my question and you did not. Aren’t you a blogger???? I feel embarrassed for you.
In case you forgot, here is the question I asked you:
OK, now that I answered your question, why don’t you answer mine?
Is killing light rail expansion, making it difficult to change traffic lanes to bike and bus lanes, defunding low ridership bus routes, protecting gas cars for 20 years, shaving 5 years off the life of the tax, and stopping already funded light rail expansion liberal Democrat wishes? If not, why did they vote yes? Did the governor herd them in? Inquiring minds want to know?
John
Let me put this in words you will understand since my last attempt did not register. Democrats, unlike the majority of Republicans, went for the best deal possible realizing that enlightened mayors and city council representatives would likely make up the difference in either their municipal budgets or local ballot propositions. Furthermore, you are one to talk about not answering questions. Virtually every time a blogger, including myself, have faced you down with facts based on reality, you sulk away and go on to the next article to criticize, hoping there will be no retort. It is time for you to go sulk John. Have a great evening and take care.
Yet more evasive answers. But it’s your bat and ball so you call the shots.
Here we see a prime example of John Government Checks Kavanagh being a cowardly weasel.
He instigates a debate, when it turns against him (and OMG I don’t have time to go over his other comments here and how poorly thought out they are), he blames the other side, takes some credit, and leaves.
He did not actually reply to David Gordon, he didn’t refute anything.
He just threw up his hands and left like a little baby beta bitch.
In past comments this guy has said that inflation is actually good, and he’s said that he doesn’t want “everyone”, you know what he means, voting.
Or in other words, he’s bad a math and hates America.
Please donate to RaicesTexasDotOrg in honor of Arizona’s Biggest Loser John Government Checks Kavanagh.
And thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of “Racists Being Cowards” starring John Government Checks Feed Me Kavanagh, brought to you by you by your friendly local KKK.
Only on Fox.
I truly appreciate Michael actually answering my question. Although it was disappointing to see him engage in childish name calling, something which I think is below his stature as one of the more intelligent contributors to this blog. But I guess that’s just politics or human nature.
It seems John’s feelings are hurt and he doesn’t know why.
My bad, sorry John, I thought we went over this already.
You get no respect here because you’re a very, very bad person.
You are racist trash and you use your position to hurt families and children, and last year you tried to stir up a violent mob against some refugees, and you lied a lot while doing that.
You’re a hypocrite who brings up god while going against the teachings of Jesus.
And you cost Arizona over 2,000,000,000.00 dollars with your hateful SB1070 stunt all while collecting government checks.
If you were a good person you’d get respect. Small limited government is a valid point of view.
But small government isn’t really your brand.
You get trashed here because you’re trash.
Go back to Jersey, and maybe stop by RaicesTexasDotOrg on the way and donate a few of those government dollars you live on to a good cause.
Donate in honor of yourself, the dumbest man in Arizona.
Not even a little of that will survive for long, John. Change is coming. A Democratic Arizona government is coming. We are only two little seats from making all you oddballs and fascists completely irrelevant.
Nope. It’s all utter crap. You got what you wanted and we got a vote on Prop 400. Now we will proceed to bury your majority in the graveyard of history and fix all of that once we are in charge. Have a nice day, John.
You should practice losing with grace. Don’t let bitterness eat away at you.
Nice “I know you are but what am I” style reply, John Government Checks Kavanagh.
Next do the I’m racist rubber-America hating creep and you’re glue…
RaicesTexasDotOrg
The repeal of rhe Ciry sales tax on rentals will do nothing to lower rents statewide. The ability of Cities to regulate the large number of investor owned short term rentals would have had a greater impact on rents. But as usual the Repubs would rather pass something that looks like it helps a problem knowing full well it will maintain their status Quo as shills for the real estate industry.
Of course this deal could have been made three months ago, but the knuckleheads would not have milked the per diem to the max. Think of the “No” votes, and the irrationale hatred of light rail is like the boycott of Bud Light, mindless.