Prop 400 Hangs in the Balance as Governor Hobbs Blasts Light Rail Hating Republicans for Not Accepting Compromise Legislation

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Proposition 400, a half-cent sales tax that funds transportation infrastructure improvements in Maricopa County should be a no-brainer to pass. First started in 1985 and extended in 2004, this measure has helped fund projects such as:

  • Expanding and building freeways.
  • Improving and expanding roadways.
  • Building and maintaining existing light rail transportation systems.
  • Maintaining and expanding bus routes.
  • Securing federal matching funds to help pay for these improvements.

This measure has generally received the support of both Republican and Democratic leaders and leaning groups.

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The current extension will expire on December 31, 2025, if nothing is done.

Unfortunately, former Governor Doug Ducey, citing a variety of reasons such as the length of the extension, inflation, and language of the bill, vetoed a bipartisan measure in 2022 that would have sent the extension of the Proposition to Maricopa County Voters to decide on.

Since then, ultra-right-wing Republicans in the State Legislature, who apparently think light rail construction in Prop 400 is a socialist sin, have voiced strong opposition to passing legislation this session that would allow Maricopa County voters to decide the fate of this vital infrastructure measure.

What is it about the will of the voters that Republicans have an aversion to? Could it be because they support measures the majority of the people strongly oppose?

AZ Central has published a series of articles on how the cities and towns in Maricopa County would be affected if Prop 400 passes or it does not.

In order to reach a compromise that would secure bipartisan passage in the State Legislature, Governor Katie Hobbs and the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) offered a proposal with 30 revisions, including the stripping of the construction of new light rail routes from the measure. Please see the details, provided by the Governor’s office, on the proposal below.

  • Sets allocations at 40% for freeways, 22% for arterials, and 38% for transit with the elimination of flexibility between the modes
  • Sets aside 3.5% for the capital rehabilitation of the existing light rail system
  • Includes proposed farebox language to provide statutorily prescribed benchmarks for farebox recovery consistent with our peers
  • Road diet language applies to arterial and freeway projects
  • Includes definitions for air quality and regional programs.

Unfortunately for Maricopa County Residents, these same conservative Republicans (apparently MAGA-loving Warren Peterson and Jake Troll Farm-Fake Elector Hoffman,) according to Laurie Roberts of AZ Central, rejected that sensible compromise because there was still funding for light rail maintenance.

Republican leaders Ben Toma and Warren Peterson, who accuse the Governor, despite her making compromises on 30 provisions, of having a take-it-or-leave-it approach, are, according to the AZ Capitol Times,  offering their own take-it-or-leave-it proposal that will be the only measure on Prop 400 they will put on the Senate and House floors to consider because they claim their legislation will be, in contrast to the Hobbs: Maricopa Association of Governments deal, more efficient.

It will definitely be Anti-Democratic because the majority of the people will not support it.

Of course, as of this writing, no one has seen details of the Republican plan yet.

When Republicans rejected the latest compromise offer, Governor Katie Hobbs issued a blistering condemnation of the individuals holding Maricopa County Infrastructure hostage, stating:

“From day one, I promised that I would be laser-focused on growing our economy and bringing high-paying jobs to our state for Arizona workers. That’s exactly what this proposal does, and business leaders, labor leaders, and mayors across Arizona agree. But Republican legislative leadership is holding our economy hostage and holding back our state’s potential to be the leader in new, fast-growing industries. I’m calling on those legislators to put their partisan politics aside and accept this compromise so that we can keep our economy growing for Arizona families.”

MAG posted on social media:

The Governor, according to AZ Capitol Times, has signaled she will not sign the Republican-only measure.

Bipartisan Support for the Governor’s Position

Both Republican and Democratic local leaders and leaning groups have voiced support for the Governor and MAG compromise proposal.

Tempe Mayor Corey Woods offered:

“The City of Tempe, in conjunction with other municipalities and jurisdictions within Maricopa County, first came to the Arizona State Legislature for Prop400E authorization a few years ago during the early phase of the most recent regional transportation planning process. One of the resounding responses from the state legislators is that they wanted to see the regional plan prior to any authorization.

Through the Maricopa Association of Governments, a Regional Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Investment Plan (RSTIIP) was developed with wide outreach and public input and stakeholder engagement. It was unanimously adopted by the MAG jurisdictions including Tempe, which is represented by Mayor Corey Woods who sits on the MAG Transportation Policy Committee and on the MAG Regional Council.

Tempe advocated, based on the Tempe City Council-directed State Legislative Principles, that the legislature give the authority to Maricopa County to allow the voters to make their choice. Tempe joins the county and regional cities and tribal communities, along with business and economic development interests to urge the RSTIIP be reflected in legislation. Tempe’s support for the unanimously approved regional transportation plan has not wavered through this legislative session or the past legislative session.

Tempe supports the proposal that will allow for the implementation of the regional transportation plan, pending approval from the voters in the region. Legislative proposals have already seen compromises throughout the process. The City of Tempe supports the details of the proposed deal as outlined by the Governor’s Office on 6/10/23, which allows for the implementation of the regional transportation plan, which was unanimously approved at the regional level.”

Mesa Mayor John Giles posted on social media:

In a letter to supporters, State Senator Christine Marsh wrote:

“Now that we have returned from “spring break” at the legislature, I hope we can prioritize passing an extension of Proposition 400e.

For those of you not familiar with Prop 400e, the voters and legislature in 1985 and again in 2004 approved a half-cent sales tax to fund transportation infrastructure throughout Maricopa County. Cities throughout the county have used the money to improve existing roads and build new ones and develop public transportation options. Now, the sales tax is slated to expire next year.

Proposition 400 has been critical for economic growth throughout Maricopa County. In an op-ed, former Gilbert Mayor John Lewis and Coalition for Transportation Choices coordinator Diane Brown state, “Property values within 1/4 mile of light rail appreciated 316 percent between 2000 and 2019, compared to an average of 150 percent countywide.” This funding is vital to keep people connected to the new employers in the valley.

I look forward to reaching a solution to keep this vital tax in place and continue Arizona’s economic growth, and since it’s currently at risk of not getting renewed, I encourage you to reach out to your legislators and ask them to send a workable bill to the House and Senate for a vote.”

State Representative Jennifer Longdon posted:

The Arizona Commerce Authority, hardly a beacon of liberal activism, posted:

Westmarc, another organization dedicated to economic development and education also signaled support for the Hobbs Plan, posting:

 

Where is the bipartisan support for the Republican plan for Proposition 400?

It is where the support for LGBTQ discrimination, banning books, taking away reproductive freedom, bankrupting the state for vouchers to subsidize religious schools, and constraining Democracy is?

Not on this Earth.

Not in this reality.

Voters will know who to blame in 2024 if these far-right Republicans persist in their minority-held economic philosophies.

 

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7 thoughts on “Prop 400 Hangs in the Balance as Governor Hobbs Blasts Light Rail Hating Republicans for Not Accepting Compromise Legislation”

  1. Isn’t it interesting that Rs love elections…until the results of an election don’t comport with R ideology?

    Then they resort to whining and outright suppression tactics.

  2. Meanwhile Kavanagh and his band of fascists will throw everthing they can to surpress the rights of Arizona citizens to intiative and referenda. At what point do their efforts amount to unconstitutional surpression? This split vote proposal is just another example of throwing hurdle after hurdle to citizen votes, unless it comes from their politburo. You cannot discuss the transit vote rationally without the overriding fear of voters they have. Maybe only “patriotic” issues can go to the ballot.

  3. GQP policy is nothing more than “own the libs.” Rs would burn down the country, starve babies and run over kittens & puppies to “own the libs.” They have no platform other than “own the libs.” That’s what happens when Rs elect brainless morons like Kavanaugh.

  4. Actually the one measure that would actually allow voters to chose whether or not to fund light rail is opposed by its proponents. It would break out light rail funding as a separate ballot measure so two measures would go on the ballot. Strange how they oppose real voter choice. What do you think of that democratic idea?

    • Brahm Resnik, a reporter for the NBC-affiliated Channel 12 News in Phoenix, reports, “Arizona lawmakers are on track to collect more than $400,000 for doing virtually nothing at the capitol, and taxpayers are footing the bill. A typical legislative session ends with marathon votes in May or June to pass a state budget — and then, everyone goes home. Not this year. The final days of the current legislature have turned into months.”

      So, John Government Checks Kavanagh is living the dream, I guess.

      Taxpayer supported slackers, too lazy to do any work and living on the taxpayer teat.

  5. What is the fetish about light rail in Republicon circles? Idiots. Never go to Europe, never go to Basel, nor Amsterdam, Madrid, Helsinki, Prague, nor numerous others. Way too sophisticated for this bunch of neanderthals. This bunch of conmen and women are absolutely afraid of voters. They hate democracy.

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