Rep. Matt Heinz (D-LD29) on the state budget

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Arizona Daily Star's series continues today with Rep. Matt Heinz (D-LD29). Formatted for transcript format. Rep. Matt Heinz, D, District 29

Rep. Matt Heinz (D-LD29)

Committees: Appropriations; Public Employees, Retirement and Entitlement Reform.

The Arizona Daily Star asked the following questions of each lawmaker:

1) Lawmakers have discretion over only 37 percent of K-12 education. School districts and universities have already taken millions in budget cuts, which affects everything from the economy to demands on government programs.

Should lawmakers continue to cut money to education? What, specifically, would you do?

A: A solid educational structure is essential to ensure our state's economic recovery as well as its future prosperity. We need to stop hacking away at our education budget and, instead, look toward wasteful and nonessential programs for necessary cuts, use federal stimulus dollars and close wasteful tax loopholes. Republicans already made the largest educational budget cut in state history last year, and now Gov. Brewer wants to cut an additional $750 million. Instead of slashing education, we need to invest in it so that our students are equipped with the skills necessary to obtain stable jobs and better wages. Without a skilled and educated work force, Arizona will be unable to compete for the same out-of-state businesses and investors that made it possible for it to economically prosper not too long ago.

2) The governor's budget includes $37 million in cuts to services for the seriously mentally ill and the elimination of KidsCare, for a savings of $23 million. It also seeks to ask voters to drop 310,500 people from Medicaid by narrowing the eligibility rules.

That savings would be $382 million. Do you support these cuts? If not, how would you cover that $442 million budget gap?

A: From my personal experience as a hospital physician, I can say that Arizona health care already is strained, and families are struggling to pay their medical bills. Severe cuts to health care, such as Gov. Brewer's plan to leave 400,000 Arizonans without any medical care, are the last things Arizona needs. Attempting to close the budget gap at the expense of kids and seniors who need health care and their families is just another step down the wrong path for our state. We need to look at nonessential and wasteful programs for budget cuts instead of sacrificing the health and well-being of Arizona kids and seniors.

3) What is your priority for budget cuts? What, specifically, would you cut first, and why?

A: I am not ideologically tied to any one budget cut or program. However, I do believe that when bipartisan decisions are made regarding budget cuts, we need to maintain and protect those programs that will be essential for Arizona's economic recovery. Health care, education and jobs are all essential and all from which Republicans have deeply cut hundreds of millions of dollars. In fact, Gov. Brewer wants to leave 400,000 Arizonans without health care and cut $750 million more from education. These are the kinds of things that Arizona needs in order to attract businesses to our state and get our economy back on track.

4) What kind of revenue increases do you support?

A: Arizona's tax code is deeply flawed, and we need an overhaul of the tax code to assure immediate support for essential programs like education, while creating a common-sense stable revenue stream going forward to help grow our state's economy and skilled job market. Tax loopholes and nonsense tax exemptions cost this state millions of dollars. We need to fix the problems with our tax code and make sure big corporations and the rich are paying their fair share. The Republicans' plan will create expansive tax breaks for big corporations and the rich while making middle-class families pick up the tab. For example, according to Republicans' plan, business property class assessment ratio will be reduced from 20 percent to 15 percent, meaning businesses will pay less in property tax while homeowners pay more. Republicans also want to give away a nearly 30 percent income tax break to big corporations without a guarantee or incentive that big corporations will use it to create more jobs. The headquarters of a big corporate retailer, for example, located in another state like Arkansas or Minnesota , would get to decide how to use Arizona's tax break. They could use Arizona's tax break to raise the salary of a corporate executive who already gets paid hundreds of thousands of dollars. This kind of wrong-track plan does nothing to create a stronger and better Arizona. All options should be on the table, and I am ready and willing to make the difficult choices necessary for Arizona's future.