Star cuts Republican crazy, Democratic sense from article

by David Safier

And here I thought I had nothing to criticize in the Star today. Silly me.

The Star ran an edited version of a Howard Fischer article today about the debate between Ds and Rs over the $538 million tax giveaway to corporations. The edited version reads OK. But it would have been far more complete and illuminating if more of Fischer's article were left in.

For instance, Rep. Jack Harper (R-Surprise) sounds reasonably logical, albeit wrong, in his statement that tax cuts will bring more businesses. But here is what Harper said the Star didn't see fit to include.

"Businesses thinking about, 'What state might I move to because of the communism of the state I'm in,' they might decide that Arizona's an attractive place to be,'' Harper said. [boldface added]

The specter of socialism isn't enough of a demon for Harper. He has to harken back to the Red Menace and claim we have some communist states here in the U.S. of A.

This is the kind of crazy that's the New Normal in Russell Pearce's Republican legislature.

Then the Star cuts Fischer's article after Kirk Adams (R-Mesa) gets the last word. But right after that, Chad Campbell (D-Phoenix) brings up something which always gets short shrift in Star coverage of the budget debates, the elimination of special tax credits for corporations.

House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, said there is a better alternative that achieves much of the same result.

He proposed eliminating all special tax credits now available to corporations. Campbell said that would allow the state to lower the overall rate from just under 7 percent where it is now to 5.4 percent, all without affecting the revenue bottom line.

Did you know Campbell has proposed legislation to get rid of all business tax credits across the board, even including credits for things like solar energy, which he supports? Didn't know that? I'm not surprised. There was a big article about it in the Capitol Times, but nothing but crickets in our local daily.

Also left out of the Fischer article in the Star was a criticism of the corporate tax break bill from a Republican.

Sen. Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, criticized the creation of a new quasi-public Arizona Commerce Authority to replace the state Department of Commerce. Biggs said the authority will have authority to give away $25 million a year in "deal closing'' funds to lure companies to the state.

If you want to learn more about the new Arizona Commerce Authority, you can read the Farley Report AZ Blue Meanie posted below. You won't read about it in the Star.