Tax breaks for economic development were hotly debated during the recent Democratic Primary for Mayor, and they continue to be a really hot topic for many Tucson voters. Recently, I had a two-hour meeting with a Tucson woman who is hopping mad about the GPLETs (Government Property Lease Excise Tax) that are being used to … Read more
One of the prevailing messages from the grassroots in 2018 was: no more tax giveaways until the schools are fully funded. Republicans didn’t get that message. They also didn’t get the Invest In Ed message that we — the people– think the rich could pay more in taxes to help fund education. The Republican budget … Read more
Many constituents have asked me where the budget is and what’s going on– after all, it is May. On the budget, the status quo of the past month still exists. All of the budget action continues to be behind closed doors, among a closed group of Republicans. In addition to the Democrats, there are a … Read more
In January, the Arizona Legislature went back to work with roughly $1 billion in extra cash: $900 million in one-time funds, $200 million in the structural budget, and ~$150 million if Arizona complies with the federal tax changes. This was in sharp contrast to the past decade when many Legislative sessions faced multi-million-dollar budget cuts … Read more
The Arizona House has been moving slowly this session. The Republican leadership has been cautious and strategic regarding when the House votes. With the 29D-31R split in the chamber, Speaker Rusty Bowers needs all 31 of his members sitting in their chairs during the final “Third Read” votes on ideological bills such as lowering the … Read more