In a May 7, 2020 article published by Jim Small of the Arizona Mirror, Senator Martha McSally railed against providing state and local funding aid in the next round of Coronavirus stimulus because:
“On any (new) funding, I’m just going to be frank with you guys, OK? This is not the time for states and cities – unlike Arizona, unlike Surprise – who have mismanaged their budgets over the course of many decades, for them to use this as an opportunity to see you, as a taxpayer in Arizona, as a cash cow for them….We’ve already given $150 billion in state stabilization money that three cities in Arizona got directly from the federal government – that’s Mesa, Tucson, and Phoenix, that have over 500,000 residents. The rest of the money will flow through the state to the cities.”
Later in the article, Small wrote that McSally commented that Arizonans should not be “soaked” to bail out Chicago and New York.
That is galling considering, according to various studies, Arizona is one of the leading beneficiaries of federal aid in the country.
In a 2019 study conducted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government, Arizona is ranked 13th in receiving federal aid. Where is New York? It is ranked 47th. Illinois? 45th. California which is Governor Ducey’s favorite punching bag?. 40th.
How about Kentucky where Mitch McConnell (the person McSally parrots?) It is ranked second.
According to a January 2019 study from the Tax Foundation, Arizona ranks fourth on receiving federal aid. How do some other states rank?
- Kentucky: Fifth
- New York: Twenty-Second
- California: Twenty-Ninth
- Illinois: Fortieth
In a U.S. News and World Report ranking for states with the best fiscal stability, Arizona does rank higher (Thirty Third) than states like California, Pennsylvania Kentucky, and Illinois. However, other states like New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Colorado, Montana, and Minnesota are all performing better than Arizona.
In short, Senator McSally does not appear to know what she is talking about.
States and cities/towns need funds to make up for the loss of income and sales tax revenue stemming from the Coronavirus.
The federal government should pass legislation to give them what they need to make up for those losses.
Martha McSally should be working with her colleagues in the Arizona Congressional Delegation to protect Arizonan residents, businesses, and public governing entities instead of spewing false right-wing talking points.
This is another reason Arizonans may want to consider different Senatorial Representation when voting in November 2020.
Please remember to:
Turn out and vote.
Register/sign up for the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) in Arizona or any state that allows early or absentee balloting and mail. Arizona residents can sign up at servicearizona.com
Arizona residents, mail your General Election ballot by October 28, 2020, for the November 3, 2020 election.
Check-in with the Secretary of State’s office where you live to verify your mail-in ballot was received, processed, verified, and counted.
Know the voter ID requirements in your state.
If you can, support Clean Election Candidates with a small contribution.
Also, please remember to stay informed on all the candidates and vote for all the offices on the ballot.
Also, remember to research all the ballot initiatives and vote on them as well.
Remember Election Day is on November 3. 2020.
(Update) Further reporting by Mr. Small has revealed that McSally’s comments on additional local and state aid, according to the Senator’s spokesperson was not intended for public consumption.
Oy Vey.
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Cities do not all have the same situation. Generally the older the city the more it is probably going to rely on sales taxes that come from business. If the city has lots of recent development it has made money from taxes on that which should be used to improve and expand city services. Plus most cities have a property tax to sustain it all. That tax increases with each new house. There is a reason they call Tucson “the old pueblo” and that is probably the same reason the city needs federal assistance.