Friday, April 10, 2009

AFP Arizona applauds legislative leaders’ refusal to hike taxes

The Arizona chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP Arizona) today applauded the announcement of a plan by leaders of the Arizona Legislature to cover the state’s $3.3 billion FY 2010 deficit without raising taxes. Senate President Bob Burns (R-Peoria) and House Speaker Kirk Adams (R-Mesa) outlined the plan yesterday at a meeting of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC).

In their presentation to GPEC, Burns and Adams suggested $840 million in new spending reductions, $500 million in continuing reductions from FY 2009, $1.3 billion in federal “stimulus” funding, $390 in fund transfers from non-general fund balances, and non-tax revenue of $300 million. The plan may involve some short-term borrowing.

“We’re not enthused about the debt financing elements,” said AFP Arizona director Tom Jenney. “But it’s better than raising taxes during a recession.” Economic projections released recently by the Goldwater Institute and the Beacon Hill Institutesuggest that a billion-dollar sales tax increase would cost Arizona 14,400 private-sector jobs. A billion-dollar income tax increase would cost Arizona 26,000 jobs. AFP Arizona has offered the Legislature FY 2010 deficit-reduction options totaling $5.7 billion.

AFP Arizona also said that Sen. Burns and Rep. Adams are welcome to speak at the Taxpayer Tea Party(www.aztaxpayers.org) at the state Capitol on April 15. “We welcome participation by all public officials who have not proposed a tax increase this year,” Jenney said. Congressman John Shadegg and a number of state legislators are already scheduled to speak at the event, which will begin at 5:30 pm on the Senate Lawn. So far, over 2,000 people have registered online for the event.

The Burns-Adams plan stands in contrast to Gov. Jan Brewer’s proposal to raise state taxes by a billion dollars a year for three years. That tax hike would amount to over $300 per Arizona household per year.

For an outline of the $3.3 billion Burns-Adams options, use this URL:

http://www.azhouserepublicans.com/files/gpec-presentation-4_9_9.pdf

For AFP Arizona’s $5.7 billion in deficit reduction options, use this URL:

http://www.americansforprosperity.org/files/budgetdeficitoptionsnotaxhikes4-10-9.pdf

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org


Contact: Tom Jenney (602) 478-0146, infoAZ@afphq.org

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