Wednesday, March 24, 2010

AZ Tea Party groups coming together to oppose 18% sales tax increase at Friday rally

Tea party groups oppose state sales tax increase

Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks

Tea party groups are coming out against a proposed state sales tax increase.
Three tea party groups are part of a new coalition opposed to Proposition 100. Arizona voters will be asked May 18 to vote on the measure, which would temporarily raise the state’s 5.6 percent sales tax by 1 point. The three-year tax is expected to bring in $3 billion and help the state close multibillion-dollar budget deficits.
The North Phoenix Tea Party, Mesa Tea Party and East Valley Tea Party Patriots are among the groups participating in the “Ax the Tax” coalition. The National Federation of Independent Business and anti-tax groups are also part of the “No on 100” effort.
They will hold a rally Friday at the Arizona Capitol featuring Joe “The Plumber” Wurzelbacher, who gained fame during the 2008 presidential race.
The tea party movement has grown as a conservative and populist opponent of federal spending plans including health care reforms, bank bailouts and economic stimulus programs backed by President Barack Obama.
Supporters of the sales tax referendum include Gov. Jan Brewer, teacher and firefighter unions, health care companies, Arizona Public Service Co. and Sundt Construction.

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