Dear Senator:
On
behalf of the National Taxpayers Union’s 8,300 members in Arizona, I urge you
to support three bills that will provide relief for overburdened taxpayers by
reducing the size and scope of government, and one bill that would prevent
unauthorized deductions from workers’ pay for use in political activities.
Massive
overspending has resulted in equally massive deficits and a state government
that is fundamentally unaffordable for taxpayers. Moreover, state government is
performing an increasing number of tasks, such as facilities maintenance, that
the private sector is better suited to carry out for both economic and
constitutional reasons. To remedy this problem, Arizona needs strong
limitations on spending and at least three bills now before you can contribute
to this vital task.
SCR 1019 asks voters to approve a
constitutional state spending limit of 6.4 percent of state personal income. SB
1408 would establish “Truth in Spending” estimates consisting of the amount of
current appropriations from all sources, each adjusted for population and
inflation, and require a simple majority vote of
the Legislature to increase spending at rates beyond these levels.
Additionally, SB 1408 requires the Legislature to hold a hearing prior to such
a vote to obtain input from taxpayers. Finally, SB 1322 requires cities with
populations in excess of 200,000 people to seek private sector bids for all
municipal services, with exceptions for public safety officers.
Although
Arizona already has a constitutional limitation on spending at 7 percent of
state personal income, public officials have in the past taken advantage of
this provision’s generous terms (such as
moving governmental functions from one level to another) to approve substantial
and unsustainable increases in expenditures. A stricter limit, which could
still be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in the Legislature, coupled
with more accurate revenue estimates, would still allow government to grow –
only more in line with the state’s economy. Also, by requiring a public hearing
before any vote, taxpayers will have an opportunity to submit their views directly
to their legislators, which will encourage civic engagement and more
accountability. Further, a requirement for private sector bids for all
non-public safety municipal services in large cities will ease the burgeoning
costs of government that drive tax increases.
Finally, SCR 1028, the Paycheck Protection Referendum,
would ask Arizona voters if public and private employers should be prohibited
from deducting of payments from any employee’s paycheck for political purposes
without the annually affirmed written consent of the employee. This is a needed
reform to prevent the misuse of workers’ earnings by interest groups seeking to
advance their agendas.
The time
for meaningful spending and political reform in Arizona is now. Therefore, our
members hope you will support these proposals, which would provide protection
for taxpayers and workers.
Sincerely,
John
Stephenson
State
Government Affairs Manager
Letter
