Economic conservatives want increased sales tax collections on internet purchases to be offset, calling it a tax hike. But taxes were owed on such transactions all along.
Category Archives: State and local
Ducey restoring Additional Assistance funding is a big deal
Fully restoring Additional Assistance funding the the schools in next year’s budget should put an end to a lawsuit and reset the education finance debate.
Ducey’s rhetoric on taxes and spending doesn’t match his actions
Tough talk on taxes and the spending lobby in the State of the State doesn’t fit how Ducey has actually governed, as a prudent centrist.
Bold state budget reform may fall short
Getting the budget done early would be good for the state and the Legislature. But it would be easier to accomplish that with a bipartisan budget.
A tiered approach to regulating Airbnb rentals
The state should stay in control to ensure the opportunities of a sharing economy. But local governments should have greater latitude to protect the peaceful order of residential neighborhoods.
Should Ducey’s political muscle determine where school funds are spent?
Discretionary additional dollars are best for education. Earmarking them for a school safety grant program was troubling enough before Ducey’s intervention on behalf of a single school.
Petersen denied the presumption of innocence
Although prosecutors haven’t proven a thing in court, virtually everything Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen owns has been seized.
Hey judge, Penzone ain’t Arpaio
A federal judge continues to micromanage the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, even though Penzone isn’t doing anything remotely similar to Arpaio’s immigration sweeps.
Fired staffer should take the money and move on
A federal judge is trying to force reinstatement of a fired Senate Democratic staffer, whom a jury found was discriminated against. Given the nature of the job, that’s the wrong remedy.
County board should retreat from Petersen removal
The route the supervisors have chosen will cost taxpayers a bundle, and very well may fail.