|
TAXES
 Fundamental
Tax Reform/Replace
State Income Tax with a Consumption Tax
IN
PROGRESS
It
is an established fact of economics that any activity that is taxed will be performed
less often.
Taxing productivity (income) is counterproductive in the long term
and always harms the economy. A
few other states already have similar systems. Those states have been
doing a better job of growing and diversifying their economies than Arizona
has. Strategies
can be implemented to assure the poorest among us don't disproportionately
bear the brunt of this idea. For example, basic necessities like food
are already be exempt from sales tax in most cities.
*NOTE:
This is an idea that will probably take several years to bring about and
will probably have to go to the ballot.
Eliminate
Business Personal
Property Tax to Create More and Better Jobs
IN
PROGRESS
Arizona’s
current punitive tax on non-real estate property drives companies with large
capital assets (most high-tech companies) to other states, like Nevada and
Texas.
If we want to bring more and better high-paying jobs to
Arizona, we must stop penalizing the companies for being here in the first
place and investing in upgraded equipment.
*NOTE:
Since the lawyers have ruled that this must go to the ballot, it has been
more difficult to accomplish than I expected. However, I think I have
proven that I'll keep working on it until it gets done. This year, I
sponsored HCR2056, which has passed the House and is now ready for a Senate
floor vote to send this measure to the ballot.
Adamantly
Oppose Proposed New Sales Tax on Services
CONTINUING
EFFORT
Many
Democrat legislators want to expand sales taxes to include services, from haircuts to legal fees and
more, to fund various new and expanded programs. However, they don't
seem interested in fundamental reform of our tax structure.
I
oppose their proposal.
Limit
Special Tax Breaks Given to Handpicked Companies
DONE
IN 2007!
(As
of 2004) Arizona cities give away hundreds of millions of dollars every year to companies that will locate somewhere in the state anyway, just to have them choose their area. This corporate
welfare makes it tough for small businesses, which are the source of most new jobs, to
compete.
*NOTE:
I worked with Democrat Sen. Ken Cheuvront on this issue and even had to
stand up to the then-Senate President to get this bill passed. There was a
lot of pressure to water down the bill to the point of making it
worthless. It took true bi-partisan cooperation in both the House and
Senate to get this important bill passed. We both won a Legislative
Courage award for this bill.
CHILDREN
True Top-to-Bottom Reform of Child Protective
Services
PARTIALLY
DONE IN 2008! & STILL IN
PROGRESS
CPS has historically been one of the most inept, mismanaged and ineffective
agencies in state government. It routinely fails to meet the needs of
parents and the
children it is charged with protecting. Too often, CPS wastes time
investigating good parents about ridiculous issues while truly abusive or
neglectful parents are allowed to keep their kids. Then CPS complains it
needs more money and staff. Comprehensive reform is the only way to
solve the ongoing CPS crisis.
*NOTE:
I worked closely with then-Reps. Kirk Adams and Jonathan Paton (Chair and
Vice-Chair of the Government committee) on CPS reform bills enacted in
2008 and have been a sleader on this issue in the House in 2009-10, since
I have daily personal experience as a foster parent.
Remove Children From Bad
Parents Sooner
IN
PROGRESS
CPS
currently calls a long-term (years with no effort to change) pattern of drug use/abuse a "lifestyle
choice" that is not necessarily a reason to remove a child. That should
by itself be sufficient
grounds for the removal of a child, pending efforts by the parent to get
clean. Too often, the first “documented
evidence of abuse or neglect” is the child’s lifeless body. This
ongoing disgrace is simply unacceptable.
Make Children Adoptable Sooner
IN
PROGRESS
Children
removed from parental custody should become adoptable after 12 months if the
parent has failed to make substantial improvement.
The sooner abused or neglected children are given a permanent
loving home, the lower their likelihood of becoming criminals and the brighter
their future.
More
Accountability for CPS Workers
PARTIALLY
DONE IN 2008! & STILL IN
PROGRESS
Many
CPS workers are good at their job and are doing it for the right
reasons. Many others, however, are truly inept, lazy or both.
Current personnel rules make it very difficult to purge these bad workers from
the department. The good workers tire of cleaning up the messes left by their
lazy peers and many end up quitting, which leaves too many new hires and bad
workers to protect children. Good workers are not afraid of objective accountability.
*NOTE:
I know first-hand of multiple cases where a case worker intentionally lied in
documents or in court and kept their job, even after they were caught.
This climate of mediocrity is bad for everyone except the bad workers who just
want to keep their guaranteed paycheck.
CRIME
Three-Strikes Law for Felony
Violent Crimes
DONE
IN 2006!
The
three-strikes law in California has been successful in getting violent and
“career” offenders off the streets and was upheld by the U.S. Supreme
Court.
Arizona should enact a similar measure.
*NOTE:
I sponsored a three-strikes law during my first term. While that bill
didn't pass, it helped lay the groundwork for the bill that ultimately
passed. I worked with the sponsor, committee chairman and others to
help make the bill strong, but fair.
Better
Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence/Stalkers
NEW!
Too
many times someone (usually a woman) is stalked by someone who just won't
stop and who is clever enough to leave little direct evidence. The
victim is sometimes told that it is "just your word against
theirs" and nothing substantive is done.
*NOTE:
I'm personally aware of situations where evidence exists that could prove
the victim is telling the truth, but is told it is "too expensive"
to process the evidence.
EDUCATION
Eliminate
the Marriage Penalty for Tuition Scholarship Tax
Credit
DONE
IN 2006!
(As
of 2004) Individuals
are currently limited to $500, while the maximum for married couples is only
$625.
Raising their limit to $1,000 would eliminate this Marriage Penalty.
Corporate donations should also be allowed.
Scholarships
for Private
School Costs
PARTIALLY
DONE IN 2006!
Parents
who prefer private school for their children should get a credit of $5,000 to
use at the non-public school of their choice.
Most private schools cost less per year than the approximately
$9,000 we
currently spend per pupil for public schools.
Competition on the basis of results will force public schools to
improve.
HEALTH INSURANCE
New
Health Insurance Strategies for the Chronically Ill &
Disabled
IN
PROGRESS
Widen
availability of health insurance through the private sector for chronically
ill persons so that they can move from AHCCCS/public assistance to being as
self-sufficient and productive as their condition allows.
*NOTE:
Health insurance issues are among the most complex and difficult to address at
the state level, primarily due to excessive federal regulation. Health
insurance reform will take years of hard work and, even then, could be
hampered by term limits.
|
