Arizona State Legislature Candidate Bob Green Expresses Disappointment with Recent Budget Bills

March 4, 2010 - PRLog -- PHOENIX – With the Arizona unemployment rate steady at 10 percent, creating new jobs for Phoenix area residents should be at the top of the priority list for every member of the state legislature. However, the Arizona State Legislature, by enacting the Arizona Job Recovery Act, snubbed small business owners at the expense of large corporations and homeowners, while passing a sales tax increase proposal to the voters. The Legislature also passed a bill allowing the state to borrow $750 million from future lottery revenues.

“Clearly, we need to bring businesses to Arizona to create jobs and start our recovery”, said Bob Green, Candidate for Arizona State Senate, District 7, “however, the bill passed by the legislature only provides incentives for medium to large businesses that relocate to Arizona, with so many conditions and restrictions, Arizona will still not be competitive with the other Western states such as Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. The Legislature also forgets that 90 percent of Americans are employed by small businesses, and providing economic incentives to small businesses has a quicker positive impact in creating jobs. An added insult is that in order to fund big business, Arizona homeowners will pick up the tab with higher property taxes. Without the courage to say 'no' to the Governor’s proposed sales tax increase, the legislature is passing that on to the voters, thereby avoiding taking a stand during this election year."

According to Green, the big insult in the Legislature’s attempt to pass a budget is borrowing $750 million from future lottery revenues along with delaying $450 million in payments to schools.  

“This action is exactly the same as taking a cash advance on your credit card to pay off your other credit cards," he said. " This does not help the state’s budget shortfall.”

Asked what other options the state has, Mr. Green responded, “First, we need to take a hard look at the assets of this state and ask ourselves if they are absolutely necessary.  If we have underutilized property or assets that can help get our budget back in balance then we need to have the fortitude and commitment to make these hard choices. In addition, rather than cutting vital services like police, fire, and education, there are several other non-essential departments that can absorb the necessary budget cuts. Finally, we can take advantage of today’s very low interest rates, and consolidate and refinance our debt. This will get our state budget in balance, and if we enact the proper reforms such as a required rainy day fund and limits on debt spending, we can ensure that this fiscal crisis will never be repeated."

Mr. Green summed up his views by stating, “This is why Arizona voters need to speak with a loud voice this year, and vote out the incumbents that have spent all our money and put us in this abyss, and elect new people that are committed to getting our state back on track."

For more information about Arizona State Legislative Candidate Bob Green, please visit his website at http://www.bobgreen4arizona.com.

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