Saturday, January 26, 2008

HCR 2038~Spending Limit for Arizona Government

A Proposed Floor Resolution to be made at the January 26, 2008 Republican State Committee:

Whereas, the Governor and her legislative allies have spent the state government into a billion-dollar budget deficit;

Whereas, some legislators are using the deficit to justify bringing back the state equalization property tax;

Whereas, in 2006 and 2007, state government spending as a portion of the state economy, as measured by personal income, exceeded 6.4 percent;

Whereas, fiscal moderation and fiscal conservatism both demand that government not be allowed to grow faster than the private economy;

Whereas, the existing Constitutional spending limit of 7.41 percent of state personal income was far too high to restrain recent spending binges;

Resolved, the Arizona Republican Party in Convention assembled on this 26th day of January 2008 does hereby declare that:

The Arizona Republican Party supports HCR 2038, a referendum bill introduced in the Second Session of the 48th Arizona Legislature, which would allow voters in November 2008 to amend Arizona’s Constitutional spending limit to cap spending by the state government at no more than 6.4 percent of state personal income;

Further, the following legislators are to be commended for sponsoring HCR 2038: from the Arizona House of Representatives, Russell Pearce, Mark Anderson, Ray Barnes, Andy Biggs, Judy Burges, Sam Crump, Eddie Farnsworth, Trish Groe, John Kavanagh, Rick Murphy, Bob Stump, House Speaker Jim Weiers, and Steven Yarbrough, and from the Arizona Senate, Robert “Bob” Burns, Ron Gould, Jack Harper, Sen. Karen Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Summary of Proposed Water Legislation by AMWUA

Arizona Municipal Water Users Association’s LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY2008 is now available on their website. The summary is updated weekly and includes descriptions of proposed water-related legislation and it's current status in the legislative process.

Mohave County Water Authority Proposed Legislation: HB2132

HB 2132 County Water Authority; Colorado River

(Sponsors: Representatives McLain, Burges, Groe; Senator Aguirre)

Bill Provisions

HB 2132 amends ARS § 45-2244 to eliminate the industrial use restriction on a portion of
Mohave County Water Authority’s Colorado River allocation.

Background

In 1994, legislation was adopted to provide for the formation of the Mohave County Water
Authority (MCWA). The members of MCWA are Bullhead City, City of Kingman, Lake
Havasu City, Mohave County, Golden Shores Irrigation District, Mohave Valley Irrigation and
Drainage District, and the Mohave Water Conservation District.

The impetus to forming MCWA was to put to use the City of Kingman’s Colorado River
contract for 18,500 acre-feet of 4th priority water, while at the same time providing Kingman
with funds to develop its groundwater resources. A.R.S. § 45-2244 prescribes the uses for which
this water may be used.

Late in the negotiations, the Department of Interior set aside 3,500 acre-feet of the 18,500 acrefeet for other uses, leaving MCWA with 3,500 acre-feet of 5th and 6th priority water, which is a less stable supply than the higher priority, 4th priority water. This 3,500 acre-feet was recently converted back to 4th priority water pursuant to provisions in the Arizona Water Settlements Agreement and would now be available to the MCWA as a permanent supply, however, A.R.S. § 45-2244 A.2. limits the 3,500 acre-feet to industrial uses. Industrial uses are defined in A.R.S. § 45-2201 (8) as a “nonagricultural use of water not supplied by a city, town or private water company, including animal industry use as defined in § 45-402.”

Since MCWA’s formation in 1996, it has not received a single request for water for an industrial use. During that same time frame, MCWA’s members have sought additional water for municipal purposes, which can include industrial uses.

The MCWA Board voted unanimously to seek this legislation at its meeting held September 25, 2007.

This legislation would result in additional water for municipal as well as industrial uses. It
would provide the City of Kingman with additional funds to develop its groundwater resources.

House of Representatives Schedule for upcoming week

Just a reminder that the House will return to its regular committee schedule next week. Please note a time change for Water & Agriculture Committee and a special meeting for a Joint Appropriations Committee hearing. Go to http://www.azleg.gov/ for committee agendas.

Please be aware that this schedule may change.

Monday

1:00 p.m. Floor

1:30 p.m. Committees (Finacial Institutions & Insurance, Homeland Security & Property Rights, Public Institution & Retirement, Ways & Means)
(or upon adj/recess of floor)


Tuesday

10:00 a.m. Rules/Caucus

1:00 p.m. Floor

1:30 p.m. Committees (Counties, Municipalities & Military Affairs, Government, Higher Education)
(or upon adj/recess of floor)


Wednesday

9:00 a.m. Committees (K-12, Health, Commerce, Natural Resources PS)

1:00 p.m. Floor

1:30 p.m. Committees (Approps, Environment)
(or upon adj/recess of floor)

4:00 p.m. COW amendment deadline!


Thursday

9:00 a.m. Committees (Human Services, Jud, Transportation)

9:30 a.m. Water & Agriculture (note time change)

1:00 p.m. Floor

1:30 p.m. Joint House and Senate Appropriations
(or upon adj/recess of floor)

Support from the AZ Citizens Defense League and Members

An example of the response/emails I am receiving for co-sponsoring SB 1214:

The Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL) has informed me that you are a cosponsor of SB 1214, permitting adults with concealed weapon (CCW) permits to carry on school grounds in accordance with Federal law.

With irrational gun bans in place everywhere, anyone determined to do a lot of harm knows that they can literally get away with murder on school grounds, because no one will stop them until it's too late. On April 16, 2007, twenty-seven students and five faculty members at Virginia Tech lost their lives to a madman who possessed one distinct advantage over his victims – he wasn't concerned about the "gun free zone" rules. Nineteen of his thirty-two victims were over twenty-one, the legal age for obtaining a concealed handgun permit in Virginia (and Arizona).


The passage of SB 1214 is very important to me, and I will do all I can to support it through the legislative process. Thank you for sponsoring SB 11214.

Public Input/Testimony Needed

The Joint Legislative Committee on Children and Family Services will meet for the first time this session on Wednesday, February 6, 2008.

The meeting will be held in House Hearing Room 3

3:00 to 5:30 (or upon adjournment of afternoon committees).

The agenda will be set within the next few days. If you or someone you know would like to offer input on subjects to be discussed, please contact Representative Nancy Barto at the number/email address below.


There will be time for public input and testimony. Representative Barto and Senator Karen Johnson, the Chairs of this committee are looking forward to hearing from you!

If you cannot attend in person, please take the time to send me an email with any comments, questions, or concerns that you would like brought to light and I will be sure they are read into the record. I will have my legislative email open (tgroe@azleg.gov) if you happen to watch the committee hearing via the internet at www.azleg.gov and want to email me during the meeting.

Nancy Barto's Contact Information:



Arizona House of Representatives
Vice-Chairman, Rules and Human Services Committees
Member of Health, Higher Education, and Homeland Security & Property Rights Committees

District 7 Northeast Phoenix, Carefree, Cave Creek, and Scottsdale

nbarto@azleg.gov
(602) 926-5766
1700 West Washington Avenue, Suite H
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Critique of Napolitano's Proposed FY 2009 Budget

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, January 25, 2008
CONTACT: Steve Voeller: (602) 346-5061

Arizona Free Enterprise Club Criticizes Napolitano’s Reckless Budget Proposal
Governor’s budget proposal adds $2.3 billion in debt, according to JLBC

Phoenix, AZ – Steve Voeller, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, a pro-economic growth advocacy group, today criticized Governor Janet Napolitano’s proposed fiscal 2009 budget.
In response to a $1.7 billion 2009 budget deficit, the Governor’s plan calls for $2.3 billion in new debt, an early tax payment, an expansion of photo radar, increased taxes from the lottery, and $700 million in revenue figures above consensus forecasts.

“The Governor’s budget plan for 2009 is irresponsible and should be rejected,” Voeller said.

The Governor’s plan shifts from paying cash to borrowing money for the following items:

$864 million School construction (FY’08 and ’09)
$967 million University building and maintenance
$470 million Phoenix medical school
$50 million Public safety communications
$7 million Emergency operations center
TOTAL $2.358 billion (source: Joint Legislative Budget Cmte.)

To realize new revenue, the Governor asks businesses to pay their July estimated retail taxes in June, meaning businesses will have to pay both June and July payments in the same month. She also assumes $90 million in revenue from an expansion of photo radar. It is unclear how much it will cost to implement photo radar statewide or how many tickets will have to be issued to net $90 million.

The Governor plans to spend additional state money promoting the lottery in hopes that an increase in lottery participation will bring $10 million to state coffers.

The Governor’s plan also calls for a $60 million shift from the state’s balance book to county budgets by housing felons in county jails rather than state prisons.

Over the last five years, government spending increased 32 percent after adjusting for population and inflation.

“The most troubling aspect of the Governor’s budget is the total lack of fiscal discipline,” Voeller continued. “After years of overspending, she attempts to plug a $1.7 billion dollar budget gap with $2.3 billion in new debt.”