HB 2017~Greenhouse Emissions,Regulation, Fuel Economy

This bill prohibits a state agency from adopting or enforcing rules or regulations to implement a regional program addressing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or motor vehicle fuel economy that is not expressly authorized by federal law, or that is more stringent than federal laws or regulations and requires the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to provide a written statement on any such program.

This bill will come before the House of Representatives early next week since we will not be meeting tomorrow. I fully support this bill, believing that the Governor, by her recent actions, is muddying the waters, overstepping her authority and side-stepping the proper legislative process.

UPDATE: The Governor vetoed this legislation but we may have her stopped yet...more on this to come as we await the outcome of a federal ruling

azcentral.com blogs | LaurieRoberts

LR posts about the Governor's recent veto of a DUI-related bill.

What is your take on this particular post of Mrs. Roberts?

Catching Up

• Budget talks are still ongoing. Our group of Republican legislators meeting daily at JLBC is growing. Progress on finding responsible solutions to the $1.8 Billion dollar budget shortfall is slow going but at least progress is being made. I am unable to share the details at this point and frankly, it would be premature as nothing is set in stone, despite any apparent concensus by group members.

• The Governor vetoed HB 2395, a bill would have imposed tougher mandates and penalties against drunk boaters and drivers, but also halved to six months the requirement that first-time DUI offenders use ignition interlocks for a year. This bill contained important provisions such as: 1) a fix to a conflict in state law regarding jail time for people convicted of extreme DUI so that they must serve 30-day sentences, 2) required that first-time offenders convicted of operating a boat while intoxicated must generally serve 10 consecutive days in jail, 3) expanded circumstances in which a drunken driver's license is suspended for 90 days after a fatal accident.

Personally, I was very conflicted on this bill...MADD opposed this legislation because of the reduction of time required for the interlock device but like my colleagues, I agree of the importance of the remaining provisions. This one bill was a combination of three original bills; unfortunately the three bills were combined. Because the conflict in the statute will remain due to the Governor's veto, we will take up this issue again next session. Perhaps next year we will get this right.

• Tomorrow the House will vote on SB1450, the bill that basically gives taxing authority to a private corporation. On a voice vote today, the House agreed to let the developers create a special taxing district. In essence, SB1450 would give the board of this district one of the key powers of a city: impose sales taxes to finance construction of the park in Eloy...a horrible idea I oppose. Read about this further in my next post.

Chambers of Commerce Letter to the Governor Re: HB 2220 Property Tax Repeal

UPDATE: The Governor vetoed this bill.

NOTE: I am so pleased to see that both the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce signed on in support of the bill. I wonder where the Kingman Chamber of Commerce stands.

April 11, 2008

The Honorable Janet Napolitano
Office of the Governor
1700 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Dear Governor Napolitano:

As chambers of commerce across Arizona, we encourage you to sign HB 2220 to
permanently repeal the state equalization property tax. Signing this legislation would
prevent an approximately $250 million annual tax hike on businesses and residential
property owners during a time when Arizonans are experiencing economic strain.

The statewide business community has made permanent repeal of the state equalization
rate a top priority for the 2008 legislative session. Currently, commercial property owners in Arizona pay more than twice the amount in taxes that residential property owners pay. That places Arizona in the top highest for commercial property taxes and far above our neighboring states, thus harming our competitiveness.

The business community recognizes the severity of the state’s fiscal crisis. We remain
convinced; however, that the economy is best stimulated by private enterprise. Creating an environment in which businesses can flourish will allow companies to make additional investments that will advance our economy in a powerful way. During this economic crisis, we have an opportunity to put policies in place that position us for future success. Permanently repealing the statewide equalization rate is one important step in that direction.

Sincerely,
Ajo District Chamber of Commerce
Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce
Benson-San Pedro Valley Chamber of Commerce
Camp Verde Chamber of Commerce
Chino Valley Area Chamber of Commerce
East Valley Chambers of Commerce Alliance:
Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce
Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
Gilbert Chamber of Commerce
Mesa Chamber of Commerce
Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce
Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce
Tempe Chamber of Commerce
Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce
Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce
Prescott Chamber of Commerce
Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce
Sedona Chamber of Commerce
Southern Arizona Chambers of Commerce Alliance:
Marana Chamber of Commerce
Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce
Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce
Rio Rico Chamber of Commerce
Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
St. John’s Regional Chamber of Commerce
Tri-City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
West Valley Chambers of Commerce Alliance:
Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce
Glendale Chamber of Commerce
Peoria Chamber of Commerce
Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce
Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce
Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce
Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce

Governor Vetos Spending Freeze ~ Veto Letter on HB 2857

Gov. Janet Napolitano has vetoed a spending freeze approved last week by the Legislature that would have prevented state agencies from spending about $580 million already assigned to them.