LETTER: Time to set extremist politics aside in AZ

(Editor's note: We realize there are some political overtones to the following letter, but we really like what this guy has to say about the direction Arizona needs to go -- and the kind of people we need to elect to make it happen.  As always, we welcome your thoughts.)

Editor:
Arizona is losing jobs at a faster rate than any state in the nation. We have a growing deficit and an unbalanced budget. Our school system is failing and our state parks are closing. The simple truth is that we haven’t seen a plan from our current leadership to turn Arizona around, and we simply can’t wait any longer.

This November, we have an opportunity to get things back on track. We need to elect leaders who are willing to set aside their own agenda, make some tough decisions, and put Arizona first – not their next re-election campaign.

We have a lot of work to do and it’s not going to be simple. We need leaders with a plan and a vision for our future. Here are four basic things we have to do:

1. Close tax loopholes that benefit special interests and hurt the families of our state. Our deficit next year will be well over $1 billion, and instead of offering gimmicky sales tax increases or hidden property tax hikes that hurt Arizonans and don’t even solve the problem, it’s time to get serious about fixing our budget crisis.

There are over $10 billion worth of loopholes in the sales tax code alone. Instead of raising more taxes on the middle class as Governor Brewer has done the past two years, I propose that we close many of these loopholes (such things as exemptions for day spas and maid services) and then actually LOWER the sales tax rate. This will reduce the tax burden on average Arizonans across our state while helping address our deficit. It’s time to stop giving special interests a free ride on the backs of hard working Arizonans.

2. Implement a comprehensive economic and jobs recovery plan. We need a plan to get our economy turned around. Some elected officials claim they have created jobs and Arizona is doing great, but it’s not true. We have lost over 300,000 jobs in the past two years alone. That is astounding. Three keys to economic recovery:

o Provide support and incentives to small businesses and entrepreneurs. By doing so we strengthen the backbone of our economy, attract capital investment, and get Arizonans working again.

o Create a stronger environment for business competitiveness. Overhauling our tax code to create competitiveness, streamlining and reducing regulatory barriers in many sectors, and dismantling the Department of Commerce and creating a working private/public partnership to attract and retain business in Arizona (much like the Greater Phoenix Economic Council model) are good places to start.

o Work in partnership with local businesses, not against them. That means promoting Arizona and all we have to offer, not spreading half truths and misperceptions about our state.

3. Fix and invest in our education system. And this doesn’t mean we just throw money at the problem, as that will not solve our crisis. That being said, we MUST begin funding our schools at an adequate level - being last in the nation in school funding is not something to be proud of, and it’s time to turn it around. But we must do it hand in hand with reform.

That means that we need to implement reforms to increase performance and accountability for students, teachers, and administrators alike. We must have a system that is equipped to prepare students for the 21st century so we can attract and retain employers here in Arizona.

And finally, we also must reinstate adult education and job training programs that have been eliminated over the past two years. For a small investment, these programs help put adults back to work, and the benefits on that investment are easy to see.

4. Put common sense back into politics. It’s time to stop playing games. Decisions are being made that just don’t add up. We saved $6 million by closing state parks…but lost $250 million in tourism revenue due to those closures. We sold off state buildings to make cash…and then leased them back for a net loss of tens of millions of dollars to Arizona taxpayers. Does that make sense? It does for the official who’s looking for a short-term fix to get them through their next re-election, but it certainly doesn’t for the taxpayers of our state.

The bottom line is this: we need leaders who are willing to set aside their own agendas and work for Arizona. So, this November, I urge everyone to ask the candidates - Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Green - what is their stance on these key issues and are they willing to set aside games and extremist politics to instead focus on the real issues facing our state? If they can’t give you a straight answer, then I urge you to keep asking the same question until you find a candidate that does.

Let’s get Arizona back on track.

Sincerely,
Chad Campbell
State Representative, District 14
House Democratic Whip