Majority Program Bullet Summary

 “There’s a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts.” Ronald Reagan, in his farewell address.

Good government is in many ways the art of meeting infinite needs with limited resources.   It is a balancing of available funds with the claims on those funds as well as a balancing of the need for funds with the supply.  Our duty as good stewards of the funds entrusted to us by the citizens is to ensure that the money spent is having the desired outcome.  Too often political debate loses its focus. We talk more about amounts spent than we do on results achieved. To fix this disparity, the Republican Caucus will examine the mission of the various state agencies and require measurable indicators of success.

Budget

As we continue to recover from the recent recession, we have the opportunity and responsibility to eliminate the state’s structural deficit.  The structural deficit is the fixed expense of running government over the amount of revenue received in a given year. Recent methods of budgeting have resulted in future and present debt obligations of approximately $1.5 billion.   When the payments on these debt obligations become due, they will compete with other programs like education and health care for state dollars.  We pledge not to further exacerbate our budget problems by incurring any additional debt to finance government expenses.  We also pledge to eliminate the structural deficit and to return the state to financial accountability.

            In moving toward a balanced budget, we recognize that the budget process is inevitably a tug-of-war among competing interests for a scarce resource: taxpayer money.  The taxpayers of Arizona can be sure that our priority is to spend tax dollars received wisely.   However, over the last ten years the legislature’s ability to appropriate dollars has been significantly limited.  As a result of voter mandates and court rulings, the legislature only has budgetary authority over 35% of the state’s spending. Therefore, in the long term, the state needs to review the limitations on the legislature’s ability to appropriate dollars to the various competing demands.

Taxes

Currently, our tax system puts Arizona at a competitive disadvantage when attracting and retaining some businesses. We have long maintained a business property tax that is disproportionately high when compared to other states.  In fact, by some estimates it is the third highest in the nation.  Consequently, seemingly small property tax increases on residential property result in extremely high taxes on our businesses.  Since our adverse tax structure makes it difficult for businesses to add jobs or invest in equipment, a business with large real property needs is not likely to locate to Arizona. The Republican Caucus is committed to a tax system that ensures all businesses and individuals in Arizona are treated fairly.  In that regard, we will seek to reduce the business property tax rate to make it more equitable with the residential rate, without shifting any additional burden to Arizona’s homeowners.

Kindergarten – 12th Grade Education

            The Republican goal for the state’s education policy is simple.  We want the children of this state to learn the skills they need to grow throughout their lives -- both personally and professionally. We believe that Arizona’s children should be able to read proficiently, write clearly, and work math problems precisely. We want our children to learn arts and athletics so they can more fully understand the human experience and learn the virtues of self-discipline, team work, and leadership.

            But the state can only do so much.  The best predictor of educational success is a child’s parents.  A child with disinterested parents will have difficulty succeeding in the best school with the finest teachers.  Conversely, a child with involved parents, who stress the importance of education, will learn despite any obstacles that student may face.  The state cannot guarantee that a child will learn, but the state can eliminate obstacles to learning.  Because not all children respond to teaching methods the same way, one of the best and most effective ways of eliminating obstacles is to provide learning options. Thanks to our past efforts, Arizona offers a variety of school choice opportunities to our parents and children. However, there is still much more that should be done. Therefore, we must pursue the creation of new educational opportunities for all of Arizona's children---no matter where they live--- so that every child attends the school that best meets his or her needs.

            In addition to providing greater educational opportunities, we must ensure our school buildings are paid for responsibly.  Currently, school construction is funded by debt financing, which is increasing Arizona’s long-term debt by $250 million a year.  In order to avoid future budget shortfalls, the Republican Caucus will minimize the use of financing methods for school construction that could compromise the fiscal health of the state in years to come.               

Universities and Community Colleges

            Strong universities and community colleges are vital to our state’s well-being.  As discussions of the future of our higher education system move forward, the Republican Caucus will remain mindful that the mission of the universities and community colleges is to educate students, and we will work to guarantee that our citizens receive the services they desire at a price they can afford. The Republican Caucus will promote a student-centered higher education system that will result in better opportunities and access for students, and increased student retention and graduation rates.

Healthcare

            Currently, nearly 1 million Arizonans are on the AHCCCS program. That means that nearly 20% of Arizonans are having the state pay for at least part of their health care.  The rapid growth in the program has been one of the major forces behind the state’s budget deficit.   We believe the existing health insurance and health care delivery system is too expensive for the average citizen.  We believe that one of the factors leading to this expense is over regulation and involvement by the state and federal governments.   Although this cannot be resolved overnight, we will seek to eliminate over-regulation and bureaucracy and move toward a health care system that provides the consumer with more choices.  

            The Republican Caucus will also address medical liability and procedural reform.   We acknowledge that this will not solve all the affordability issues, but it may stem the loss of physicians tired of excessive premium growth. When addressing reform, we will remain mindful of the fact that reforms must be balanced with preserving the ability of aggrieved individuals to seek redress for legitimate claims.   

Water/Environment

            Our state's future will depend on our long-term water planning and management policies. Protecting our water supply will be a top priority during the next two years.   In order for Arizona to sustain its economic viability and quality of life, it is critical we learn to manage our water sources more effectively.

            We will also develop legislation on state trust land reform.  With more than 9 million acres of state trust land, it is one of Arizona’s most valuable assets and must be maintained for future generations of schoolchildren.  The goal of the reform is to increase revenues for the benefit of public schools and other beneficiaries through better management and planning of trust lands.

Public Safety

            Public safety is a core function of government and must always be a top priority.  Ensuring that law enforcement has the proper tools is fundamental.  We will promote measures to further protect against identity theft and coyote trafficking of illegal immigrants.  In addition, we will strengthen classification discrepancies regarding sex offenders to make sure such offenders are properly registered.

Family

            We recognize that families are the cornerstone and the common bond that unite our communities, our state and our nation. To that end, we support the institution of traditional marriage.   We will assess all legislative and governmental actions based on whether they strengthen or erode the family.  Specifically, the Republican Caucus will evaluate the disparity in tuition tax credits between married couples and individuals.  We will continue efforts to support our military families.  Additionally, our majority program touches on every aspect of life that affects families. Whether it is streamlining the adoption process, tax policy, protecting our most vulnerable populations or education, we are committed to enacting policies that will promote, protect and preserve families across Arizona.