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News & Notes

Senate Republican (Majority) Press Releases
Arizona Legislature
1700 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2844

Senate President Ken Bennett (R-1)
602-926-5584
House Speaker Jim Weiers (R-10)
602-926-4173


June 21, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Historic Tax Cuts, Border Security and Highway Funding Top Long List of Republican Accomplishments


(State Capitol, Arizona) – Six months ago, Republican legislative leaders pledged to provide sweeping tax relief, secure our border and reduce gridlock on our roadways.

The Republican-dominated Legislature delivered big on all three priorities and did so much more.

The Legislature set out to have a positive impact on Arizona and improve the quality of life for the more than 5 million people who call the Copper State home. The results were impressive.

The desire to follow-up on last year’s major business tax relief package led to a combination of tax relief that would result in protection for property owners against a spike in valuations and income tax reduction that would further spur Arizona’s thriving economy.

The result – the largest tax cut in Arizona history.

The Republican Legislature was also determined to reintroduce and expand on legislation vetoed by the governor last year to address Arizona’s nightmarish illegal immigration.

The result -- several key measures were passed and sent to the governor, including the most comprehensive state illegal immigration bill in the nation. Unfortunately, the governor again vetoed all border security legislation. However, the Legislature went back to work, sending several measures aimed at illegal immigration directly to the people as ballot measures.

After several years of using gimmicks and tricks to balance the state budget, Republicans resolved to force a balanced budget on the Democrat governor that paid off past gimmicks and used no new smoke and mirrors.

The result – a balanced budget that provides tax relief, pays for our needs and saves money for future downturns.

Competition in the business community provides consumers with lower prices, better products and improved customer service. The same holds true for schools. This year again, the Republican Legislature sought to provide increased choice to parents facing some of the toughest education challenges so their children would have access to schools that give them the best opportunity for success.

The result – Lower and moderate income families will have more scholarships available through expanded business tuition tax credits, while disabled children may have the opportunity to attend a private school that can cater to their needs and foster families may have the opportunity to use a new voucher to send their children to a private school.

“This will go down as one of the most productive legislative sessions in recent memory,” said House Speaker Jim Weiers, R-Phoenix. “We took care of the needs of Arizona, protected Arizonans from an intrusive government and took action against illegal immigration. And we did it all while giving the largest tax cut in state history.”

Senate President Ken Bennett said, “This session was defined by enormously big issues, from English Language Learners to illegal immigration to the largest tax cuts ever in Arizona. This legislature distinguished itself by tackling the toughest issues with tremendous results for our citizens. I’m proud to have been a part of it.”

Senate Majority Leader Tim Bee said, “Republicans should be proud of what they accomplished for all Arizonans in this session. We set out to provide ground breaking tax relief, improve the education system, roads and public safety in our fast growing state and address the illegal immigration nightmare – we did all of this and more.”

Said House Majority Leader Steve Tully, R-Phoenix; “The only disappointment was that the governor decided that being an obstructionist was better than providing public safety and relief from the problems associated with illegal immigration. The Legislature did its job but the governor failed.”


Highlights of the legislative session include:

$9.9 billion balanced budget

• $310 million in permanent income tax reductions over two years and suspension of the $215 million state property tax for at least the next three years. This fuels Arizona’s vibrant economy while returning money to the Arizonans who earned it in the first place.

• A $345 million increase for highway and road construction throughout the state, an investment that is critical for a rapidly growing state.

• An 11% increase – over a half-billion dollars -- for the K-12 education system. This includes an additional $100 million this year to increase teachers salaries and $160 million doled out over the next two years to fully fund all-day kindergarten should local districts choose to do so. There is also $18 million to expand school choice for lower income, disabled and foster children.

• $128 million for investments in public safety, including money for more meth interdiction, hiring 46 DPS officers, a $5,300 annual pay increase for corrections officers and more prison beds.

Border security (VETOED)

• Providing for technology to address the flood of illegal border crossers with $50 million over the next two years to provide for a high-tech radar detection system at the border.

• Denies public benefits to illegal aliens and prohibits any government entity in Arizona from accepting any identification unless it was issued by a state or federal authority, or federally recognized Indian tribe.

• Grants to local agencies of $55 million to assist in border interdiction, enforcement and detention. Grants are awarded by the Arizona Border Enforcement Security Team made up primarily of local law enforcement officials.

• Fixed the English Language Learner lawsuit that the governor lost when she was Attorney General. Provided new money for children learning English while mandating districts create plans to ensure children deficient in English learn the language within two years. (Vetoed several times before finally passing into law without the governor’s signature).

• In an effort to get at least some measures addressing illegal immigration around Governor Napolitano’s record setting veto stamp, the legislature passed several ballot measures on the final day of the session, including the denial of public benefits to illegal aliens.

 

Protection against government intrusion (VETOED)

• Prevented government from seizing guns from law-abiding individuals during a state of emergency. While the bill was vetoed by the governor, the Legislature put the issue on the ballot.

• Protected property owners from government seeking to seize private property to use for non-governmental purposes. Again, the governor vetoed this bill.

 

Protection of the State Land Trust

• Placed a measure on the ballot that modernizes the operations of the State Land Department, while safeguarding the school land trust that is worth billions of dollars to the present and future funding of our public school system. The legislature accomplished this by providing mechanisms for the sound planning for all uses on state trust land, including development and conservation.

The Republican legislature achieved this extraordinary measure of accomplishment in the face of the greatest obstacle to sound policy in the history of the state in Gov. Janet Napolitano. The governor shattered the previous record of obstruction set by former Democrat Gov. Bruce Babbitt – and she did it in less than half the time. Governor Napolitano’s mountain of vetoes included many significant measures impacting Arizonans. The governor’s vetoes this session carried the same themes that Arizonans have seen throughout her tenure: a refusal to address the border; a refusal to restrict abortions; a refusal to hold government accountable or to curb its influence over the people; and a refusal to support school choice.

Please see the attached for a further detailed accounting of the work accomplished by the Republican legislature in this session.

 

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For further information contact:
Nick Simonetta, Communications and Policy Advisor to the Majority
 Arizona State Senate
Office: (602) 926-5418, e-mail: nsimonet@azleg.gov
OR
Barrett Marson, Director of Communications
 Arizona House of Representatives
Office: (602) 926-3233, e-mail: bmarson@azleg.gov