by AZFEC | Nov 14, 2013 | News and Updates, Uncategorized
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club today released the following statement following the 3-2 vote against meaningful net metering reform:
“The vote by the Commission today codifies that non-solar customers will continue to subsidize solar ratepayers,” Executive Director Scot Mussi said. “The net metering program needs to be based on the actual costs of solar power, and the changes made today guarantees that it won’t.”
Without reforms, it is anticipated that the program will only grow more costly over the next several years. “If the goal was to continue picking winners and losers through our utility bills, then the Commission succeeded.” Mussi continued. “And if the Commissioners think that this problem will be easier to fix in the future, they are sorely mistaken.”
by AZFEC | Nov 13, 2013 | News and Updates, Uncategorized
Last week it was announced with great fanfare that Apple is moving to Arizona, buying the abandoned First Solar factory plant in east Mesa. And just like the First Solar project in 2011 that produced similar jubilation, politicians and special interest groups seem eager to shower Apple with lavish subsidies and targeted incentives at the expense of taxpayers and small businesses.
Of course, having new ventures like Apple locate to Arizona and create 700 new jobs is undoubtedly a positive development and a good sign for our economy. The question is why Apple and other similar announcements should receive special treatment over the thousands of other jobs created in our state without a special deal. By comparison, here are the latest job creation figures for Arizona through September:
Additionally, the Office of Employment and Population Statistics is now projecting that 48,500 jobs will be created in 2013. In other words, approximately 98% of private sector job growth in Arizona in 2013 will involve no special incentives or tax breaks from government. It is the 98% that pays for the targeted subsidies provided to the 2% of companies that are lucky enough to receive them.
This is bad tax policy and is unfair to the vast majority of job creators. Rather than picking winners and losers through special tax incentives, we should be focusing on broad based tax relief and reform that encourages our $200 Billion dollar economy to grow and prosper. We know that sensible tax policy doesn’t make for great ribbon cutting ceremonies or photo ops for our elected officials, but is a far better approach for a healthy business climate.
by AZFEC | Nov 5, 2013 | News and Updates, Uncategorized
We are nearing a decision by the Corporation Commission on whether or not they will finally end the solar subsidies under the current Net Metering program, a policy at the Commission that provides credits to ratepayers that put energy back on the utility grid. While it appears there is support to finally rein in the solar giveaways, Commission staff has recommended waiting as long as 3 years to address the issue, which plays directly into the solar industry’s hands.
Of course the subsidy hungry solar lobby would love a delay—the longer we go without reform the harder it will be to fix in the future. Delaying action should not be an option.
The Free Enterprise Club supports reforming the Net Metering program, and submitted comments to the commission urging reform (our letter can be viewed here). We believe that an effective program should utilize a market driven approach that compensates solar ratepayers based on actual value of the energy that is put back on the grid.
The bottom line is the special interests opposing reform (even calling reform Corporate Welfare, when in fact the current program is the definition of Corporate Welfare) will only be emboldened if the Commission waits to roll back these subsidies. It’s time we stop picking winners and losers through our utility bill and end the hidden subsidies that are embedded in the Net Metering program.
by AZFEC | Nov 1, 2013 | News and Updates, Uncategorized
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club today released the following statement on the efforts by the Phoenix City Council to address the ongoing pension spiking abuse:
“The council is expected today to try to approve meaningless reforms that do not address the issue of pension spiking,” Executive Director Scot Mussi said. “The Mayor won’t even allow an up or down vote on real anti-spiking reforms being proposed by Councilman Sal DiCiccio, which illustrates their unwillingness to stop the abuse.”
According to the Arizona Republic, pension spiking is costing Phoenix taxpayers over $190 million dollars, a number that will continue to grow as the abuse continues. “Pension costs are out of control, and taxpayers are on the hook,” Mussi said.
In response to the spiking abuse and out of control pension costs, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club has filed an initiative that will implement real pension reform in Phoenix. “If city hall won’t address our escalating pension crisis, it is time Phoenix voters have a say,” Mussi said.
For more information on the Free Enterprise Club’s pension reform initiative, click here for a fact sheet on the measure.
by Scot Mussi | May 9, 2012 | News and Updates, Uncategorized
Since our first session in 2006, the Club has successfully lobbied to reduce personal income taxes (10% cut for all brackets), cut the corporate tax rate (from 7% to 4.9%), reduce both residential and commercial property taxes, and now cut the capital gains tax rate by 25 percent.
by Scot Mussi | May 8, 2012 | News and Updates, Uncategorized
The House and Senate sent to Gov. Brewer a bill to cut Arizona’s capital gain tax. Brewer is expected to sign the bill this week.
The capital gains tax cut would allow taxpayers a 25% subtraction from how capital gains are currently taxed (as regular wages). So if you’re in the 4.54% tax bracket, realized capital gains would be taxed at 3.4% rather than 4.54%.
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club for two years has pushed to have capital gains eliminated, but this 25% subtraction is a good first step.
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