NEWS UPDATES
Unpacking the Local Control Debate
Each year there is a constant debate at the Legislature centered around a bevy of bills that preempt the authority of local government. For the most part, the proponents of “local control” for cities and counties hang their hat on the explanation that the superior...
Out of State Billionaire Pushing Renewable Mandate Initiative in Arizona
A liberal San Francisco billionaire has decided to bring his radical environmentalist agenda to Arizona. Earlier this month a group called NextGen announced their plans to fund a ballot initiative to amend our state constitution requiring non-governmental utility...
Costly Rural Tax Credit Program Moving Again at the Legislature
Last year’s Rural Tax Credit bill has popped up again at the legislature, a $30 million hit to the budget when Arizona can least afford it. Proponents of the bill are drawing support by selling this idea as a way to spark investment and growth in rural areas of...
Universities Don’t Belong in the Real Estate Business
Arizona’s framers and past policymakers were extremely mindful about protecting the state’s property tax system from being gamed by private interests. Arizona’s Constitution requires property taxes to be uniform between comparable property uses. It also prohibits...
Bonuses, Pay Raises and Benefits from AZ Business due to Tax Reform Now Exceed $200 Million Dollars!
With another surge of announcements from Arizona companies providing pay raises, bonuses and other benefits, over $200 Million dollars has now been put back into the pockets of Arizona employees and ratepayers as a result of federal tax reform. As of January 25th,...
ASU Law School Makes In-Kind Contribution to Goddard Initiative
It appears that Arizona State University may be providing taxpayer funded support to a ballot measure in violation of state law. In conjunction with the far-left National Lawyers Guild, the Sandra Day O’Conner School of Law is hosting a forum on the legal issues of...
Club Urges Legislature to Return Money to Taxpayers
Today the Arizona Free Enterprise Club in partnership with several other organizations sent a letter to the Governor and members of the Legislature urging them to return any additional revenue generated from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in Washington D.C. The...
Is the City of Tucson in the Business of Selling Insurance?
Every household receives a lot of mail. We rifle through this stack separating it into two piles: the mail we want or must deal with - bills and official notices – and ‘junk mail,’ usually made up of advertisements and promotions from businesses in which we are...
Federal Tax Reform Represents a Big Win for Arizona Taxpayers
Over $175 Million has already been put back into the pockets of AZ taxpayers, with more to come… Now that the dust has settled and Congress has completed the most comprehensive overhaul of the US tax code since 1986, many Arizona taxpayers and business owners are...
Pinal County Scrambling to Deflect Blame for Closure of Swim School
Last month, the Free Enterprise Club chronicled the sad story of the Irwin Family, whose backyard swim school was shut down by an unfair and punitive regulatory process in Pinal County. Following the publishing of the Club’s article, Pinal County has decided to circle...
Sensible Criminal Justice Reforms Could Net Significant Social and Fiscal Returns
The criminal justice system is a complex area of policy development, where the Left and the Right often find themselves standing on surprisingly common ground. Considering public safety is generally the most expensive line item in government, (Maricopa County spends...
Maricopa Association of Governments Agrees: Cities Should Reform Home-Based Business Laws
The Free Enterprise Club and The Goldwater Institute have been investigating cases around Arizona of home-based businesses (HBB) being harassed or shut down by local government. But this isn’t a new issue. In fact, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), an...