NEWS UPDATES
Price Controls Through Drug Importation is Wrong Approach to Reduce Healthcare Costs
Among the frustrations with our health care industry, reducing drug prescription costs is an issue that seems to unify all Americans. Unfortunately, politicians in Washington seemed fixated on solutions that provide short term relief in exchange for long term pain....
Film Tax Credit Programs Receive Terrible Reviews
Over the past 15 years, many states across the country have reduced or abolished tax incentive programs aimed at luring Hollywood films, TV shows, and productions to their communities. Turning the faucet off on these programs became a trend after a slew of damning...
Conservative Lawmakers Negotiate Budget Wins for Taxpayers
It has been a couple of weeks since Governor Ducey signed the FY 2018 budget into law, a $9.8 billion dollar plan that was the result of four months of tense negotiations with the legislature. And though there were a few crony capitalist giveaways to special interests...
Trump’s Transportation Policy Paves the Way for the Future
Last month the Trump Administration released their budget proposal, which among many shifting priorities, included eliminating a long-standing federal program called “New Starts.” New Starts was created in the 1990’s and has funneled hundreds of millions of federal...
Club Urges Governor Ducey to Veto HB2191
Among the flurry of special interest tax breaks the Free Enterprise Club opposed this session, one was able to make its way to the Governor's desk. The Angel Investor Tax Credit program, a bill The Club fights every year, passed out of the House on the last day of...
Big Win for Taxpayers: Consolidated Elections Bill Approved by the Legislature
This session the Free Enterprise Club has been urging for the passage of HB 2495, legislation requiring that all local elections involving a sales tax increase be held in November of even-numbered years. The bill passed the House 31-27 but ran into trouble in the...
Phoenix Council Trying to Sneak Union Language into Sky Harbor Concession Contracts
Trying to follow every new rule, law or ordinance proposed by government is nearly an impossible task, even for the most careful watchdogs of government. Sometimes new restrictions or special interest giveaways occur and no one realizes it until it is too late. A...
Rural Tax Credit Program Would Cost Taxpayers Millions
This session has been rich with terrible tax policy ideas. From tax increment financing to refundable tax credits – the legislature has considered several bills with proven track records of failure in other states. One particular idea that has circulated this session...
Focus Education Funding on Outcomes that Reward Achievement
As the budget battle heats up at the legislature, Governor Ducey and lawmakers are currently debating multiple proposals to increase funding for K-12 classrooms. With limited resources available to achieve many of these goals, it is important that policymakers...
SB 1146 Would Allow Unelected Bureaucrats to Raise Your Taxes
There has been a flurry of bills this session aimed at increasing funds for transportation – all have involved increasing taxes: Increased the gas tax by 10 cents – HCR 2011 Allowed counties to carve out political opposition to transportation excise tax increases– HB...
Goldwater Aims to Topple Unconstitutional Property Tax Scheme
After getting railroaded in the late 19th century and losing large sums of public money, the founding fathers of Arizona’s constitution included specific language to prevent State and local governments from handing out special deals to taxpayers that serve no...
Election Consolidation for Sales Tax Increases is a Long Overdue Reform
The Club has long been a proponent of consolidated elections, by which all elections are held in August or November of even numbered years. The purpose of consolidating election dates is to increase voter participation and to end the practice by some local governments...