NEWS UPDATES
SB1402 Provides Targeted Tax Break at the Expense of All Others
The Free Enterprise Club consistently opposes legislation that provides special tax breaks for targeted businesses. This session’s “special unicorn” is SB1402, informally known as the Grand Canyon University bill (GCU). SB1402 would create a property tax carve out...
Legislative Alert: SB1282 Dilutes Public Records Laws
Arizona’s public records laws are some of the best in the country for open and transparent government. SB 1282 dilutes those laws, and hinders the public’s ability to access public records to which they are entitled. Unfortunately, this bill is headed to the House...
HB 2501 Streamlines Health Boards and Reduces Regulatory Overreach
State lawmakers are looking to build upon the successes of last session to increase efficiency and reign in regulatory overreach by taking on the multiple boards and commissions that regulate the health professions in the state. HB2501 would make three primary...
Key Vote Alert: SB 1487 Protects Businesses and Taxpayers by Requiring that Cities Follow the Law
A major policy reform is nearing the home stretch and, if passed, will greatly reduce government overreach and lawlessness by local jurisdictions. The measure is Senate Bill 1487, and deals with the problem of local cities and towns passing ordinances and regulations...
More Evidence Incentive-Based Economic Development is a Shell Game
More Evidence Incentive-Based Economic Development is a Shell Game In the midst of ongoing discussions about the purpose and practices of the Arizona Commerce Authority, one of their heralded successes is facing a difficult contraction. Silicon-based...
Shark Tank Bill is Back: Lawmakers Should Reject SB1139
As usual, bad ideas at the legislature just don’t seem to die. For the third year in a row, lawmakers have introduced legislation to bring back the Angel Investment Tax Credit Program (a.k.a. Shark Tank Bill), a scheme designed to subsidize risky venture capital...
Arizona Lawmakers Needs to End Public Notice Subsidy for Newspapers
The Free Enterprise Club is often at the helm of highlighting instances of corporate welfare which often coalesce around developer sweeteners and tax carve outs. However, another form of this has gone on for far too long without the traditional public scrutiny. This...
TIF Schemes Harm Taxpayers (Part II)
Last month the Club shared how Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a tool used by local governments and city planners to subsidize projects that benefit politically connected developers and landowners. That is not the only problem with this financing scheme: TIFs are...
Legislature Votes for Overhaul of Arizona Commerce Authority
News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 CONTACT: Scot Mussi: (602) 508-6088 Legislature Votes for Overhaul of Arizona Commerce Authority Phoenix, AZ—Today the joint Senate and House Commerce Committee voted 9-0 to recommend a...
Free Enterprise Spotlight: EVO Swim School
The Club is at the forefront of combatting the government practice of providing special handouts to select businesses. States and cities compete to out-spend each other landing the hottest business. In the meantime, billions of dollars are extracted from other...
The Silver Lining in November’s Election
Examining the results of the November elections, it was a mixed bag for Arizona taxpayers. Specifically, there was a lot of debate surrounding the numerous bonds and override requests being pursued by school districts, the most controversial of which being spending...
Tax Increment Financing is a Bad Deal for Taxpayers
When it comes to providing targeted incentives to developers and picking winners and losers with our tax dollars, it’s hard to beat tax increment financing (TIF.) Currently the usage of tax increment financing is prohibited in Arizona, but if city officials,...