Governor Brewer Unveils Budget Proposals; Wants Tax Increase and $600M More in Cuts

• <p>This sounds interesting: "Dem Budget Plan Bridges Gap Between Brewer, GOP"</p> <p><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/05/29/20090529dembudget0529.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/05/29/20090529dembudget0529.html</a></p> <p>The Dems say that their proposed property tax increase is "much cheaper" than a 1 cent sales tax increase. They also proposed LOWERING the sales tax rate by more than 2 percentage points, but broadening it to include a variety of services (food, medical services, and wholesale goods will continue to be exempt).</p> <p>I'd like to see the numbers crunched. And not by the Goldwater Institute or its hand-puppet at the Arizona Republic(an), resident statistical waterboarder Robert Robb. </p> <p>I generally dislike sales taxes, because they are regressive, costing the working poor a greater percentage of their income than the well-off. And they do it insidiously, with a little bit every day, several times a day, but add up to a whole lot over the year. (I also dislike payroll taxes for their regressive qualities, but that's another topic.) Property taxes are one thing, but what's the projected impact for the working poor for a broadened but lowered sales tax?</p>

• <p>Let the flame-throwing begin. Nothing like a little dose of reality to get the native's bent out of shape. A service sales tax won't affect me much and it's worth it if my kids get to keep their teachers and parks and roads are maintained. </p> <p>This is all the result of incompetent budgeting on the part of the Republican leadership in the legislature for the past decade. Messes like these are what you get when you elect people with ideology but no experience other than being against something.</p> <p>A little positive thinking right now can go a long way.</p>

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