Please Retire Senator Linda Gray
Actual quotes from Senator Linda Gray regarding SB1160:
“It’s more of a fairness issue for the rest of the property owners.”
“For this (tax break) to go in perpetuity isn’t fair to the school districts and other taxpayers.”
“I rarely support increasing taxes, but I felt they should pay their fair share into education.”
“I had to repair a foundation crack in my home and it cost me $16,000. I don’t get a government handout for making improvements for my home.”
Linda, you’re all about being “fair” aren’t you? Isn’t it odd how you can throw around a term like “fair share” and not once define what that means or how it’s calculated? What definition of “fair” are you using!?
You know what else isn’t “fair” Linda? That you and millions like you who are dependent on your vehicles have imposed on this city a daily hellish nightmare of a traffic jam and toxic clouds of exhaust so that you can live miles and miles away from the center of town in houses built out of plywood and chicken wire. You, Linda Gray, should be taxed for the amount of miles you drive per day and should pay higher sales tax on gasoline in proportion to the amount you consume. That would be fair. Developers, not tax payers, should pay for the roads to your far-flung suburbs. People who don’t have children shouldn’t have their money extorted to pay for schools. That would be fair.
Eliminating the tax credit for historic homes is a BAD idea, Linda. According to the Fiscal Note prepared by JLBC, doing so would cost the state 1.4 million dollars. If eliminating the tax credit raises $470,000 but the state has to spend 1.4 million, you must reconsider your harebrained proposal. Eliminating the tax credit is the same thing as raising taxes on 5,600 middle-class working Phoenicians and the elderly. THAT is your solution to the budget crisis?! To raise taxes on the middle class during a recession? Have you ever studied economics?! But what I really don’t understand is that your bill includes tax credits for renewable energy while at the same time removing a tax credit that results in redevelopment of inner city neighborhoods and the resulting positive effects. Why the inconsistency?
The people who live in the city, who don’t drive or pollute like you do, the people who are creating urban neighborhood should have your appreciation and support. These are the people building and sustaining character and identity for Phoenix that will attract more people to this state, more jobs, more money.
How long have you been a senator, Linda? I say that it is time for you to retire. If you really care about Arizona (and I don’t think you do) get out of the way and let someone else with fresh ideas and vision take the reins because the fruits of your labors are rotten:
- Arizona ranks 50th in the nation in any fair comparison of per pupil spending.
- Arizona spends $6,248 per pupil (2006-07), $3,000 less than the national average of $9,389.
- Every national ranking of per pupil funding consistently shows Arizona at or near the bottom of the 50 states.
- From 1986-87 through 2006-07, Arizona’s percentage change in expenditure per pupil has been -0.96%, while nationally it was 36.56%. This means that Arizona has actually decreased its relative per pupil funding while other states have increased their expenditures.
- Arizona ranks 36th in the nation for public school teacher salaries with a teacher salary average more than $6,500 below the national average.
- Arizona ranks 44th in the nation for public school instructional staff salaries with a salary average almost $9,000 below the national average.
Source: American Legislative Exchange Council Report Card on American Education, 2006-07 figures.
Should I keep going? There are pages of statistics like this. If my statistics in my profession were this poor, I’d be fired.
Raising taxes on 5600 people so they pay their “fair share” will not even come close to solving these problems, Linda. You are clearly out of ideas. Leave historic properties alone, Linda and try much, much harder.
