Farley Report, Feb 9, 2010

by: Zelph

Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 21:11:34 PM MST

Howdy,  Friends O'Farley...

Let's cut to the chase.

As I'm sure you know, Governor Brewer's sales tax referral passed out of the Legislature last week. I voted no, for the reasons I detailed last week.

One of those reasons is that I think the Governor's tax will likely lose. In an ideal world, it ought to lose for many reasons from the way it hurts middle-class families more than the rich, to over-dependence on retail sales taxes in Arizona, to the huge and expensive corporate bailout bill Republican legislators are poised to enact, to the fact that it doesn't solve even a tiny bit of the problem, to the Governor proposing massive cuts to education, human services, and public safety even if it does pass.

However, it is extremely clear to those of you who regularly read the Farley Report that we Arizonans do not live in an ideal world.

In this world, there are people on the far right who lay in wait for the sales tax to fail on May 18 so that they may claim a popular mandate to slash and burn most government services, especially education, human services and public safety. And they have the power to do so.

I feel that Arizona has been backed into an ugly, dangerous, and uncomfortable corner that is slightly preferable to the uglier, more dangerous, and horrifyingly uncomfortable corner that we will be pushed into if the tax does not pass.

I feel that Arizona has been suffering from a bad infection in our collective leg for the last year. The time has now passed when we could have administered preventive antibiotics to heal ourselves because Republican leadership believed that we could solve it by cutting off the leg entirely. Sad to say, they have the majority, and have had the majority for the last 44 years. Now the infection is spreading and the only medicine on offer from Republican leaders to solve part of the problem is the Governor's sales tax.

So despite my opposition to the tax and its referral, I feel I must swallow hard and vote yes at the ballot box, and I recommend that you do the same.

Farley Report, Feb. 2, 2010

by: Zelph

Tue Feb 02, 2010 at 19:35:09 PM MST

Howdy,  Friends O'Farley...

Remember the classic Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day? Where he keeps re-living the same day over and over again, and eventually starts trying to change his behavior to end the cycle? His attempts never work until he finally decides to do the right thing and take care of the most vulnerable citizens in town and do other kind things to help make his community a better place.

It is SO appropriate that today is Groundhog Day, since we are now in our SIXTH Special Session and are once again considering the Governor's sales tax referral. If only we could skip to the ending of the movie and have the guts to do the right thing for our state by approving a real budget plan that really provides the revenues we need to provide the services our citizens need.

Unfortunately, we seem to be stuck in the middle of the movie where we are changing our behavior in destructive ways, without solving the problem.

About two hours ago the Senate passed a series of special session bills including (for the first time) the sales tax referral with the bare majority of votes -- seven Democrats and nine Republicans. This action was indeed different from the past five special sessions.

What was not different was the fact that, even if the sales tax makes it through the House and passes muster with voters on May 18, it will still not fix our deficit.

Everyone in Arizona knows Governor Brewer has been pushing for a three-year, one-cent sales tax proposal and calling it her silver bullet to get us out of our crisis. The problem is, even her own budget proposal admits that the extra billion dollars a year won't even fill one-third of the hole we are in.

Here's just a few examples of what will happen EVEN IF THE VOTERS APPROVE this sales tax:

Loansharks and Legislators

by: Zelph

Sun Nov 29, 2009 at 20:55:50 PM MST

... industry lobbyists pushed through a special law in 2000 allowing them to charge fees that far exceed the cap for what are called "deferred presentment transactions" of up to $500.

In essence, someone who needs money writes out a check for that amount plus the fee, which can be up to $17.85 per $100 valued. The company agrees not to cash the check for up to two weeks.

That computes out to an annual percentage interest of more than 450 percent.

But when lawmakers enacted that 2000 statute, they wanted to see how the new loans would work. So they included a "sunset" clause: The law self-destructs July 1, 2010 unless renewed.

The payday loan banksters aren't going to go down without a fight:

The industry has retained the services of former state Attorney General Grant Woods. He told Capitol Media Services that after studying a proposal for a new lease on life by lenders, he's convinced there is a role for payday lenders.

The lenders have hired Highground, whose owners include Chuck Coughlin and Doug Cole, both confidants of and advisers to Gov. Jan Brewer.

Only problem: Unless the Governor Brewer is willing to call a special session on behalf of the the payday lenders:

Any measure approved during the regular legislative session does not take effect until 90 days after the end of that session. With lawmakers at the Capitol until May - if not beyond - legislation reauthorizing the right of payday lenders to operate would not take effect until months after they were forced to shut down.

Will Governor Brewer go to bat for the loansharks?  Will they donate generously to her reelection campaign in return?  Stay tuned.

Why is it again, that I have to go to a Yuma newspaper to get this information?  Why is it that our newspaper of record here in Phoenix won't cover this kind of thing? Inquiring minds want to know.

Starvin' the Beast

by: Zelph

Mon Sep 28, 2009 at 21:34:09 PM MDT

Why you layoff even more of the people who collect revenue!

That's what Republicans call starvin' the beast.

What do you do when you have a 9.1% unemployment rate?

You not only layoff even more state workers, you prevent corporations from being able move here to create jobs!

This not only prevents job creation, it reduces revenue at the same time!  Die beast, die!

And that, dear friends, is how Republicans in our state legislature govern.  If you like this, just keep on electing them.

A Stinker of a Budget

by: Zelph

Sat Jun 27, 2009 at 08:17:50 AM MDT

Farley Report, June 1, 2009

by: Zelph

Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 15:08:32 PM MDT

Your Farley report as ordered, suh:

Howdy,  Friends O'Farley...

Four more weeks until government shutdown.

Yes, it's June, and that's where we are at. There is a lot of talk about a Republican budget moving into high gear in the Legislature this week, but we've heard that before. Governor Brewer is also making noises about finally releasing a plan of her own this week, but despite a large media campaign rolling out on its behalf, this as-yet-unknown budget has no support from either her own party or legislative Democrats.

The only balanced budget proposal on the table right now is the joint House-Senate Democratic plan released last Thursday (see below), but it will take serious political courage for six House Republicans and four Senate Republicans to cross the aisles and support our plan. Although we have seen very little of that precious commodity so far this session, we are working hard to make that happen, and I do hold out hope.

If we are not able to bring those six and four to our budget, it appears there will be only two options, neither of them good.

1) The House and Senate majority leadership consolidate their terribly misguided budget proposals into one gimmick-packed, education-slashing proposal that gets just enough votes from their own caucuses to pass late at night on June 30. The Governor refuses to abide such a terrible budget, and vetoes it, causing state government to shut down on the first of July.

2) Same as #1, only the Governor is more horrified by the idea of government shutdown than by the horrendous legislative majority budget, so she signs it on June 30 at midnight, ensuring that our state's economy will continue to flail and our citizens will continue to hurt.

Luckily for Arizona families, our joint Democratic plan is so innovative, responsible, and attractive that we stand a chance to pull it off, especially with your help.

As promised last week, here are the details.

Our plan raises enough revenues to restore previous cuts to K-12 education and our universities, vital programs to seniors, the disabled, health care, economic development and foster kids, and preserves these programs into the future.

Our plan balances the budget based on actual current deficit figures, uses every stimulus dollar available to Arizona, and has the forethought to set aside money in the Rainy Day fund to help us next year after the stimulus money runs out.

Our plan rejects one-time gimmicks and rollovers. Instead, we institute sweeping tax reform to add desperately needed stability to our revenue system now and into the future so that we can strengthen our economy and immunize ourselves against future downturns.

Our plan empowers local communities to keep control over local funds as they increase revenues to balance their budgets and maintain vital services for all our citizens.

Our plan increases revenues, but will only require a simple majority vote in the House and Senate, unlike other revenue increasing proposals that require much more difficult 2/3 majorities.

Our plan helps out the engine of our economy--small businesses--by raising the business personal property tax exemption to $150,000 and reducing the business real property assessment rate to 18% by 2013.

Our plan is honest, transparent, and accountable. For example, we fund inflation increases for education and healthcare--the Republican proposals do not, in effect adding to their cuts without calling it a cut. All of our numbers have been vetted by the economists at the Joint Legislative Budget Council.

How much does this forward-thinking economy-saving plan cost?

What Arizona Should Learn From California

by: Zelph

Thu May 21, 2009 at 22:29:30 PM MDT

A recent California poll demonstrates that this conclusion is unwarranted.

Phoenix and the Rise of the Real Estate Industrial Complex

by: Zelph

Wed May 20, 2009 at 06:54:55 AM MDT

Phoenix 101: Power primer

The Kooky Kons always hated Talton and you can understand why after reading this essay.  I was amazed that he kept his job at the local rag as long as he did.  Our loss is Seattle's gain.

Chutzpah Jan

by: Zelph

Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 22:59:50 PM MST

Guv Jan:

"I think Intel, being the corporate business that they are, would look at the dynamics of who's driving the state, the Legislature and who is governing.  And they have chosen to do that."

So, now that Arizona has Republican majorities in both chambers of the State Legislature and a Republican governor, Intel now considers it safe to invest here, according to Brewer.

"I don't know if the previous administration was involved in it whatsoever," Brewer referring to former Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano's administration.

Intel Vice President Josh Walden:

"Actually, I think what we're announcing is our continued investment."

Walden said it was not just the facility in Chandler that Intel was making upgrades to. An additional $4 billion would be invested in Oregon and New Mexico facilities.

New Mexico?  Oregon? Whaaaa? Why would Intel want to invest in states like those?

You see, New Mexico has a Democratic Governor and Democratic State Legislature too!  

Democrats have a majority in both House and the Senate in Oregon's State Legislature.   Oregon's governor is a Democrat too.

Trying to take credit for Intel's expansion, which Brewer had absolutely nothing to do with and, by the way, won't create any new permanent jobs, is some real chutzpah, you might say.

Let me tell you, you don't know from chutzpah!

Brewer Signs Budget, Off to the Superbowl

by: Zelph

Sat Jan 31, 2009 at 16:56:11 PM MST

Gov. Jan Brewer signed off on a budget plan Saturday morning that plugs a $1.6 billion shortfall by making deep cuts to K-12 education, universities, health care and nearly every other service in the state.

Brewer, who took over for former Gov. Janet Napolitano less than two weeks ago, signed the deal about 7:30 a.m., shortly before boarding a flight for Tampa, Fla. to attend the Super Bowl on Sunday, said her spokesman Paul Senseman.

Keep Those Calls Coming!

by: Zelph

Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 09:50:24 AM MST

In the Phoenix area (you'll get to talk to a very frazzled aide): (602) 542-4331

Out of the Phoenix area: 1-800-253-0883
(I've heard you get an electronic answering system where you can indicate your preference: "Press '1' if you hate this budget")

The more the Republicans get away with in the 2009 budget without pushback, the more they will try to cut in 2010.  So let's make sure they hear us!

My New Year's Resolution

by: Zelph

Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 21:05:48 PM MST

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

by: Zelph

Mon Dec 01, 2008 at 20:27:37 PM MST

So long, and thanks for all the fish.  I tried to warn you about the dangers of allowing the far right wackos to take over our state legislature, but instead of listening, you elected even more of them.  I give up.  I'm bugging out.  I have a higher paying job in Washington and I'm sick of fighting with the crazies.  Good luck!  You'll need it!  Look at the bright side, at least Arizona isn't being demolished to make way for a hyperspatial express route, although I'm sure your new governor will do plenty of damage.  I don't care anymore.  You people are quite insane.

"Democrat" Party?

by: Zelph

Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 23:53:50 PM MDT

• Democrat
• Green
• Libertarian
• Republican

Perhaps our Secretary of State, Jan Brewer, didn't get the memo!

On Tuesday, members of the Republican platform committee meeting in Minneapolis voted down a proposal to call the opposition the "Democrat Party" in the 2008 platform. Instead, they'll go with the proper Democratic Party.

"We probably should use what the actual name is," said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, the panel's chairman. "At least in writing."

In 1996, references to the Democratic Party were purged from a draft of the platform. As party leaders explained at the time, they wanted to make the subtle point that the Democratic Party had become elitist, no longer small-d democratic.

In the debate Tuesday, Jim Bopp of Indiana echoed that sentiment but said fair's fair.

"We should afford them the respect that they are entitled and call them by their legal name."

Yes, and you should particularly do so on the official website of the Arizona Secretary of State which ought to be free of partisan bias.

For those who insist on referring to the Democratic Party as the "Democrat" Party, I refer to their party as the "Publican" Party.  When they ask me what that means, I explain to them that the Publicans were war profiteers, as well as tax collectors, during Roman times and it seems somehow appropriate to reference the Republican Party in this way.

Jan Brewer, of course, is a hard-right member of the Publican Party.  She has delusions of becoming governor someday.

Secretary of State Sues State Attorney General

by: Zelph

Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 22:38:55 PM MDT

Secretary of State Jan Brewer has taken the unusual step of filing a lawsuit against Attorney General Terry Goddard over proposed language to describe a referendum banning gay marriage in Arizona.

Read all about it here.

Prop. 102 would amend the Arizona State Constitution to ban gay marriage, but state law does not currently allow for gay marriage.  Goddard wants to make it clear in the description of this ballot measure that gay marriage will remain illegal whether or not Prop. 204 passes.  Brewer is suing Goddard to prevent him from adding this clarification.

Peter Genitalia Gentala, an attorney for Arizona for Marriage, agrees with Brewer that it is unnecessary to mention Prop. 204's impact on current law.  Not to mention, of course, that if people know that gay marriage is already illegal under existing Arizona law, they might be less willing to take the drastic step of amending the state constitution unnecessarily.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the courts.  There's not much time left before the elections booklets must printed.