Come on Legislators, Take the Plunge!

Posted on | August 12, 2009 |

Catherine Mayorga

The sweltering heat continues for us Arizonans, just as the legislative sessions continue. When will we find relief? Where will we find relief? 

For just a bit of relief, albeit temporary, let’s be children again as summer comes to an end.  Let’s hold our noses and take the plunge. This could be the best recommendation for our legislators as well: hold your nose and vote to put on the ballot a temporary sales tax increase.

That’s just what we at the Tempe Chamber of Commerce voted to do! We urged the legislature’s immediate vote of ballot language to be put on the earliest election possible.

Arizona is currently challenged by the deepest economic crisis to face it since it joined the United States of America nearly a century ago. Its citizens are looking to the leaders of this great state to steer a course through this storm. As a part of that leadership, they have the privilege and responsibility of coming to the aid of the people of Arizona who elected them with the faith and trust that they would commit themselves wholeheartedly to solving any problem that threatened their health and prosperity. The job before them of balancing the budget and preparing for recovery is daunting but necessary.

The Tempe Chamber of Commerce, representing more than 1,000 businesses and 74,000 employees, commends the Governor and legislators for their work in addressing this tremendously difficult situation.

This is the time of challenge and opportunity for Arizona, and the Chamber appreciates the thoughtful and well-balanced plan to close the budget deficit.  Not only has the legislature laid out options to assist the state in the current year, its focus on structurally changing the way Arizona conducts business will be beneficial to our ability to grow and create sound budgets in the future.

Catherine Mayorga is the VP of Public Affairs for the Tempe Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at catherine@tempechamber.org

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