Who Really Writes the Laws in Arizona?

Who Really Writes the Laws in Arizona?

I am trying to figure out, is there any bill Republicans in the Arizona Legislature have proposed that hasn’t been written by the Goldwater Institute, ALEC, Center for Arizona Policy (CAP) or the NRA?  What are we paying legislators for?

From the Arizona Republic (emphasis mine):

In Arizona, Melvin's measure calls for the transfer of lands to the state from the federal government. He brought the bill to Arizona after hearing about it late last year from the American Legislative Exchange Council, an organization that often provides state lawmakers with model legislation, written by its own staff.

I can’t think of one bill that doesn’t have the order of one of these ultra-conservative groups behind it.  Here is the challenge: Email me any bill proposed by a Republican in the Arizona Legislature that wasn’t crafted by the Goldwater Institute, ALEC, CAP or the NRA.

Get Out of the Way

I am against public subsidizing of businesses or especially sports teams as these subsidies often come at the expense of the social safety net.  When a government entity, such as a city or a county, does make the decision to provide financial "incentives" or to build a new stadium for a company or team to locate there, we need to do all we can to protect the public's investment.  Thus, I am very disappointed in the actions of the Goldwater Institute to scuttle the city of Glendale's attempts to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in town.

Like many, it is difficult to wrap my head around the idea of playing hockey in the desert, let alone professional hockey.  Yet, that is exactly what the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes are doing and appear to be doing well.  The Coyotes first played in Phoenix's US Airways Arena (formerly America West Arena), which they shared with the NBA's Phoenix Suns.  Then Glendale wooed them away with an arena of their own.

To say that the Coyotes have had financial issues is an understatement.  The Valley of the Sun doesn't lend itself to a natural affinity for hockey as say Detroit, Boston, Montreal or any other location where snow and ice are a common feature.  Attendance at the games is next to last in the league, with an 2010 - 2011 average of only 12,208, only ahead of the New York Islanders.  Couple that with the high debt load of the owner and bankruptcy was inevitable.

The NHL is currently the conservator of the Coyotes and is looking for a buyer.  They think they have one who will keep the team in Glendale, but he needs help with securing the financing.  Glendale has offered to provide the financing through the sale of bonds and guarantees by the potential buyer to keep the team in Glendale until at least 2041.  As we all know, even during these chaotic economic times, municipalities are still able to get cheap financing through bonds.

In steps the vaunted Goldwater Institute, the conservative taxpayer "watchdog" group.  They want the deal stopped and have threatened to take the city of Glendale to court under a provision of the Arizona Constitution that is supposed to prevent government entities from providing financial support to private entities.  Those of you from Arizona reading this can stop laughing now.  We all know how selective the Goldwater Institute is in attempting to apply this provision (especially since they are behind efforts to privatize public services).

The actions of the Goldwater Institute have already increased the cost of the bonds to Glendale, should the deal go through, and have threatened to send the Coyotes to Canada.  In other words, by claiming to be protecting taxpayers, the Goldwater Institute is actually threatening the tens of millions the taxpayers of Glendale are already on the hook for.  The Goldwater Institute also threatens the vitality of Westgate, which the Jobing.com Arena anchors.

If the institute were so interested in protecting taxpayers, they would get out of the way and let the deal go through.  They didn't stand in the way when Glendale first brought the Coyotes to the city and they shouldn't be doing so now.  Let Glendale protect its already massive public investment.

Still Missing in Action: The Goldwater Institute

Here it is, March 30th and the Goldwater Institute still hasn't entered the fray that is the Maricopa County governments ongoing legal battles with itself.  I have asked twice before (here and here) why the Goldwater Institute has chosen to stay on the sidelines instead of doing what they claim they are supposed to be doing, protecting tax payers, and yet they are willfully absent.

My guess as to why?  To be on the side of tax payers would mean going against all of Maricopa County government and unless it benefits the Goldwater Institute or one of its board members, that is something they just won't do.  Tax payers be damned!

Goldwater Institute Still Missing

A month ago I asked:

Why is the Goldwater Institute so quiet in regards to Maricopa County government?  What are they scared of?  Are they giving up their status as a libertarian watchdog of government?

I find myself asking the same questions.  It does appear that the Goldwater Institute has chosen not to be the libertarian watchdog of government that they claim to be.  But then again, calling the Goldwater Institute libertarian is a bit of a stretch considering they have never taken on a liberal cause, only conservative causes.

The Goldwater Institute: Ignoring Maricopa County Government

In a previous postings, I talked about how Maricopa County is the center of the dysfunctional universe and how to fix the problem.  That dysfunction has led to over $106 million in lawsuits by county supervisors, current employees and former employees.  What is worse, is the fact the supervisors will have the final say over who gets the money, funded by the tax payers, and it seems there is nothing anyone can do about it.  Oh, if only there were an organization that proclaims to be libertarian and a protector of tax payers to come to our rescue.

The Goldwater Institute proclaims to be such an institution.  They have filed lawsuit after lawsuit against various Arizona governments in regards to use of tax monies.  For some reason though, they are deathly silent in regards to the mess that is Maricopa County government.  No lengthy position paper.  No press conference decrying how the tax payers are getting screwed.  And definitely, no lawsuit.

Why is the Goldwater Institute so quiet in regards to Maricopa County government?  What are they scared of?  Are they giving up their status as a libertarian watchdog of government?  It would be nice to know who will be sticking up for Maricopa County tax payers, because it doesn't appear to be the Goldwater Institute.