GOVERNOR BUILDS ON HER PATTERN OF BETRAYING ARIZONA CITIZENS RIGHTS

PHOENIX – It is truly a sad day for Arizona. Governor Napolitano’s veto of HB2675, was politically timed to happen on the same day that she vetoed HB2577, perhaps under the assumption that all of the attention would be on the illegal immigration bill veto and give her a “free pass” on this outlandish veto. This should not occur as HB2675 is a reasonable bill that protects personal property rights, and her veto serves as a stark reminder of her pattern of acting against the law-abiding citizens of this state.

Passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support (64 ayes, 15 nays) in the legislature, HB2675 simply prohibits a municipality from condemning property to increase tax revenue, tax base, employment or general economic health if that activity does not result in a public use.

In other words, the governor vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have kept local governments from condemning property to turn it over to private developers in a calculated, callous attempt to raise sales tax dollars. HB2675 also would have allowed property owners a chance to make improvements before the government forced a land sale if they were in a blighted area – a reasonable alternative.

Jennifer Perkins, an attorney with the Arizona chapter of the Institute for Justice, that successfully defended Mesa brake-shop owner Randy Bailey against the city’s effort to condemn his downtown property in order to build a hardware store, said, “This bill was an opportunity to break up the unholy alliance between tax-hungry cities and money- hungry developers.”

It is time for Arizonans to replace this failed administration with effective, responsible leadership. As the leading Republican candidate for governor, I pledge to Arizona citizens that when I take office next January, I will provide the leadership to protect Arizonans from attacks on our sovereignty, our lives and our property from all sources, foreign and domestic. It is evident that the current governor is out of step on many fronts with the very people who elected her four long years ago.

In a related area, I will also work with the legislature to protect Arizonans from unreasonable increases in property taxes, such as the recent action of the Scottsdale Mayor and Council that the East Valley Tribune states will result in property owners paying, on the average, 13% more. Arizona must return to its roots as a place for limited government, economic freedom and individual liberty.

It is unconscionable for government at any level to take property from law abiding citizens whether it is by the improper use of eminent domain or through unreasonable property tax increases that are putting a large sector of our homeowners, including seniors on fixed incomes, at risk of losing their homes to the tax collector.

Go to Goldwaterforgovernor.org to see how you can elect a governor who will provide the leadership for the safety and security of the taxpayers and legal voters of Arizona.