State of Arizona Archives: on Tax Reform
Alan Keyes:
Sales tax gives control back to people
Q: Doesn’t a sales tax disproportionately hit the poor over the wealthy? A: The present tax system, which allows you to escape taxation if you’re wealthy enough to pay accountants and lawyers, is what disproportionately hits the poor and the working
middle class people of this country. Under my system you don’t pay taxes until you decide how to spend your own money. Yes, that’s going to mean some sacrifices. But it puts the question of how you develop your wealth base back under your control.
Source: Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Alan Keyes:
Wrong to pay income taxes before basic necessities
Under the current tax system, before you have put bread in the mouths of your children, before you put a roof over the head of those children, before you put a stitch of clothes on their backs today, you pay the government. We’re worse off than serfs.
Serfs used to pay their masters after they were fed and clothed. We have to pay our master before we’re fed and clothed. I think, I think it’s a travesty. And I think it’s time we ended it.
Source: Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Alan Keyes:
Forbes’ plan leaves IRS, and an invasive tax, intact
KEYES [To Forbes]: I’m slightly confused because it seems to me that what you propose is not that we strike off the chains of tax slavery, but that we equalize it. In this case, we will still have to have an agency - I guess we could call it the happy
faced enforcer of equal tax surplus. But it would still be there, enforcing an invasive tax that would require that people tell the government what the government wants to know. How do you abolish the IRS if you don’t get rid of the income tax?
FORBES: Whatever tax you have, whether it’s the flat tax or national sales tax, you are going to have a collection agency to make sure the money comes in. The virtue of the flat tax is that you can do it on a single page since it’s
simple. You don’t need a hundred and ten thousand agents to do it. You just need a handful to take in the paper, make sure the checks are attached, that they clear and the job is done.
Source: (cross-ref. to Forbes) Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Alan Keyes:
Forbes’ plan still requires people to beg for tax cuts
KEYES [To Forbes]: I think part of the problem is that folks would still be subject, under your plan, to an income tax. When they wanted a tax cut, they’d still have to beg their politicians. When under a sales tax system, they’d give themselves a tax
cut by changing their pattern of consumption. If we really want to give people control of their money, shouldn’t we just abolish the income tax?FORBES: I think if you abolish it for lower-income Americans, yes, that’s what I’d do. As for the national
sales tax, either a flat tax or national sales tax would be much better that what we have today. But there are challenges for a national sales tax. Depending on what you choose to exempt, the rate can be 20% to 35%. So a kid comes and cuts your lawn, you
owe a 35% tax. You buy a new house, 35% tax. And also, you better make sure you repeal the 16th Amendment, which enables the income tax, or you’re going to have both an income tax and a sales tax.
Source: (cross-ref. to Forbes) Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Andy Biggs:
Cut taxes on families and businesses
Andy is committed to:- Cutting taxes and regulations on families and businesses
- Shrinking government and cutting wasteful spending
-
Reducing deficits and balancing the federal budget
- Repealing ObamaCare and replacing it with a free-market system
- Repealing Common Core and returning education policy to locals
Source: 2016 Arizona House campaign website BiggsForCongress.com
Nov 8, 2016
David Garcia:
Raise taxes on wealthy to support schools
Garcia immediately jumped on teacher pay and underfunded capital improvement projects for schools as his most important issues.
Garcia pledged to close tax loopholes and raise taxes on the wealthy in order to generate the revenue needed to increase teacher pay and funding for new schools.
Source: Arizona Daily Sun on 2018 Arizona gubernatorial race
Nov 4, 2017
David Garcia:
Arizona has one of the most regressive tax systems
Q: Support proposed initiative to fund education through increasing taxes on the wealthy?Doug Ducey (R): No. Opposed initiative. "I don't support tax increase. Government should live within its means."
David Garcia (D):
Yes. Arizona has "one of the most regressive systems" in the nation. Proposed initiative would help.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Arizona Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Deedra Abboud:
Support higher taxes on the wealthy
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Higher taxes on the wealthy"?
A: Support
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Arizona Senate candidate
Mar 5, 2018
Doug Marks:
All the money of the wealthy won't fix the spending problem
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Higher taxes on the wealthy"?
A: No, all their money won't fix the spending problem in Washington
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Arizona Senate candidate
Mar 5, 2018
Doug Ducey:
No tax increases; government should live within its means
Q: Support proposed initiative to fund education through increasing taxes on the wealthy?Doug Ducey (R): No. Opposed initiative. "I don't support tax increase. Government should live within its means."
David Garcia (D):
Yes. Arizona has "one of the most regressive systems" in the nation. Proposed initiative would help.
Source: CampusElect 2018: Arizona legislative voting records
Oct 9, 2018
Doug Ducey:
No new taxes on my watch
Let me reiterate what I've said in five prior state of the state speeches, and two inaugural addresses--because apparently it bears repeating--no new taxes; not this session,
not next session; not here in this chamber, not at the ballot box, not on my watch.
Source: 2020 Arizona State of the State address
Jan 13, 2020
Doug Ducey:
Haven't raised taxes, on tax reform let's think big
Every year I've been governor, we've improved income taxes in the taxpayer's favor. We've simplified the code, lowered all rates, protected them against inflation, and eliminated an entire tax bracket. We've proven that our government can fulfill
every obligation, and answer the unexpected needs of a growing state, without raising taxes. So I propose we work together to reform and lower taxes and preserve Arizona's good name as a responsible, competitive state. On tax reform, let's think big.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Arizona legislature
Jan 11, 2021
Doug Ducey:
Supply-side economic looks good, we will cut taxes
We are sitting atop a surplus of several billion dollars, fueled not by tax increases--but by the opposite: historic economic growth. It turns out free-market capitalism works. Supply-side economics might not be the sexiest thing for
candidates to run on these days, but it sure looks good on a spreadsheet. We will resist the cries from the spending lobby, and once again, we will allow the people to keep their hard-earned money. We will cut taxes.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Arizona legislature
Jan 10, 2022
Fred DuVal:
We need low, competitive taxes, and simplified sales tax
Q: How does the state need to adjust its tax system?A: We need low, competitive taxes and in recent years, Arizona has moved in that direction, to where most businesses will say the tax situation here is very favorable.
It's about as favorable as anywhere in the country. What they're looking for is workforce, so we've got to focus on that.
I see the streamlining of the state's complex sales-tax system is the hot topic now and I think will be resolved in a compelling and smart way. We've got to simplify the sales tax.
Secondly, we've got, in parts of our tax code, sort of antiquated taxes and antiquated exemptions. I think we need to bring our overall system into the 21st century.
Source: Tucson Weekly Q&A on 2014 Arizona gubernatorial race
Apr 25, 2013
Fred DuVal:
Eliminating the state income tax is bad math
Q: Would you work to cut or eliminate state income taxes?A: Eliminating the state income tax is bad math, bad budgeting and a truly bad deal for our children's education. Simply put, eliminating the state income tax would force us to close schools.
Eliminating the state income tax would cut nearly $4 billion out of our $9 billion budget. After the devastating education cuts during the recession, our children's schools couldn't sustain the additional cuts from eliminating the income tax.
Source: KSAZ Fox 10 Phoenix on 2014 Arizona governor race
Jul 28, 2014
Gabby Giffords:
No flat tax; no rebate of budget surplus
Q: Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes? A: No.
Q: Would you support returning any operating surplus to Arizona taxpayers?
A: No.
Q: Would you support placing any operating surplus into a "rainy day" fund?
A: Yes.
Q:
Do you support requiring voter approval for all new taxes?
A: No.
Q: Do you support freezing property tax assessment values for low-income senior citizens?
A: No.
Q: Do you support a state sales tax increase to fund education?
A: Yes.
Source: 2000 Arizona State National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2000
Gary Bauer:
Estate tax is double taxation - remove it
Q: Why abolish the inheritance tax would when it would cost the treasury billions and would benefit only the very richest people who inherit money? A: The money was already taxed once. On what philosophy does the government get another chunk of it when
you're trying to give that money - the results of your hard work - to your children & grandchildren? Double taxation has never been an American principle and it shouldn't be a principle in this area. So I would do away with the estate tax.
Source: Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Jan Brewer:
Increase tax revenue now; pro-growth tax cuts later
We have reduced government spending more than $1 billion and decreased state jobs more than 10%. But the depth of the problem is so severe that we cannot solve it through cuts alone. The damage done to education, and public safety would be far too great.
And, fiscally counter-productive.So we must raise some additional revenue. The longer we put this off, the less effective it will be in stabilizing our financial position. Over the long run
I support a responsible pro-growth tax reform package that includes tax cuts.
However--we must ensure a revenue base that supports vital functions through this downturn. And we can no longer consider debt as a source of state revenue.
Government must live within its means. I did not create this situation--but I intend to resolve it--and continue telling the people the truth about it.
Source: Arizona 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2010
Jan Brewer:
Proposition 100: sales tax expires; now economy is growing
We limited regulations and enacted the largest and most strategic tax cuts in state history--unlike our "friends" in Washington, D.C. And we even accomplished something novel and rare in politics: we kept our word. In 2010, we asked the people to
increase their own taxes, and promised them it would be temporary. That promise will be kept when the Proposition 100 sales tax expires in May.Not long ago, we were facing the worst housing collapse in our history.
Now, our housing market is on-the-mend, recovering faster in metro Phoenix than anywhere in America. We're adding jobs at the swiftest clip in years. In fact, Arizona ranked 5th in the nation for job growth during 2012. The Kauffman Index recently
declared Arizona the country's premier place for entrepreneurs. Our budget is now balanced, and we've set aside $450 million in the state's rainy-day fund for the next time crisis strikes.
Source: 2013 State of the State Address to Arizona Legislature
Jan 14, 2013
Jane Dee Hull:
$80 million in tax cuts, to make it 10 years in a row
Prudent tax cutting empowers our citizens and limits government growth, both of which improve Arizona. Arizonans have enjoyed some form of legislatively-enacted tax cuts for nine years in a row, something that can be said by no other state. Today, I am
asking you to extend that streak. My budget includes $40 million in selective tax cuts targeted to help the economy, and another $40 million in cuts through truth in taxation provisions. That's a total of $80 million over the next two years.
Source: 2001 State of the State address to the Arizona legislature
Jan 8, 2001
Jeff Flake:
I have not and will not sign Americans for Tax Reform pledge
Flake said he hasn't and wouldn't sign a pledge not to raise taxes promoted by Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform, despite being listed by the group among the officials who have signed the pledge.
Flake's campaign did not respond to requests for comment on the discrepancy.
Source: The Hill coverage of 2012 Arizona Senate debates
Oct 10, 2012
Jeff Flake:
Full extension of Bush tax cuts
The two did agree on a few issues, including full extension of the Bush-era tax cuts, even for the wealthy. Flake toed the Republican line in favor of a full extension, and Carmona said he'd be willing to extend them fully only if
Congress in turn took up comprehensive tax reform--a position that puts him in opposition to some Democrats, who would let the cuts for the top earners expire.
Source: The Hill coverage of 2012 Arizona Senate debates
Oct 10, 2012
Jim Pederson:
AZ needs good schools & safety, not just low taxes
Q: How do we get a balanced budget while cutting taxes to spur growth?KYL: I support the tax relief that enables the economy to grow, so that we can bring in a record amount of revenue to the treasury and thus reduce the federal deficit. Because of
the policies I've supported, we're going to get to a balanced budget. Not by raising taxes, as my opponent would do, but by reducing taxes to generate more economic activity, so the government collects more revenue.
PEDERSON: This administration
started its term with a $500 billion surplus. With your acquiescence, you turned that into a $500 billion deficit. You're taking a myopic look at the economy, just focusing on one aspect--what do I need for a good business climate in Arizona? I not
only need low taxes; but I need good schools, I need stable neighborhoods; I need rising incomes; I need safety for our citizens. That's being neglected.
KYL: One of the best ways to attract businesses to Arizona was by having stable and low tax rates.
Source: Arizona 2006 Senate debate at KPHO, Phoenix (X-ref Kyl)
Oct 15, 2006
John McCain:
1st step to simplify taxes: close special interest loopholes
FORBES [to McCain]: Cutting the capital gains tax is key to a prosperous future. In New Hampshire you indicated support for a flat tax and I was wondering if you might put flesh on those bones and tell us what you have in mind for tax reform?
MCCAIN: I want to thank you for your efforts on behalf of a flat tax. I think we've got to eliminate the marriage penalty, the earnings test, raise the 15% tax bracket, put a level of $5 million on the inheritance tax. But this tax code is 44,000 pages
long. It's an abomination. It's a cornucopia of good deals for the special interests and it's a nightmare for American citizens. We've got to get rid of the special interest loopholes that are right in this tax code. That's the first
step in cleaning it up to reach your goal of a simplified tax system. I appreciate your efforts. But until the day arrives when we remove the influence of the special interests, we're not going to be able to achieve your goal.
Source: (cross-ref. from Forbes) Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
John McCain:
Tap unused stimulus funds to declare a payroll tax holiday
McCain said he would tap unused stimulus funds to declare a payroll tax holiday and said the tax cuts made under President George W.
Bush need to be extended before they expire at the end of the year."To raise taxes on anybody in America today, with the tough economic times we're in, is foolishness," McCain said.
Source: Arizona Daily Star coverage of 2010 Arizona Senate debate
Sep 27, 2010
Jon Kyl:
Reduce taxes to grow economy & get more tax revenue
Q: How do we get a balanced budget while cutting taxes to spur growth?KYL: I support the tax relief that enables the economy to grow, so that we can bring in a record amount of revenue to the treasury and thus reduce the federal deficit. Because of
the policies I've supported, we're going to get to a balanced budget. Not by raising taxes, as my opponent would do, but by reducing taxes to generate more economic activity, so the government collects more revenue.
PEDERSON: This administration
started its term with a $500 billion surplus. With your acquiescence, you turned that into a $500 billion deficit. You're taking a myopic look at the economy, just focusing on one aspect--what do I need for a good business climate in Arizona? I not
only need low taxes; but I need good schools, I need stable neighborhoods; I need rising incomes; I need safety for our citizens. That's being neglected.
KYL: One of the best ways to attract businesses to Arizona was by having stable and low tax rates.
Source: Arizona 2006 Senate debate at KPHO in Phoenix
Oct 15, 2006
Justin Olson:
We need fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, economic growth
Olson outlined why he thinks he's the man for the job. "Arizona needs a senator that represents Arizona values," he said. "We need a senator who is going to
be an unwavering voice for fiscal responsibility, for lower taxes, for economic growth," he said.
Source: The Arizona Republic on 2022 Arizona Senate race
Oct 19, 2021
Kari Lake:
For individual liberties, low taxes, limited regulation
Republican candidate and former news anchor, Kari Lake, says she is taking a stand against
Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, and running on a platform of common sense conservatism dedicated to individual liberties, low taxes, limited regulation, and protecting Arizona's great Western heritage.
Source: The Western Journal on 2022 Arizona Gubernatorial race
Jun 2, 2021
Mark Brnovich:
Let states use COVID relief money for cutting state taxes
As Attorney General, Mark Brnovich has led on protecting taxpayers from unconstitutional tax mandates.- Took the Biden Administration to court over tax mandate in the latest COVID-19 relief bill (American Rescue Plan Act).
-
Led a coalition of 20 states supporting Ohio's lawsuit challenging the Biden Administration's unconstitutional Tax Mandate in the recent bill that threatens to withhold COVID-19 relief funding from states.
Source: 2022 Arizona Senate campaign website BrnoForAZ.com
Nov 21, 2021
Mark Kelly:
Against Trump tax cuts: need to look out for middle class
While Kelly said he is against the tax cuts Trump gave
to the wealthy--"I think we need to be looking out for the middle class."
Source: KTAR News 92.3-FM on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Feb 21, 2020
Martha McSally:
Keep taxes low
We need to keep taxes low so Southern Arizonans can make the best choices to
spend, invest, and save their hard-earned money.
Source: 2014 Arizona House campaign website, McSallyForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Martha McSally:
Get spending under control; supports tax cuts
Q: Support President Trump's tax cuts?Martha McSally (R): Yes. Voted for it. Says average taxpayer in her district saved $1,029.
Kyrsten Sinema (D): No. Voted against. Says increases debt by $1.456 trillion & doesn't help most ordinary taxpayers.
Q: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
McSally: Generally, no. Need to get spending under control. Did support federal transportation funding for AZ.
Sinema: Mixed. Cosponsored Balanced Budget Amendment.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Arizona Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Matt Salmon:
Club for Growth PAC: Salmon will protect taxpayer dollars
Salmon reentered the political arena with a top endorsement from a leading conservative Political Action Committee. Club for Growth PAC successfully pushed 80 percent of its candidates across the finish line in 2020. "Arizonans can count on Matt Salmon
to build a strong economy for all Arizonans and protect their hard-earned taxpayer dollars," the PAC's president David McIntosh said. "We look forward to supporting his campaign to be the next Arizona Governor."
Source: Fox News Sunday on 2022 Arizona Gubernatorial race
Jun 17, 2021
Richard Carmona:
Extend Bush tax cuts as part of comprehensive reform
The two did agree on a few issues, including full extension of the Bush-era tax cuts, even for the wealthy. Flake toed the Republican line in favor of a full extension, and Carmona said he'd be willing to extend them fully only if
Congress in turn took up comprehensive tax reform--a position that puts him in opposition to some Democrats, who would let the cuts for the top earners expire.
Source: The Hill coverage of 2012 Arizona Senate debates
Oct 10, 2012
Steve Farley:
Wealthy should pay more for schools
Farley doesn't support raising sales taxes, saying doing so would burden the poor. He said business leaders calling for tax increases should "start calling for an increase on taxes for themselves,"
if they are sincere about adequate education funding. Improving K-12 education should start with teacher raises, which he would fund by getting rid of corporate tax breaks. He is for closing some of the tax-cut loopholes.
Source: The Arizona Republic on 2018 Arizona gubernatorial race
Aug 19, 2017
Steve Forbes:
Flat-tax IRS exists, but is smaller and less powerful
KEYES [To Forbes]: I'm slightly confused because it seems to me that what you propose is not that we strike off the chains of tax slavery, but that we equalize it. In this case, we will still have to have an agency - I guess we could call it the happy
faced enforcer of equal tax surplus. But it would still be there, enforcing an invasive tax that would require that people tell the government what the government wants to know. How do you abolish the IRS if you don't get rid of the income tax?
FORBES: Whatever tax you have, whether it's the flat tax or national sales tax, you are going to have a collection agency to make sure the money comes in. The virtue of the flat tax is that you can do it on a single page since it's
simple. You don't need a hundred and ten thousand agents to do it. You just need a handful to take in the paper, make sure the checks are attached, that they clear and the job is done.
Source: (cross-ref. from Keyes) Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Steve Forbes:
Sales tax better than current IRS; but we'd end up with both
KEYES [To Forbes]: I think part of the problem is that folks would still be subject, under your plan, to an income tax. When they wanted a tax cut, they'd still have to beg their politicians. When under a sales tax system, they'd give themselves a tax
cut by changing their pattern of consumption. If we really want to give people control of their money, shouldn't we just abolish the income tax?FORBES: I think if you abolish it for lower-income Americans, yes, that's what I'd do. As for the national
sales tax, either a flat tax or national sales tax would be much better that what we have today. But there are challenges for a national sales tax. Depending on what you choose to exempt, the rate can be 20% to 35%. So a kid comes and cuts your lawn, you
owe a 35% tax. You buy a new house, 35% tax. And also, you better make sure you repeal the 16th Amendment, which enables the income tax, or you're going to have both an income tax and a sales tax.
Source: (cross-ref. from Keyes) Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Steve Forbes:
McCain agrees with Forbes' flat tax goal, but not 1st step
FORBES [to McCain]: Cutting the capital gains tax is key to a prosperous future. In New Hampshire you indicated support for a flat tax and I was wondering if you might put flesh on those bones and tell us what you have in mind for tax reform?
MCCAIN: I want to thank you for your efforts on behalf of a flat tax. I think we've got to eliminate the marriage penalty, the earnings test, raise the 15% tax bracket, put a level of $5 million on the inheritance tax. But this tax code is 44,000 pages
long. It's an abomination. It's a cornucopia of good deals for the special interests and it's a nightmare for American citizens. We've got to get rid of the special interest loopholes that are right in this tax code. That's the first
step in cleaning it up to reach your goal of a simplified tax system. I appreciate your efforts. But until the day arrives when we remove the influence of the special interests, we're not going to be able to achieve your goal.
Source: (cross-ref. to McCain) Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Tom O`Halleran:
End millionaire exploitation of tax loopholes
We should review what tax breaks are provided to companies that have moved manufacturing jobs abroad. We then would align the code with the goal of keeping jobs in the U.S and hopefully having businesses return. Millionaires and billionaires
shouldn't be able to exploit tax loopholes to pay a lower effective tax rate than middle class families. Even billionaires like Warren Buffet acknowledges this. We need a top-to-bottom overhaul of the tax code that is fair to everyone.
Source: 2016 Arizona House campaign website TomOHalleran.com
Nov 8, 2016
Katie Hobbs:
Cut taxes on everyday items, add child tax credit
We have a comprehensive plan to address the rising costs that Arizonans are facing right now that will put money back in their pockets. We cut taxes on all kinds of everyday items like
over-the-counter medication, school supplies, diapers, feminine hygiene products. We provide a state-level child tax credit and tax credits for people who want to go back to work in higher-paying jobs to get career and technical education.
Source: CBS Face the Nation on 2022 Arizona Gubernatorial race
Oct 9, 2022
Katie Hobbs:
Child tax credit for families earning less than $40K/year
My budget sets aside $50 million for a state-level, child tax credit for families earning less than $40,000 a year to help pay for the rising costs of basic necessities for their children. We will also help lower costs for Arizona families by exempting
diapers and feminine hygiene products from our state's sales tax. We can and should help provide this relief to individuals and families who too often must choose between paying their bills or paying for the things they need to be healthy.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Arizona legislature
Jan 9, 2023
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023