Democratic Diva

17 Feb 2010 09:03 pm
Posted by: Donna

Robert Robb. Ugh.

The problem dates to the passage of the Voter Protection Act in 1998, an initiative saying that what the voters have done the Legislature cannot undo. Since then, voters have approved three significant fiscal measures.

Proposition 301, passed in 2000, raised the sales tax six-tenths of a percent for earmarked education programs, both K-12 and higher education. It also required that K-12 funding from other sources be maintained with per-pupil inflation adjustments, although that requirement is being finessed in the current budget crunch.

Proposition 204, also passed in 2000, increased eligibility for the state’s Medicaid program. Proponents said that tobacco settlement money would fully pay for it. But, according to the governor’s office, the expansion is costing the state’s general fund $1 billion a year.

Then, in 2006, voters approved the First Things First initiative, a tobacco tax increase earmarked for early childhood development programs. The tax generates more than $150 million a year and the FTF program has over $300 million in its kitty – while the rest of state government is on the street rattling a tin cup.

Note to Bob: I’m a smoker who voted for First Things First and you’ll pry the Marlboro out of my cold dead trach tube before I’ll vote to let Republican numbnut legislators spend the 80 cents per pack taxes I pay for early childhood development programs on something else. Are we clear on that?

With respect to First Thing First’s tobacco tax, legislators should propose that voters redirect it permanently. This is too much money to go into programs of ancillary benefit when core programs such as all-day kindergarten and health insurance for low-income children are on the chopping block.

Excuse you, Bob? I happen to think giving little kids a leg up is a pretty decent reason for me to pay $7 for a pack of smokes. Infinitely better than sweeping it into the general fund so that the lege has yet another excuse to give APS or developers a tax cut. Because that’s what’s going to happen to it, since Republican lawmakers have shown themselves to be quite resistant to things like all day K and health insurance to poor children.

Oh, and sweeping the funds from Prop 204 is such a fabulous idea. Truly splendiferous. Cutting people off Medicaid means that their medical problems vanish like magic and they’ll never show up at emergency rooms with bigger and more expensive problems.

The Legislature should also refer to voters the Medicaid program it thinks the state can afford.

Um, the voters already told them that. Back in 2000. I have an idea! How about taxing wealthy Arizonans who benefit from the fact that their employees, maids, and landscapers are getting their health care from ACCCHS, which lets them off the hook for providing it to them? How about that, Bob Robb?

The merits of these particular referenda ideas aren’t as important as the merit of the change in approach: rather than ask voters for a general grant of legislative authority, ask them to make specific changes in specific programs.

Translation: The merits are crap but who cares? This strategy might fool the rubes!

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