Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano last week denounced a proposed ballot measure that would make it harder for voters to pass statewide initiatives on tax hikes and fees or mandate state spending. The measure would change the requirement from a simple majority of those voting in the election to a majority of registered voters in the state.
Napolitano said at her weekly press briefing with reporters that the so-called Majority Rule proposal is “misguided and wrong.” She said it would make it too difficult to pass future tax or spending initiatives.
“Basically, the way it works is if somebody stays home and doesn’t even take the effort to vote, their vote counts,” Napolitano said. “They’re effectively a 'no’ vote.”
Jason LeVecke, a pizza franchise owner who has donated more than $30,000 to the petition-gathering campaign to get the Majority Rule proposal on the November ballot, said it would bring the state’s initiative election laws into line with a constitutional restriction on legislative tax increases.
Voters approved a state constitutional amendment in 1992 that requires a two-thirds approval in the Arizona House and Senate for passage of tax increases.
“Majority Rule ensures that a consensus is reached by all Arizonans before we raise our taxes or mandate increased spending,” LeVecke said in a statement responding to Napolitano’s criticism.
The proposed measure would not affect local taxing or spending elections.
The governor backs a tax-raising initiative that could be on the November ballot, which would increase the state sales tax to 6.6% from the current 5.6% for 30 years. Supporters said the additional 1% sales tax, along with an increase in the mining severance tax to 3.5% from the current 2.5%, would generate an estimated $42 billion over three decades for transportation projects.
