2006 Ballot Propositions & Judicial Performance Review

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry urges a YES vote on Proposition 302 to increase state legislators' annual salary to $36,000 from the current $24,000.

Arizona's 30 state senators and 60 state representatives are often subjected to cynical cheap shots from critics and seldom get the credit they deserve for doing a difficult and oftentimes thankless job. Annually, our lawmakers must decide how to spend over $10 billion on crucial state programs like education, health care, public safety and environmental protection. They are charged with providing for an effective education system that prepares our children to succeed in a very competitive global economy. They are called upon to be good stewards of state lands and assets for the benefit of all Arizonans. They also are given the enormous power to tax.

Since we give these 90 men and women so much responsibility and authority, we must do everything we can to attract the best and brightest to legislative service.

Though the Arizona Legislature meets in regular session for only five or six months each year, our lawmakers serve their districts in the off-session period by providing important constituent services and through special legislative committee hearings. Moreover, they are often called into special sessions by the Governor. The demands on their time make it difficult to describe accurately the job of legislator as anything but full-time.

The Arizona Chamber agrees with the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers that our hard-working lawmakers deserve higher compensation for all the time and effort they contribute to their constituents and the State of Arizona. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry urges voters to vote YES on Proposition 302.

I am in support of the raising of our legislative salaries to a more reasonable rate. I am somewhat amazed that we have city council members being paid at a rate of more than double the salaries we pay our legislators.

Many of our legislators drive hundreds of miles each direction weekly in order to serve the citizens of Arizona. This burden of time and energy expended in travel, that is not borne by city officials, is in addition to the long hours in committee, on the floor, corresponding with their constituents, attending meetings at the Capitol as well as in their home districts.

Many times legislative districts cover hundreds of miles from one end to the other and requires an enormous amount of travel in addition to the travel back and forth to Phoenix. If the voters want to have high quality candidates on the ballot it is time to offer a salary that is consistent with the performance we expect.

Please join me in SUPPORT of this Ballot Measure that has been recommended by Commission on Salaries for State Elected Officers. **Paid for by Goldwater for Governor Committee.**