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Proposition 304 is a recommendation of the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers as to legislative salaries has been certified to the Secretary of State and is hereby submitted to the qualified electors for their approval or rejection

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PROPOSITION 304

RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSION ON SALARIES FOR ELECTIVE STATE OFFICERS AS TO LEGISLATIVE SALARIES HAS BEEN CERTIFIED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND IS HEREBY SUBMITTED TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS FOR THEIR APPROVAL OR REJECTION.

PROVIDES FOR AN INCREASE IN THE SALARIES OF STATE LEGISLATORS FROM $24,000 TO $35,000 PER YEAR.

"SHALL THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSION ON SALARIES FOR ELECTIVE STATE OFFICERS CONCERNING LEGISLATIVE SALARIES BE ACCEPTED?" YES NO

RECOMMENDATIONS, IF APPROVED BY THE ELECTORS, SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITHOUT ANY OTHER AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION.

CURRENT SALARY......................................................... $24,000

PROPOSED SALARY....................................................... $35,000

ARGUMENTS "FOR" PROPOSITION 304

As members of the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers, we support a pay increase for the Arizona Legislature from $24,000 to $35,000 per year and urge you to do the same.

The Legislature is tasked with making our laws and managing a multi-billion dollar budget for all essential state services, including education, public safety, health care, and transportation. It is critical that the best people serve.

The men and women elected to the Legislature make personal, professional and financial sacrifices to serve the public good. We believe an annual salary of $35,000 will enable the best citizens to serve while respecting sound fiscal policy.

Serving in the Legislature is time consuming. The annual session begins in January and can go as late as June. In addition, the Legislature is often called into special session. When the Legislature is not in session, the legislators must serve the needs of their constituents.

The voters last approved a pay increase for the Legislature in 1998. The $24,000 salary set at that time equals almost $35,000 today when adjusted for inflation. Moreover, the proposed salary is consistent with compensation paid to other similar state legislatures.

No one is going to get rich serving in the Arizona Legislature. Our hard-working legislators deserve to be appropriately compensated for the sacrifices they make to serve their constituents and the State of Arizona. It is reasonable to cover the basic expenses of those who do serve so that service is open to all qualified citizens.

Please join us in voting yes on Proposition 304.

Lisa Atkins, Chair, Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers, Phoenix

Joseph Kanefield, Member, Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers, Phoenix

Dennis Mitchem, Member (Retired CPA), Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers, Phoenix

Paid for by Lisa Atkins, Joseph Kanefield, Dennis Mitchem

Next Argument

Statement in support of Proposition 304 .

The Arizona Judges Association respectfully urges a " YES " vote for a pay raise for legislators. They have not had their salaries increased since 1999.

A pay increase will expand the number of citizens who can afford to serve in this important job.

The 90 members of the Arizona Legislature have heavy responsibilities including, but not limited to, overseeing a state budget exceeding $9 billion. They and their families deserve this increase.

Hon. Maria Elena Cruz, President, Arizona Judges Association, Yuma

Peter G. Dunn, Counsel, Arizona Judges Association, Peoria

Paid for by Arizona Judges Association

ARGUMENTS "AGAINST" PROPOSITION 304

I serve on the "Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers" which recommended this pay increase for legislators, and I oppose their recommendation. At $24,000 per year, Arizona is in the mid-range of salaries of the 50 states. New Mexico pays its legislators nothing. New Hampshire pays $200 for a two-year term. At least 17 states pay their legislators less than $20,000 per year. A high salary doesn't guarantee excellent government. Illinois, New York, and California, which are among the top five states in legislative salaries, pay their legislators $67,836, $79,500, and $90,526 per year respectively. Those states are poorly run and drowning in debt. As the salary grows, legislatures stay in session longer, write more bills, and pass more laws.

There are good reasons for modest legislative salaries. First, most legislatures are part-time, so no one should expect a full-time paycheck. Second, offering modest pay helps screen the field of candidates. A small, part-time salary means that those who run for office are more likely to be older, well advanced in a career, or perhaps retired. They have been in the working world for many years, run a business, bought a home, raised a family. They will likely be more mature and more seasoned. They will be wiser and less vulnerable to the flattery and the elitist mentality of the government class.

Election to the legislature was never envisioned as "employment" and should not be treated as such. Being a legislator is not a "job"; it's public service. It's a responsibility of citizenship. It isn't about earning a living; it's about protecting liberty. People serve in the legislature because they love freedom and they love their country. Bigger salaries will only give us bigger government, not better statesmen. Please vote NO on Prop 304.

Karen S. Johnson, Former Senator, Show Low

Next Argument

When all acts actions or legislation of the Arizona Legislature are presented to the voters of Arizona for a binding vote every 180 days to pass or fail by a simple majority on a mailed paper ballot prior to going into effect or becoming law. Then the legislature can rest on its laurels. Almost all of Arizona's legislation belongs in a colostomy bag. But what do we expect from minimum wage Plutocratic wanna- be's.

Leonard Kleider, Tucson

PROPOSITION 304 ~ BALLOT FORMAT

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