Heading next level
Arizona’s economy is growing again. And for recession-weary Arizonans, the improved outlook for jobs and economic prospects is a welcome change. But just how well-prepared is Arizona to retain existing jobs, replace the nearly 300,000 that were lost in recent years and compete for the new ones that inevitably will be created as the U.S. economy continues to recover from the Great Recession of 2007?
The good news is that, for the first time in recent history, Arizona has a portfolio of programs and tax policies designed to elevate the state’s competitiveness visa-vis some of the best states for business.
Gov. Jan Brewer and the Arizona Legislature have overhauled the state’s economic-development structure, creating the public-private Arizona Commerce Authority and improving the state’s position in the intensely competitive, high-stakes, economic-development arena.
In 2010, Arizona lawmakers responded to the recession with a major job package that featured business-tax reductions and job incentives. That was followed in 2012 by Jobs Bill 2.0, with more programs aimed at fostering job growth.
While Arizona’s competitive position is significantly stronger than in years past, the state still has much work to do on several critical fronts. The impact of cuts to education — preschool through post-graduate education — over the past several years imperils Arizona’s ability to prepare the workforce that is needed to compete effectively for 21st-century jobs.
This and other challenges are outlined in a new report
best. I think it violates the prudent-voter rule to give a board playing with taxpayer money that kind of authority.
» If you want to know how unserious Congress is, particularly the Democrats, in controlling federal spending and reducing the deficit, consider this.
Senate Democrats came up with an alternative to sequestration. It would have established a minimum tax rate on incomes over $1 million, increased some spending subject to the sequester and cut other spending, principally farm subsidies, more.
The Congressional Budget Office weighed all the moving parts and concluded that, rather than decrease the debt by $85 billion as the sequester would, the Democratic alternative would actually increase the debt by $7 billion.
Fifty-one Democrats voted for it anyway.
» I really wish advocates of state driver’s licenses for “dreamers” would go about it differently.
President Barack Obama established a deferred-prosecution program for young adults brought here illegally as children, under which they can receive work permits. Gov. Brewer, however, says that they can’t get state driver’s licenses.
Advocates are trying to pass state legislation making it clear that these dreamers are eligible for driver’s licenses. But that would amount to a political slap in the face to Brewer, which legislative Republicans are unlikely to deliver.
Advocates are also suing in federal court to get Brewer’s action declared contrary to federal law. That’s problematic because Obama’s program isn’t really a law or even authorized by federal statutes. And there’s nothing about the federal government granting a work permit that compels the state to offer a driver’s license.
I think, however, that Brewer is plainly wrong about state law. Under state statute, driver’s licenses are to be granted to those who can prove that their “presence in the United States is authorized under federal law.” And another state statute says such lawful presence is demonstrated by a federal “employment authorization document,” which dreamers will have.
Advocates should be suing in state court on the basis that Brewer’s executive order forbidding driver’s licenses to dreamers violates state law.