Bender quoted in 'Arizona Capitol Times'
<p>Professor and Dean Emeritus <a href="http://www.law.asu.edu/Apps/Faculty/Faculty.aspx?individual_id=23">Paul Bender</a> of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law recently was quoted in the <i>Arizona Capitol Times</i> in an article about the possible elimination of state tax credits to help resolve Arizona's financial problems.</p><separator></separator><p>The April 10 article, "Hands tied by Prop 108) Arizona lawmakers want to eliminate tax credits, but authority is in question," by reporter Luige del Puerto, questioned whether such a move would be constitutional. A 1992 constitutional amendment, Proposition 108, makes it more difficult for the Legislature to raise taxes or fees, because a two-thirds majority vote for any act that results in a "net increase" in state revenues is required, Puerto reported.</p><separator></separator><p>It's easy to amend the Arizona Constitution, compared to the U.S. Constitution, Bender said, and that may result in ill-advised amendments. "I think that's what happened here," Bender said. "You know all the people who were in favor of this thing - (saying) we got to keep taxes down - are all of a sudden saying we got to find a way to get around this."</p><separator></separator><p>He also responded to a budget-balancing option, developed by a group representing Arizona's universities that would structure a tax increase over the first few years and a tax decrease in the following years. Under this plan, the overall fiscal impact would be a reduction in state revenues several years down the road, Puerto reported.</p><separator></separator><p>But people might change their minds several years from now, when the tax reduction is supposed to take place, Bender pointed out. "I think the idea of lumping a number of years together and netting that won't work," he said.</p><separator></separator><p>To read the full article, click <a href="http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/freestory.cfm?id=10921">here</a>.</p><sep… style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: Tahoma" lang="EN">Janie Magruder, <a href="mailto:Jane.Magruder@asu.edu"><font color="#0000ff">Jane.Magruder@asu.edu</font></a><br />(480) 727-9052<br />Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law</span></p>