“I ran because I felt that Legislative District One was much more conservative than the way it was being represented,” Republican candidate for State Senate Steve Pierce said.

“I wanted to see less government and less spending and we have worked towards that while I have been in the legislature. The most important issue coming up is the state’s fiscal condition. We could have a billion dollar shortfall this year alone. People think that passing Proposition 100 fixed the issue and it was just a reprieve.”

Pierce added, “We have got to reduce the size of government. It has been reduced some, but we are still in the Napolitano era of state government and it is just too big. Private business is hurting, jobs have been lost, people are working for less than before and government jobs just continue to grow. They are paid higher than private business jobs and that is wrong. We just can’t do that, if private business is cutting back we have to at the state as well.”

Republican candidate Steve Pierce points out that many smaller state agencies have been cut, like the Department of Water Resources, which he believes is a vitally important agency within the state of Arizona. “Some of the agencies have been reduced to such an extent that they can’t function properly. Yet the cuts made to education have been very limited and most cuts were replaced with stimulus funds.”

Steve Pierce believes the education cuts are a critical issue since education funding is 55% of the Arizona state budget. “Stimulus funds will expire and there is no easy option to replace those funds,” he added. “Consolidation of small school districts could save a tremendous amount for the state but the legislature has not stepped up to the task.”

“We need to make an environment in Arizona that is business-friendly,” candidate Pierce said, “so businesses will move here. We don’t need more government jobs, we need private jobs and to get them creating a business-friendly environment is critical.’

‘I think we ought to come up with some kind of a program, like a Prosperity for Arizona Act, that focuses on reducing the regulatory burdens because there are too many. We could have things like online registration and licensing of business. We can get rid of regulations that
impede job growth. We must reduce the business personal property tax by making at least the first $250,000 of business equipment tax exempt. It is hard for people to start a business and have to pay a tax on their basic equipment from the beginning. Of course, that doesn’t apply to newspapers, they are exempt. But most businesses are taxed on the equipment they need
to do their work.”

Arizona Republican candidate Pierce also wants to adjust the Government Privilege Licensing Excise Tax, also known as GPLETs, used mainly in downtown Phoenix, south of McDowell. He explains, “Under this program, a developer buys a property to build upon and gives that land to the city which the builder then leases back from the city. Because the developer’s property is now a city property, the developer doesn’t pay any property taxes, however, the developer does pay a license fee all of which goes into the city general fund.”

Pierce added, “But the developer does not pay any taxes at all, even school district taxes. This system results in special privileges for some but not for others” giving the example that buildings on Arizona’s Camelback are not entitled to GPLETs.

“Our taxes need some reform and we could do a lot to help everybody by reforming those,” stated the Arizona candidate for State Senator. “There are a lot of possible tax reforms that would make the code fair to everyone. We haven’t been able to do it because the political will has not been here. For example, the people who like GPLET support certain members of the legislature that won’t vote against them. Hopefully with the next election, the will to reform will be there.”

Pierce expressed disappointment “that some of the Arizona State Parks have been closed”  saying that he “and fellow legislators like Andy Tobin suggested several solutions but none of them have gained ground. I understand that the parks are critical to the economy of the Verde Valley.”

The candidate for Arizona-LD1 State Senate Steve Pierce explained that he “is very concerned about water issues, a big issue in the district”  because he “does not want to see any change in the flow of water on the Verde River, to protect the river itself and the water users along the river.”

“One aspect of this is to help Prescott find the water they need for their use.  While many people believe that Wild and Scenic River designation would protect the river and allow the citizens of the Verde Valley to continue to use and enjoy the water, it would in fact severely restrict regional water use and autonomy.”

Under Wild and Scenic designation, Steve Pierce believes “should there ever be a drought or any short term disruption in rainfall or river conditions, the environmental designation takes precedence. The result is that those who have water rights on the river, or are use the river for recreation, will loose those rights. This has occurred on other rivers that came under special
environmental designation, like the Colombia River, the Kenai River, and areas of the Missouri. Water users could find themselves in a situation like that of the farmers of the California Central Valley, when a minor (less than 30%) short term drought resulted in the loss of water rights to
entire communities, permanently destroying the Central Valley economy.”

“We need to bring water users together, all those owners of water rights haven’t been organized and brought together,” the Republican State Senate candidate said. “They need assurances that there won’t be Wild and Scenic River designation, or other actions, that would take precedence over water rights that they have enjoyed for over a hundred years. If Acts like that pass, you won’t be able to irrigate.

‘Make sure you get out and vote and exercise your right. It is your vote, your right. It is an honor to be down here serving the people.”

For more information go to http://www.electstevepierce.com

Article written by Joni Dahlstrom, sedonaeye.com Staff Writer  JoniD@eSedona.net

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