Legislation will let Arizona voters decide whether a 2/3 vote tax increase should be required

Legislation will let Arizona voters decide whether a 2/3 vote tax increase should be required (Alberta News) February 6 Arizona voters can ask for a 2...

Legislation will let Arizona voters decide whether a 2/3 vote tax increase should be required (Alberta News) On February 6, Arizona voters can decide whether the tax changes should require a 2/3 vote. In a 6-3 vote, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a plan that would require a two-thirds vote to appear on the ballot to approve any new taxes. This system would be necessary to increase current tax rates or to reduce or eliminate existing tax breaks, exemptions or credits. Retroactively, effectively revoking any tax previously approved, without the required two-thirds vote. That means almost everything: A 1 percent sales tax increase in the state was approved in 2010, with only a 65 percent passing rate. But Rep. David Stevens, R-Sierra Vista, said he would remove that language when HCR 2043 is introduced into the bill. Democrats objected. But Rep. Rick Gray of Sun City said the resolution would be difficult to achieve unless a majority of those voting in the upcoming general election give it approval. Rep. Ted Gert, R-Sen., noted the two-thirds approval requirement that voters impose on members of Congress before they can raise taxes or eliminate tax credits. Vogt said voters will agree, by combining their hands, that people should have a say when it comes to future tax increases.