Yes on 100

We gave you a penny for your Light Rail. What did you do with it? Nope, sorry it's time for Crow and many ASU folks to tighten their belts and break the news to the Government Unions that their pensions and retiree health care are goners. Just like in many other industries.

Posted: May 18th, 2010 - 5:28 pm

I'm getting too many mailings for yes on 100. What a lot of money being spent just to tell me two times a day to vote for this thing. Starting to smell like a boondoggle to me.

Posted: May 13th, 2010 - 6:47 pm

This is, once again, the 16 year old poster in response to whoever just responded to me. I am confused by the beginning of your post "(Child for voting NO)" because I am definitely on the YES side of this prop. I am a girl, so I'd appreciate if you stopped calling me 'he'. Also, you do not need to belittle me in order to get your point across. I am in all AP (that means Advanced Placement in case you missed learning acronyms when you were in school) and honors classes so do not act like I am some stupid child who knows nothing. I know what roman numerals are, thank you. While World War 2 was an immense boost to the economy, FDR's policies did, in fact, help the economy. [The AAA stabilized agricultural prices by paying certain farmers to not sell their crops, the TVA built dams and power plants and 'the TVA stood for decades as a model of how careful government planning could dramatically improve the social and economic welfare of an underdeveloped region' (Out of Many a History of the American People, Page 856), and finally the CCC payed young men $30 a month to work on natural parks, but $25 of the money had to be sent home to help their families]. I just spent a good two weeks learning about the Great Depression in my AP US History class so do not try and tell me that I know nothing about it. I also spent the past 2 weeks discussing the Healthcare Reform Bill in my AP English class and in the multiple articles we read it was clearly stated that the government defecit was expected to go down over time. Proof: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/710194

Posted: May 9th, 2010 - 6:26 pm

I voted early on yes for Prop 100, but i was wondering what do you guys do with the prop signs after the election is over. I would like to know if you throw them away if I can take some off your hand and reuse them after I paint the info over. email please at bizrep24@yahoo.com. Thank you

Posted: May 9th, 2010 - 12:04 pm

If yeson100.com thinks spamming people (me for instance) is a good strategy for enlising support, then they are even dumber than they think I think they are.

Posted: May 7th, 2010 - 11:25 pm

from 16 year old poster (child for voting NO): How's does that happen? This is enough proof that our schools don’t need more money to not teach our students. This kid actually thinks Gov't spending tax payer dollars will get us out of this obama disaster, but in fact, we would need WW III (that’s "world war 3" in case he missed Roman Numerals) cause it was WW II that saved this country's economy from the spending policies of FDR. His policies actually extended the downturn and prevented recovery sooner, like now. No WW II = No recovery under FDR. It’s a historical fact. But the kid may have missed that. On the healthcare bill - show me one analysis that says costs are going to go down and reduce the deficit…. Didn't poster 16 notice the impact on AT&T = 1 BILLION because of obamacare HC bill. Costs will necessarily go up for everything. Nice education. Stay in school… I can't figure out if he should pay more or less attention. And this is one of the so-called smart ones…?

Posted: May 6th, 2010 - 12:51 pm

OK everyone. The vote is only 13 days away. We need to hang tough and stare the spendthrifts in the State capitol down NO BLINKING! Vote No

Posted: May 5th, 2010 - 11:38 pm

Bravo to our 16-year-old advocate for showing that you don't have to be over 18 to be intelligent and well-informed or to have a vested interest in politics and elections. Perhaps if we all raised our children to have an interest in them, we wouldn't have such poor voter turnout and apathy related to elections. It is a ridiculous statement to say that someone who can't vote in this election doesn't have just as much of a stake in its outcome as the rest of us. The children of Arizona are the ones who will be the most affected if Prop 100 doesn't pass! They are the ones who will lose a quality education, they are the ones who will no longer be provided with the opportunity to be enriched and successful at school, and they are the ones who will have been told by the adults in this state that, despite the fact that we were all given the opportunity to receive a quality public education, we now don't think you are worth it so we won't do the same for you. Vote YES on 100.

Posted: May 2nd, 2010 - 2:59 pm

I have a complaint on this organization and can not find an email for it. I do see the phone # which I will call tomorrow. Complaint: Someone has posted posters from your organization all over the federal mailboxes in our neighborhood. This is a violation of the US Code and is punishable with a $25,000 fine. These posters need to be removed and your volunteers told that you don't post items on federal property. A complaint will be filed with the US Postal Inspector tomorrow. Thank you

Posted: May 2nd, 2010 - 11:52 am

I have a really, really great idea. Everyone truly concerned about the status of K-12 education give the max amount to schools that can be deducted from your Arizona Income tax and then donate somemore. That way you'll be putting your money where your mouth is.

Posted: April 28th, 2010 - 11:05 pm

This is the 16 year old poster in response to the person who responded to me. I do understand gasoline taxes, because I drive and I pay for my own gas. I understand sales taxes, because I buy all of my clothes, fast food, and other 'leisure items'. I also understand income taxes because I have a job. Just because I'm 16 does not mean I'm immune to the same taxes you pay, it just means that I don't have a say in the vote that decides these taxes. Maybe a good portion of the tax will go to Universities, but the portion that does go to K-12 schools is imperative. Do you understand how difficult it is to learn when there are about 40 other kids in a tiny classroom around you? It is next to impossible, and there is a direct correlation between the number of students in my classes and my grades. The education system of today is the working class of tomorrow, so why set us up for failure? If even more teachers get fired, that is even more people who stop contributing to the economy, because they don't have the means to buy things they could once afford. I would also like you to know that I am planning on going out of state for college, and my parents are not helping me pay for it at all. I have already applied for numerous scholarships and I am planning on taking out student loans, not tapping out the government as you inferred most college bound students do. I am 16, not 3. I am not ignorant, nor am I unaware of the current situation of the economy. FDR got America out of the Great Depression by spending money on government programs, if history were to repeat itself maybe this economic downturn would finally turn around. In some ways the effects of this prop are like those of the new health care bill. Taxes will go up initially, but eventually the overall government defecit is expected to go down. Who knows, maybe that is what will happen in Arizona.

Posted: April 28th, 2010 - 2:37 am

I would like to start with my wife is a teacher so I have seen first hand how the economy has affected teachers. My wife was forced to move from the school she taught at last year to a new school. Also unfortunately lots of other teachers lost their jobs. Based on that alone this should be an easy decision of yes. However I have seen and heard what most people do not. The first and foremost is I heard of a Superintendent receiving a $24000 bonus. I do not know if that is true, but it does show that we as tax payers need to know where our money is being spent. The second thing is that all schools are not on equal grounds. If the school is in Scottsdale there is a higher property tax and the schools get more money. If the school is in a lower income area then they get less money. So how about starting by pooling all the money together and split it equally amongst all the schools based on the number of children attending not counting those on a variance. A variance is where a child is allowed to attend a different school than where they should. I feel that if a parent wants a variance than they can pay the difference. Next the curriculum is not the same for the grade levels or schools. Some teacher’s take more grades than others and what is taught at one school might not be taught at another school. This is not counting the advanced classes taken by children. There needs to some standardization in place so we can make sure children are not left behind. Another point is parents expect the teachers to provide tutoring for their children. The teachers do not get extra money for tutoring so how is that fair. As a matter of fact teachers have received a pay cut not only last year but this year also. So with that all being said I do believe that we should provide money for the teachers, however I will not support something if there is already money available. When the state can show me when, where and how my tax dollars are being spent and can justify this increase then I will be on board. I do not believe in increasing the hurt for money us lowly taxpayers when there are people high up in the education system and government that can afford a reduction in pay more than the people that actually work for it.

Posted: April 27th, 2010 - 3:47 pm

To the High School Junior that posted “This prop costs the average person $13-$14 per year, that's it!” Do you have any Idea what you’re talking about? I don’t know many families that can get by spending only $1,300.00 to $1,400.00 per year which is what the math or your statement implies. To the 16 Year old poster that is “literally in shock by the selfishness of some of the comments below me.” I am in shock at the level of ignorance from posters that don’t know what it costs to live. You will understand when it is you that the Government is tapping for Property taxes, Income taxes, Sales Taxes, Gasoline taxes, and innumerable Fees and service charges. The government says this tax will be for schools and public safety but the lion’s share will go to the Universities not the K-12 schools and by the time that a person graduates from college he or she needs to start thinking of getting off the public dole and start earning his way in life – including paying his way to go to a University if he is able.

Posted: April 26th, 2010 - 10:42 pm

I am literally in shock by the selfishness of some of the comments below me. Apparantly children are not worth one cent to you people. I cannot even wrap my mind around all of you who are seriously saying that this should be a no vote. Oh sure vote no, then see what happens. Hundreds of teachers will lose their jobs, thousands of kids will lose the extra help they once had, and the future generation will be screwed. Go sit in one of my high school classes for one day where one teacher has 40 kids at one time, and that quiet kid in the back has no way of being noticed by the teacher to recieve the extra help he needs. You are some selfish selfish people. Maybe you should take a good look at yourelves in the mirror and decide why you think children are not worth your penny. I'm 16 years old and I'm more selfless then you are, I hope you're all proud.

Posted: April 26th, 2010 - 6:08 pm

Please vote yes! I am a junior in highschool (11th grade) and this prop makes the difference between 15 or 32 teachers at just my school being fired! If it passes we still lose 15 teachers, but that's half as many as we do if it doesn't pass. If that's just one school, think about how many teachers our state loses if it doesn't pass. Our class sizes are getting to be out of control, there's 36 kids in my english class, and they're only going to get worse. This prop costs the average person $13-$14 per year, that's it! My teacher recently told us she was on the list of those who will definitely be cut if this doesn't pass, and that made this so real for me. Imagine a class room of crying students, heartbroken over the potential loss of our favorite teacger, and maybe then you will understand the necessity of this proposition to pass. Our school systems are already one of the least funded systems in America, and along with that we have some of the worst test scores in the nation. I want to be prepapred for college, and for my future nonetheless. Please please help. The people this prop affects the most are the ones who are unable to vote yes, but you can vote yes for us. Everyone always complains that my generation doesn't care about school and we're expected to be the least educated, but those same people are the ones who refuse to fund our schools. Do you think the future of America is worth a temporary 1% increase? Are we children worth one cent? I really hope you think so. If we are not given the neccesary tools to learn how to succeed, how can we teach the next generation how not to fail?

Posted: April 26th, 2010 - 5:59 pm

ahhh Prop 100...."vote yes or your children will be damned to hell" is the slogan Brew-HAHA came up with eh? quit praying to the ghost in the sky everytime you have to make a hard descision and just start cutting! no more school sports programs no more after school programs no more overtime for police and firefighters no more corporate tax cutbacks no more public libraries no more open space land acquisitions no more farm tax rebates no more rest stops no more state advertising no more government vehilces no more green building tax rebates no more alternative vehicle rebates no more government cell phones no more government internet service no more seperate government buildings no more war on drugs spending no more child obesity programs no more anti smoking advertisements you want to talk about basic services? We're not even close to what the basics should be.....too much fluff in the state.

Posted: April 26th, 2010 - 5:23 pm

I just received the *2nd* 12x6 card in the mail urging me to vote YES on Prop 100. I must assume you get one heck of a cut in postal rates to be sending these things out. But what about the people who design and print them? The one I got today is different than the one I got the other day. Do the designers and printers work for free? What about the ads that run on radio and TV on a regular basis? Is that being donated to the State of AZ who needs this "temporary" sales tax in order to keep from catastrophic disaster w/ our schools, and public services??? Frankly, I would rather see my tax money being spent in a more responsible manner. WAIT! Irresponsible use of our tax dollars is what got us here in the 1st place. Get a grip people! Those opposing this proposition are doing no advertising that I can see and I'm betting that the opposition wins. It is way past time that we do the tough things and get a handle on all of this out of control spending. If the State is Broke......STOP SPENDING $$$ for all these ads!!!!!!!

Posted: April 24th, 2010 - 4:27 pm

Jobs first them maybe just maybe I will vote to steal from others to support your kid's education. Jobs first - No on prop 100!

Posted: April 19th, 2010 - 5:53 pm

WHAT IS PROP 100??????? you say it supports education but how???? be upfront!

Posted: April 16th, 2010 - 1:44 pm

SUBJECT: Senator Verschoor's comments on Horizon, or "What part of 'drown it in the bathtub' don't you understand?" In this 12 min 44 sec video from Eight, Arizona PBS (http://www.azpbs.org/horizon/detailvid.php?id=2332), State Senator Thayer Verschoor of “Ax The Tax,” a group which opposes the increase, discusses the proposal with John Wright of the Arizona Education Association, who supports the tax increase. Here is an exchange taken directly from the transcript (http://www.azpbs.org/horizon/detail.php?id=1319) Ted Simons (HOST): “There are some people who believe that -- the more conservative members of the State Legislature, yourself included and those who are against this tax, aren't really all that upset that these services are going to be gone. That this is some sort of an attempt, an ideological attempt to dismantle government as it is into a new shape, into a new beast, if you will. Are they wrong?” Thayer Verschoor: “I think there's -- I think there's -- I think as we come to this point, that's a question we have to ask. What is the fundamental role of government? Can we do it more efficiently? Can we do it better? I think just as every company and every household out there has to look at when their income reduces, you know, do I need -- do I need -- do I need the 50-inch TV or will a 26-inch television do? Do I need the Cadillac or will, you know a more economical vehicle that gets me to work do? I think that's what we have to ask. What -- can we do things a lot more efficiently, and I think we can.” John Wright: “We're not talking 50-inch TVs and Cadillacs. We're talking about basic state services. We're talking about Constitutional obligations of the legislature. Is there an ideological agenda here? I think if you look at the language, there might be some. For other cuts in the budget, it doesn't say curtail or suspend. It says permanently eliminate. Permanently eliminate program in education and health care and social services.” Simons’ question was about “an ideological attempt to dismantle government”, not the “fundamental role of government” or if we can “do things a lot more efficiently”. To find the answer that Senator Verschoor would not say publicly, one need look no further than the fact that he signed(1) the Taxpayer Protection Pledge(2), which was established by Grover Norquist, Founder & President, Americans for Tax Reform(3) (1) http://www.atr.org/userfiles/State%20Taxpayer%20Protection%20Pledge%20List(11).pdf (2)http://www.atr.org/userfiles/StatePledge.pdf (3) http://www.atr.org/ Norquist’s ideology is clear from his public statements: "Cutting the government in half in one generation is both an ambitious and reasonable goal. If we work hard we will accomplish this and more by 2025. Then the conservative movement can set a new goal. I have a recommendation: To cut government in half again by 2050". – Reducing the Government by Half: How and Why We Can Cut the Size and Cost of Government in Half in One Generation, InsiderOnline: Policy Ideas for Advancing Liberty, May 01, 2000 http://www.insideronline.org/feature.cfm?id=78 "We are trying to change the tones in the state capitals -- and turn them toward bitter nastiness and partisanship….Bipartisanship is another name for date rape." -- Rancor becomes top D.C. export, GOP leads charge in ideological war, by John Aloysius Farrell, The Denver Post, May 26, 2003 Section: 1A Page: A-01 "Our goal is to inflict pain. It is not good enough to win; it has to be a painful and devastating defeat. We're sending a message here. It is like when the king would take his opponent's head and spike it on a pole for everyone to see." -- COVER STORY - Grover at the Gate, National Journal Online, by John Maggs, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2003 (available by purchase only) (emphasis mine) and perhaps his most famous quote: "My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub." -- Grover Norquist: 'Field Marshal' of the Bush Plan, by Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation, May 14, 2001. (http://www.thenation.com/doc/20010514/dreyfuss) The real answer to Simons’ question can only be “With the more conservative members of the Arizona State Legislature, especially those who have joined Grover Norquist by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, there is absolutely an ideologically driven agenda to dismantle state government. What part of ‘drown it in the bathtub’ don’t you understand?"

Posted: April 15th, 2010 - 10:52 am

Education is very important, but I'm not sure I trust the politicians with any more of my money. Look at some of the decisions they have already made with what they receive. Our middle school received a $450,000 grant from the fed and what did they do with it? Bought each student a lap top. Come on? I'm sure it makes it nice, but that doesn't work in my book when people (including lots of teachers) are losing jobs and they are having to cut all sorts of programs in school. When the government proves responsibility with the amount of money they receive then we should award them with more as needed. Yes it is like parenting a child.

Posted: April 9th, 2010 - 12:58 am

The state of Arizona needs to get a backbone and make the cuts that need to be made. Everyone has had to tighten their belts, why should government employees be exempt? Don't put on an additional tax that will hurt the least able to cope - the poor and unemployed. Reduce money to colleges and increase the tuitions to minimize as much as possible the impact to K - 12. Combine school districts. Close underpopulated schools until the financial storm is over.

Posted: April 9th, 2010 - 12:38 am

Why are school administrators not being let go? Reduce the bureaucracy and attack our educational system like a business would. Eliminate waste. If you really care about our state's educational system, take an active role in fixing what we have instead of throwing more money into a wasteful system.

Posted: April 8th, 2010 - 12:21 am

I agree with the others that this should be a NO vote. Intially it looks good but this website is particularly for this prop. Where are the hard facts, percentages, numbers, that this money is being allocated to? I'm not opposed to paying higher taxes for the good of all but petty crimes that require jail time can go to tent city and child molestors and murderers should be locked up for good (there's the resolution for jail overcrowding and overspending). K-12 should get the money, college is elective. Governor and other top officials can let go of all of their assistants and assistants-assistants and then let us know what the budget looks like. Try half percent tax increases for individual issues and be honest that it will need to be ongoing so we don't have to vote on it again in upcoming years.

Posted: April 2nd, 2010 - 3:25 pm

1. No to education above grade 12. I began work at 16 and worked through graduation at a private college. Wouldn't want to deny others the same sense of accomplishment and self-reliance I earned. 2. No to education below grade 12 until the teachers unions present facts about how they have decreased the administrative/overhead costs of K-12 education prior to the budget crisis. 3. No to law enforcement. Permanently reduce overhead jobs. Then we'll listen. 4. No to fire fighters. Permanently reduce overhead jogs. Then we'll listen. Sorry to make it difficult for these professions and the professionals in them, but most of the time, government efficiency is an oxymoron.

Posted: April 1st, 2010 - 6:35 pm

From AZ Central.com: "500 Maricopa County workers got raises despite cuts" "The salary increases totaled about $1.2 million. The raises ranged from as little as $29.12 more a year to as much $26,624 more a year, although most employees got raises somewhere in the middle. About 120 employees each received more than $3,000 in pay raises" DO YOU STILL THINK THE STATE NEEDS A SALES TAX INCREASE? NO on PROP100 NO NO NO!

Posted: March 31st, 2010 - 8:48 pm

Pay a 10% (9.6% for you quibblers)of the money I have left in sales taxes! I don't think so! If I do it will have to be robbed from me by stupid people. Tryanny of the majority is still tryanny.

Posted: March 30th, 2010 - 10:18 pm

It would be awesome if you could put up an image file that looks similar to the yard sign for people to change their profile pictures to on facebook. It really helps get out the word!

Posted: March 29th, 2010 - 2:38 pm

Being a Phoenician all my life I owe this state for my education and owning a business here which has suffered with the downturn. I understand also when the state is broke and could use a hand and I for one will vote "YES on prop 100" and also think a penny is not enough. I do not believe that just the government is at fault here as a perfect storm has hit the country and has hurt other states as well.

Posted: March 25th, 2010 - 6:55 pm

The last I heard money was still being poured into new detention facilites! Maybe with an EDUCATION ONLY tax and actually educating and creating jobs we wouldn't need more detention facitlities. What did our politicions do with all of the money when things were booming? I think this needs to be a stand alone education tax, so that we know our children will benefit.

Posted: March 25th, 2010 - 10:48 am

Where am I going to get the money to pay this tax and for obama care. I already pay 42 cents out of every dollar I earn. This is not fair, it is theft.

Posted: March 23rd, 2010 - 6:34 pm

I get it! I really get it! Implement a regressive tax instead of entirely cutting non-essential services attack education, public safety, and public health instead. I have a novel idea - learn to balance your check book! If times were good and there weren't so many unemployed I'd give the benefit of the doubt but implementing a regressive sales tax at this tme is a bad idea. I am definately a no on 100.

Posted: March 23rd, 2010 - 1:38 am

I was told that the sales tax passing would not add any money to our school budget. When asked where the 2/3 of the revenue would go, I was told it would help offset the cuts being made to the central budget because they were taking a bigger cut to ensure that schools wouldn't have to take more than a 10% cut.

Posted: March 22nd, 2010 - 12:15 am

I will vote YES on 100. I understand that we are in a recession. There have been significant cuts in spending already, and without additional revenues more cuts will be necessary. My son is in a sixth grade social studies class with 38 students,38 students! My daughter is in a full-day Kindergarten class with 26 students, her teacher is working hard to teach every child how to begin to read, write, add and subtract, but with that many children it is very hardwork. I am concerned that next year, her teacher will have more students, for only half-a-day, students who have lost access to healthcare and will come to school sick, students with disabilities who aren't receiving the help they need to learn before they arrive at school. As an Arizonan I will vote Yes on 100 because these children are our future--and they deserve to have access to healthcare, education and to feel safe!

Posted: March 19th, 2010 - 8:06 am

Will the "TEMPORARY" tax increase really improve the EDUCATION system? Of the 39 years that I've lived in tha valley it seems that every time voting comes up the ballot is always asking for more money for Education and using the words "Your childs education" as a crutch. The voters always fall for this and the schools get their increase to spend more. The more money that gets approved the more they spend. They get their overrides approve by the voters and they spend all of it and ask for more. They need to tighten their belts too.

Posted: March 18th, 2010 - 9:06 pm

I wil vote NO on prop 100 because there are THREE DISTINCT TOPICS! Each should have its own proposition. These types of PACKAGES are not fair to vote on! I am apposed to voting for a group of items in one package!

Posted: March 18th, 2010 - 8:38 pm

I will vote no on this prop because: Temporary taxes are never temporary here. Like CA, our school systems and health care will continue to go broke as long as we ignore the elephant in the room. Since DPS and every municipality has told us how safe our streets and highways are now, I see nothing wrong with reducing the number of patrol officers on our streets by the number of photo radar cameras in the state. When the state feels the same pain as private business and families are feeling, then we can talk.

Posted: March 18th, 2010 - 7:31 pm

The question is...How many of the proposed "temporary" tax hikes did not become permanant tax hikes. When we spend too much...we also tax too much.

Posted: March 18th, 2010 - 6:08 pm

I am in agreement that a temp sales tax is needed but I see no where does it require that 2/3 of the monies goes to education. I also believe that that 2/3 monies should go to k-12 education only. This is what I believe is in the most dire need. Colleges and Universities that have so called basket weaving courses do not need my $$$$. They are also optional education unlike k-12. We require our children to get an education so while they are children let provide them a good education. As of now my vote would be a NO. The monies need to go to what I believe to be a priority.

Posted: March 18th, 2010 - 3:50 pm

What would happen if you had to prove you are a AZ and/or US citizen before you can get health care? How many would not get health care if they had to take a drug test before approval? Just a thought.

Posted: March 16th, 2010 - 6:07 pm