View the latest Arizona Chamber policy commentary from President & CEO Glenn Hamer. Click on the links below to view our collection of Bottom Line columns.
Glenn Hamer The late conservative columnist, Robert Novak, once referred to Arizona’s new U.S. senator, as an “insistent reformer.” During his 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Flake helped bring about what many insiders considered impossible: essentially eliminating earmarks from appropriation bills. During his House tenure he also worked on a failed effort…
Read MoreGlenn Hamer The Tax Foundation in its 2013 State Business Tax Climate Index tells us something most of already know: California has high taxes. Really high. In its state-by-state rankings, California checks in at 48, duking it out with New Jersey and New York at the bottom of the barrel. Breaking out the ranking in…
Read MoreGlenn Hamer The recent Grand Canyon Institute report “The Effects of Tax Reductions In Arizona: Significantly Reduced Government Revenue and No Apparent Impact on Economic Growth,” dismisses the bipartisan efforts to improve Arizona’s tax competitiveness over the past two decades and defies common sense. Does anyone really believe that Arizona would be better off with…
Read MoreGlenn Hamer Arizona’s current high-stakes educational test, the AIMS test, measures if a student has mastered 10th grade material. Perhaps connected to this fact, 59 percent of Arizona children who graduate from Arizona high schools still must take remedial courses in college. In the recent recession we learned the hard truth about skills and the workforce.…
Read MoreGlenn Hamer The issue of Medicaid expansion continues to loom large in state policymaking circles, and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s research arm, the Arizona Chamber Foundation, has produced new reports on this important topic. The Foundation recently released a new Policy Brief titled The Business Case for AHCCCS Expansion. The brief outlines the…
Read MoreSteve Macias Who amongst us has not wondered in awe at the explosive power of Menthos and Coke, or for the more aged challenged amongst us, that old standby of baking soda and vinegar? I grew up with a house full of brothers and a neighborhood full of kids and am blessed to…
Read MoreGlenn Hamer This is a heady time for supporters of real immigration reform. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including our own John McCain and Jeff Flake, have announced their support for a framework of sweeping changes that have long been supported by Arizona’s – and the nation’s – business community. It is natural that…
Read MoreGlenn Hamer Dear Phil, I read your recent comments about the crushing tax burden California has imposed on wage earners like yourself. You said that you might even move out of California. Allow me to suggest Arizona – your former home – as your next home. Though my time playing golf is usually…
Read MoreGlenn Hamer Common Core is a term you’ll be seeing often this legislative session. The governor on Monday made clear her support for these rigorous academic standards during her State of the State Address and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry has made the implementation of the Common Core a top priority for 2013. …
Read MoreGlenn Hamer Just as we always do this time of year, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry today kicked off the next legislative session with our annual Legislative Forecast Luncheon. This year’s edition was held at a packed Phoenix Convention Center, where the 1,000-person crowd had the opportunity to hear from Gov. Jan Brewer…
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