Press Release

PHOENIX—A rural school district in Yavapai County, Arizona, has gone to court to stop four taxpayers from seeking any public records from the district, from suing the district and from filing complaints about the district with state oversight agencies. The Goldwater Institute has agreed to represent the four women and today requested that the Yavapai County Superior Court dismiss the case.

PHOENIX—As Arizona legislators convene for a special session focused on closing the state’s budget deficit, they could save billions by adopting recommendations made by various state agencies to streamline operations, says a Goldwater Institute policy memo sent to lawmakers last week.

PHOENIX—Most Arizona families that receive welfare assistance have no one in the home working or training for a full-time job despite a federal mandate to do so, according to a new report from the Goldwater Institute. 

PHOENIX--Some Arizona cities that recruit major shopping malls and high-rise buildings have used a special tax incentive that waives most of the development's property taxes, often for 50 years or longer. A Goldwater Institute investigative report found development projects valued at more than $2 billion pay only a small fraction of what they otherwise would in property taxes. As a result, local governments raise property tax rates for nearby businesses and homes that don't qualify for this special tax break.

PHOENIX--At a Superior Court hearing, Maricopa County Judge Kenneth Mangum decided the City of Phoenix must turn over public records related to a deal it is making with the Wyndham Hotel by February 19, 2010. The City was ordered to turn over some documents to the Goldwater Institute and other documents to Judge Mangum for his review. 

PHOENIX--The City of Phoenix refuses to share with the public any records that might reveal details about a proposed tax exemption to help a downtown hotel remodel its rooms and hallways. The Goldwater Institute filed a new lawsuit today to compel Phoenix under the state’s public records law to release documents related to the City’s secret negotiations with the Wyndham Hotel at 50 E. Adams St.

PHOENIX--The Goldwater Institute filed an emergency request today with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy to enact the permanent injunction striking down the campaign matching funds provisions of Arizona's Citizens Clean Elections Act. The permanent injunction was issued by a federal district court two weeks ago, but has been suspended while defenders of matching funds pursue an appeal.
 

PHOENIX – In its 2008 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that individual gun ownership is a basic right guaranteed to Americans by the U.S. Constitution. But the decision applied immediately only to unconstitutional restrictions on gun ownership adopted under federal authority, not the individual states. A new case before the Supreme Court presents an opportunity to protect gun rights from state or local interference through the 14th Amendment, just like other freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

PHOENIX—In a special session that began today, the Arizona Legislature is considering a proposal for a one-cent sales tax increase that would be sent to voters in May. The $1 billion annual tax increase has been championed by Governor Jan Brewer as a way to fix the state’s $4.5 billion budget deficit.

PHOENIX—A proposal being considered at the Arizona Capitol would require that state contracts with companies that provide behavioral health services only be open to nonprofit health providers. But a report released today from the Goldwater Institute shows there is no evidence that nonprofits provide better care and recommends that government remain neutral toward nonprofits and for profits that are competing for government contracts.