TAXES
Andrew's stand on Taxation

Let me be very clear:

  • I oppose high taxes. Period.
  • I do not support raising taxes without a darn good reason.
  • I don't support cutting taxes unless they can be proven to pay for themselves by increasing profits, salaries or create jobs--no more smoke and mirrors or false promises.
  • I oppose double or repeat taxation on things businesses have already paid taxes (like business assets that get hit with a sales tax and then annual property taxes).
  • I don't believe in using Arizona as a tax policy science project where every weird idea some think tank dreams up becomes law.
  • I don't believe in selling yourself as a "friend of the taxpayer" and then quietly raising your constituent's taxes so you can redistribute their wealth to your political buddies.
  • I believe all tax policy must be based on the practical realities of the economy and not whimsical notions read on blogs or partisan talking points.

Nobody likes paying taxes, but they're a necessity. Taxes pay for roads, schools, police and fire services, prisons, and more. Each and every one of these things cost money and each and every one of them is subject to inflation, changing demand, and market pressures. Unfortunately, these aren't getting any cheaper. I understand how the notion of cutting taxes is attractive, but doing so does nothing to make these things cheaper. In reality, tax cuts make them more expensive because now it's harder to afford them.

Finding the right tax balance is difficult at best and I wholeheartedly agree some taxes should be cut (like the business personal property tax) and I promise to work to fix that problem. But cutting taxes for the sake of cutting them or to score higher on an irrelevant scorecard is an invitation to disaster. One only needs to look at Arizona's budget deficit to see what I'm talking about.

Those things taxes fund affect real people with real lives and real jobs. Business needs a stable tax policy in order to plan for investments and growth. Families need to know the services they need are adequate and safe. Changing the tax code year after year does little more than make the tax accountants rich and recent history shows has made our budget deficit worse.

Arizonan's deserve better and that's why Andrew Sherwood is your best choice for Senator.
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Andrew's stand on other important issues.