Arizona Proposition 300 (2008)
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Arizona Proposition 300, also known as the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers, appeared on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Arizona, where it was defeated.
Proposition 300 would have increased the salary of Arizona state legislators from $24,000 to $30,000 per year. It was referred to the ballot by the Arizona Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers.
2008 election results
| Arizona Proposition 300 Amendment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes or no | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 632,516 | 35.5% | ||
 No
| 1,151,441 | 64.5% | ||
| Total votes | 1,783,957 | 100% precincts | ||
Results according to the Arizona Secretary of State.[1] Results are unofficial pending an official canvass on December 1, 2008.
The proposition appeared on the ballot courtesy of a commission referral process.
The governor opposed the proposition, citing the current state budget shortfall and that many Arizonans are not receiving a pay raise.[2]
Taxpayer's perspective from NTU
Proposition 300 would increase the salary of legislators from $24,000 a year to $30,000 annually.[3]
Supporters
The Arizona Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers and the Arizona Advocacy Network are two groups that supported the measure.
In The Arizona Advocacy Network's statement, they encourage "passage of this modest pay raise for Arizona's legislators. Even if you have issues with how legislators have done their jobs, they are seriously underpaid and deserve a raise. Their compensation of only $24,000 per year has not been raised for many years and must be improved to attract the best and brightest to legislative service."[4]
Opposition
Powell Gammill, an Arizona candidate for U.S. Representative, opposed Proposition 300. Powell said:
"The role of the legislature is quite simple: Pass an annual budget and go home. It is a part time legislature that is supposed to meet less than 100 days a year. Being elected is a civic minded contribution, not a career. The one thing legislators cannot seem to do in a timely manner is pass a budget. I certainly would not pay legislators more for a job they currently cannot seem to do as more of your tax money would simply encourage prolonging the budget process further.[4]
External links
- Ballot proposition guide for Prop. 300 - English
- Ballot proposition guide for Prop. 300 - Spanish
- Arizona Republic's Guide to Proposition 300
- Proposition 300 not receiving much attention
References
- ↑ Arizona Elections Division, 2008 Election Results
- ↑ Governor Against Pay Raises For State Lawmakers, KOLD News
- ↑ National Taxpayers Union, "General Election Ballot Guide 2008, The Taxpayer's Perspective"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ballot proposition guide for Prop. 300
