Tucson, Arizona Tuesday, 25 February 2003
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
School tax credits
PHOENIX - A Senate panel voted 6-3 Monday to let corporations reduce their state tax obligations by up to $100,000 for donations to organizations offering scholarships to private and parochial schools. But supporters of SB 1263 say it actually will save money for the state.
The legislation is an extension of a 1997 law that gives individuals a $200 credit for donations to these organizations. There also is a $500 credit for donations to public schools for extracurricular activities.
Sen. Mark Anderson,
R-Mesa, said the legislation is crafted so that the new corporate credits can
be given for scholarships only to the children of the needy, and only if the
children are now in public school. Anderson said that the amount of lost tax
revenues would more than be offset by lower state aid requirements by public
schools. The bill now goes to the full Senate.
Telemarketers
PHOENIX - Members of the House Committee on Commerce and Military Affairs voted unanimously Monday to study the issue of restricting telemarketers for another year.
Rep. Gary Pierce, R-Mesa, said the Legislature should not adopt a Senate proposal to set up a no-call list at this point. He said lawmakers should instead wait to see what federal agencies enact.
Pierce also said the Senate legislation is flawed.
The idea of studying the issue rather than actually approving a no-call list drew support from newspapers, telephone companies, automobile dealers and other businesses. But Sen. Tim Bee, R-Tucson, said this is the third year the measure has been proposed and a special study committee is unnecessary.
Lieutenant governor
PHOENIX - The House voted 39-21 Monday to ask voters to rename the office of secretary of state to that of lieutenant governor.
Supporters of HCR 2004 say voters do not understand that the secretary of state is next in line if the governor leaves office, something that has happened three times in the last 30 years. They say changing the title of the office will force candidates to focus on broad statewide issues so voters can decide what kind of state chief executive they would make if that becomes necessary.
The measure would still require voter approval next year if it also is approved by the Senate.
Guns
PHOENIX - On a 40-20 vote Monday, the House approved HB 2353, which allows visitors to carry concealed weapons in Arizona if they have such a permit from their home state.
Current law allows reciprocal agreements only with states that have background checks and training requirements at least as stringent as Arizona's. Only four states now qualify.
Separately Monday, the House Committee on Commerce and Military Affairs approved HB 2319, which says individuals who have permits to carry concealed weapons can bring them into restaurants that serve liquor. Current law makes it illegal to have a gun anywhere alcohol is served.
That legislation does permit individual restaurants to post signs that guns are not allowed.
Draft registration
PHOENIX - On a 35-25 vote Monday, the House voted to automatically link driver's license registration with Selective Service.
HB 2293 specifies that when a man younger than age 26 applies for a license to drive, he automatically consents to being signed up for the draft. For teens 16 and 17, the information is retained until they reach the mandatory registration age of 18.
Supporters say the automatic registration does not preclude individuals from seeking an exemption from the draft - assuming one is reinstated - for reasons ranging from health to being a conscientious objector. The bill now goes to the Senate.