Gov. Jan Brewer on Thursday said that business owners play a big part of what she calls the "Arizona comeback."
Brewer delivered a speech and took two questions from the audience at the Hilton Phoenix/East Mesa during an economic forum sponsored by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce.
"My philosophy is that government needs to get out of the way and let you, our true job creators, grow your businesses the way you want to," Brewer said.
Brewer said that two of her first initiatives as governor - a moratorium on new business regulations and creation of the Arizona Commerce Authority, a quasi-public organization to replace the state's commerce department - has helped add 20,000 jobs in Arizona in the last year.
She stumped for changes in the tax code, particularly a reform of the business property tax, and education funding reform that rewards schools' graduation rates, not enrollment.
"Jobs will be returning, but at a slower pace than Arizona has typically seen before," Brewer spokeswoman Tasya Peterson wrote in an e-mail to the Tribune. "We're expecting to cross over either in late fall or early next year into a positive growth side of job creation."
Peterson said that health care will likely see the most employment growth, adding that Arizona's growing solar industry should provide a critical jobs engine.
In her speech, Brewer touted a new solar-technology manufacturing plant in Surprise.
"Arizona is making significant progress to become the global leader in renewable energy technology," Brewer said.
ofuque2 posted at 6:57 pm on Thu, Sep 9, 2010.
This is just another Republican shot at "trickle-down". It didn't work during the Reagan years and it won't work now. Read the news. Companies have more money than ever and now the Republicans want to give them even more. They are pushing the tax burden from the rich and big business onto the middle class. They should tie ANY form of tax relief and removal of government regulation to ACTUAL performance. Of course, that would foul up their plan to help their rich supporters. Just more of the same from the party of NO!!
IceCat posted at 7:58 pm on Thu, Sep 9, 2010.
20,000 new jobs in the private sector? What kind of jobs are these?
Somehow I suspect Jan is lying to us again.
abimopectore posted at 8:31 pm on Thu, Sep 9, 2010.
Mendacem memorem esse oportet.
Rich posted at 9:09 pm on Thu, Sep 9, 2010.
Nullum gratuitum prandium.
forkedlift1 posted at 1:15 am on Fri, Sep 10, 2010.
Mendacem memorem esse oportet.
A liar needs a good memory.
(As we've seen, Brewer doesn't realize this need.)
Nullum gratuitum prandium.
There's no free lunch.
soricobob posted at 6:55 am on Fri, Sep 10, 2010.
I think that Governor Brewer is ........ ha, ha......doing....... what?
coyote posted at 7:02 am on Fri, Sep 10, 2010.
Just another bill tacked onto our taxes. You and I will pay not the government.
DataMan posted at 8:44 am on Fri, Sep 10, 2010.
Brewer needs to STOP going on National TV and telling outright lies about headless bodies and rising crime rate in AZ. She's using fear to get the wingnut votes, but also causing businesses to go elsewhere!
forkedlift1 posted at 6:27 pm on Fri, Sep 10, 2010.
With the shaky condition that this state is in, and a governor that thinks nothing of fabricating falsehoods,
nothing of saying one thing one day and the complete opposite the next day, the last place a business or anybody can trust is Arizona.
cb_mesa posted at 6:40 am on Sat, Sep 11, 2010.
There will be a turnaround in Arizona, and Jan Brewer won't be Governor when it happens, she is oblivious to the damage that she causes by her politically based tactics and words. We need a centrist to come in and make real change, not someone that is propped up by white supremacists and fans of glenn beck.
cb_mesa posted at 6:41 am on Sat, Sep 11, 2010.
oh and Jan! the Solar energy plant in Surprise received millions in Federal Money as well as huge concessions locally.
Accuracy posted at 8:25 am on Sat, Sep 11, 2010.
“In her speech, Brewer touted a new solar-technology manufacturing plant in Surprise.”
"Arizona is making significant progress to become the global leader in renewable energy technology," Brewer said.
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Arizona is gaining a lot of attention from the global solar industry since Governor Jan Brewer signed the state’s Renewable Energy Tax Incentives, offering property tax and income tax incentives to companies establishing or expanding headquarters or manufacturing facilities in Arizona.
∙ U.S.-operating Spanish solar firm Abengoa Solar’s Generating Station will be located about 70 miles southwest of Phoenix in Gila Bend, AZ.
∙ Global solar giant Suntech Power is building a manufacturing plant in Goodyear, AZ.
∙ Rioglass Solar will locate its solar mirror manufacturing facility in the town of Surprise, AZ.