Grand Canyon Times

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is pleased with this weeks vote in the state legislature to pass Proposition 400 onto the voters.

Hobbs took to social media after the state legislature's representatives passed a bill to place Prop 400 on the ballot in Maricopa County. The proposition would add a half-cent transportation tax to fund roads and public transportation. 

"Today, bipartisan leaders invested in the future of Arizona families, businesses, and communities," Hobbs said in her Twitter post Monday. "The passage of the Prop 400 ballot measure will secure the economic future of our state and create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for Arizonans. I am glad we were able to put politics aside and do what is right for Arizona."

Meanwhile, state conservatives have not been so pleased, expressing dissatisfaction with the bill's passage, leading to Prop 400 being presented to voters for the third time since 1984, according to AZMirror's news story covering the vote. The bill's passage followed Arizona's longest-ever legislative session, 204 days, surpassing the previous record set of 173 days set in 1988.

Tax revenue from Prop 400 is intended for street, highway and public transportation projects in Maricopa County. However, without Hobbs' endorsement, the entire state risks competing with Maricopa for "limited state transportation funding." AZMirror's news story said.

"I voted NO on the prop 400 transportation excise tax for Maricopa County," Arizona State Rep. Austin Smith said in his own Twitter post. "Taxpayer dollars are not ours to dish out haphazardly - especially to the tune of 20 BILLION dollars with potential consequences that ruin valley transportation."

The tax was initially approved in 2004 and is scheduled to lapse by the end of 2025. The bill secured House approval with a vote of 43-14 and subsequently gained Senate endorsement with a vote of 19-7. The bill consists of a $24 billion allotment that spans two decades, designating 40.5% for freeways and highways, 37% for public transit, and 22.5% for roads and intersections. An earlier rendition of SB1102 was previously endorsed by both legislative chambers in June, primarily backed by Republicans. However, Governor Hobbs vetoed that version, according to AZMirror's news story.

"A disappointing day, we had plenty of time to craft a better Prop 400 bill," Arizona State Rep. Justin Heap in his Twitter post. "Thank you to the many great Representatives who fought with us and the many citizens to reached out with support and encouragement. Conservatives are happy warriors so it's on to the next fight."