BY FARRELL QUINLAN, NFIB ARIZONA STATE DIRECTOR | NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Loss of Prop. 116

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PHOENIX – "Arizona’s small business job creators experienced a very discouraging and disappointing election night. As the prospects for repealing and replacing the federal health-care law faded, we also learned that Proposition 116 had failed — attracting only 43.5 percent of the vote in Arizona. The NFIB-written constitutional amendment, called the Small Business Job Creation Act, would have rolled back the job-killing personal property tax and spurred small businesses to invest in the new equipment and machinery necessary to sustain new job creation.

"We are grateful to Senate President-elect Andy Biggs for sponsoring the referendum and NFIB-member, small-business owner Doug Click of Arizona Hi-Lift for serving as chairman of the Vote YES on 116 campaign. Moreover, we are thankful for and proud to serve the thousands of small-business owners throughout the state who backed Proposition 116 and support NFIB’s continuing efforts to make Arizona a more job-friendly state.

"It is hard to amend the Arizona Constitution, and it ought to be hard. We knew more than a year ago when we began drafting the referendum that success at the ballot would be difficult under the best of circumstances. Despite over-performing in fostering those ‘best of circumstances’ by gaining unanimous, bipartisan support in the Legislature and satisfying potential opponents that Proposition 116 was good public policy, we under-performed in making our case to voters.

“Ironically, the lack of opposition to Proposition 116 and its broad support among opinion leaders stubbornly worked against the Vote YES on 116 campaign’s effort to raise enough funds to take our message to a wider audience on television and radio. Its charmed status as a ‘no-brainer’ made it nearly impossible to convince enough potential contributors that giving to the Vote YES on 116 campaign was a more critical investment than other priorities.

"NFIB remains committed to lowering the cost of private investment in job creation in Arizona. We look forward to continuing our excellent working relationships with Gov. Jan Brewer, House Speaker Andy Tobin, Senate President-elect Andy Biggs, Senate Democratic Leader Leah Landrum Taylor, House Democratic Leader Chad Campbell and every lawmaker. As always, NFIB will work to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses."

NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.