REFERENCE TITLE: limiting government week

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-first Legislature Second Regular Session 2014

SCR 1016

Introduced by Senator Melvin

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

supporting the designation of one full week of each regular legislative session as Limiting Government Week.

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, the proper role of government is to protect individual citizens' inalienable rights to life, liberty, property and the fruits of their own labor; and

Whereas, citizens voluntarily bestow coercive power on government to levy taxes and impose regulations insofar as they are necessary to fill that role; and

Whereas, this privilege of coercive power must not be abused to expand government beyond its proper role and into areas traditionally (and best) served by individual entrepreneurs and free markets; and

Whereas, each new area of government spending tends to become entrenched and grow in future budgets in perpetuity and each new set of regulations tends to spawn additional regulations; and

Whereas, such growth in government spending imposes increasing budgetary demands that lead to more and greater taxation; and

Whereas, regulations that have outlived their usefulness and regulations that are in excess of what is required to properly accomplish a goal act as a needless and wasteful burden on the productivity of Arizonans and Arizona businesses; and

Whereas, tax revenue is money taken from individuals and businesses by government and therefore cannot be available to each of them for use according to their own individual needs; and

Whereas, the true virtue of lowering the tax burden imposed on citizens by government and decreasing the regulatory burden carried by individuals and businesses is that it expands individual liberty and allows for greater economic growth; and

Whereas, greater liberty and economic growth means more jobs, a higher quality of life and a better standard of living for Arizonans; and

Whereas, maximizing liberty, economic growth and quality of life are more desirable societal goods than maximizing tax revenues and government growth and power; and

Whereas, the excessive growth of government power and spending is morally and fiscally irresponsible as it endangers liberty and creates an unsustainable political and financial future for Arizona, the United States and its citizens.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

1.  That the Members of the Legislature support the designation of one full week of each regular legislative session, beginning with the fifty‑second legislature, first regular session, as Limiting Government Week, during which the Members of the Legislature will hear bills that would reduce regulations and limit the size and cost of the state government.

2.  That the Members of the Legislature support the promotion of limiting government week so that entrepreneurs and employers from around the country and around the world may know that Arizona is open for business and is working hard to create an environment where they can thrive.