PHOENIX — Republican lawmakers approved their own transit funding plan for Maricopa County late Tuesday, all but daring Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs to veto it.
In a statement released moments after the final vote, Hobbs said she wants lawmakers to come back and vote on what she called"a compromise that is supported by a bipartisan majority in both chambers, business and labor leaders, and Maricopa County cities.'' She said GOP leaders, in ignoring that and adopting their own plan, were"playing partisan games.''
If Hobbs vetoes it, Maricopa County residents will not have a chance to extend the levy another 20 years, he said. Any money for new light rail or trolley lines, or to construct some sort of commuter rail, would be dependent on voter approval of a separate 0.065-cent levy. If voters didn't go along with that second ballot question, that would end construction of new rail lines unless cities used their own funds.
The question is whether voters, who approved the last tax extension in 2005, including funding for light rail, are still as enthusiastic about it. Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, said the GOP plan does not mean there will never be a further extension of light rail if voters don't OK its separate funding. What it does mean in that case, he said, is that light rail won't be paid for by everyone who buys items subject to sales taxes throughout Maricopa County.
Hobbs wants 40% of the total $20 billion — assuming she prevails and there would be a single vote on a half-cent extension — for freeway construction. Rough math would put that at $8 billion. "Light rail is the most efficient way to move people,'' especially in areas of high density, she said."And if we continue to have the idea that everything must be a single driver in a car on a road, we will just get to the point of having to pave every speck.''
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