[Source: Tucson Weekly] — The payday-loan industry may be on its way out of business in Arizona.  Gay marriage is even more illegal in the state, and once again, voters have rejected the idea of giving lawmakers a raise.  With 99.1 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, here are the latest results.

The payday-loan industry suffered a stunning defeat after 59.5 percent of voters rejected Proposition 200, the Payday Loan Reform Act.  Prop 200, which was funded with more than $14 million from the payday-loan industry, would have allowed the industry to continue to operate in the state past 2010, the year in which the law that allowed them to set up shop will expire.

Business owners did not get a break from voters after the stunning defeat of Proposition 202.  The Stop Illegal Hiring Act, supported by a variety of business interests, would have granted Arizona companies additional defenses if caught with illegal workers on their payroll.  However, with the defeat — 59.1 percent of voters were saying no — the state’s employer-sanctions law, said by many to be the toughest in the nation, will remain on the books.

Voters also ensured that they will still be able to increase taxes at the ballot box by overwhelmingly rejecting Proposition 105, aka Majority Rules, which would have required that any statewide initiative that hiked taxes or fees be approved by a majority of all registered voters, not just the ones who cast ballots in the election.  A whopping 65.7 percent of voters rejected the measure…

Gay marriage became even more illegal in Arizona after 56.5 percent of the voters supported Proposition 102, which will amend the Arizona Constitution to limit marriage to being between only one man and one woman.  Arizonans rejected a broader law that would have also banned civil unions and domestic partnerships by a narrow margin two years ago…

State lawmakers will continue to be a bargain for taxpayers after 64.5 percent of voters rejected Proposition 300, which would have increased annual legislative salaries from $24,000 to $30,000.

Proposition 101, aka the Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act, remained too close to call as of Wednesday morning, when voters were rejecting it by just more than 2,100 votes.  If it were to make up the difference and somehow pass, Prop 101 would amend the state Constitution to ban the state from interfering with health-insurance options.

Arizonans will never be required to pay a sales tax on the purchase of a home after voters resoundingly approved Proposition 100, aka Protect Our Homes, which was placed on the ballot by the Arizona Association of Realtors to block the state from charging a real-estate transfer tax, a revenue mechanism in some states.  Some 76.9 percent of voters added this amendment to the state Constitution.

However, buyers of new homes will not be getting a longer guarantee on their houses after 77.9 percent of voters rejected Proposition 201.  Homebuilders successfully argued that the proposition would increase lawsuits and raise home prices…

Vote On 11/4 - Vote Yes on 100

Arizona currently does not have a real estate transfer tax – unlike 36 other states.  If you moved here from another state, chances are you have personal experience with this extra tax imposed on the sale or transfer of your property.

For Arizona’s homeowners, this would mean that a $200,000 property being sold or transferred could be taxed as much as $3940!

Currently Arizona real estate is already taxed based upon the value of the property.  A transfer tax would unfairly impose a second tax upon sale or transfer.  Sounds like double taxation to me. You?

We need to stop this before it has a chance to be raised. On November 4th 2008 voting “Yes” on the Protect Our Homes Initiative would prevent Arizona’s state or local governments from ever targeting our homes or property with a real estate transfer tax.

Your November 4th ballot will include the following verbiage:

AN INITIATIVE MEASURE
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IX OF THE ARIZONA
CONSTITUTION BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 24 RELATING TO A
PROHIBITION OF ANY NEW REAL PROPERTY SALE OR TRANSFER
TAX IN ARIZONA.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Arizona:
1. Article IX, Section 24, Constitution of Arizona is proposed to be added as follows
if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:
ARTICLE IX, SECTION 24, PROHIBITION OF NEW REAL PROPERTY SALE OR
TRANSFER TAXES
THE STATE, ANY COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, MUNICIPALITY OR
OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, OR ANY DISTRICT
CREATED BY LAW WITH AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE ANY TAX, FEE,
STAMP REQUIREMENT OR OTHER ASSESSMENT, SHALL NOT IMPOSE
ANY NEW TAX, FEE, STAMP REQUIREMENT OR OTHER ASSESSMENT,
DIRECT OR INDIRECT, ON THE ACT OR PRIVILEGE OF SELLING,
PURCHASING, GRANTING, ASSIGNING, TRANSFERRING, RECEIVING,
OR OTHERWISE CONVEYING ANY INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY.
THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY TAX, FEE, OR OTHER
ASSESSMENT IN EXISTENCE ON DECEMBER 31, 2007.
2. The Secretary of State shall submit this amendment to the voters at the next
general election as provided by Article XXI of the Arizona Constitution.

Your “Yes” vote actually means NO to this double taxation on your property.  Why give away your hard earned equity?

Get the Facts directly from the Protect Our Homes Website.  They have trained speakers available to speak to any local group.   Also consider a yard sign or bumper sticker.