For Immediate Release
Thursday, Oct. 13th, 2022
Contact: Josselyn Berry, Jberry@azdem.org
Multiple Experts, Republicans Criticize Kari Lake’s Plans that Would Increase Costs, Worsen Inflation and Defund Law Enforcement
From “Ill-Advised” to “Just Doesn’t Work”
PHOENIX– Kari Lake is being taken to task by policy experts and even Republicans who say her ideas for the economy and water would increase costs, exacerbate inflation and even defund local city’s police and fire departments. A 12 News interview out this week features Republican Goodyear Mayor Joe Pizzilllo, who says Lake’s economic proposal is “ill-advised” and warned that funding for public safety services as well affordable housing could be slashed as a result.
Pizzillo said Lake’s plans would “inevitably put [local governments] all in incredibly difficult positions to have to make unintended cuts to police and firefighters across the state, as well as allow for fewer opportunities to support multifamily rental properties.”
This comes on top of a water policy expert who’s come out to say that Kari Lake’s ideas for tackling Arizona’s water crisis “would make the price of the water drastically more expensive for water users” and “might price out most people.” Sarah Porter with Arizona State University’s Kyl Center for Water Policy, who also serves on the Governor’s Water Augmentation Council, said Lake’s key proposal of pipelining water in from Missouri and Mississippi would be exceptionally pricey with significant logistical hurdles.
Last month an economist, Dennis Hoffman, who advised governors on both sides of the aisle for 40 years, said Lake’s economic plan “just doesn’t work” and would “add jet fuel” to inflation. Phoenix, Arizona is already the worst in the nation for inflation. Meanwhile, Katie Hobbs’ detailed plan to bolster our economy would relieve burdens on families by providing a child care tax credit of $250 per child every month, along with eliminating sales tax on everyday necessities like medicines, diapers, baby formula, and school supplies. Hoffman praised the Hobbs plan for tackling inflation and getting people back to work, saying it “can help combat inflation,” and that it would “benefit lower-income people in a state where upper-income earners have benefitted the most from tax cuts.” To date, Hobbs has released 10 substantive plans, including a plan to fight price gouging and consumer fraud.
“Lake’s bare bones and barely-there plans for tackling Arizona’s biggest issues are being panned by experts and even Republican mayors for good reason. If Lake was governor, Arizonans would be paying more for everything and could see funding for their local police and firefighters slashed,” said Josselyn Berry, spokesperson for the Arizona Democratic Party. “Arizona families deserve solutions that make life here more affordable, which is why Katie Hobbs put forth a plan to cut taxes for 800,000 Arizona families and help people get back to work.”