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| Special Inserts: | Greater Phoenix CVB | Arizona Association of Industries | |
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| A Public Affair |  By Allie Bell • Photography by Jackie Mercandetti |
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| AAI centers public policy at the core of the organization | |||||||||||
 ery session, leaders of the Arizona Association of Industries focus on their mission to build and enhance Arizona’s climate to be more favorable to manufacturing and related industries by driving legislation. This year is no different as the organization’s 2007/2008 outlook and goals place current legislation at the core. |
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| “We focus on these items every year until they get passed by the legislature,” says AAI President Stuart Banks. “Sometimes even after [the bills] get passed we still emphasize them every year again and again until we get the increase or support we need.”
Jim Norton, AAI’s director of government and public affairs, says, “There is some nuance to it too. A lot of times with the manufacturing agenda there is a lot of stuff that will stay on it, even if we do get some component of the bill passed.” A great example of this nuance is SB1027, regarding the County Equalization Rate. “We got a three-year relief on it last year, but it’s on the agenda again this year because we’re pushing to make it permanent,” says Norton. Legislative Fast Track Here’s a quick look and update of the key items on AAI’s legislative table: 21st Century Fund Expansion: Created to promote research and development into innovative new technologies, AAI is looking to expand the types of projects the fund will target to include high-tech manufacturing. Increase of the research and development tax credit: Current law provides a 20 percent tax credit for qualified R&D expenses for the first $2.5 million in investment, and an 11 percent credit for investments more than $2.5 million. AAI wants to increase this to a 30 percent credit for investments less than $2.5 million, and a 21 percent increase on investments more than $2.5 million. AAI supports HB2615, which proposes an increase of the R&D tax credit over a two-year period, as well as SB1028, which accompanies HB2615 with a proposal to accelerate tax reductions on business property taxes. SB1027, regarding the effort to make permanent the Equalization Property Tax repeal, is a key issue AAI will continually drive. However, Norton says that the bill has been taken off the legislative table for now. “It won’t happen this year, but it’s a three-year bill so we still have a couple of years to try to make it happen,” he says. Another key bill, SB1571, is up every 10 years regarding the reauthorization of the Job Training Fund. Norton says that the bill is currently sitting in the rules committee and waiting for a third read in the house. “We’re constantly looking at this program to make modifications, to make it work better and keep it doing what it is supposed to do,” he says. AAI strongly supports its renewal considering today’s complex work environment requires customized training and development that the Job Training program provides. Educationally, AAI is advocating for Arizona high schools to modify their diplomas to allow for special academic endorsements for students who take challenging academic coursework and are able to pass an end of course standardization exam on the subject. “The main points for us this year are R&D and keeping it in play, and the likeliness of passing the property tax acceleration bill and the Job Training bill,” says Norton. Other key issues AAI is addressing this year include: |
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