By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — With just 76 days remaining until the midterm elections, the Arizona gubernatorial race is intensifying as both candidates face scrutiny over their contrasting records on tax policy.
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Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has launched a series of sharp attacks against her Republican opponent, Rep. Andy Biggs, targeting his past support for a controversial tax proposal.
A recent 30-second campaign advertisement hitting the airwaves and social media feeds claims, “Andy Biggs wants you to pay a consumption tax on just about everything,” warning voters that “if he’s governor, it’s going to cost you big time.”
The attack stems from Biggs’ support during his time in Congress and the state legislature for plans to replace the income tax by boosting the sales tax.
While Biggs has styled himself as a fierce opponent of tax increases, the Hobbs campaign has seized on his willingness to back the massive consumption tax restructure.
However, the governor’s offensive has drawn questions regarding her own legislative history of supporting revenue-raising measures.
During her tenure in the Arizona State Legislature approximately a decade ago, Hobbs backed two major proposals that would have collectively cost Arizonans more than $1 billion in new taxes.
- 2017 Education Sales Tax: As a state senator, Hobbs supported an effort to increase a dedicated education sales tax by 66% that would have raised $430 million.
- 2018 Gasoline Tax Bill: The future governor joined a bipartisan effort to double the state’s gasoline tax, proposing an increase from 18 cents to 36 cents per gallon to fund transportation infrastructure. It was estimated that would have raised about $750 million.
When asked if her campaign’s line of attack against Biggs is hypocritical given her own record, Gov. Hobbs dismissed the characterization.
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“I don’t think so,” Hobbs responded. Speaking on her past support for the fuel tax, she added, that it wasn’t her bill and she no longer supports the idea.
As governor, Hobbs has worked to balance her record by supporting significant tax relief measures. Earlier this year, she signed a $1.4 billion tax cut that aligned Arizona with a federal proposal championed by Donald Trump that included no tax on tips and overtime.
The Biggs campaign continues to hit back, warning voters that a Hobbs administration will ultimately lead to higher costs. In a statement on Thursday, the Biggs campaign said, “Arizonans should know that if the Democrat ticket of Katie Hobbs and John Giles is elected, they’ll pay for it with more taxes and more money out of their pockets.”
It’s unlikely the a governor will get a tax increase through the legislature because it takes a two-thirds majority vote in the state House and Senate.
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