Foes, backers of tax hike hold dueling rallies

The East Valley Tribune
March 26, 2010
Howard Fisher

Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, better known as Joe the Plumber, addresses an anti-tax rally at the Capitol on Friday. Wurzelbacher, who said he wasn't paid to come here from Ohio, said he makes appearances around the country to ``generate excitement'' and urge Arizona voters to get informed.

Howard Fisher,Capitol Media Services

Joe Thomas, a high school teacher in Mesa, addresses a counter-demonstration held at the Capitol Friday by supporters of the one-cent tax hike, mainly teachers. That rally was organized to counter the anti-tax gathering - and Thomas was chosen to speak because of his name: Tax supporters wanted to counter Joe the Plumber with some Joes from Arizona.

Howard Fisher,Capitol Media Services

Backers and foes of a proposed sales tax hike came nearly face to face Friday in competing — and simultaneous — rallies at the state Capitol. Ax The Tax, the group formed to fight against the 1-cent increase that will be on the May 18 ballot, brought in Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, better known as “Joe the Plumber” to buttress their argument that state government is still too big and the only answer to the deficit is to cut further.

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But on hearing the plans for the anti-tax rally, the Yes on 100 campaign decided to have its own gathering at the same time, just yards away. It’s theme was to counter Wurzelbacher with testimony from “real Joes” from Arizona about why the tax is necessary.

Both Jo Belle, a Gilbert teacher, and Joe Thomas who teaches at a Mesa high school, said the approximately $1 billion a year the levy would raise is necessary to prevent even further cuts to public education.

The speakers at each event were preaching to those already converted to the cause, with neither side particularly interested in listening to the other. In fact, the pro-tax group, composed largely of teachers, spent much of the time chanting “save our schools” and “just one cent” in an unsuccessful effort to drown out the anti-tax group.

In his speech, Wurzelbacher, an Ohio resident, never actually told the approximately 125 people rallying against Proposition 100 to vote against the measure. Instead, he delivered a speech about individual rights and smaller government, and against political correctness, which he called “political castration.”

He said, though, one reason government has grown so large is “this sense of entitlement” that has created and expanded programs.

“The problem with socialism is you run out of other people’s money,” Wurzelbacher said.

And at one point Wurzelbacher, who said he was not being compensated for the appearance, even suggested that foes of the Tea Party movement were engaged in a conspiracy of sorts to undermine its credibility.

“Recently, congresspeople were walking in, saying, ‘I was getting spit on, I was getting name-called,’” Wurzelbacher said. “That kind of stuff is probably happening from their own side, just trying to discredit the movements.”

Away from the microphone, Wurzelbacher said he was not trying to use his fame to influence the upcoming election. Instead, he said he was trying to convince Arizona voters to get educated about the issues.

“I’m here to generate excitement,” he said. “It’s the people of Arizona that are going to have to make the decision.”

But Wurzelbacher also said he lived in Tucson for three years and Mesa for three.

“I love the state,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I be interested?”

Friday’s rallies also pointed up the schism being created in the business community.

One of the featured speakers at the anti-tax rally was Farrell Quinlan, director of the Arizona chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business. He said the state needs less spending and not more revenues.

But the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry supports the levy, as does the Arizona Tax Research Association which counts many large corporations as its members.