| Online: | |
| Visits: | |
| Stories: |
| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
Lovas’ daylight saving time bill was bad idea for AZ
Chamber of Commerce coordination? Nah. Well, maybe just a nudge
State Rep. Phil Lovas, (R-LD 22) has withdrawn HB 2014, which would have put Arizona on daylight saving time. Having heard from constituents and other residents who strongly oppose the concept, Lovas, the prime sponsor, wisely reconsidered.
Few Arizonans relish having an extra hour of sunlight in the blazing hot summer. We sensibly opted out March 21, 1968.
Several other states —- Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Texas, Utah and Wyoming — have contemplated joining Arizona and Hawaii in opting out of daylight-saving time. In fact, this online survey that collected more than 27,000 responses shows two-thirds of Utah residents favor staying on Mountain Standard Time year-round, exactly as Arizona does.
So who’s lurking behind the scenes attempting to move pioneering Arizona against the tide? What a surprise! The Arizona Chamber of Commerce has issued a policy brief supporting Arizona’s move to daylight saving time.
Lovas’ endorsement page from his campaign website indicates he doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Third on this list of supporters is the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Just a bit further down the list the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce also shows up.
“I support it because I think it will help business in Arizona and help us be more competitive,” echoed State Rep. Paul Boyer, (R-LD 20), one of the bill’s two co-sponsors. Boyer’s list of endorsements also includes both Chambers.
“Arizona is uniquely and adversely impacted by this change in time,” the AZ Chamber’s policy brief states. “The total economic impact of this shift is unclear, but anecdotal data indicates this shift affects Arizona’s economic competitiveness.”
According to the daily, Garrick Taylor, Senior VP of Government Relations and Communications (top lobbyist) for the AZ Chamber says they didn’t coordinate on the legislation. “But we’re always encouraged when lawmakers like Rep. Lovas are looking for ways to strengthen Arizona’s economy,” he said. “We’re hopeful the paper has restarted a conversation that hasn’t been had since the 1960s.”
“I thought it was worth having a discussion on the concept,” the accommodating Lovas, an Ohio native, said. “It’s been about 50 years since daylight saving was implemented and Arizona’s changed greatly.”
Actually, it’s still hot as blazes.
Source: http://seeingredaz.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/lovas-daylight-saving-time-bill-was-bad-idea-for-az/
