The Clark Report
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News, Culture, Self Deprecating Humor
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Nov. 2008 |
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Prop. 200
Well, thanks everybody for laboring through my constant reminders to vote against Prop 200, especially those of you in other parts of the world. We won: 60% against, 40% for.
Why, yes, thanks. I will take that as a mandate! The voters have spoken: "payday lenders, shape up or ship out."
And, no, they don't get to just rain down lobbyist next session on the legislature to get what they want. We will be ready.
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Just Spitballin' a Little Here
This last year has me thinking about reforms. So, bear with me.
I think that there are five things Arizona needs to do to move in to 21st Century lawmaking. Over the next five months, I'm going to lay out these changes.
Number One: Professionalize the Legislature.
 Let's change the dynamics entirely. We keep trying to raise legislative salaries every two years and it never passes. I think voters want to know that they are getting something for their money --that their legislators know the issues.
The problem is that few legislators ever get to really understand in detail how our state government works. This is partially due to term limits (a topic for another day), but also the actual hours each legislator can spend on the job.
Because we labor under this delusion that a state of 6.5 million people can have a part time legislature, our legislators simply can't devote enough time to learning all the ins and outs of government. As a result, lobbyists and staff "educate" legislators in ways that may perpetuate some problems.
I suggest that we take our legislature back from lobbyists and staff (and, yes, I am aware that I am a lobbyist part of the year).
Here is how we do it. We give legislators two choices as to how they are paid.
a. Part-time Option. Legislators get $30,000 per year, adjusted annually for inflation, minus one percent, and they maintain their part-time status. They still have their jobs outside of the legislature, as they do now. But, they will be asked to spend a certain number of hours every year meeting with and working with state agencies in order to improve their understanding of key issues. I don't believe that we can constitutionally require them to spend time with the agencies, but we can track and publish the time that they spend --or don't spend-- learning how to do their jobs better.
b. Full-time Option. Legislators get $70,000 per year, adjusted annually for inflation, minus one percent, and they cannot have outside employment. This means that legislating is their full-time job. Plus, we would ask them to spend a certain number of hours every year working with state agencies and clocking in at their legislative office. Again, we can publish data on the time spent in this "continuing education."
I don't believe that legislators would necessarily just take the higher salary, as many legislators make more than $70,000 in their regular jobs.
But, here is what we get: better rounded legislators, who have a better depth of understanding about how the state works and are therefore better problem solvers.
Thoughts? Comments? Monetary Prizes?
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Cool, Hip Downtown Tips
The Non-Restaurant DealI'm sold on this really nifty food co-op called Bountiful Baskets (www.bountifulbaskets.org). Once every two weeks, you pay $15, plus tax, then you go pick up whatever they have available at one of many distribution centers. It happens every two weeks. See what I got the first time for about $18? Dudes! Those are white peaches! Since you don't know what you will get, your are forced to learn new recipes. Its exciting and a little scary. A couple problems: 1. Their website is like navigating the Kremlin. 2. If you want the organic option, you might as well drive to Las Vegas to pick it up. So, not as appealing. Anyway, check it out. Its kinda cool, regardless.
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Real Estate
The Cromford ReportI found this really cool web site of pure real estate data that you can geek out on one evening if your episode of CSI Schenectady has been pre-empted by live coverage of President Elect Obama's puppy shopping. www.cromfordreport.comIt is particularly interesting to see the boost in sales just before the government closed the zero-down loophole for first time home buyers, back in October. Then sales fell again. You can see this on the Dashboard. Where You Can Still Invest These DaysOK, so buying foreclosure houses can take a few months and may add complication. But check out what you can do in Phoenix if you were to buy one. I did a search on MLS for houses under $100,000 with two-car garages, more than three bedrooms and more than 1.75 bathrooms. So, not little shacks, right? There are 530 of them just in Phoenix. So, here is house you can turn in to an investment property: If you got... A $100,000 property with 25% down.
A $75k loan at a 7.5% interest rate, about $525 per month.
An added taxes at about $1,400 per year and insurance at about $550 per year.
Your total cost is about $700 per month. The rental market is about $1,100 in most parts of the Valley.
Figure a property manager at 8%, or $90 per month.
Add rental tax at 1.8% in Phoenix, or about $20 per month.
Your profit every month on a rental is about $300!Plus you get to take depreciation and certain tax benefits. If you want help finding investment properties, please let me know. I can help!
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Got any good downtown tips? Send 'em my way!
And, as always, I respect your right not to be bothered with annoying spam email. If you would like to be removed from my email list, just let me know. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Ken Clark
K. E. Clark Independent Consulting
  
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