McCain, Kyl Oppose Arizona Sales Tax Hike

PHOENIX (AP) - U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl say they oppose Arizona's plan of a short-term sales-tax hike as a way to deal with the state's budget crisis.

Arizona lawmakers say the proposed 1-cent-per-dollar sales tax increase going on a May 18 special election ballot would raise up to $900 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1. The plan is being pushed by Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican.

In a joint statement issued Monday, the two Arizona Republican senators say they fundamentally oppose increasing taxes on small businesses and working families.

Brewer says in her 28 years as an elected official, she's never before supported a tax increase. However, she says Arizona's massive budget deficit has to be resolved and that's why she advocates the temporary sales tax hike.