APS defends efforts
in commission election
In response to calls from members of the Corporation Commission calling on utilities to stop electioneering, Arizona Public Service’s CEO says the company will not give up its right to spend commission elections.
CEO Don Brandt wrote a letter to the commission saying APS and its parent company, Pinnacle West, have used lawful means to engage in the political process, and that a request from regulators to stifle one of those means of expression is a serious matter.
Brandt says ultimately voters elect the commissioners, so election spending shouldn’t affect the commission’s integrity.
Commissioners Susan Bitter Smith and Bob Burns have asked regulated and unregulated entities that work with the commission to voluntarily stay out of commission elections.
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Pinnacle West and APS were heavy contributors in the 2014 election for two Republican commissioners.
Walmart to hire 1,200 for holiday season here
Walmart said Wednesday it will hire more than 1,200 seasonal employees for its 124 stores in Arizona, among 60,000 associates the retail giant is adding chain-wide for the busy holiday season.
Starting salaries begin at $9 an hour and some people with retail experience have the opportunity to earn more, the company said.
Last year, more than half of Walmart’s seasonal employees nationwide continued with the retailer as permanent employees, the company said.
Anyone interested in seasonal work opportunities with Walmart may apply online at jobs.walmart.com.
Ariz. ranked 7th most
tax-friendly for retirees
Arizona ranks seventh among the most tax-friendly states for retirees in a list complied by Kiplinger’s.
The list was unveiled as part of Kiplinger’s Retiree Tax Map available at kiplinger.com, which compares taxes on income, property, everyday purchases and estates.
Alaska was the most td-friendly state, followed in order by Wyoming, Nevada, Mississippi, Georgia, Delaware, Arizona, Louisiana, South Dakota and Florida.
At the top of the list for the 10 least tax-friendly states were Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Minnesota and Oregon.
Includes information from The Associated Press.