Arizona Tech Beat strongly opposes SB 1062 and encourages Gov. Jan Brewer to VETO the destructive legislation. Not only does the bill encourage discrimination, but would be harmful to Arizona’s thriving tech sector.
Arizona businesses have worked hard to recover from our devastating recession and has been rewarded with growth and future opportunities. If this bill passes, not only will it discourage future business expansions but it will put another black cloud over the state and set off a long list of companies and conferences boycotting.
“There are many of us in the tech community who have been working diligently for years to position Arizona as a strong competitor in the new technology economy,” Hamid Shojaee, CEO Axosoft and founder of AZTB, said. “SB1062 undermines all of the hard work of the tech community and puts Arizona in an unfavorable light. If Brewer signs this bill, the repercussions would be detrimental to economic objectives. I strongly urge her to VETO!”
While Brewer mulls over whether to sign or not to sign, may we remind her of the Apple and Gigya expansion and her “friendly” quote when she announced Apple’s plans to produce sapphire that touts Arizona as an inviting state to do business.
“Apple is indisputably one of the world’s most innovative companies and I’m thrilled to welcome them to Arizona,” said Governor Brewer. “Apple will have an incredibly positive economic impact for Arizona and its decision to locate here speaks volumes about the friendly, pro-business climate we have been creating these past four years. Their investment in renewable energy will also be greening our power grid, and creating significant new solar and geothermal power sources for the state. As Governor, I’ve worked hard to demonstrate that Arizona is open for business. Today’s news is proof that’s paying off.”
See which legislators voted for and against the bill.
AZ Tech Beat stand with the Arizona Tech Council, GPEC and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, who all stated this bill is bad public policy and would be detrimental to the economic growth of the state.
“Arizona needs to let the world know that we’re open for business with welcome arms,” said Steven G. Zylstra, president & CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. “SB1062 sends the opposite message and will adversely affect our reputation and credibility. We can ill afford to be the target of economic boycotts and lose our competitive advantages in attracting talent, capital and new businesses for a law that we deem is unnecessary and discriminatory.”
AZ Tech Beat encourages readers and members of the Arizona tech community to contact Gov. Jan Brewer’s office and encourage her to VETO this discriminatory bill. The governor’s office number is (602) 542-4331 and can be reached via email at http://www.azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp. Read the bills here.
Below is the letter from AZ Technology Council.
Sources: AZ Technology Council, Arizona Commerce Authority,
Kudos to AZTechBeat, GPEC, AZTech Council and many others in the AZ business and non-profit communities for immediately rising up against this nonsense.
We need to be done making excuses for these dinosaurs. Time to get rid of them, move on and live up to our potential.