PHOENIX -- Monday night, members of Arizona's Libertarian Party added the first of what they hope will eventually be thousands of signatures needed to potentially repeal the recently passed food tax in Phoenix.
"The city government simply said we need to grab this money," said Joe Cobb, Libertarian Party Treasurer. "We the people think we should rise up and say 'no.'"
Last week the Phoenix City Council approved a 2 percent tax on food.
The money raised from the tax would help keep jobs in both the Phoenix Fire and Police Departments from being cut.
"I think we should cut the police department in favor of relying on the unorganized militia for our safety," said Barry Hess, Vice-Chair of the Arizona Libertarian Party.
Reached by phone Monday night, a Phoenix Fire Department spokesperson said firefighters have already given up a lot, from furlough days to positions going unfilled.
"(The Libertarians) are not taking into consideration public safety and other services provided by the City of Phoenix," said Pete Gorraiz, President of the United Phoenix Firefighters Association.
But the Libertarians believes the fire department needs to do more.
"All of us are tightening our belts, I think the city should do the same," said Nick Coons with the Arizona Libertarian Party.
The Libertarian Party wants to collect 15,000 signatures over the next 30 days.
If they can do that, the food tax debate would go back to the Phoenix City Council.
"If the City Council says we want to keep it as is, then it goes to the voters and they get to decide," added Coons.
The voters could approve the tax, essentially keeping it as is.
But the Libertarians believe they have the majority on their side.
"Our government cannot tax us without our permission so we're going to vote to repeal it," said Cobb.
These petitions are available to be picked up at
Signarama located at 3375 East Shea Boulevard in Phoenix.
You need to be a Phoenix resident to sign or distribute the petition.
You can also download a petition from the
Phoenix Libertarian website.
