The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Elijah Norton
As Arizona families and businesses struggle under inflation rates higher than the national average, they are looking to their elected officials for relief. Unfortunately, instead of addressing these challenges, some Arizona politicians are prioritizing political games over practical solutions.With economists predicting a looming recession, the burden on Arizona’s economy is expected to grow. Now more than ever, the state needs leaders who grasp fundamental economic principles to provide real inflation relief. However, Democrats across the country are instead promoting counterproductive economic ideas, such as their latest “price control” proposal — a historically proven failure. One only needs to look back to the 1970’s or countries like Venezuela to see that “price controls” lead to shortages — and thus — more inflation.
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In Arizona, Attorney General Kris Mayes has been embroiled in politically charged lawsuits, costing taxpayer resources. Notably, she was forced to quietly dismiss a lawsuit against Governor Hobbs and the Republican-led Arizona Legislature just a week after filing it. Her office also lost a case against the IRS, further burdening taxpayers. Equally concerning is her opposition to the Kroger-Albertsons merger, a move that ignores market realities and the free-market benefits that could lower prices.These actions not only miss the mark but also harm the very Arizonans these officials claim to represent. Blocking this merger would benefit megacorporations like Amazon and Walmart, which already dominate the market, while local grocery stores struggle to compete. For instance, a 110-year-old grocery chain in the Northeast recently closed 32 underperforming stores due to intense competition from wholesale and discount chains. I commend the four Republican attorneys general who are pushing back against this reckless politicization of business.The grocery market is currently dominated by Walmart/Sam’s Club with nearly 30% market share, followed by Costco at 7%, and Amazon at over 5%, according to the Mountain States Policy Center. The Kroger-Albertsons merger would level the playing field, fostering competition that could benefit Arizona consumers. By combining resources, these companies could innovate, improve supply chains, and offer a wider range of products and services — keeping prices competitive and enhancing the overall market.In a free-market economy, competition drives innovation and consumer benefits. Blocking this merger, which promises to enhance both, reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of these principles. Attorney General Kris Mayes is not alone in this economic misstep. U.S. Senate-hopeful Ruben Gallego also dismisses the potential cost savings that could lower prices and alleviate inflation for Arizonans. His unfounded claims about store closures ignore the merger’s commitments: no closures, no layoffs, and the continuation of collective bargaining agreements. Kroger has even committed to investing $1 billion into price cuts following a successfu …
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