Daniel Burke

Gov. Janet Napolitano: Getty Images PhotoSince the story broke last week of Gov. Janet Napolitano's deal with the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, there's been a massive outcry from Napolitano's critics.

Opponents charge that the agreement -- where the homebuilders would pledge support and $100,000 for a ballot initiative that would raise the sales tax by one cent, while they would get let off the hook for paying part of a proposed $42 billion transportation plan -- is tantamount to "extortion" and represents a "scandal."

Today, on KJZZ, Napolitano refuted such claims, and said the sales tax represents the "simplest and best" option for the state. She dismissed the notion that the deal was unethical and chose instead to address the upside of moving the initiative forward.