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Note to Legislature – Budget Fix Idea I

May 20, 2009 By 3 Comments

I was talking to a fellow blogger today discussing the latest state budget woes and our conversation sparked some thoughts.

Why don’t we eliminate the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) altogether? An argument could be made that the federal government is going to give Arizonans universal health care anyway. Why not get a head start and get the State of Arizona out of the health care business so we can balance the state budget?

Anyone who has a complaint, can jump on a bus and cross the border to California or New Mexico. Isn’t that what’s happening elsewhere?

Filed Under: Health Care, State Budget

Kris Allen AI-2009 – Red State Politics at Play?

May 20, 2009 By 9 Comments

I was reading up on the political angle on American Idol the other day and someone was speculating that the next American Idol would have a red-state, blue-state factor at play. Basically it went along the lines that Allen stood a good chance of upsetting Lambert because conservative Christians who originally supported Danny Gokey were now throwing their vote behind Kris Allen over “progressive blue-state Adam Lambert.”

Anyone else have thoughts on this huge upset? I really thought the final two would come down to Adam and Danny.

Filed Under: Culture

Clarification from Republican Professionals Politics on the Rocks

May 20, 2009 By

Republican Professionals Politics on the Rocks

Dear Republican Professionals,

I am sure you have seen a few emails from a group calling themselves “The Original Republican Professionals.” This group was started by our former photographer and web designer. As we are all part of the same cause, we wish them all the success in the world. As President and Founder of the Republican Professionals we have added the use of the name “Politics on the Rocks” to our name. This will distinguish us from other emails you may receive. If it does not say “Politics on the Rocks” within the email, it is not from us. Thank you to everyone that has made all 20 events possible. We had 350+ people at our last event and will continue to provide quality monthly networking events on the second Thursday of each month. As our group has grown by leaps and bounds around the country, we are excited to announce the formation of our new Tucson group. Stay tuned as we’ll be announcing a “big name” to be speaking at the Tucson launch event. Please share the following link with your friends in Tucson:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1176411019&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=89524806225

Regards,

Charles A. Jensen, President & Founder
Republican Professionals: “Politics on the Rocks”

Filed Under: Political Parties, Press Release

Sheriff Mack to Present the Relationship between your County Sheriff vs. federal agents

May 20, 2009 By 4 Comments

The Huachuca Area Republican Women’s Club will present former Graham County Sheriff Richard Mack to present: “The Sheriff Has the Last Word.”

As the elected sheriff of Graham County, Richard Mack stood up to federal power.  He took on the Brady Gun Control laws and fought them all the way to the US Supreme Court … and won.

You are invited to the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center on Monday, June 8th at 10:30am for coffee and 11:00am for lunch with Sheriff Mack.

Hear first hand about the Constitutional role played by your county sheriff and how the sheriff is the final word in law enforcement in your county.  This is information every citizen should understand – so we can elect sheriffs who will know their Constitutional role in relationship with the federal government.

Cost for lunch is $14. Please call Pat Grymko at 458-9517 for reservations no later than Sunday, May 31rd. Cost for late reservation is $16.

Come on down to Sierra Vista!  The weather is delightful this time of year.

Filed Under: 2nd Amendment, Border, Constitutional Law, County Government, Crime and Punishment, Public Safety, Special Event, States Rights

Driving Down Expectations

May 20, 2009 By 7 Comments

Elections have consequences and here’s one more consequence for those who voted for Barack Obama.

Meet your new government-issued automobile. Within the next decade, expect to have one of these beauties parked in your garage.

Don’t be fooled by the fancy glossy brochure though. These new Obamacars will come in two colors: grey and black.

Here’s what MyWay.com is reporting:

DETROIT (AP) – Some soccer moms will have to give up hulking SUVs. Carpenters will still haul materials around in pickup trucks, but they will cost more. Nearly everybody else will drive smaller cars, and more of them will run on electricity. The higher mileage and emissions standards set by the Obama administration on Tuesday, which begin to take effect in 2012 and are to be achieved by 2016, will transform the American car and truck fleet.

Of course, developing the technology will cost money – billions of dollars – and automakers will pass that on to their customers.

The Obama administration says the changes mean the average vehicle would cost about $1,300 more, although some private analysts say the increase will be much heftier.

 

Filed Under: Government, Transportation

Sheriff Arpaio says County Supervisors have a vendetta against him

May 20, 2009 By 6 Comments

Well whaddya know, another county elected official is calling the Board of Supervisors out for taking retaliatory actions against him. The County Supervisors have mismanaged money for years, spending irresponsible amounts of tax dollars on environmental programs like “Bring Back Blue” and “Running out of Air,” which didn’t work so they were dropped. They also hired a “diversity manager” who set up an entire diversity department which plastered the county with politically correct rainbow posters. Now they want other county agencies, including law enforcement agencies like the Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s Office, to cut 15% of their budgets. This is irresponsible. If there is one function of government that is more important than any other, it is public safety. Now we hear about inmates going on food strikes because they don’t like the bare bone meals they’re getting. The courts are getting backed up because the Sheriff doesn’t have enough officers any more to transport them to court every day. The Sheriff has been losing over 10 employees a month but has not been allowed to hire anyone to replace them. Meanwhile, the County Supervisors are telling him he can’t replace them, instead the County Supervisors insist on fully funding the $347 million court tower, and stealing $6 million from the County Attorney to set up their own competing legal department since they don’t like him! Well they don’t have that power, the people elected him, not the County Supervisors.

Thanks to one of our commenters yesterday who pointed out that this violates the law, by law the County Attorney is authorized to be the legal counsel for the county, not the Supervisors –

COUNTY ATTORNEY
A.R.S. 11-532. Powers and duties
A. The county attorney is the public prosecutor of the county and shall:
1. Attend the superior and other courts within the county and conduct, on behalf of the state, all prosecutions for public offenses.
2. Institute proceedings before magistrates for the arrest of persons charged with or reasonably suspected of public offenses when the county attorney has information that the offenses have been committed.
3. When not engaged in criminal proceedings in the superior court, attend upon the magistrates in cases of arrest when required by them, and attend before and give advice to the grand jury.
4. Draw indictments and informations, defend actions brought against the county and prosecute actions to recover recognizances forfeited in courts of record and actions for recovery of debts, fines, penalties and forfeitures accruing to the state or county.
5. Deliver receipts for monies or property received in the county attorney’s official capacity and file duplicate receipts with the clerk of the board.
6. On the first Monday of January, April, July and October in each year, file with the board of supervisors an account, verified by oath, of all monies received in the county attorney’s official capacity during the preceding three months, and at the same time pay it to the county treasurer.
7. When required, give a written opinion to county officers on matters relating to the duties of their offices.
8. Keep a register of official business, and enter therein every action prosecuted, criminal or civil, and of the proceedings therein.
9. Act as the legal advisor to the board of supervisors, attend its meetings and oppose claims against the county which the county attorney deems unjust or illegal.
10. Act as attorney for school districts except as provided in section 15-343, or except in any lawsuits involving a conflict of interest with other county offices at which time the attorney general may represent the school district.
11. Act as attorney for the community college district except as provided in section 15-1448 or except in any lawsuits involving a conflict of interest with other county offices, at which time the attorney general may represent the community college district.
12. Defend all locally valued and assessed property tax appeals as provided in section 42-16208.
B. Upon receipt of an appellant’s brief in a criminal appeal, the county attorney shall furnish the attorney general with a true statement of the facts in the case, together with the available authorities and citations that are responsive to the assignments or specifications of error.
C. The county attorney may represent a school district governing board member against whom an action is brought in the board member’s individual capacity until such time as it is established as a matter of law that the alleged activity or events which form the basis of the complaint were not performed, or not directed to be performed, within the scope or course of the member’s duties.
D. Notwithstanding the provisions of article 12 of this chapter, in connection with the investigation or prosecution of any matter involving the death of a person, the county attorney may request that the medical examiner, for the county in which the prosecution will take place, conduct the medical examination.

Filed Under: County Government, Spending