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Lies by Yvonne Wingett

November 23, 2009 By 8 Comments

A m e r i c a n P o s t – G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona

November 23, 2009

Another classic example of yellow journalism by Yvonne Wingett
Full of lies

As posted in Cactus Alliance:

http://cactusalliance.blogspot.com/2009/11/another-classic-example-of-yellow.html
wingnut

Yvonne Wingett, the Arizona Republic hack reporter assigned to cover Maricopa County government, developed a pattern of playing fast and loose with the facts. In the absence of any real news, she makes up her own. Her close relationship with the County Supervisors, colors her coverage of all county affairs. She turns a blind eye to the Supervisors’ illegal acts and gives their attempts to take over other county agencies a free pass. She is complicit in assisting the Supervisors smear other county agencies and is often seen cozying up to the County PIO, Richard de Uriarte. Take the article she wrote in Saturday’s Arizona Republic about an audit of the County Treasurer’s Office, entitled “Audit Cites Treasurer’s Office Slip-ups.” Did she even bother to read it first? (Read her reporting here)

The Supervisors ordered an audit of the County Treasurer’s Office for no reason other than to harass the office, which had not been acceding to its demands. Wingett ignores the overall positive report, and instead accuses the office of mishandling procurement and the hiring of contractors. She asserts that “the office failed to follow county procurement policies on tens of thousands of dollars of contracts.” This sounds terrible, but in reality, it involved two contracts for computer services. One of them was arranged by the County’s OET division, not the Treasurer’s Office. So the County Supervisors should have been dinged for failing to follow procurement policies, not the Treasurer’s Office.As for Wingett’s other accusation, she says the office did not properly formalize agreements before hiring two contract employees. She left out the fact that both the hiring and the payments took place during the prior administration. The exact quote from the report on the issue is,

“The payments to Help Desk Technology and Teri Johnson occurred before November 13, 2007 and were authorized by the previous Treasurer.” She also ignores the main audit finding. “For the period reviewed, we found that TIF expenditures were in compliance with ARS §11-495. In addition, we found that TIF revenues were collected and recorded in compliance with this statute.” Why would she do this? Simple, it’s more helpful to the Supervisors to smear their enemy, the current County Treasurer.

This kind of reporting demonstrates that Wingett cannot be trusted to be a fair and impartial reporter. She is the very model of the worst kind of reporter. Her biases come through, and it is reporting like hers that is the reason why people are increasingly deserting the Arizona Republic as a legitimate news source. She is a discredit to all real reporters and an embarrassment to the Arizona Republic, and that’s hard to do.

Filed Under: County Government, Ethics, Media

Goldwater Institute Sues Tempe Over Handouts for Aquarium

November 23, 2009 By 3 Comments

Phoenix–Today the Goldwater Institute asked a court to strike down an agreement between the City of Tempe and the developer of Sea Life Aquarium, a children’s theme park at Arizona Mills Mall. The agreement provides tax subsidies and concessions to the private business in violation of the Arizona Constitution and state law.

The Arizona Constitution bans giving subsidies to benefit a private business under the “Gift Clause.” The Equal Protection and Special Laws Clauses of the Arizona Constitution also prohibit these types of subsidy deals. In addition, the Arizona Legislature recently passed a statute prohibiting all retail sales tax subsidies in Maricopa and Pinal Counties, and another restricting sales tax subsidies throughout the state. The Sea Life subsidy runs afoul of both the Arizona Constitution and the state laws.

Subsidies offered to Sea Life, a division of UK-based Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest operator of attractions in the world behind Disney, include rebates on all construction sales taxes to the developer; rebates on all retail taxes to the developer up to $78,000; rebates on planning, engineering, and building safety processing fees up to $70,000; and special assistance from the city on permitting, planning and other regulatory hurdles required of other, non-favored developers and business owners.

Goldwater Institute attorney Carrie Ann Sitren is representing Nick Coons, owner of Tempe-based Red Seven Computers; Interior Concepts, a Tempe business; and Tempe taxpayers Jack Gibson and Chuck Kirkhuff.

“Our client, Mr. Coons, was not offered any assistance from the city to get his business off the ground,” Ms. Sitren said. “The Arizona Constitution is crystal clear on giving taxpayer money to businesses and industries–it isn’t legal.”

This agreement represents a seismic shift in position by Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman who spoke out against a similar $97.4 million subsidy from the City of Phoenix to build the CityNorth mall. Mr. Hallman even contributed to an article on the subject that appeared in the Arizona Republic September 29, 2009.

“When government gives taxpayer money to a favored business, it must tax the rest of the public with that missing share,” Mr. Hallman wrote. “Small businesses, or those less connected to government leaders, or those who cannot hire lawyers and lobbyists to fight for their own subsidies, are left holding the bag.”

The Goldwater Institute filed suit against the CityNorth subsidy in 2007 and is awaiting a decision from the Arizona Supreme Court on its legality. The Arizona Court of Appeals unanimously declared the deal illegal in December 2008 and until the Arizona Supreme Court reverses that decision, it is the law and clearly makes the Sea Life subsidy illegal.

“The fact that the City of Tempe is offering these illegal subsidies while a similar case is being considered is proof that the courts need to put a stop to this practice once and for all,” continued Ms. Sitren. “They can do that by saying the Arizona Constitution’s Gift Clause provision means what it says, that no subsidy shall be given to benefit a private business.”

Construction is already underway on the Sea Life Aquarium. It is slated to open in June 2010.

This lawsuit, Coons v. Hallman, was filed in Maricopa County Superior Court by the Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation.

For more information on this and other Goldwater Institute lawsuits visit www.goldwaterinstitute.org/litigation. The Goldwater Institute is an independent government watchdog supported by people who are committed to expanding free enterprise and liberty.

Filed Under: City Government, Constitutional Law, Judicial, Press Release, Spending

57% Disapprove Brewer’s Job Performance, Loses Head-to-Head to Goddard by Nine Points

November 23, 2009 By 8 Comments

Terry Goddard vs. Dean Martin a dead heat, Arpaio most popular

From Rasmussen Reports
Monday, November 23, 2009

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is the Republicans’ best shot at holding onto the Arizona governorship in 2010 against likely Democratic candidate Terry Goddard.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Arizona voters finds Arpaio, famed for his crackdowns on illegal immigrants, leading Goddard, the state’s current attorney general, by 12 points – 51% to 39%. Seven percent (7%) prefer some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.

Embattled incumbent Republican Jan Brewer, who stepped up to the governorship from secretary of state when Janet Napolitano became secretary of Homeland Security, trails Goddard by nine points – 44% to 35%. In that match-up, nine percent (9%) like another candidate. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure whom they’ll vote for.

Another possible GOP candidate, State Treasurer Dean Martin, is in a virtual tie with Goddard. The Democrat beats Martin 40% to 38%, with 11% opting for some other candidate and another 11% undecided.

…

Brewer is seen very favorably by just five percent (5%) and very unfavorably by 19%.

For Martin, very favorables total nine percent (9%) and very unfavorables five percent (5%).

Goddard, who also served as mayor of Phoenix, is regarded very favorably by 15% and very unfavorably by 14%.

At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with a strong opinion more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.

Arizona is one of the hardest hit states in the country budgetwise, and just 39% of voters now approve of Brewer’s performance as governor. Only four percent (4%) strongly approve. Fifty-seven percent (57%) disapprove of the job she is doing, with 24% who strongly disapprove.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) say economic conditions in Arizona are getting worse. Just 13% say they are getting better, while 22% think they’re staying about the same.

…

[Click here to read the entire article.]

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections Tagged With: , , , ,

PR: Len Munsil Endorses Senator John Huppenthal for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2010

November 23, 2009 By 5 Comments

Munsil endorses Huppenthal

PHOENIX – Republican leader Len Munsil today announced his endorsement of State Senator John Huppenthal for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2010.  Senator Huppenthal, the current Senate Education Chairman, is weighing a potential run for this position.

“Ensuring a quality education for every child has always been an important issue for me, which is why I’m urging Arizona Republicans to support John Huppenthal for Superintendent of Public Instruction,” said Munsil.  “We need change at the Arizona Department of Education, and John Huppenthal is the right conservative leader to deliver that change.”

“Senator Huppenthal has the vision, the experience and the plan to deliver the reforms vital to improving accountability, increasing parental choice in education and boosting academic achievement in Arizona schools,” said Munsil.  “He also has the strength of character, depth of knowledge and intellectual rigor needed to take on the education bureaucracy.”

Munsil is one of Arizona’s most respected conservative leaders.  He was the Republican Party nominee for Governor of Arizona in 2006, winning the Republican primary by a large margin in his first run for public office.

“Len is a conservative leader that Arizona Republicans trust and I’m grateful for his support,” said Huppenthal.  “As a conservative reformer, Len has worked tirelessly for Arizona families and helped pass laws that promote education and improve our quality of life.”

Munsil’s endorsement of Huppenthal follows endorsements from other popular Republican leaders such as Secretary of State Ken Bennett and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Huppenthal is one of Arizona’s leading authorities on education issues.  In addition to being the current Senate Education Chairman, Huppenthal has served for 17 consecutive years on the State House and State Senate education committees.

Huppenthal played a key role in helping create school choice for parents. In 1995, as Senate Education Chairman, his legislation took the caps off charter schools.  This legislation moved Arizona to first in the nation in school choice (ALEC rankings).

During Huppenthal’s legislative career he successfully developed and passed over 200 bills – the most of any legislator in Arizona history.

Huppenthal is speaking to audiences statewide to assess public support.  He will make a formal decision about running for Superintendent this coming January.  For additional information, please call Senator John Huppenthal at (480) 330-3215 or visit www.JohnHuppenthal.com.  Senator Huppenthal is on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/huppenthal.

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Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Press Release Tagged With: , ,

Arizona Taxpayer Action Committee Watching Legislative Votes

November 23, 2009 By 1 Comment

There’s an article in The Arizona Capitol Times this morning about a pair of political committees will be employed to “corral votes” as the budget process moves forward.

One PAC the Arizona Capitol Times failed to mention was the Arizona Taxpayer’s Action Committee, an independent PAC associated with the former Arizona Federation of Taxpayers – now known as the Arizona Chapter of Americans for Prosperity. ATAC has been especially vigilant of the votes being made by the current Legislature and will be weighing those votes as part of its endorsement process in 2010.

This PAC will carry tremendous weight as an independent PAC and because it has been closely allied with independent taxpayer advocacy organizations. As the 2010 election cycle continues to progress, watch for ATAC to play an important role in returning the State of Arizona to fiscal responsibility by working to elect solid taxpayer advocates.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Endorsements, PAC's, Taxation

Jonathan Paton – CD-8?

November 23, 2009 By 22 Comments

Jonathan PatonA few days ago, I mentioned to look out for more political shakeups in two other high profile races.

Well, I guess the cat’s out of the bag as the Arizona Republic’s Political Insider broke the story today that State Senator Jonathan Paton is heavily weighing jumping into the CD-8 race against four other political newbies in an effort to unseat Democrat, Gabrielle Giffords. (Yes, Jonathan did call me.)

Paton’s entry into the race would certainly ratchet up the odds as Giffords could face off against a political known who has proven an ability to raise money.

Should Paton decide to run, he would need to form an exploratory committee likety-split and quickly transition to a full committee after January 1st since he is subject to Arizona’s “Resign to Run” law.

As I already mentioned, don’t be surprised to see new entries into races like CD-8. We are rapidly approaching a timeframe when potential candidates begin to surface in response to political donors who may not be impressed with campaigns or candidates who launched early in the election cycle. I sense this is what’s happening in CD-8 and may prompt other high profile candidates to jump in elsewhere like CD-5.

Filed Under: Campaign Finance, Campaigns & Elections