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The Scott heard ’round the world – Even here in Arizona!

January 19, 2010 By 37 Comments

The insurgency against “fundamentally changing America” has begun!

With the victory tonight in Massachusetts, the “Progressive’s” effort to “fundamentally” socialize America has been derailed!

Democrats (and even incumbents) across the country need to be very afraid as conservatives and independent voters who are now leaning right of center, are out for “political blood.”

Here in Arizona, even our own incumbent Republicans should not take it for granted that they are in good favor with the voters. Governor Brewer should expect to face an extremely difficult primary by challenger John Munger and man on a mission, Dean Martin, who has been warning for over a year of the impending Arizona budget doom.

Democrats in supposedly “safe” districts should now take heed as insurgent-backed conservative candidates like Ruth McClung and Janet Contreras wage ground-level campaigns against incumbents, ultra-liberal Raul Grijalva, and deeply submerged, Ed Pastor. The best and most tangible consequence of the Massachusetts miracle would be for both these women to receive the full-fledged support of tea party activists and anyone intolerable of the status quo.

Kirkpatrick, Mitchell and Giffords can also expect the same type of beating from whoever wins the GOP primaries in their districts.

If fiction can become cold hard reality in a place like Massachusetts – the bluest of blue states in the union – it can even happen in Arizona’s purple districts.

Finally, Senator McCain should not take it for granted that “this is his time” despite his best efforts to give the perception he is leading the charge. This is no longer his battle. This is the people’s battle now – those who have tirelessly worked, protested and waited for battleground days as today. The people want fresher angrier people from among their midst to wage this war of ideas. Old warriors step aside. New warriors have arrived and it is their time.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Culture, Demographics, Liberals, Political Science

PR: Parker to Enter CD-3 Race!

January 19, 2010 By 23 Comments

Vernon ParkerFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2010

HE’S IN: PARADISE VALLEY MAYOR TO RUN FOR CONGRESS

PARADISE VALLEY, AZ. JANUARY 19, 2010. Vernon Parker is in. Today, Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker announced that he will file paperwork this week to succeed Republican John Shadegg.

“Our district has a long history of sending Goldwater conservatives to Congress – public servants who fiercely value liberty, smaller government and personal responsibility,” Parker said. “To follow Congressman Shadegg wouldn’t simply be an honor. It would give me the chance to continue a fight for the hard-working families I have fought for all my life,” he said.

Parker, 50, said that Shadegg’s retirement created a “perfect storm” of opportunity, one he feels duty-bound to embrace. He had spent the past three months exploring the Arizona Governor’s race, which generated enthusiastic support from people across the state.

“The biggest constant in my public life has been the need to serve to the fullest, to use whatever talent God has given me to the utmost degree possible,” said Parker. “I believe my skills, my experience and my passion are made for Congress. I believe I can make the biggest difference for my neighbors and my fellow Arizonans there. Since learning of Congressman Shadegg’s decision my supporters have overwhelmingly encouraged me in this direction.”

Parker said that he will take his message of cutting taxes and creating policies that help the private sector create jobs to the nation’s capital.

Following his filing this week Parker will be hosting a grassroots events on Sunday for 200-300 supporters, followed by a major announcement next week with significant endorsers and a few surprises.

“Like Congressman Shadegg I will do everything I can to roll back the unfunded federal mandates that cripple Arizona and our communities. And I will do everything I can to reform health care that brings real choice to the people and put an end to the insanity that defines America’s immigration policy,” he said.

BACKGROUND

Parker announced an exploratory committee for Governor on September 23rd and since then raised his seed money faster than Governor Brewer, generated endorsements and excitement across the state and was on track to qualify for Clean Elections funding next month.

However, since the surprising announcement by Congressman John Shadegg that he will not seek re-election Parker has been called by dozens of supporters and state leaders encouraging him to consider a run for the Congressional District Three Republican nomination.

Paradise Valley lies in the heart of the district, where just two years ago Parker garnered a record number of votes in his initial run for office.

Parker, 50, is the current mayor of Paradise Valley, Arizona. He previously served as General Counsel of the United States Office of Personnel Management, then in the White House as Special Assistant to President George H. W. Bush. Later, Parker was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed with bipartisan support by the United States Senate, as an Assistant Secretary at the United States Department of Agriculture. A small businessman Parker also served as a pastor for two years at a small non-denominational church in Paradise Valley. He is a graduate of Georgetown Law School in Washington, D.C., where he met his wife Lisa.

Parker’s life story is compelling. Raised by his grandmother in a severely underprivileged neighborhood in Long Beach, California Paker was able to escape the drugs and violence through love, education and the commitment of family.

For more information contact Jason Rose.

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Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Press Release

PR: Munger to Release Plan to Balance Budget without Tax Hikes

January 19, 2010 By 1 Comment

John Munger

JOHN MUNGER RELEASES A PLAN TO BALANCE ARIZONA’S BUDGET WITHOUT RAISING TAXES

WHO: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate John Munger

WHAT: Media availability to discuss a comprehensive, detailed plan to balance Arizona’s FY 2010 and FY 2011 budgets without a tax increase and without incurring additional debt.

WHEN: 12:00pm *REVISED TIME*

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

WHERE: Capitol Press Room

1820 West Washington St.

Phoenix, AZ 85007

WHY: John Munger is responding to Governor Jan Brewer’s plea for substantive proposals to solve Arizona’s fiscal crisis. He is available to discuss a range of specific measures in his plan which, if enacted, will completely eliminate the estimated FY 2010 and FY 2011 budget deficits without raising taxes.

The complete plan will be available at www.johnmunger.com. For additional information or to arrange interviews, contact Jerry Cobb at (602) 478-0002 or jerrycobb@actual-media.com.

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John Munger
Munger Signature

Filed Under: Press Release, State Budget, Taxation

PR: Brewer: ‘Where’s Lujan’s Budget Plan?’

January 19, 2010 By 3 Comments

Jan Brewer for Governor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2010

Dem opts for rhetoric and outdated website over protecting education and public safety

PHOENIX –– The campaign for Governor Jan Brewer today urged Rep. David Lujan, House Minority Leader in the Arizona Legislature and now a candidate for Attorney General, to either produce a realistic, concrete proposal for solving the state’s present fiscal problems or admit that he does not want to be part of the budget solution.

“Rep. Lujan continues to offer manipulation and political calculation when the people he serves need authentic service,” said former Attorney General Grant Woods, co-chairman to Governor Brewer’s campaign. “Despite his title and his ambition for higher office, his calls for leadership will continue to ring false, until he stops playing games and makes a positive contribution toward resolving the situation that he helped to create.”

Lujan told The Arizona Republic yesterday that his “line-by-line proposals” for balancing the budget can be found at a website — a website which has not been updated since last September and which holds no specific proposal for a budget solution. “He might as well refer us to the Magna Carta,” said Woods. “It probably has more direction for solving the budget crisis than his website.”

During a press conference last Monday, Lujan was pressed by reporters to introduce his ideas as budget bills. Lujan’s response: House Democratic leadership will only put their budget proposals in bill form if they have 31 votes — a majority of the House.

Woods responded, “Governor Brewer has proposed a way forward which has displeased some in her own party; perhaps Reps. Lujan and other Democratic office holders could show their good faith by doing the same, and then we could take them seriously.”

Lujan and other legislative Democrats continue to insist that they have been “frozen out” of budget discussions. “That is nonsense,” concluded Woods. “They have simply decided to put politics ahead of public service and refused to help the current governor protect education and public safety through this downturn. She has done the courageous thing; they continue to do the political thing.”

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Filed Under: Press Release, State Budget

Governor calls for far-reaching school reforms in State of the State Address

January 19, 2010 By 7 Comments

by Matthew Ladner, Ph.D.
Goldwater Institute
 
The Founders, in their genius, created a government system where our 50 states function as “laboratories of reform.” Arizona can lead the way for other states in policy areas where we excel and build upon other states’ success for our own benefit.

Last fall, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Foundation for Excellence in Education President Patricia Levesque testified before a joint meeting of the Arizona Senate and House education committees. Their compelling data on public school improvement clearly made an impression. Legislators in both the Arizona Senate and House have introduced bills based on the Florida reforms.

Last week in her State of the State address, Governor Jan Brewer called upon the Arizona Legislature to adopt elements of the Florida reform model. Regarding alternative teacher certification, Governor Brewer noted:

Isn’t it astonishing that in Arizona today, Bill Gates or Craig Barrett would not be
considered qualified to teach students about computer science?

Governor Brewer went on to discuss how school performance is labeled:

I’m urging the Legislature and the state Department of Education to
immediately replace our school labeling system.
 
Our current system rates schools as “excelling”, “highly performing”, “performing plus”, “performing”, “under-performing” and “failing”.

Who understands that?

How about this?

We assign simple letter grades-”A”, “B”, “C”, “D” and “F”.

Our kids live by those grades every day–so should our schools.

Governor Brewer also emphasized the importance of parental choice, and said the following about social promotion:

We must have the courage to tell parents the truth when their children are not doing well.

Frederick Douglas said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free”.

Sadly, too many of our children are still unable to read as they should by the end
of third grade.

Yet, we continue to promote them to more advanced classes, knowing that at
every step we dim the light of their promise.

We must stop promoting children who cannot read by the end of third grade.
And we should know well before third grade those students who are falling
behind and get them the help they need.

The Governor’s support comes not a moment too soon.

Regardless of what happens in the difficult legislative session ahead, we will still have a failing school system in place when the budget smoke clears. If we have the courage to embrace reform, we can create an education system that equips young Arizonans with the reading and math skills they need to succeed. The Governor and policymakers who embrace these reforms have our appreciation today, and that of future generations tomorrow.

Dr. Matthew Ladner is vice president for research at the Goldwater Institute.

Filed Under: Education, State Government