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Chris Matthews Wrong on Latest JD Hayworth Ad

March 11, 2010 By 5 Comments

JD Hayworth for US Senate

For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 11, 2010

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews Wrong: Conservative U.S. Senate Candidate J.D. Hayworth’s

“Faith” Radio Spot Biographical, Not Competitive

PHOENIX, AZ. March 11, 2010. “I’ve never heard somebody (seek) votes by saying he’s better at his religion than the other guy,” said Chris Matthews of MSNBC’s Hardball last night in regard to conservative U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth’s radio ad “Faith”.

The minute-long ad which started running statewide in Arizona on Tuesday is biographical, not hardball against Arizona Senator John McCain, whose service and own faith Hayworth respects.

A copy of the Hayworth ad in its entirety is below.

Hayworth has been endorsed by Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, Tax Day Tea Party, Arizona conservative leader Len Munsil, the Gun Owners of America, and the National Border Patrol Council, among many others. To the left of more conservative Hayworth on taxes, the Second Amendment, pro-life and pro-family issues and illegal immigration, McCain has engaged in transparent election year flip-flopping.

McCain also voted for the $850 billion bailout of the big banks which included $150 billion in pork, proposed a $300 billion bailout for mortgage lenders and, according to the Heritage Foundation, sponsored an amnesty bill that would have cost taxpayers $2.6 trillion over the long-term. And despite 28 years in Washington McCain now claims he was ‘misled’ on the bank bailout vote despite expressing no such concerns at the time.

For more information or to contribute to the campaign, please go to www.JDforSenate.com.

J.D. Hayworth’s “Faith” Advertisement:

ANNOUNCER: “Daniel Webster once said, ‘What makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens.’ Meet a good Christian and a good neighbor, J.D. Hayworth. Unlike some leaders who shy away from their faith, J.D. Hayworth embraces it. J.D. Hayworth accepted Christ as a young boy and later met his wife, Mary, at church. After nearly losing a daughter early in pregnancy, and a son in childbirth, J.D. and Mary were sustained by prayer and came to value God’s gift of life even more. God gave us the covenant of marriage and the blessing of children. That’s why J.D. Hayworth supports traditional marriage and defends the right to life of the unborn. And J.D. Hayworth will always defend our right to honor God in the public square, public schools and public life. Faithful, conservative leadership. J.D. Hayworth for U.S. Senate.”

HAYWORTH: “I’m J.D. Hayworth and I approved this message. Paid for by J.D. Hayworth 2010.”

Filed Under: Advertising, Campaigns & Elections, Press Release, Religion

Tax increases becoming too common in Arizona

March 11, 2010 By 30 Comments

by Byron Schlomach, Ph.D.
Goldwater Institute
 
When government revenues drop during economic downturns, there are only three choices government officials have at the state and local levels. They cannot print money so they are left with reducing spending, raising taxes, or borrowing. Raising taxes is the worst option, with borrowing a close second.

Raising taxes assaults the very marrow of the economy; draining resources from the private sector at a time when it can least afford the loss. Borrowing money means an uncertain future burden. Both options make it harder to weather future economic storms. Right now, the state is spending $700 million more each month than it is collecting in tax revenue. All levels of Arizona government have a combined $41 billion in bonded debt.

Yet, many in government seem unconcerned. Everywhere one turns, new taxes are proposed. On Tuesday, Scottsdale and Tempe voters approved higher taxes on hotel room rentals. Phoenix just imposed a 2 percent food tax. The legislature is considering raising car rental taxes to pay for a new spring training stadium for the Chicago Cubs. The legislature also wants to raise license plate fees. Tucson is pondering a number of potential tax increases.

On May 18, voters across Arizona will consider an 18 percent increase in the state sales tax. Studies show that raising the sales tax by 18 percent will cut the state’s real economic output by $1.2 billion and that Arizonans will see their total after-tax income, already hit hard by recession, fall by an average of $300 per household.

What’s more, these proposals don’t take into account that the state’s property taxes went up this year, or the electricity tax passed by the Corporation Commission a few years ago.

This state has lost more than 10 percent of its private employment compared to its peak. State and local governments together have lost less than 6 percent of their workforces. The capacity of the private sector to pay higher taxes is at the breaking point. Even with an economic recovery, increased taxes will only feed an even bigger government that will be that much harder to finance in the next inevitable recession.

For now and for the future, reducing government spending is the only principled solution to the problem of shrinking government revenue.

Dr. Byron Schlomach is an economist and the director of the Center for Economic Prosperity at the Goldwater Institute.

Filed Under: Economics, Spending, State Budget, State Government, Taxation

U.S. House Candidate Jim Waring Applauded for Signing No Climate Tax Pledge

March 10, 2010 By 3 Comments

Americans for Prosperity-Arizona

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
Contact: James Valvo (703) 224-3200

U.S. House Candidate Jim Waring Applauded for Signing No Climate Tax Pledge

PHOENIX—The Arizona chapter of the free market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP-AZ) and the Arizona Energy Forum today applauded U.S. House candidate Jim Waring (3rd District) for signing the group’s “No Climate Tax Pledge.” Waring joins more than 400 lawmakers and candidates on the federal, state and local levels pledging to “oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.”

“The one thing elected officials should be able to agree on is that global warming shouldn’t be used as an excuse to hike taxes on citizens and businesses,” said AFP-AZ State Director Tom Jenney.  “We encourage all of Arizona’s elected officials and candidates for elected office to sign the pledge.”

Other Arizona signers include U.S. Representatives Trent Franks, John Shadegg, and Jeff Flake, as well as numerous federal candidates, state senators and state representatives.

“The Arizona Energy Forum is pleased Jim Waring has signed the pledge,” said Chairman Troy Hyde.  “His pledge is an excellent example for other candidates and lawmakers who oppose a climate tax.”

Cap-and-trade took its first step toward enactment last year when the U.S. House narrowly passed the Waxman-Markey energy tax bill, which escaped the lower chamber by a scant seven votes despite significant bipartisan opposition.  The U.S. Senate has struggled to pass companion legislation, with several key Democratic senators expressing opposition to the energy tax bill.

President Obama has made no secret of his support for the bill, which would be the largest tax increase in American history.  The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office scored the House plan as an $846 billion increase in federal revenue, a burden that will be borne by taxpayers and consumers for decades to come.

“Using the guise of climate change to transfer dollars from hard-working citizens to bureaucratic big government is unacceptable,” said Jenney. “Regardless of their stance on global warming, this should be common ground for all of our elected officials at all levels of government.”

The pledge is available online at www.NoClimateTax.com.  AFP does not endorse candidates.  All elected officials and candidates are encouraged to sign the pledge and go on the record in opposition to using the climate change issue to increase taxes and grow the size of government.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best way to safeguard individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 975,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 30 state chapters and affiliates. More than 60,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org
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Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Energy, Taxation

Polling Fun

March 10, 2010 By 9 Comments

It is tempting by many campaigns to put out public polling claiming their guy is in the lead and touting his or her strength. For the second time in a month, Summit Consulting Group has put out a poll touting the strength of State Senator Jim Waring.

Now I like Jim and think he’s a good guy. But he needs to distance himself from Summit’s incredibly flawed polling.

For those of you who aren’t experts on polling, let me explain. In the poll just below as was the case with the poll release around a month ago, Summit isn’t releasing a true ballot question. You can tell this because the undecideds are uncommonly low. In fact, most Congressional races develop late and rare is it that a candidate builds up any type of substantial lead until voters start paying attention.

Yet, at first glance at the press release below, you would think that Jim Waring has a commanding lead in the race. However, if you read the press release, you will see that it is only among voters who have made up their mind. This is probably around 20 to 25 percent of the voters, leaving around 70-80 percent undecided. Now in fairness to Summit, they acknowledge that.

But there is another problem.

If you read further into the press release by Summit, they claim that the poll conducted was 400 interviews with a  margin of error of +/-  5 percent. That’s fine, but the numbers they are citing for Waring only include those who have decided or about 20-30 percent of those interviewed or in other words about 80 to 90 interviews, not 400. The problem with that is that this isn’t a statistically significant number of interviews to mean anything. The margin of error for such a small sample is so large that it means nothing. You can see that in their results with both Crump and Gorman jumping around in the numbers. That is to be expected because the margin of error is so large.

If Summit wants to be taken seriously as a polling firm, then they would do well to release the entire poll and release the number of interviews included in the numbers they choose to highlight.

Finally, in an article in the Capitol Times from last month, Summit head Chad Willems mentioned that he was going to be working for Waring.  Yet in this press release there is no such mention of any relationship.  The reason this matters is that the FEC takes a very dim view of consultants and employees of a campaign doing things independently that could ostensibly be seen as beneficial to a candidate they are working for.  Now Summit may not be working for the Waring campaign, but if they are, then they should disclose it to the recipients of the press release.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Waring Still Leads CD3 Race in New Poll

March 10, 2010 By 28 Comments

Quayle’s Entrance Draws Support From Other Candidates;
Many Candidates Still Lacking Traction

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
PHOENIX, AZ – A recent survey conducted by Phoenix-based Summit Consulting Group, Inc. shows former state Senator Jim Waring still leading the crowded field in the race for Congress in District 3.

Congressman John Shadegg’s announcement that he will be retiring at the end of his current term has drawn at least eight Republican candidates to succeed Shadegg in Congress.  While rumors abound about even more candidates will be jumping in the race, Summit conducted a poll which included only the most viable candidates thus far.

Among those surveyed who have made a decision or have an opinion on the current lineup of candidates, Waring receives nearly 44% of the vote.

When asked the question, “In August, Republican voters will cast their vote for the new Republican nominee from District 3.  If the Republican primary election were held today, who would you vote for?”

The results:

Jim Waring            43.7%
Ben Quayle            25.9%
Sam Crump            11.1%
Pamela Gorman    10.3%
Vernon Parker        5.9%
Paulina Morris        1.4%
Ed Winkler              1.0%
Steve Moak              1.0%

“This is great news for the campaign.  I’m working hard every day to meet with voters to talk about the most pressing issues facing our country.  The outpouring of support for my campaign has been incredible so far.  It’s humbling, to say the least.  I’m confident that if we continue to work hard and listen to the voters, we’ll be successful in August and November,” said Waring.

The survey was conducted between March 8th and 9th and interviewed 400 likely Republican primary voters in CD3.  The margin of error is +/-5%.  Overall, there are a considerable number of undecided voters in this race but the fact remains that Waring possesses a consistent lead among Republican primary voters.

Ben Quayle, son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, entering the race appears to have hurt former state Senator Pamela Gorman’s campaign the most.  Just last month, another Summit Group poll showed Gorman with 26.8% of the vote.  Other notable candidates, such as former state Rep. Sam Crump and Vernon Parker, who recently abandoned his bid to become the Republican nominee for Governor, still have yet to gain any traction among base Republican voters.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Press Release

Gilbert Watch: Great Blog for Conservative News in Gilbert

March 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Gilbert Watch

Here’s a quick plug for our new friends over at Gilbert Watch. If you live in Gilbert, you should be reading their blog every day.

Take a look at their latest post about the Ground Zero Anti-Tax Rally scheduled this Saturday at the Gilbert Municipal Center from 10 AM to 3 PM.

There will be plenty of people there expressing their view on tax issues including that of Gilbert and the State of Arizona. Several candidates will also be in attendance including US Senate candidate, JD Hayworth.

Please show your support for this important rally and GilbertWatch.com

Filed Under: Blogs, Special Event

Arizona House moves to improve tuition tax credit program

March 10, 2010 By 3 Comments

by Matthew Ladner, Ph.D.
Goldwater Institute
 
Through the magic of public access television, I recently watched debate before the state House of Representatives on bills to reform the tuition scholarship tax credit program. I’m happy to report that legislators engaged in a substantive discussion and adopted amendments from both parties.

Congratulations to Representative Rick Murphy for bringing an important and helpful bill, HB2663, to the House. His bill will strengthen oversight through several steps, including empowerment of the state Department of Revenue to revoke the designation of “Student Tuition Organization” for rogue scholarship groups.

I was also impressed with the level of debate from House Democrats. In years past, I’ve had the impression many of these elected officials were content to complain about the scholarship tax credits, but they were not serious about doing anything to address their concerns. In this debate, I saw serious proposals offered.

For instance, Representative Steve Farley offered a floor amendment to allow the Department of Revenue to collect a fee from STOs to fund better oversight. Farley made a convincing case that state government is moving towards user fees during this economic downturn, and scholarship groups ought to be included. The amendment wasn’t adopted. But a fee of less than one-half of 1 percent on the total amount each STO raises each year should provide sufficient funding and merits further consideration.

Other amendments would have required that scholarships funded by the individual tax credits go to students from low-income families, and would have forbidden STOs from considering any recommendations from donors about who should receive scholarships. Reasonable people can and have disagreed on these subjects.

Only the Internal Revenue Service can ultimately determine the legality of donor recommendations. I’ve seen legal opinions going both ways. In the meantime, HB 2663 specifies that donor recommendations cannot be the sole reason any student receives a scholarship, and scholarship groups must consider financial need as a part of their criteria.

No one is getting everything they desire from these reforms. But this bill represents a positive step towards improving transparency and accountability in the program if the Senate and the governor also approve it.

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

Filed Under: Education, Legislation, State Government

Jesse Kelly: Earmarks Only Small Part of Problem

March 10, 2010 By 3 Comments

Jesse Kelly

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Earmarks are only a small part of the problem

Tucson, AZ. The call for “no earmarks” is little more than a shallow campaign season stunt. The real issue is out-of-control government spending. A deficit is still a deficit, if it comes from earmarks or general appropriations.

The voters are tired of government overspending, whether it is the Arizona Legislature voting for Napolitano’s reckless ’08 budget, or a Congresswoman voting in favor of the pork-filled TARP program. To reduce deficit spending, you need to reduce the size and scope of government.

Jesse Kelly has a consistent record of supporting across the board spending reductions as well as a Constitutionality test for federal spending. The two career politicians in the CD8 race both have records of voting for excessive spending. The voters should not be fooled by talk of ending earmarks or mention of PAYGO. These terms are both the same, election year rhetoric from career politicians.

Jesse Kelly is a Republican candidate for Arizona’s Eighth Congressional District in the southeastern region of the state. For more information on the Kelly campaign please visit VoteJesseKelly.com or send an e-mail to media@jessekellyforcongress.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Press Release, Spending

JD Hayworth Launches 2nd Radio Ad: “THE Conservative”

March 10, 2010 By 14 Comments

JD Hayworth for US Senate

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Conservative Launches Second Statewide Radio Ad Of Campaign: “THE Conservative”

PHOENIX, ARIZONA. MARCH 10, 2010. Following yesterday’s debut of “Faith,” the Hayworth campaign has introduced a second radio ad for Arizona voters.

“THE Conservative” outlines the challenger’s conservative bona fides. It is now airing on radio stations throughout the state.

(Listen to “THE Conservative.”)

Hayworth has been endorsed by Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, Tax Day Tea Party, top Arizona Conservative Len Munsil, the Gun Owners of America, and the National Border Patrol Council, among many others.

Vulnerable to the more conservative Hayworth on taxes, the Second Amendment, pro-life and pro-family issues and illegal immigration, McCain has engaged in transparent election year flip-flopping.

McCain also voted for the $850 billion bailout of the big banks which included $150 billion in pork, proposed a $300 billion bailout for mortgage lenders and, according to the Heritage Foundation, sponsored an amnesty bill that would have cost taxpayers $2.6 trillion over the long-term. And despite 28 years in Washington McCain now claims he was ‘misled’ on the bank bailout vote despite expressing no such concerns at the time.

To listen to “THE Conservative” or to contribute to the Hayworth campaign, please visit www.JDforSenate.com.

Filed Under: Advertising, Campaigns & Elections, Press Release

Goddard hands $94 million settlement from Western Union over to other states in midst of budget crisis

March 9, 2010 By 20 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

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

With the state in desperate financial straits, Attorney General Terry Goddard has astonishingly agreed to turn over the bulk of the state’s proceeds in the Western Union settlement. Goddard initially went after Western Union for permitting illegal immigrants to send money to Mexico. The settlement was for $94 million, which Arizona could really use right now. But Goddard directed only $21 million of that to go to the state, which will be split between his office, DPS, and Phoenix Police.

Of the rest, Goddard turned $54 million over to some nonprofit entity run out of New York,the Center for State Enforcement of Antitrust and Consumer Protection Laws. Why is this money going to some private organization in another state if Arizona won the suit? The settlement states that the nonprofit will then make the money available for grants to law enforcement agencies along the border – so agencies in Texas and California are going to be receiving money Arizona rightfully earned. Another $21 million of the settlement is going to be used by Western Union on itself to improve its anti-money laundering efforts. Western Union could simply use the money to upgrade its computer systems, add some fancy new offices, etc.

Goddard is calling it a “historic settlement.” It’s historic alright, it’s the biggest settlement Arizona has ever flat out given away. In the middle of the worst budget deficit in history. And this guy wants to run for governor?

Read Goddard’s spin on it here – http://www.azag.gov/press_releases/feb/2010/Press%20Release%20-%20Western%20Union%202-11-10.html
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Filed Under: Illegal Immigration, State Budget, State Government

JD Hayworth Makes Strong Showing at The White House

March 9, 2010 By

 

Logo - Republican Professionals

 

Scottsdale, Arizona – The Republican Professionals’ March networking event with featured guest speaker JD Hayworth hosted more than 250 professionals at the Scottsdale bar and lounge: The White House.  The crowded venue allowed prominent professionals, politicians, and like-minded conservatives the opportunity to exchange political views, business cards, as well as cheers for more than two hours. 

The highlight of the March event was a key-note presentation from US Senatorial candidate JD Hayworth.  Mr. Hayworth captured the large crowd’s attention with his impressive speech and made the rounds to greet every guest with a handshake.  A town hall situation was a pleasant surprise to the attendees when Mr. Hayworth began to field questions towards the end of the evening.

The Republican Professionals host networking events every month and actively seek to involve more Arizona conservatives at each event.  You can visit www.phxrp.com in the coming days to get the latest news and events for Republican Professionals of Phoenix, or find information about the next free networking event in April.

The purpose of Republican Professionals is to increase the participation of Republicans in the political process, further the goals of the Republican Party, and bring Republicans together so that they may network, volunteer, organize and communicate with fellow professionals.

 

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Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Special Event, Uncategorized

Solar lobbyists demand government protection to prop up industry

March 9, 2010 By 13 Comments

by Clint Bolick
Goldwater Institute
 
It was like a scene from Atlas Shrugged: Polly Shaw of China-based Suntech told an Arizona House Government Committee hearing that massive solar production subsidies and even bigger consumer subsidies were not enough. If the Legislature passed House Bill 2701 and repealed the Arizona Corporation Commission’s rules that require utility companies to purchase increasing amounts of solar energy over the next 15 years regardless of the projected $1.2 billion cost to consumers, her company would pull its operations and a few dozen jobs from the state.

The Committee rejected her threat, approving the bill 5-2. But the next day, Governor Jan Brewer and Speaker of the House Kirk Adams, who co-sponsored the bill before deciding to kill it, successfully pressured the primary sponsor, Representative Debbie Lesko, to withdraw it.

Solar may be the most-subsidized industry in America, and is perhaps the only product that the Arizona government forces people to buy regardless of cost or technological feasibility. Solar doesn’t yet make sense as a wide-spread energy policy, and the mandates vastly exceed the Commission’s rate-making authority. That is why the Goldwater Institute is challenging the rules in court and 51 legislators co-sponsored the bill that would repeal them.

So, the solar lobby invoked the one word that will make normally sensible elected officials do crazy things: jobs. Yes, Suntech will employ 75 people. But between the lavish subsidies and costly mandates these may be the most expensive jobs ever created. Nevertheless, the strategy eventually worked; the bill is dead for now.

Suntech’s Shaw claimed the bill would “obliterate the demand for solar,” which may be true if that demand primarily is government-created. Mandate-based industrial policy didn’t work out well in the Soviet Union and it won’t work in Arizona. What’s especially perplexing, though, are the supposedly “pro-market” politicians who think its time has come.

Arizona should stop spending more and more in a frenzied competition with other states over who can give the biggest subsidies to solar and instead create a favorable tax and regulatory climate for all businesses, large and small, in any industry.

Clint Bolick is director of the Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation.

Filed Under: Constitutional Law, Energy, Legislation, Spending, State Economy, State Government, Taxation

JD Hayworth Launches 1st Radio Ad: “Faith”

March 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

JD Hayworth for US Senate

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Conservative JD Hayworth Launches First Radio Ad: “Faith”
Ad Highlights Personal, Worshipful Side of Hayworth Many Don’t Know

PHOENIX, AZ. March 9, 2010. JD Hayworth, who is mounting a conservative challenge to Senator John McCain, is known for being a lot of things. Fiscally-conscious Congressman. A man who never forgets a name. A broadcaster.

What many people don’t know is that JD also has a rock-solid belief in God, and the power of prayer.

(Listen to “Faith.”)

A new radio ad debuting today across Arizona aims to change that by relaying the story of how Hayworth met his wife, Mary, in church, almost lost a child at birth and has counted on prayer to get him through the tough – and the joyful – times in life.

“After almost losing a daughter early in pregnancy and a son in childbirth, JD and Mary were sustained by prayer,” the commercial says.

The ad also points out that Hayworth’s faith compels him to support traditional marriage and the right to life of the unborn.

The commercial also tells listeners that, “…JD will always defend our right to honor God in the public square, public schools and public life.”

To hear the commercial or to donate to the Hayworth campaign, please visit www.JDforSenate.com.

Filed Under: Advertising, Press Release, Religion

Budget Woes Aren’t Hurting Lobbyists

March 9, 2010 By 7 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

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

County Supervisors spent more money on lobbyists than any other government agency

From yellowsheetreport.com

Budget problems didn’t stop governments in Maricopa and Pima counties from shelling out the big bucks on lobbying expenses last year. Maricopa County Supervisors spent $414,000 last year on public and private lobbyists and consultants. They hired private sector notables like Marcus Dell’Artino, HighGround, Lasota and Peters, Lee Miller and Rip Wilson. Pima threw down $220,000 on lobbyists, including private guns Art Chapa and Michael Racy.

On the city side, Phoenix dropped $192,000 for lobbying expenditures in 2009.

Much of the reported expenses covered city employees like Karen Peters, Thomas Remes, John Gonzales and Tom Buschatzke. But the city also wasn’t shy about hiring private talent. They paid Kevin DeMenna almost $35,000. Gallagher and Kennedy received $28,500, and R and R Partners pulled in $15,000 from the city, which reported 29 registered lobbyists. Tucson spent even more, but their reported $235,000 lobbying tab was directed to city employee Mary Okoye. Phoenix’s 2009 lobbying bill increased by almost $35,000 compared to 2008. Tucson’s held steady.
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Filed Under: County Government, Spending, State Budget

My Dear Friends: A Fictional Op-Ed by John McCain

March 8, 2010 By 23 Comments

My Dear Friends…

The following (fictional) op-ed was written on behalf of Senator John McCain, were he ever to actually tell the truth to Arizona voters.

My Dear Friends,

John McCainI’d like to introduce myself to you because many of you have moved to Arizona since the last time I ran for election to the United States Senate.  My name is John McCain.  I currently serve as your senior U.S. Senator.  I’d like to continue doing so.  Please.

Some of you may remember me from the few times I stopped by the state during my presidential campaign.  Some others of you may think I’m still running for president.  I sometimes get that confused myself.  Just kidding.  I know I lost.

I’m running for re-election to the Senate because I am not Bob Dole, my friends, and Pfizer is not breaking down any doors, begging me to be the next spokesman for, well, you know.  Besides, all the pharmaceutical companies are sending enough money my way as it is.  Which is why I was trying to kill the vitamin and nutritional supplement companies which compete with our honest, hardworking prescription drug companies that stand to lose a lot of money if people like you, my friends, keep buying vitamins to stay healthy.

Point of order, my friends.  I’m no longer for putting the vitamin companies out of business.  I know I wrote the bill, but I was misled.  I was for it before I was against it.  You can imagine the ribbing I’ve taken from John Kerry over that one!  Man, is he a sore loser!  But since we both lost to George Bush, I guess I know what he’s going through.  That’s why we both voted against those pesky Bush tax cuts.

Um.  Another point of order, my friends.  About those tax cuts I just mentioned?  I may have voted to kill them, but I support them now.  I’m really sorry I voted against them.  Twice.  We don’t actually read the bills much over in the Senate and I was very probably misled that they repealed the marriage penalty and eliminated the death tax.  Again, my bad.

I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to Governor Brewer, and to thank her for her gracious endorsement.  I know I was supposed to return the favor by endorsing the sales tax increase she’s putting on the ballot.  Ordinarily I would have.  It’s nothing at all like those tax cuts I opposed… oh, and which Congress is now repealing.  Welcome back death tax!  But the thing of it is, my friends, it’s an election year and I just don’t support tax hikes in election years.

Now, something else I’m taking a bit of heat over these days is my votes for what the press has callously called the “bailouts” of banks and auto companies and for supporting bailouts of big mortgage lenders who have been accused of taking advantage of people by selling them homes they couldn’t afford.  My friends, these aren’t bailouts.  These are strategic investments in the economic future of our great nation meant to stabilize our markets and provide for a steady flow of not just bonuses to disgruntled AIG executives but also PAC contributions to my campaign.

My friends, I’d just say this: the economy is very complex issue.  I’ve been in Washington for 28 years, and sometimes I don’t even understand it.  Do you know how small the national debt was when I was first elected to Congress?  Why, our government budgets weren’t anywhere close to a trillion dollars a year, and last year our deficit alone was more than $1.6 trillion dollars.  You see my point?  It’s very tricky business and not something you want to entrust to anyone but the most seasoned professional.

Me, I’m Washington through and through.  I’m senior on my committees.  I’ve been the Republican nominee for president, for Pete’s sake.  Why, I’d bet there isn’t a special interest, lobbyist, association or organization inside the Beltway that I don’t intimately know.  Which is why I don’t get home to Arizona so much, except in election years.  Being in the Senate is a lot of work!  Not to mention, it’s a really long flight each time from DC to Arizona.

So, as I’ve said, I would like you voters, my friends, to send me back to Washington for another term in the U.S. Senate.  And, as I’ve said, my campaign is not about whatever it is that I’ve done these past 28 years.  Rather, it’s about what you think I can do for you.  And, really, we’ve got a lot of unfinished business to tackle.  There are nearly 12 million illegal immigrants living in America, many of whom pay taxes and whatnot, but who don’t have much to show for it.  They can’t even vote!  You see my point?  Who will speak for them if not me?

And don’t even get me started on energy issues.  I’ve tried my darndest to get Cap and Trade passed, but the nay-sayers are screaming it’s a tax hike on families and businesses.  Let’s set the record straight once and for all: there is no tax increase in Cap and Trade.  When utility companies are forced by government to raise their prices, it is not a tax.  Just for once, I’d like to see some honesty in political discourse – or perhaps just none at all.  But apparently the Supreme Court isn’t with me on that one either.  Better luck next time, right?  Right?  You’re with me on this, aren’t you?

Well, my friends, that’s my campaign in a nutshell.  I hope this letter cleared up any questions you might have had.  I’ll do my best to write again soon.

Your friend,

John Sydney McCain

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Guest Opinion

Does Kyl, McCain coming out against sales tax hike doom Prop. 100, Brewer’s primary hopes?

March 8, 2010 By 14 Comments

mccain-65-logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 8, 2010

JOINT STATEMENT BY SENATORS JOHN McCAIN AND JON KYL REGARDING PROP. 100

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) released the following joint statement regarding Proposition 100:

“We appreciate the hard work that the Governor and the Legislature have done to try to solve the state’s fiscal problems, and though we hadn’t planned to comment on what is rightly a state issue – the proposed increase in the state’s sales tax – we’ve been asked by various news media for our views.

“We support the right of Arizonans to decide the issue of a short-term sales tax increase on the local level.  However, as Arizonans and Americans across our nation continue to face perilous economic times, we fundamentally oppose increasing taxes on small businesses and working families.

“We recognize the difficult fiscal situation Arizona finds itself in and we appreciate the tireless dedication by our state’s elected officials to solve the budget problems.”

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Please post the McCain vs. Hayworth comments on the prior post… here, let’s discuss what the Sonoran Alliance‘s readership thinks of the prospects for passage of Proposition 100… and, for that matter, the prospects for Jan Brewer’s campaign to capture the GOP nomination for governor if the sales tax increase fails on May 18th?   — MBW    

Filed Under: Predictions, Press Release, State Government, Taxation Tagged With: , , , ,

McCain claims amnesia then flip-flops on proposed largest tax increase in Arizona’s history

March 8, 2010 By 16 Comments

In an article recently posted on the front of the Arizona Guardian website, McCain claims amnesia about the biggest proposed tax increase in Arizona’s history, crafted by Governor Brewer to appear on ballots May 18, which will up Arizona’s sales tax by 18%:

he hasn’t “given much attention” to the governor’s 1-cent sales tax referral or knows how he intends to vote on one of the state’s most pressing issues.

Then, barely a few hours after JD Hayworth issued a statement this morning against the sales tax increase (below), McCain issued a joint statement with Sen. Kyl declaring he is against the tax increase.

It is extremely disturbing that McCain had no clue about this proposed tax increase in his own state, which has probably been the biggest issue in Arizona politics over the past year, with a perpetual showdown at the State Capitol between Governor Brewer and the Republican-dominated state legislature over it. Governor Brewer won recently and finally got it referred to the ballot a few weeks ago. McCain is frequently accused of ignoring Arizona in favor of the national scene so this comes as no surprise to Arizonans. In fact, McCain recently told voters that he was going to run for Senate based on what he can do for Arizona in the future, not what he’s done in the past.

Lucy FootballIt is almost as disturbing that McCain was able to decide within a few hours his position on what is probably the most high-profile, divisive political issue facing Arizona. Unlike principled conservatives, McCain has a poor record on taxes, so it’s not like he could easily come to a quick conclusion opposing the tax hike.

Governor Brewer has endorsed McCain and strongly supported him. Now McCain is throwing her under the bus by opposing the tax increase, which she had staked her career upon. Obviously terrified by conservative JD Hayworth, McCain is back to flip-flopping into a conservative while he’s running for office. He flip-flopped on regulating vitamins last week, changing sides to oppose a bill he had originally sponsored with a Democrat. Does he stand for anything?The only thing he seems to be consistent on is flip-flopping.

HAYWORTH V. MCCAIN
Hayworth Opposes Largest State Tax Increase In History On May Ballot;
McCain “Not Sure” Of Vote 
PHOENIX, ARIZONA.  MARCH 8, 2010. In a story just posted at www.arizonaguardian.com, 24-year incumbent John McCain again shies away from Governor Jan Brewer’s endorsement and says he does not know how he’ll vote on the largest tax increase in Arizona history which will be on the May ballot.


“I honestly have not paid that much attention to what this initiative is and what the rational for it is,” McCain is quoted as saying. 


His conservative challenger, J.D. Hayworth, is opposed to the tax hike. 


“I realize that John has spent a lot of time in Washington during his three decades there but to claim you don’t know about the largest tax increase in your state’s history, or how you’ll vote on it, shows just how out of touch he is with Arizona,” Hayworth said. 


Vulnerable to the more conservative Hayworth on taxes, the Second Amendment, pro-life and pro-family issues and illegal immigration, McCain has engaged in transparent election year flip-flopping.


McCain also voted for the $850 billion bailout of the big banks which included $150 billion in pork, proposed a $300 billion bailout formortgage lenders and, according to the Heritage Foundation, sponsored an amnesty bill that would have cost taxpayers $2.6 trillion over the long-term.  And despite 28 years in Washington McCain now claims he was “misled” on the bank bailout vote despite expressing no such concerns at the time. 


Most recently the incumbent introduced big government legislation with Democrat Senator Byron Dorgan that would strip away consumer  choice and crush small businesses selling vitamins and health supplements in a giveaway to big drug companies.
For more information or to donate to the campaign, please go to www.JDforSenate.com.

Paid for by JD HAYWORTH 2010
Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Taxation
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