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Representative Schweikert on Medicare Report

May 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2011
CONTACT: Rachel Semmel

“We knew these numbers were going to be bad, but this report is sobering”

Washington, D.C. – Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) issued the following statement after the annual Medicare trustees report was released this afternoon:

“I recall sitting in my entry level college statistics class almost 30 years ago, calculating the need to begin saving for the baby boomers immediately. Washington did not do its job then, now today’s Medicare trustees report tells us what we have known for awhile—Medicare needs fundamental reform and soon.

“This report confirms that Medicare will become insolvent by 2024, a much more sobering number that previously thought. It goes on to say that even the IOUs will be exhausted by then and ‘without major changes in health care delivery systems, the prices paid by Medicare for health services are very likely to fall increasingly short of the costs of providing these services.’

“It is clear from reading this report that a key trigger to this sooner-than-expected insolvency date is due to the failed economic policies of the Obama Administration and its government take-over of healthcare.

“It cannot be more obvious that something needs to be done now and done quickly. We knew these numbers were going to be bad, but this report is sobering. However, House Republicans are continuing to push for entitlement reforms that will fundamentally improve these programs and create sustainability through common sense modernization.”

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Filed Under: Elected Officials, Federal Budget, Federal Government, Health Care, Press Release, Spending Tagged With: , ,

Representative Quayle Introduces Border Bill

May 13, 2011 By 5 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2011
CONTACT: Richard Cullen

Washington (D.C.) Congressman Ben Quayle (R-AZ) on Friday introduced legislation that will allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to have unrestricted access to federal lands in the southwestern borderlands region. The bill is being co-sponsored by the Homeland Security Chairman Peter King (R-NY), Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee Chairman Candice Miller (R-MI), and the entire House Republican Arizona Delegation, which includes Reps. Jeff Flake, Trent Franks, David Schweikert and Paul Gosar.

From Congressman Quayle (R-AZ), vice-chairman of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime:
“President Obama on Monday argued that his Administration is making huge strides to secure our Southern border. While we have seen some limited progress over the past few years, Arizonans—especially those living along the border—know that the border is far from secure. As we continue to push forward broader measures to secure our borders, we must immediately remove the bureaucratic barriers that hinder border enforcement. This bill provides common-sense reforms that make it easier for our border agents to do their jobs.”

From Rep. Peter King (R-NY), chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security:
“How can anyone take seriously the Obama Administration’s claim that it is intent on securing our borders when the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service hinder the Border Patrol’s access to some 40 percent of the Southwest Border? We cannot possibly succeed in securing our borders against illegal immigrants, including potential terrorists, unless our front-line Border Patrol agents can do their jobs anywhere along the border. This legislation will make our borders more secure.”

From Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI), chairman of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security:
“I applaud Rep. Quayle for offering this important piece of legislation. The U.S. Border Patrol should have unfettered access to every square inch of the Southwest border to detect, deter and interdict drug and human smugglers, and other illegal aliens”

From Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ):
“Given the vastness of federal land in Arizona, it’s imperative that the Border Patrol have the ability to prevent illegal immigration from occurring there.”

From Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ):
“Our Customs and Border Agents are on the front lines to protect us and preserve our security. The least we can do is ensure they are provided with every possible means for success, and this should include full and necessary access to our federal lands.”

From Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ):
“I applaud Representative Quayle for introducing this important legislation. The Administration’s failed border security policies are putting the people of Arizona at risk. This legislation removes the bureaucratic red tape that is preventing border patrol from doing their jobs on public lands throughout the state. My committees have examined this issue closely and found that illegal immigrants have done more damage to the environment than routine border patrol operations ever would. This legislation will not only make our border more secure, it enhances preservation of our state’s natural treasures.”

Background:
According to the non-partisan Government Accountability Office, 40 percent of the southwestern borderlands region is managed by federal land managers working for the Department of Interior and the Forest Service. Under current laws and regulations, border agents must obtain permission from these land managers to enforce border security measures in the protected areas. In one instance, border agents reported having to wait four months to obtain permission from land managers to move mobile surveillance equipment to an area of high illegal traffic. By the time permission was granted for that particular area, the illegal traffic had shifted to other areas. (Source: Government Accountability Office, Page 10)

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Filed Under: Border, Elected Officials, Legislation, National Security, Press Release Tagged With: ,

Pachyderm Coalition Releases 2011 Republican Legislator Rankings

May 13, 2011 By 8 Comments

Legislative Actions as of 5/9/2011
Last Updated 5/13/2011

We did an overview of the session from a Pachyderm Coalition rating perspective. Of legislation that passed the legislature, we supported 129 bills and opposed 16 for a percentage of 89%. When these were adjusted by the weights assigned to the bills, the percentage was slightly higher at 93% which meant that we were more successful, on average, with the bills that were more important to us. Also, there were 38 bills we opposed that did not pass in the legislature. The average scores of the legislators were good this session which reflected passing a good budget and probably also increased party discipline due to having larger majorities. The performance of Senators compared to Representatives, overall, was very comparable.

This year, we decided that it was important to add one more important player in the legislative process to our ratings: the Governor, Jan Brewer. We calculated her score after the session ended. After the governor decided which bills sent to her desk would become law and which she would veto, we applied our scoring to the Governor’s actions. For all bills sent by the legislature to the Governor, we considered signing the bill or allowing it to become law without signing would be considered as a YES vote while a veto would be considered a NO vote. The Governor either signed or vetoed all bills from the Regular Session – she did not allow a bill to become law without her signature. Signing a bill we positively weighted would increase her score and vetoing it would reduce her score. For negatively weighted bills, signing decreased her score and vetoing increased her score. As with the legislators, she was rated only on the actions she could take in the legislative process by a specific, recordable action. For the legislators, it is votes. For the Governor, it is allowing bills sent to her to become law or to veto them. Of the bills we were tracking, the Governor’s vetoed 20 bills we supported and 1 bill we opposed. She signed 109 bills we supported and 15 bills we opposed.

Governor Jan Brewer’s Pachyderm score is 56.7 which we label as Republican. This is substantially below the average scores of Republican Senators and Representatives at 81.3. It is, in fact, below the score of ANY Republican legislator – the lowest is 60.6. Governor Jan Brewer is the lowest scoring Republican in the state’s legislative process.

For additional information about the ratings, visit the Pachyderm Coalition website.

2011 Arizona State Senate Rankings:

2011 Arizona State House Rankings:

Filed Under: Elected Officials, Government, Legislation, PAC's, Political Parties, Press Release, Roll Call, State Government Tagged With:

Representative Quayle Discusses The Gas Crisis

May 12, 2011 By 2 Comments

Ben Quayle releases latest video discussing the Gas Crisis and the HEAT Team.

YouTube Preview Image
Filed Under: Elected Officials, Energy, Media, Press Release Tagged With: ,

NFIB’s Legislative Report Card Marks True Friends of Small Business

May 12, 2011 By 17 Comments

NFIB/Arizona’s 2011 Legislative Voting Record

Congratulations and thank you to the 11 of 90 Arizona lawmakers who scored a perfect 100% pro-small business voting record in 2011:

  • Senator Sylvia Allen (R-Snowflake LD5)
  • Representative Judy Burges (R-Skull Valley LD4)
  • Representative Heather Carter (R-Cave Creek LD7)
  • Senator Gail Griffin (R-Hereford LD25)
  • Representative Jack Harper (R-Surprise LD4)
  • Representative Steve Montenegro (R-Avondale LD12)
  • Senator Rick Murphy (R-Peoria LD9)
  • Representative Justin Olson (R-Mesa LD19)
  • Senate President Russell Pearce (R-Mesa LD18)
  • Representative David Smith (R-Carefree LD7)
  • Representative David Stevens (R-Sierra Vista LD25)

 

Press Release  

NFIB voting record considered Main Street’s gold-standard measurement

PHOENIX, Ariz., May 12, 2011—Arizona’s voice of small business, those Main Street enterprises that employ more workers and generate almost every new job, today issued its legislative report card on which state representatives and senators were its true friends.

In releasing its 2011 legislative Voting Record on the eve of National Small Business Week (May 16), NFIB, the state and nation’s leading small business association, graded legislators on their floor votes on 15 issues of maximum importance to Main Street, mom-and-pop enterprises.

“Though every legislator claims to be a friend of small business, our voting record provides a powerful tool for distinguishing between those who are pro-small business in deed from those who are only in word,” said NFIB/Arizona State Director Farrell Quinlan. “It’s easy for a lawmaker to pose for a photo at a small business back in their district and send out a nice press release commemorating Small Business Week, but it’s how a legislator presses that button on the floor of the House or Senate that’s ultimately the only meaningful way to gauge how high a priority voting with small business is to them.”

The Voting Record looked at the votes of all 60 members of the state house of representatives and 30 members of the state senate. Thirty-seven of 60 House members and 21 of 30 Senators scored 80 percent or better on the 15 issues, and an impressive seven House members and four Senators racked up perfect, 100-percent, pro-small-business voting records.

“The Voting Record does not reflect all elements considered by a lawmaker when voting, nor does it represent a complete profile of a legislator,” said Quinlan, “but it can be a guide in evaluating a legislator’s attitude toward small business.”

A brief description of all 15 bills and the voting records of each lawmaker can be found on the web at http://tiny.cc/2jn42. The record and more information about NFIB and small business can be found at www.nfib.com/arizona.

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NFIB is the nation’s leading small business advocacy association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small- and independent-business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system.  

Filed Under: Legislation, Press Release, Voters Guide

Undisciplined Bureaucracy: Raucous special session likely for Brewer’s personnel reform plan

May 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

by Mark Flatten
Goldwater Institute

Overhauling Arizona’s rules for disciplining state workers who are incompetent, ineffective, or behave badly remains a top priority for Governor Jan Brewer and lawmakers who say they will likely advance the issue in a special legislative session.

If they do, they can expect a backlash that could erupt into protests akin to those that occurred in Wisconsin earlier this year when legislators there were mulling a bill to curb the collective bargaining rights of public employees, the head of an Arizona labor union for government workers said.

A roughly 300-page proposal from Brewer would phase out existing civil service protections for state workers, moving them into an “at-will” system similar to what is typical in the private sector. Brewer has not released the bill or even a summary of the legislation. However, she did ask lawmakers in the waning days of the just-concluded legislative session to take up the issue before adjourning. But the governor’s request came too late, as lawmakers were anxious to wrap up a tough session, top legislators say.

The Goldwater Institute exposed the costly and cumbersome process that must be followed to discipline a government worker in a recent report, “Undisciplined Bureaucracy,” which showed that bad behavior ranging from sleeping on duty to sexual harassment typically is not enough to get a public employee fired. That investigation also showed that state workers are frequently put on prolonged periods of paid administrative leave during disciplinary investigations, often for conduct that ultimately warrants only minor reprimands.

To read the rest of this Watchdog Report, click here.

Filed Under: Government Reform, Legislation, Spending, State Government

Senator Steve Pierce: Boosting Arizona’s Economy

May 12, 2011 By 6 Comments

By Arizona State Senator Steve Pierce

How “Racinos” Could Save our State

This past session was one that had many interesting turns. We created the Arizona Commerce Authority, which makes the state more competitive in bringing new businesses to the state and expanding existing ones. We passed a package of tax cuts, phasing down the corporate income tax, eliminating payroll and property taxes for Arizona companies selling products out-of-state, and cutting property taxes for Arizonans. We passed the first balanced budget in five years, saved the state’s retirement system, saw demonstrations with the now infamous bullhorn, and made cuts, cuts, and more cuts.

For the third year, these cuts were significant. The Legislature’s primary mission is to pass a balanced budget, and we finally did it with no gimmicks, no new rollovers, and no new borrowing. We did what we expect everyone to do: live within our means. In the past, we have burdened the state with a great amount of debt that will take years to pay off, simply to avoid having to make these difficult but necessary cuts. This session there was no alternative–we did what needed to be done, and my caucus is content with these decisions. There is definitely still room for improvement in select areas, such as DES, and we can find these reforms with the help of the new director, Clarence Carter.

I believe we have to continue to make reforms that make the state leaner and more efficient, and this session has given us a great start. Now, we need to start looking for additional revenues.

Because the Republican caucuses in both the Senate and the House believe that raising taxes is not an option, we have to look toward new sources. So, what might those be?

First, tobacco is taxed at an enormous two dollars per pack. If voters can be swayed into passing legislation to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, why not find a tax that is fitting for this? If we taxed marijuana at the same rate as tobacco, we could raise as much as $4.8 million This is one place where I believe we can find some of the revenues we need to help pull Arizona out of its economic slump.

Another source of revenue we could look at is the concept of racinos, an idea that has been brought up and discussed heavily within our Legislature in the past. Never before did we want to consider the expansion of gaming in the state. However, times have changed and drastic situations call upon us to reconsider this issue. Our economy is in shambles and the state debt is catastrophic. We owe $1.1 billion on a mortgage of the Capitol, another $1 billion in education rollovers, and yet another $1 billion in the state’s deficit. How will we ever be able to rebuild our infrastructure, our parks, fund education, and keep AHCCCS alive without looking for other sources of revenue? We have to find more funding for Arizona without damaging our frail economy, and we should consider gaming as a means to do this. Recent studies show that with the implementation of racinos, we could make close to $300 million for the state’s General Fund in the first year alone, and could grow to $1 billion/year in the next few years.

Some naysayers claim that we should not permit gambling in Arizona. Clearly, they are not aware that we already allow it. For example, you can buy lottery tickets in the DES cafeteria right now. Take a drive down just about any major freeway and eventually you will see the enormous casinos on which the Indian tribes now have a monopoly. If you recall the passage of Prop 301, we limited the transparency of what we gain from casino gambling in the state, and we will not know exactly what percentage we actually receive for many years. It has been good for the tribes and will continue to be, but what many people do not realize is how good it could be for Arizona as a whole. Granting our state the right to have limited gaming would help agencies statewide, and therefore it is an option we should ponder closely.

These are extraordinary times that require extraordinary solutions. We have to look at every possible option, and racinos should be at the top of our list of considerations. They would bring innumerable jobs to the state, serving as a significant boost for Arizona’s economy. We should not dismiss the idea until we have carefully studied it first; it is a simple solution to a difficult problem.

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Filed Under: Gaming, Guest Opinion, Press Release Tagged With: , ,

The Race for LD-19

May 11, 2011 By

This is a brief request for information on all the individuals seeking to fill the House seat in Legislative District 19. Anyone interested in being included in a post on Sonoran Alliance, please send candidate info to sonoranalliance@gmail.com. Thank you!

 

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections Tagged With:

Goldwater Institute Files Lawsuit to Stop Arbitrary Censorship of Gun Ads

May 11, 2011 By 1 Comment

PHOENIX – Today, the Goldwater Institute filed a legal challenge to the removal of a business advertisement from 50 Phoenix bus shelters in October 2010, claiming the city’s rules are so vague that they allow city officials to violate business owners’ right to free speech.

The Phoenix Public Transit Department says posters for a website operated by TrainMeAz did not comply with city standards for advertising at bus shelters. But city officials cannot explain how the TrainMeAZ ads are substantially different than posters that appear on bus stops throughout the city for other businesses including jewelry stores, fast-food restaurants, and weekend gun shows, said Clint Bolick, the Goldwater Institute’s litigation director.

“Phoenix’s officials can oversee the content of advertising on city property to prevent obscene material or truly inappropriate messages,” Mr. Bolick said. “But the city cannot dismiss ads based on a bureaucratic whim. The free speech protections of the First Amendment and the Arizona Constitution require the city to enforce clear and objective standards that treat advertisers in a fair and equal manner.”

The Arizona Constitution protects free expression to a greater degree than the federal Constitution – it gives every person in the state the right to “freely speak, write and publish.” But the City’s ordinance permits only commercial speech at bus stops, prohibiting all other types of advertisements. This doesn’t comply with the state’s broad speech protections. In Arizona, the government may not favor one type of speech over other types.

The TrainMeAz website was created in 2010 to connect self-defense and marksmanship trainers with potential customers. To grow the new business, the website launched a promotion campaign that included roadside billboards. It also contracted for poster locations with CBS Outdoors, a private company hired by the Phoenix transit department to manage advertising at city bus stops. A week after the bus stop ads were in place, Phoenix transit officials ordered their removal. Negotiations to restore the ads failed, as the city claimed the posters did not propose “a commercial transaction.”

“If this is left unchallenged, there’s a serious risk that bureaucrats will apply their own personal views to determine which ads are accepted or rejected, violating the First Amendment’s protection from arbitrary government censorship,” Mr. Bolick said. “A vegetarian transit official could reject ads featuring fast-food burgers, or a conservative official could reject ads for businesses associated with liberal causes.”

The Goldwater Institute’s Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation represents TrainMeAz LLC and company manager Alan Korwin in this legal case. The Goldwater Institute has requested the courts strike down the city ordinance on bus shelter advertising, so that a new version can be adopted that provides clear standards for the transit department to follow. As an alternative, the courts also could determine that TrainMeAz’s ads should not have been removed.

Read more about this and other Goldwater Institute cases to protect individual rights and uphold the Constitution at www.goldwaterinstitute.org/korwinvcotton. The Goldwater Institute is an independent government watchdog supported by people who are committed to expanding free enterprise and liberty.

Filed Under: 2nd Amendment, Advertising, City Government, Constitutional Law, Freedom of Speech, Judicial, Press Release, Regulations

Keeping government from becoming a ‘kingmaker’

May 11, 2011 By 5 Comments

by Stephen Slivinski
Goldwater Institute

Governor Jan Brewer was right to veto the legislature’s attempt to carve out special tax privileges for certain businesses.

In her veto message, the governor cited many of the reasons the Goldwater Institute suggested for opposing the legislation. The bill had “potential to favor new businesses over those who have weathered the economic storms with us,” she wrote, and would require new bureaucracy to verify company eligibility.

The governor noted that if the bill passed, the new Commerce Authority—the entity that will replace the state’s Department of Commerce—would become the gatekeeper to decide which companies would qualify for the special tax breaks. She then concluded that could risk making “the Authority the ultimate judge and jury for every local economic development project,” and warned that the Authority should not become a “business kingmaker” for the state.

Even though SB 1041 will not become law, the Commerce Authority could still morph into a kingmaker, and one that the legislature and taxpayers must be vigilant in policing. When a government agency can decide which businesses to favor in any form—whether by special treatment through the tax code or selective exemption from certain regulations—it opens the door for, at best, the misguided pursuit of investment fads or, at worst, the potential for corruption and abuse.

While SB 1041 was problematic, allowing the Commerce Authority to become an economic kingmaker would be far worse. Making sure the Commerce Authority doesn’t become a one-stop shop for corporate welfare must be an ongoing task by taxpayers and government watchdog groups.

Stephen Slivinski is senior economist for the Goldwater Institute.

Learn More:

Goldwater Institute: Research shows states don’t stimulate job growth with taxpayer handouts

Goldwater Institute: Politicians go on “jobs poaching” expeditions

Governor’s Veto Letter: SB 1041

Filed Under: Economic Development, Legislation, State Economy, State Government, Taxation

Former Congressman John Shadegg Endorses Matt Salmon

May 10, 2011 By 18 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2011
CONTACT: Robert Johnson

“[Matt] recognizes that growth of government constricts this nation’s fundamental value of individual liberty.”

EAST VALLEY – Former Congressman Matt Salmon announced today that Former Congressman John Shadegg has endorsed his bid for Congress. Shadegg was elected to Congress in 1994 alongside Salmon as part of the “Republican Revolution.” He is a long-time fiscal conservative who has fought for lower taxes and against government waste. Shadegg was also a leading advocate in Congress and in the National Conservative Movement for limited government.

Shadegg said, “I worked with Matt Salmon for many years in Congress. He recognizes that growth of government constricts this nation’s fundamental value of individual liberty. He is a solid conservative and I know he will fight to reduce government spending, bring federal tax relief to hardworking Americans, and re-establish state and individual rights. Courage is a rare thing in Washington and Matt Salmon has proven time and again he has it. He has proven that he will work to change Washington without Washington changing him. I support Matt because we need someone who knows his way around and won’t be intimidated by the old bulls and the power elite. You won’t need to bet on Matt because of his rhetoric you can count on him because of his actions.”

“I am truly thrilled to receive the support of Congressman Shadegg,” said Salmon. “He is a great statesman and was truly a model for fiscal responsibility while he served in Congress. I cherished the time I was able to serve with him and pledge to continue his commitment fiscal conservatism, lower taxes and limited government.”

About Former Congressman John Shadegg
John Shadegg, a native Arizonan, grew up in the shadow of Barry Goldwater, one of our country’s and Arizona’s most revered statesmen. Shadegg’s father, Stephen, was Senator Goldwater’s campaign manger and speechwriter. From these two men, Shadegg learned that the most important thing in politics, and in life, is integrity. Throughout his fourteen years representing Arizona’s Third Congressional District, Shadegg has remained true to his principles and acted in the best interest of Arizona and the nation, regardless of consequence.

About Matt Salmon
Matt Salmon was first elected to the United States Congress in 1994 and served until 2000, honoring his term limit pledge. A proud fiscal conservative, Salmon was rated in the top five among all 535 members of the House and Senate by Citizen’s Against Government Waste for all six years he was in office. He is a lifetime member of the NRA with an A+ rating and also earned a 100% rating by the National Right to Life. He was also the proud recipient of the American Cancer Society’s “Top National Elected Official” award.

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Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Elected Officials, Endorsements, Press Release Tagged With: , ,

Avoiding a multi-million tax dollar ‘emergency’ in Glendale

May 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

by Carrie Ann Sitren
Goldwater Institute

Months after cries of “emergency,” the City of Glendale will be given another season to try to keep the Phoenix Coyotes hockey team playing in the desert.

Last year, the Glendale City Council approved a contract with Chicago millionaire Matthew Hulsizer to buy the team with the help of $116 million in municipal bonds backed by taxpayer dollars. The council declared that the bonds were an “emergency,” which took away the taxpayers’ right to petition for a public vote on the deal.

Four months later, the bonds still haven’t sold and the deal hasn’t closed. The council members themselves said they were rushed and misinformed when they voted last year. One city economic analysis showing that the taxpayers could lose on the deal wasn’t released until after the emergency vote. The deal committed the city’s hockey arena (previously funded by $180 million in taxpayer bonds) to the Coyotes for another 30 years, and required the city to pay a $97 million management fee over the first five years, on top of the $116 million in new bonds. This certainly was not the kind of decision to be made quickly.

Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane has written that he is glad his city isn’t in Glendale’s shoes, after having lost the bidding war a decade ago to lure the hockey team. The New York Times reported in September 2010, “With more than four decades of evidence to back them up, economists almost uniformly agree that publicly financed stadiums rarely pay for themselves.” Glendale has already racked up more than $3,000 per person in sports-related debt—not including what might be required to keep the Coyotes.

Tonight’s decision before the City Council would commit Glendale to spend another $25 million, for a second year in a row, to keep the Coyotes playing at Jobing.com Arena while a deal is made to sell the team to a new owner. If approved, Glendale will have another year for those negotiations. So there would be no reason to cut the time down to the wire. The city should take the time to study the economics and make all the information public, and it should not cut off any avenues for voter participation. This should not be another multi-million-dollar emergency.

Carrie Ann Sitren is an attorney with the Goldwater Institute’s Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation.

Learn More:

Goldwater Institute: Consultant in Phoenix Coyotes arena deal named in fraud lawsuit

Goldwater Institute v. City of Glendale: A challenge for taxpayers to see public records

Arizona Republic: Phoenix Coyotes deal with Glendale raises concern

Filed Under: City Government, Constitutional Law, Spending, Sports

Congressman Flake: So Just How Broke Are We?

May 9, 2011 By 4 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2011
CONTACT: Genevieve Frye Rozansky

Mesa, Arizona – Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today illustrated the size and scope of the growing national debt.

This week, a New Jersey couple will be headed to state prison after being convicted of robbing a bank in order to pay for their Las Vegas honeymoon. While the amount of money they stole remains undisclosed, the couple was ordered by a New Jersey court to pay $7,800 in restitution to the bank.

The U.S. is so broke that if a similar penalty fine of $7,800 were issued once they were caught, more than 1.7 billion couples would need to get caught robbing a bank in order to pay down our gargantuan $14 trillion debt.

“The U.S. oughta take the money and run,” said Flake.

Along with Senators McCain and Rubio, Congressman Flake introduced H.R. 634, the Debt Buy-Down Act, which allows taxpayers to designate up to 10 percent of their federal income tax liability to reduce the national debt. The bill then requires Congress to reduce federal spending by that amount. More information on the Debt Buy-Down Act can be found here.

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Filed Under: Debt, Elected Officials, Press Release

Rep. Schweikert Announces Community Listening Sessions

May 9, 2011 By 1 Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2011
CONTACT: Rachel Semmel

Scottsdale, Ariz. – Congressman David Schweikert announced today that he will host two Listening Sessions next week. Please circulate and share the times and locations for Monday’s event:

Constituents are invited to stop in and speak with the Congressman at either listening session for a one-on-one pre-scheduled appointment as well as an open forum discussion.

Listening Session with David Schweikert

When: Monday, May 16, 2011
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PT One-on-one sessions by appointment only
11:00 – 12:00 p.m. PT Open forum discussion
Where: City of Scottsdale, Appaloosa Library
Address: 7377 E. Silverstone Drive, Scottsdale, 85255 (map)

Listening Session with David Schweikert

When: Thursday, May 19, 2011
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PT One-on-one sessions by appointment only
11:00 – 12:00 p.m. PT Open forum discussion
Where: Riverview Toyota
Address: 2020 W. Riverview Auto Drive, Mesa, 85201 (map)
*Please use the west parking lot, immediately behind the auto dealer.

For a one-on-one appointment please call the District Office at 480-946-2411. If you are having difficulties with a federal agency, casework assistance will also be available.

Members of the press planning to attend, please RSVP to Rachel.Semmel@mail.house.gov. For more information on these events, please contact Jesse Hernandez. He can be reached at Jesse.Hernandez@mail.house.gov or at 480-946-2411.

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Filed Under: Elected Officials, Press Release, Town Hall Tagged With: ,

Maricopa County GOP leaders unite in support of Pearce, DiCiccio

May 8, 2011 By

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
Sunday, May 8, 2011

 

Maricopa County GOP leaders unite in support of Pearce, DiCiccio

May 7, 2011
 

Two conservative stalwarts face recall by big government advocates

The following resolution passed unanimously by the Executive Guidance Committee of the Maricopa County Republican Committee which met Thursday evening. The committee is comprised of 20 legislative district chairman, five members-at-large and the statutory officers:

WHEREAS, Senate President Russell Pearce and Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio were duly elected by the voters of their district; and

WHEREAS, both Pearce and DiCiccio are governing in a manner consistent with the promises and agendas each ran on in their election; and

WHEREAS, both Pearce and DiCiccio are now the target of liberal special interest groups, from both inside and outside Arizona, who are seeking their recall;

RESOLVED, That both Senate President Russell Pearce and Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio are commended for their steadfast determination and conservative values on behalf of Arizona’s citizens and taxpayers, and

RESOLVED, That the Executive Guidance Committee of the Maricopa County Republican Committee will support and defend both Senate President Russell Pearce and Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio against the attempts at recall.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Elected Officials, Government, Press Release

Tonight on the Alexander & Goldman Show: Mortgages, foreclosures and issues that affect homeowners

May 7, 2011 By

The archived show is available here. Tonight on the Alexander & Goldman Show from 6-7pm AZ/PST, we will be talking with bankruptcy attorneys Bill Ponath and Dennis Riccio about mortgages, foreclosures, bankruptcies and  what homeowners need to know about the recession/depression and housing crash. Selling your house? This article tells you how to compete with foreclosures. Did you know that buying is still cheaper than renting in most cities? If you are underwater on your mortgage, here are your options to avoid foreclosure. Why do foreclosures take so long?

We will also have Alice Lara from the Arizona Latino Republican Association on at the beginning of the show to talk about the latest status of ethnic studies classes in the Tucson School District, how SB 1070 looks one year later, and the latest news from ALRA. ALRA is having a wine tasting event at the Kokapelli Winery on May 20.

Last week’s archived show with Sheriffs Paul Babeu of Pinal County and Larry Dever of Cochise County discussing BorderSheriffs.com is available here.

Tune in locally to KKNT 960 AM or listen live online at KKNT960.com, which you can access by clicking here.

Filed Under: Press Release

Friday Poll: The Race for Phoenix Mayor

May 6, 2011 By 12 Comments

 

This Friday’s poll is now up and we’re asking who you would vote for as Mayor of Phoenix. You can vote via our sidebar or by clicking here.

The poll will be up one week and will limit voting based on cookie/IP address.

If you have an idea for a poll, please email us at sonoranalliance@gmail.com.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, City Government, Polls Tagged With: , , , ,
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