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Creator of “Agenda” Documentary, Curtis Bowers speaks October 2nd

September 28, 2012 by 2 Comments

October 2nd is a date you should put aside immediately and make plans to attend this one night only chance to hear from Curtis Bowers, live and in person! His appearance is being hosted by the East Valley Tea Party in Mesa.

Curtis Bowers is the man who risked it all to make his award winning documentary “Agenda: Grinding America Down.” Tens of thousands of copies have been sold, and countless millions have seen this film. It has changed hearts and minds and raised the level of awareness of the dangers to America all across the country.

Curtis is coming to the Valley of the Sun to do some filming for a sequel to “Agenda” and has graciously consented to appear at the East Valley Tea Party at 7:00 pm, October 2nd. (Please arrive by 6:30 pm for seating!)

At 5:00 pm, the full 90 minute film will be screened at Burke Basic School. Afterwards there will be a short break, and the regular meeting of the East Valley Tea Party will begin at 7:00 pm.

At 7:00 pm there will be a brief showing of the trailer for “Agenda” and then Curtis will speak and answer questions. He will also be available to auotgraph copies of “Agenda” afterwards.

The event will be held at Burke Basic School, 131 East Southern Avenue, in Mesa.

Bring a friend, and don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a courageous man who followed his heart to make a difference. You have seen Trevor Loudon and Dr. David A. Noebel, two of the featured guests in “Agenda,” now see and hear from the man who created and produced it.

Filed Under: Freedom of Speech, Media, Political Science, Press Release, Special Event

Arizona University Students Unknowingly Contributed $120,000 to Prop 204 Campaign

September 28, 2012 by 3 Comments

Arizona university students have contributed over $120,000 in cash and funded countless man hours to support the Yes on Proposition 204 campaign, which would permanently raise the state sales tax, yet most of them probably don’t even know they’ve made a contribution. In fact, many of them may not even agree with the initiative.

In a Special Investigation released Thursday, Goldwater Institute Investigative Reporter Christian Palmer explains how the Arizona Students Association broke its own rules earlier this year when the student-funded 501(c)(4) organization applied its money and manpower to aid the Quality Education and Jobs Committee, a political committee formed to launch the statewide ballot initiative now called Prop 204.

This week, four students who sit on the ASA board as Arizona State University representatives resigned their positions, citing their inability to speak out against ASA internal politics, including how the organization’s funds are spent. Another representative resigned his ASA board post earlier this month.

One former ASA board member told the Goldwater Institute that when he tried to speak out against the organization’s actions last year, professional staff threatened to sue him.

Founded in 1974, the ASA is a student group representing the 130,000 students who attend ASU, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona. According to the ASA’s mission statement, the organization works to “make sure that higher education in Arizona is affordable and accessible by advocating to elected officials and running issue campaigns to engage students.” The ASA reaped more than $585,000 from Arizona university students in 2012. Over the course of the past five years, the group has received $2.6 million in fees.

The Goldwater Institute found that the ASA doesn’t have to get approval from students before it determines how to spend funds, but it is required to get approval from its board of directors, which is comprised of elected representatives of the student body. However, those directors’ one-year terms make board turnover nearly constant, which means significant power resides with the ASA’s professional staff members. According to former ASA board members interviewed by the Goldwater Institute, members of the ASA’s professional staff knowingly ignored the organization’s bylaws in order to help Prop 204.

This controversy emerged last spring, when several board members refused to support Prop 204, and took steps to ensure the ASA did not endorse the initiative. Having repeatedly failed to secure that endorsement from a majority of the board, the ASA’s professional staff proceeded to earmark organizational resources for the initiative campaign, including cutting a $20,000 check to the campaign, despite the fact that ASA internal financial policies require the board to review and approve all expenditures of $300 or more.

In June, having been almost entirely repopulated by newly elected board members, the ASA board voted to contribute $100,000 to the Yes on Prop 204 campaign, making the ASA a larger contributor to the campaign than the teachers’ unions and school boards association and second only to a contractors’ group.

The ASA’s contributions to the Yes on Prop 204 campaign raise legal questions about whether their actions constituted unconstitutional “compelled speech” on behalf of its student funders. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in cases on similar issues that people cannot be forced to fund political speech with which they disagree. Because all students are required to pay the fee to the ASA and the process for obtaining a refund isn’t advertised and is cumbersome, the fee may violate the First Amendment rights of university students.

The Goldwater Institute is examining these recent events and is considering legal action on behalf of ASU students.

To read Welcome to the Real World, please visit: http://goldwaterinstitute.org/article/welcome-real-world

Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Ballot Measures, Campaigns & Elections, Constitutional Law, Education Tagged With:

‘Won’t Back Down’—A Must-See Movie

September 27, 2012 by 55 Comments

By Jonathan Butcher, Goldwater Institute

Mark your calendar for Friday, September 28, when the feature film Won’t Back Down hits theaters. Based on real events in California, the movie depicts a group of parents’ efforts to reform a failing school.   Hollywood stars Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight, Away We Go) and Viola Davis (The Help) play two devoted mothers who gather signatures for a petition to take over their children’s school, one that has underserved students for years.

California is one of four states with a “parent trigger” or “parent empowerment” law that allows parents to petition to convert a traditional school into a charter school or replace school leadership. Under these laws, at least half of the parents in a failing school must support the transition. California, Texas, and Mississippi passed laws in 2010 and 2011, while Gov. Bobby Jindal signed Louisiana’s law earlier this year.

The Arizona State Senate passed a “parent empowerment” bill last March, though the measure eventually stalled in the House. Lawmakers in at least 20 other states are considering the reform idea.

Two weeks ago, Businessweek explained how the parent empowerment law has given parents in Adelanto, California new hope. Doreen Diaz joined with other Desert Trails Elementary parents in 2010 and petitioned to turn their school into a charter school. With the help of Parent Revolution, a non-profit based in Los Angeles, Doreen gathered signatures and began a grueling battle with school and district leaders.

While the fate of Desert Trails remains unresolved, Doreen insists drastic action is needed to help its students. “I hope that more people see [Won’t Back Down] and are inspired to stand up and fight,” Doreen says. She can point to McKinley Elementary, where parent engagement spurred the creation of a charter school nearby—a school that outperformed McKinley in the first year it was open—or the dozen states considering parent empowerment laws.

I hope Won’t Back Down inspires lawmakers to give parents the freedom to turn failing schools into success stories.

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Jonathan Butcher is the education director for the Goldwater Institute.

Learn more:

Goldwater Institute: Momentum Building for Parent Empowerment

Bloomberg Businessweek: In California, Public School Parents Stage a Coup

Parent Revolution: STAR Test Results Show Celerity Outperforming McKinley in All Subject Areas

IMDB: Won’t Back Down

Filed Under: Culture, Education

MCAO Bill Montgomery Debates Proposition 121 on AZPBS’s Horizon

September 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment

ICYMI: Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery appeared on KAET’s Horizon Monday night to debate Paul Johnson on Proposition 121 – The “Top Two” Primary initiative.

This video presentation should give you all you need to know why you should vote AGAINST Prop 121.

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County Attorney Montgomery did a fantastic job taking apart Paul Johnson’s arguments.

Visit the Save Our Vote AZ website here.

Visit the Save Our Vote AZ Facebook page here.

Follow Save Our Vote AZ on Twitter here.

Save Our Vote AZ

 

Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Ballot Measures, Campaigns & Elections, Debates, Elected Officials, Initiative(s), Media, State Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Doug Ducey Makes the Case to Protect Arizona Taxpayers on AZPBS’ Horizon

September 26, 2012 by 11 Comments

Watch as Arizona State Treasurer Doug Ducey reveals the truth about Proposition 204 and why Arizona voters should vote AGAINST this initiative.

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This is a permanent and forever annual $1 BILLION sales tax increase to Arizonans. This will do NOTHING to guarantee help to students and teachers in the classroom.

Please join the NO on 204 Campaign here.

Follow NO on 204 on Twitter here.

Like the NO on 204 Facebook page here.

Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Ballot Measures, Campaigns & Elections, Debates, Elected Officials, Government Reform, Initiative(s), Media, State Economy, State Government, Taxation Tagged With: , , ,

Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce opposes Prop 204

September 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The below press release from the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is gratefully received. The number of organizations and individuals that oppose Proposition 204 is growing every day.

Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Opposes Prop 204

Press Release

September 25th, 2012

The Tucson Hispanic Chamber Board of Directors has voted to oppose Prop 204 – the Quality Education and Jobs Initiative. The chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee which is composed of members of the Chamber from Southern Arizona recommended opposition of the controversial initiative to the Board of Directors after hearing the pro debate and the con debate from the opposing sides of the argument. Tannya Gaxiola, the Chairwoman of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber expressed that “Our decision was not made lightly. We are concerned about the quality of Arizona’s education, the importance of a highly educated and trained workforce, and the challenge southern Arizona particularly faces in attracting , retaining and growing businesses to our State. We realize that this issue is of upmost importance to our small business community.”The initiative would make permanent the one cent sales tax that was passed two years ago. The Tucson Hispanic Chamber supported the temporary sales tax in 2010. “However, our members were concerned about the elimination of the promise to the business community of a temporary tax, the further tying of the hands of our elected officials who we have voted to represent us, and the broad scope and complexity of the initiative which includes infrastructure and public health along with education. “stated Lea Marquez Peterson, the President/CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber.Prop 204 would further hamper our elected representatives and make it challenging to have any flexibility during a budget crisis like the State experienced over the last two years. In addition, the passing of Prop 204 would mean that nearly two-thirds of state spending will be mandated by voters and that Arizona would have the second highest sales tax in the U.S. further impeding our ability to attract business to our state.

The Tucson Hispanic Chamber applauds the goal of reforming education and finds it worrisome that Arizona ranks near the bottom of all states in spending per pupil – $7,848 versus $10,615 nationwide, however, the Chamber is concerned that the initiative provides a permanent funding stream, throwing money at the problems without addressing possible efficiencies in education, State spending priorities, or providing sufficient accountability for results. The Tucson Hispanic Chamber Board of Directors believes that in order to improve the level of education funding in Arizona, voters should elect legislators who take that priority into consideration with all of the State’s other pressing needs.

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

POLL: Arizona Proposition 204 in Phoenix Business Journal

September 26, 2012 by 3 Comments

Phoenix Business Journal has posted a poll on Prop 204, asking “What do you think about the effort to continue a 1-cent sales tax for education?”

As of now, “NO” is winning by a margin of six points, but a strong showing in a survey like this can only help.

For more information, please visit our Facebook Page or our Website.

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

The Hidden Cost of the Income Tax

September 26, 2012 by 3 Comments

By Stephen Slivinski, Goldwater Institute

Decades of experience have shown us that high taxes dampen economic growth. State policymakers hoping to encourage job growth are right to worry about their state’s tax load on the private sector.

What needs more attention than it gets now is what a state taxes. As it turns out, most states actually rely on the very tax that slows job growth the most: the income tax.

Most states, for instance, assess higher income tax rates on those with higher incomes. Not only does that penalize those who are most successful in the private sector, it inhibits job growth by making small businesses – which are typically the creators of the largest share of jobs in most states and pay their income taxes through the personal income tax code – pay higher taxes the more they grow.

States with graduated-rate income taxes, like Arizona, also tend to see government revenues grow faster than personal incomes and that means the government gets richer faster than the private sector. That’s always bad for long-term economic growth.

The best way out of the trap is to eliminate the tax that is the most damaging to economic growth. Eliminating the income tax in Arizona could not only remedy these problems but also help launch the state into the ranks of the economic powerhouses like Texas. This policy change could still create more than 20,000 new jobs in the first year because it gets rid of the hidden economic costs associated with an income tax.

Every state has natural advantages and disadvantages that policymakers cannot control. But they can control tax policy. Getting rid of the income tax is the only policy bold enough to fundamentally boost long-term economic growth in Arizona.

Stephen Slivinski is a senior economist at the Goldwater Institute.

Learn more:

Goldwater Institute: A New Tax Plan for a New Economy: How Eliminating the Income Tax Can Create Jobs

Cato Institute: State Income Taxes and Economic Growth

National Taxpayers Union Foundation: The Economic Impact of the Adoption of a State Income Tax in New Hampshire

Filed Under: Economic Development, Economics, Jobs/Labor, State Budget, State Economy, State Government, Taxation

Senator McCain Calls Carmona Attack: “The Kind of Politics Arizonans Are Sick and Tired of”

September 25, 2012 by 56 Comments

Jeff Flake

Democrat’s attack won’t help a single veteran get better care

PHOENIX – Democrat Richard Carmona launched a desperate negative ad today accusing Jeff Flake of voting against our nation’s veterans and servicemen and women. United States Senator John McCain, a highly-decorated Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war, responded to the charge, saying:

“Dr. Carmona’s false and negative attack on Jeff Flake is exactly the kind of politics that Arizonans are sick and tired of. These kinds of attacks aren’t going to help a single Arizona veteran get better care. I’ve worked with Jeff Flake on veterans issues for 12 years, so I know first hand that his commitment to Arizona veterans is strong. I look forward to working with him in the U.S. Senate to further advocate for the men and women who have served our nation.”

Arizona’s Jeff Flake has a strong record of standing up for our nation’s veterans and servicemen and women, and that’s a record he will continue in the Senate. Below is a sampling of freestanding pro-veteran legislation that he has supported during his time in Congress. 

107th Congress

·      HR 4514 – Veterans’ Major Medical Facilities Construction Act of 2002

·      HR 4085 – Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2002

·      HR 4015 – Jobs for Veterans Act

·      HR 2540 – Veterans’ Compensation Rate Amendments of 2001, a bill that increased rates of compensation for certain veterans and their dependents.

·      HR 1696 – To expedite the construction of the World War II memorial in the District of Columbia

·      HR 1291 – Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001

·      HR 811— Veterans Hospital Emergency Repair Act

·      HR 801 — Veterans’ Survivor Benefits Improvements Act of 2001

108th Congress

·      S 1156 — Veterans Health Care, Capital Asset, and Business Improvement Act of 2003, an omnibus-type bill that enhanced health care authorities for veterans, authorized projects and new facilities, and enhanced personnel matters within the VA.

·      H Con Res 409 – Recognizing with humble gratitude the more than 16,000,000 veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II and the Americans whosupported the war effort on the home front and celebrating the completion of the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall in the District of Columbia

·      H Con Res 212 — Recognizing and Supporting the Goals and Ideals of the Year of the Korean War Veteran, and for other purposes

·      H J Res 91– Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944

·      HR 4231 — Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Act of 2004

·      HR 4175 — Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004

·      HR 2297 – Veterans Benefits Act of 2003

·      HR 1911 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance cooperation and the sharing of resourcesbetween the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense

·      HR 1720 – Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act

·      HR 1516 — National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003, which directed the Secretary of the VA to establish six new national cemeteries.

·      HR 1460 — Veterans Entrepreneurship and Benefits Improvement Act of 2003, which would have created preferences for veteran-owned businesses within the SBA, among other provisions.

·      HR 1257 — Selected Reserve Home Loan Equity Act, which would have made permanent the authority for individuals who complete six years of service in the Selected Reserve to receive home loans guaranteed, insured, or made through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

·      HR 100 — Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which revised provisions with respect to certain civil protections and rights afforded to service members while on active-duty assignment.

109th Congress

·      S 1235 — Veterans’ Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006

·      H Res 1070 — Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Members of the House should actively engage with employers and the American public at large to encourage the hiring of members and former members of the Armed Forces who were wounded in service and are facing a transition to civilian life.

·      HR 6314 — Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program Extension

·      HR 5037 — Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act, which protects funerals at national cemeteriesfrom protests.

·      HR 4843 — Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006

·      HR 4061 — Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Management Improvement Act of 2005,which would have ensured that the CIO of the VA received all proper resources for IT systems, ensuring that veterans were being served by the best technology.

·      HR 3200 — Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Enhancement Act of 2005, which made permanent authorities previously passed by Congress that increased the maximum coverage under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance and the Veterans’ Group Life Insurance programs from $250,000 to $400,000.

110th Congress

·      H Res 1335 — Celebrating the 120-year partnership between the Government and State veterans homes

·      H Res 1291 — Expressing gratitude for the contributions of the American GI Forum on its 60th anniversary

·      H Res 1098 — Supporting the goals and ideals of the Year of the American Veteran.

·      H Res 963 — Supporting the goals and ideals of National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week, and for other purposes

·      H Res 790 — Commending the people of the State of Washington for showing their support for the needs of the State of Washington’s veterans and encouraging residents of other States to pursue creative ways to show their own support for veterans

·      H Res 680 — Condemning the actions of September 7, 2007, resulting in damage to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial

·      H Con Res 336 — Honoring the sacrifices and contributions made by disabled American veterans

·      H Con Res 5 — Latest Title: Expressing support for the designation and goals of “Hire a Veteran Week” and encouraging the President to issue a proclamation supporting those goals

·      HR 6445 — Veterans’ Health Care Policy Enhancement Act of 2008, would have enhanced several benefits for various veterans.

·      HR 5892 — Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008, the bill would have increased the number of veterans eligible for disability compensation by modifying the requirements for eligibility, and contained some other provisions.

·      HR 5856 — Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008

·      HR 5826 — Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008

·      HR 4169 — American Braille Flag Memorial Act, would have authorized the Secretary of the Army to place in Arlington National Cemetery an American Braille tactile flag honoring blind members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and other Americans.

·      HR 3819 — Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2008, which would have required certain veterans to be reimbursed for the cost of emergency treatment received in a non-VA facility, and other provisions.

·      HR 2239 — Early Access to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefits Act, which would have extended eligibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits to disabled servicemembers not yet discharged from the military but who are likely to be discharged because of their condition.

·      HR 2199 — Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007

·      HR 2192 – To establish an Ombudsman within the Department of Veterans Affairs, which would have established within the VHA an Office of the Ombudsman, responsible for serving as a last resort for veterans’ health care and benefits complaints and issues that cannot be resolved at a local or regional level and maintaining a public website with contact information for each patient advocate at each VA medical center.

·      HR 1538 — Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, would have established policy for care, management, and transition of servicemembers with serious injuries or illnesses.

·      HR 1527 — Rural Veterans Access to Care Act, would have provided greater access to care forveterans in rural areas.

·      HR 1470 — Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act

·      HR 1284 — Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007

·      HR 797 – Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007, which provided veterans who are blind in one eye and starting to go blind in the other eye eligibility for benefits right away, instead of waiting for them to go totally blind.

·      HR 612 — Returning Servicemember VA Healthcare Insurance Act of 2007, which would have enhanced medical care for combat veterans.

·      HR 327 — Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, this bill created policies to help deal with suicide amongst veterans.

·      HR 67 — Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2007, this bill sought to improve coordination of outreach efforts within the VA.

111th Congress

·      S 3860 — A bill to require reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery.

·      S 1963 — Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, which enhanced policy for caregiver support, female veterans, mental health care, and other matters.

·      H Res 1746 — Recognizing and supporting the efforts of Welcome Back Veterans to augment the services provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans’ Affairs in providing timely and world-class care for veterans and members of the ArmedForces suffering from PTSD and related psychiatric disorders

·      H Res 1385 — Recognizing and honoring the courage and sacrifice of the members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.

·      H Res 868 — Honoring and recognizing the service and achievements of current and former female members of the Armed Forces.

·      H Res 866 — Expressing support for designation of a National Veterans History Project Week to encourage public participation in a nationwide project that collects and preserves the stories of the men and women who served our nation in times of war and conflict

·      H Res 398 — Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift’s success.

·      H Res 360 — Urging all Americans and people of all nationalities to visit the national cemeteries,memorials, and markers on Memorial Day.

·      H Res 291 — Recognizing the crucial role of assistance dogs in helping wounded veterans live more independent lives, expressing gratitude to The Tower of Hope, and supporting the goals and ideals of creating a Tower of Hope Day.

·      H Con Res 238 — Recognizing the difficult challenges Black veterans faced when returning home after serving in the Armed Forces, their heroic military sacrifices, and their patriotism in fighting for equal rights and for the dignity of a people and a Nation

·      H J Res 80 — Recognizing and honoring the Blinded Veterans Association on its 65th anniversary of representing blinded veterans and their families.

·      HR 4810 — End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010

·      HR 4667 — Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010

·      HR 4505 — To enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces.

·      HR 3685 — To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccessInternet website and to publicize such Internet website

·      HR 2990 — Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act, which would have adjusted retired military pay and grade for reserve members who are recalled to active status and who completed at least two years of service in active status, as well as other provisions.

·      HR 1293 — Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009

·      HR 1211 — Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act

·      HR 1172 — To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors

·      HR 1168 — Veterans Retraining Act of 2009, the bill would have provided financial assistance to unemployed veterans who were enrolled in a training program that teaches a skill that’s in demand.

·      HR 1089 — Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act, the bill would have helped eliminate a backlog of complaints filed with the Department of Labor by veterans who lost their job because of their military service.

·      HR 1037 — Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009, the bill would have directed the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot program to expand work-study opportunities for veterans.

·      HR 1016 — Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, which authorized advanced appropriations for VA medical accounts – this will ensure that in the event of a shut down or other partisan stalling, veterans’ health care will continue.

112th Congress

·      HR 4201 — Servicemember Family Protection Act, the bill would have amended current law to address custody issues.

·      HR 2646 — Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011

·      HR 1657 — To revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans

·      HR 1627 — Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012

·      HR 1484 — Veterans Appeals Improvement Act of 2011, the bill would have established a VeteransJudicial Review Commission charged with reviewing and making recommendations to Congress to improve the appellate review process for veterans’ benefits.

·      HR 1383 — Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011, this bill corrected a serious problem related to S 3447 that would have resulted in AZ veterans having to pay more money out of pocket for their tuition.

For more information on Jeff Flake and why he’s running for the U.S. Senate, please visit his website at www.JeffFlake.com.

 

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Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Campaigns & Elections, Legislation, Military, Press Release, Veterans Tagged With: , , ,

NRCC Releases Ad Exposing How Extreme Kyrsten Sinema Is

September 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Campaigns & Elections, Political Ad Tagged With: , , ,

Who cares how Joanne Goldwater votes?

September 25, 2012 by 2 Comments

A quick post to answer another post on Tucson Citizen blog by blogger “Nasty Jack.” Supposedly, the daughter of the late Senator Barry Goldwater has decided to vote for Richard Carmona for U.S. Senate.

To which we answer, “Who cares?!”

When another Goldwater family member was asked about Joanne’s decision and public pronouncement, the answer was, “Oh, she’s the liberal in the family. No one takes her seriously.”

Sonoran Alliance is willing to bet that the vast majority of the Goldwater family is supporting Jeff Flake – the true conservative – in the race for U.S. Senate.

Never mind the black sheep in the family.

Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Campaigns & Elections, Guest Opinion Tagged With: , , , ,

Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen Releases No on Proposition 204 Op-Ed

September 25, 2012 by 7 Comments

Proposition 204 (“Permanent Sales Tax Increase, Education & Transportation”) is NOT the same temporary tax that is in place now and that will expire in 2013. This is a whole new tax with many changes written into the initiative.

Prop 204 is very dangerous, because it changes our constitutional form of government that requires the legislature to appropriate the tax dollars. The tax in place now did not make constitutional changes. Prop 204 decreases the power of the people by taking away their vote to check the legislature in the budgeting process. If Prop 204 passes, it will be nearly impossible for the legislature to change the sales tax rate, one of the highest in the nation, in the future.

Our national economic future is uncertain. Congress is wrestling with their $1.4 trillion budget deficit and the $16 trillion debt, and has passed a budget reduction bill that will cut aid to the state by 9% in 2013. The Arizona Legislature, which is elected by the people and accountable to the people, will need the ability more than ever to appropriate our tax dollars in the best interest of the public’s welfare and safety to keep all state responsibilities functioning.

In addition to the significant structural change in our management of tax money, Prop 204 also has language written into the bill stipulating that the legislature cannot reduce education funding from the 2012 levels going forward. This is reckless, considering that school enrollment can go up or down, and education funding should reflect that reality.

The proposition also has language that gives the Arizona Department of Transportation millions of dollars that can’t be touched and yet there is no reduction in the state gasoline tax that citizens are paying at the pump.

Those who wrote Prop 204 were also generous with other areas concerning welfare and healthcare, throwing millions of dollars into programs, and again tying the hands of the legislature in the budgeting process.

As the teachers union and others talk about the reductions to education these last three years, remember the $3 billion deficit that was brought about by increases in spending that could not be sustained. Between 2008 and 2010, the state lost 33% of its revenue, yet education received a reduction of 3.4%, in comparison to other state agencies which received reductions from 15.8% to 53%.

In 2008, state aid was $5,431 per student. Today it is $5,244. (Schools also receive federal and local dollars we have no control over.) This last session we increased funding to education by $56 million and as revenues improve, the legislature will add more.

The Arizona Legislature worked hard to bring our state budget back into balance. Along with other good legislation we have been able to improve our state economy whereas national job growth is stagnant. Arizona is now Number 4 in the nation for job creation opportunities.

Please vote NO on Prop 204 and protect your ability to have a say in the budgeting process through your elected legislator.

Senator Sylvia Allen
District 5
President pro tempore

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Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Ballot Measures, Campaigns & Elections, Guest Opinion, Press Release, Spending, State Government, Taxation Tagged With: , , ,

Republican Legislative Candidate Auggie Bartning to Debate Katie Hobbs Tonight

September 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Auggie Bartning

Tempe – Auggie Bartning, candidate for Arizona State Senate in legislative district twenty-four, released the following statement today regarding his expectations of the debate with state senator Katie Hobbs this evening.

“I look forward to debating Katie this evening. We all know our state faces problems but I will be providing solutions to these problems that are burdening Arizonans. Tonight’s debate will exemplify the differences between my opponent and me. We both recognize the issues that are facing our state. However, there are two different paths the people of LD24 can choose in order to successfully fix our state’s problems. Hopefully the constituents will walk away tonight with a better understanding of whom will best represent their will in Arizona’s LD24.”

Information for tonight’s debate:

September 25, 2012
The debate begins at 5:30PM
A.E. England Building at the Civic Space Park
424 North Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004

 

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Auggie Bartning is a Republican running for Arizona State Senate in the twenty-fourth Legislative District.

Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Campaigns & Elections, Debates, Press Release Tagged With: ,

Former Speaker & Republican Candidate Kirk Adams Endorses Salmon for CD-5 Election

September 25, 2012 by 4 Comments

Matt Salmon

Calls for others to unite behind Salmon’s bid to return to Congress

EAST VALLEY – Matt Salmon, former Congressman and Republican nominee for Arizona’s 5th congressional district, today proudly announced the endorsement of former Arizona Speaker of the House and CD-5 Republican primary candidate Kirk Adams. In a strong show of unity, Speaker Adams released the following statement:

“It was a close and vigorous primary campaign and the voters made their choice. That choice is Matt Salmon. He is now the only candidate in the race with the capacity to defend free enterprise from the attacks being waged by the Obama Administration. When it comes time to choose between free enterprise or big government, he will choose free enterprise. As I head to the polls this November, Matt Salmon will have my support, and I urge others to support him too.”

“I am grateful to receive the support from Speaker Kirk Adams,” stated former Congressman Salmon. “He is one of Arizona’s brightest leaders and has demonstrated his firm commitment to defending liberty and free enterprise at the state level. Throughout the primary election, we both campaigned on the message of fiscal responsibility and limited government. I look forward to working with leaders like Speaker Adams to return these principles to our government and get us back on the road to growth and prosperity.”

About Speaker Kirk Adams
Kirk Adams is a husband, father, and small business owner. He is a partner at the Adams Agency, which has been ranked the #1 insurance agency by Ranking Arizona. Adams is a lifelong resident of the East Valley. After joining the state House in 2006, he became so frustrated by the unwillingness and inability of Republicans in the Legislature to stand up for their conservative principles that he launched a long-shot campaign to oust the veteran Speaker of the House. Adams shocked the Republican establishment and political class, winning the Speakership at only 35 years of age. Adams turned the tide in the House and put Arizona back on the path to fiscal responsibility with an aggressive agenda of reform, courageously taking on some of the most challenging issues in Arizona.

About Matt Salmon
Matt Salmon was first elected to the United States Congress in 1994 and served until 2000, honoring his term limit pledge. 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.

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

Does Kyrsten Sinema Agree with Her Party’s Efforts to Protect Solyndra-Like Solar Company’s Ability to Get Taxpayer-Funded Loan?

September 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

NRCC

Washington Dems Chooses to Continue Reckless Gambles Over Fiscal Restraint 

WASHINGTON — Recently, Kyrsten Sinema’s party voted to ensure her party could continue to give middle-class families’ tax dollars to solar companies like SoloPower that are structured eerily similar to now-bankrupt Solyndra (Roll Call #6231, 9/14/2012). Will Sinema also ignore the signs and champion all the same, reckless policies that waste hundreds of millions of struggling families’ hard-earned tax dollars?

“Even with their record of failure, Kyrsten Sinema’s Washington leaders are prepared to throw more taxpayer dollars at now-bankrupt Solyndra sister companies,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Arizona families need to know if Sinema knows fiscal restraint when it comes to being presented with another way to spend their taxpayer dollars or if she supports companies like SoloPower who are fated to join failed companies like Solyndra?”

There are several red flags about SoloPower but nevertheless, under Washington Democrats’ watch, it’s getting closer to receiving a government loan guarantee:

“A tiny solar company named SoloPower will flip the switch on production at a U.S. factory Thursday, a major step toward allowing it to tap a $197 million government loan guarantee awarded under the same controversial program that supported failed panel maker Solyndra.” 

“Still, there are several similarities between SoloPower and Solyndra…” (Nichola Groom, “US poised to hand over $197 mln to another solar panel start-up,” Reuters, 9/24/2012)

Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Campaigns & Elections, Energy, Federal Budget, Federal Government, Government Reform, Legislation, Liberals, Press Release, Taxation Tagged With: , , ,

Martha McSally Releases Second Television Ad

September 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Martha McSally

Highlights her independence and priorities in Congress 

Tucson - Martha McSally released her second television advertisement of the General Electiontoday.  The ad, titled “Rekindle,” will run in broadcast and cable markets district-wide and talks about Martha’s experience as an independent leader and underscores the need to send new, dynamic leaders to Congress to propose solutions with less politics.  

“To tackle our debt and get the economy back on trackwe need leaders in Congress willing to challenge the system and get results,” said McSally.  “We need leadersin Congress who are willing to do what is right no matter the personal or political cost.  I did that as an Air Force Colonel and I will do the same in Congress.”

“Washington politicians are failing the people of Southern Arizona because both sides are too busy bickering with each other to ever have a serious discussion about the problems we are facingtogether.  Both sides need to come together to find solutions.  These are serious problems, and it’s time Washington started treating them as such, instead of using them for their own political gain.”

You can view the ad here on the McSally for Congress YouTube page:

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Transcript of the ad:

Narrator:  “Martha McSally know no labels.  She lives the independent spirit.  She became the first woman to command.  With our nation on the wrong path we need leaders like Martha McSally to challenge the establishment and reform Washington.   

Martha McSally: “We have got to rekindle and unshackle the American spirit. We’ve got to rein in our debt, we have got to get our economy going again.”  

Narrator: “McSally’s always led from the front with courage and integrity.” 

Martha McSally: “I’m Martha McSally and I approve this message”

Martha McSally is the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat, and first to command a fighter squadron in combat in United States history. In 2001-2002, Martha McSally earned national recognition for successfully overturning a military policy requiring all U.S. servicewomen to wear Muslim clothing when off base in Saudi Arabia.

Stay tuned for more news from Martha’s campaign by following her on Twitter (twitter.com/McSallyCongress) and by visiting her facebook (facebook.com/McSallyForCongress) and website (www.marthamcsally.com).

 

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Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Campaigns & Elections, Political Ad, Press Release Tagged With: ,

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Releases New Ad on Animal Abuse

September 25, 2012 by 5 Comments

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio really is a tough sheriff with a soft spot.

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Filed Under: Animal Rights, Arizona Politics, Campaigns & Elections, County Government, Elected Officials, Political Ad, Press Release Tagged With: ,
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