FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 26, 2012
CONTACT: Rey Torres

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX (January 26, 2012) – Speaker Andy Tobin will introduce a House Resolution to demonstrate that the Arizona House of Representatives stands in solidarity with the State of Israel.

The resolution will highlight the characteristics and challenges that both Arizona and Israel face. Some of the points of common interest reflect that:

Israel has a right to secure and defensible borders and has the right to be free from rocket attacks on its schools and homes that have averaged one rocket every seven hours over the past five years

Israel and the United States have a shared interest in seeing the end of global terrorism since many of the same forces that threaten Israel also threaten the United States, especially the threat of Iran in producing a nuclear weapon and that when we strengthen Israel’s security, we are strengthening America’s security

Israel and Arizona are trading partners, a relationship we seek to enhance, sharing developments and cooperating in partnerships in education, technology, agriculture, medicine, solar energy, telecommunications, homeland security and numerous other fields and we recognize Israel’s contributions to the world including the development of the cell phone, armor to protect American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and even a new bandage that was used to help save the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Speaker Tobin stated, “There is no more natural friendship among nations than between that of the people of the United States and the people of Israel.”

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For Arizonans who want to follow the latest in the on-going investigation of the FAST and FURIOUS Obama Administration’s Justice Department’s appalling scheme to provide U.S. weapons to Mexican drug cartels.

Committee on Oversight & Government Reform

http://issues.oversight.house.gov/fastandfurious/

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 1, 2011
CONTACT: Genevieve Frye Rozansky

Congressman Flake Praises Senate Passage of Kirk-Menendez Amendment Targeting Central Bank of Iran
Flake Has Introduced Similar Legislation in the House

Washington, D.C., Dec 1 – Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today praised the passage of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S.1867) offered by Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons by prohibiting foreign financial institutions that do business with the Central Bank of Iran – the financier primarily responsible for facilitating Iran’s illicit activities – from opening or maintaining correspondent operations in the United States.

The International Atomic Energy Agency issued a report on November 8th that found Iran has developed technologies and conducted research to produce nuclear weapons and deliver them. In response, the United Kingdom and Canada levied economic sanctions on Iran’s Central Bank.

“Every day that Iran has access to Western capital brings them closer to making their nuclear aspirations a reality. The Kirk-Menendez amendment will severely limit funding sources for Iran’s nuclear weapons program, and is one of the few steps remaining at our disposal to stymie this dangerous threat to the U.S., Israel and the rest of the Middle East,” said Flake. 

Last week, Congressman Flake along with Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina introduced H.R. 3508 which, like the Kirk-Menendez amendment, would levy economic sanctions on foreign financial institutions that conduct business with the Central Bank of Iran.

These sanctions would include a prohibition on the opening or maintenance in the U.S. of an account by a foreign institution that does business with the Central Bank of Iran and would freeze any assets in the U.S of those institutions. In an effort to avoid a dangerous spike in oil prices, transactions pertaining to petroleum would be subject to sanctions six months after the legislation takes effect. The legislation also contains a national security waiver and a provision to ensure efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Iran are not hampered by the sanctions law.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 21, 2011
CONTACT: Genevieve Frye Rozansky

Bank is the Primary Financier Responsible for Iran’s Illicit Activities

Mesa, Arizona – Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today along with Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina will introduce a bill aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons by allowing the President to levy U.S. economic sanctions on foreign financial institutions that conduct business with the Central Bank of Iran, the financier primarily responsible for facilitating Iran’s illicit activities.

These sanctions would include a prohibition on the opening or maintenance in the U.S. of an account by a foreign institution that does business with the Central Bank of Iran and would freeze any assets in the U.S of those institutions. In an effort to avoid a dangerous spike in oil prices, transactions pertaining to petroleum would be subject to sanctions six months after the legislation takes effect. The legislation also contains a national security waiver and a provision to ensure efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Iran are not hampered by the sanctions law.

The International Atomic Energy Agency issued a report on November 8th that found Iran has developed technologies and conducted research to produce nuclear weapons and deliver them. It was announced today that the United Kingdom and Canada will be levying economic sanctions on Iran’s Central Bank.

“With Iran being so dangerously close to acquiring nuclear weapons, anything we can do to isolate the funding sources for the regime’s illicit activities could be meaningful,” said Flake. “The targeted sanctions in this bill have the potential to tie off funding for Iran’s nuclear programs and to stymie a growing threat to the Middle East.” 

Last week, Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois filed identical legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which is currently under consideration in the Senate.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2011
CONTACT: Genevieve Frye Rozansky

Mesa, Arizona – Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today released the following statement on the United Nations decision to give the Palestinian Authority full membership to UNESCO, the UN cultural agency:

“It defies logic that UNESCO is willing to give up 22-percent of its funding for a largely symbolic effort that will only further complicate the Middle East peace talks,” said Flake. “Genuine peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only come through direct negotiations between the two parties, not through fiat.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 12, 2011
CONTACT: Ben Carnes

VIDEO: Franks Says Obama Should Give Iran Ultimatum on Nukes; Military Action Should Be An Option

Phoenix, AZ — Speaking on the House floor tonight, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) addressed the foiled Iranian-backed plot to attack numerous locations on American soil. Franks noted the attack indicated in the clearest possible terms that Iran has the intent to attack America and is rapidly seeking a nuclear capability with which to do so, stating that the Obama Administration should at long last “make it unequivocally clear to Iran and to the entire world that we will do everything necessary, including direct military intervention, to prevent this rogue nation from gaining nuclear weapons with which to threaten either the United States or our allies.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 12, 2011
CONTACT: Genevieve Frye Rozansky

Agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea Will Help Create Thousands of Jobs and Strengthen Economy

Washington, D.C. – Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today applauded the passage of the United States Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Acts with the countries of Colombia, Panama, and South Korea (H.R. 3078, 3079, and 3080, respectively).

“These agreements will allow the private sector to create thousands of jobs and will strengthen our economy in the long-term,” said Flake. “The only solid path toward long-term, sustainable development in the global market is through free trade.”

Congressman Flake delivered a speech on the House Floor today in support of the free trade agreements. Video of the speech can be found here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 12, 2011
CONTACT: Richard Cullen

WASHINGTON (DC) Congressman Ben Quayle (R-AZ) released the following statement Wednesday after the House passed free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea:

“After waiting nearly three years for the President to send them over, the free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea have passed out of the House. I voted in favor of the agreements and strongly urge the Senate to follow suit because they will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in America and bring much-needed economic growth to Arizona. The third district, for instance, with its thriving high-tech sector, already has approximately 35,000 jobs directly supported by exports. With these trade agreements nearly finalized, that number will surely climb.

“Although they will not solve all of our economic woes, these agreements help maintain America’s competitiveness. We live and work in a global economy. These agreements ensure that we don’t continue to lose market share to our economic competitors which leads to lower exports and fewer American jobs.”

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INVITES YOU TO ATTEND

2011:  Infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood in Arizona, Terrorism, and our Unsecure Borders

 PRESENTED BY PATRICK POOLE   

Counter-Terrorism Consultant and Intelligence Analyst

Here is a link to Patrick Poole’s most recently published article

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/dhs-released-terror-operative-who-illegally-crossed-border-pjm-exclusive/

Date: Saturday, October 1, 2011
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Location: The Franciscan Renewal Center – Fr. Owen Room
Address: 5802 E. Lincoln Dr., Scottsdale, AZ

Refreshments served

Cost: $10 per person

Go to http://arizonamainstreamproject.org/#q=Seminars for more information about Patrick Poole and to make payment by credit card.  Payment can also be made at the door.

 Go to www.ArizonaMaintreamProject.org or call Honey Marques 808-283-3661 or email honey@arizonamainstreamproject.org if you have any questions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 21, 2011
CONTACT: Genevieve Frye Rozansky

Washington, D.C. – Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today issued the following statement on the Palestinians’ bid for statehood at the current session of the United Nations:

“Forcing the establishment of a Palestinian state is not an option – recognition must be brought about through negotiation and compromise,” said Flake. “Achieving recognition by fiat will only make negotiations to establish a Palestinian state more difficult for Israel and the Palestinians.” 

In addition to other pro-Israel legislation, Congressman Flake has cosponsored the United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act, the current version of which (H.R. 2829) would, among other things, withhold U.S. contributions to any U.N. entity that recognizes a Palestinian state, and would take steps to safeguard U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency are not used by any foreign terrorist organization. In 2006, he introduced the Geneva Distinctive Emblems Protect Act (H.R. 6338), which became law in 2007 and paved the way for the Magen David Adom, Israel’s version of the Red Cross, to take up full membership in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Additionally, Congressman Flake voted for H. Res. 268 in July, affirming Congressional support for direct Israeli-Palestinian negations to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2011
CONTACT: Adam Deguire

Government and Business Leaders to Encourage Chinese Investment, Bring Jobs to Arizona

EAST VALLEY – Former Congressman and candidate for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District Matt Salmon announced today that he will join a delegation of Arizona government and business leaders on an eleven day trade mission to China. The trade mission, which departs on Wednesday, is being organized by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Arizona Technology Council. Delegation members are comprised of Arizona government and private-sector business leaders, including Governor Jan Brewer, and will visit five cities including Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Macau and Hong Kong.

“There is no more important priority for the leaders of our state than bringing jobs and investment back to Arizona to stimulate our local economy. The objective of this trade mission is to continue to promote Arizona as a strong business partner to companies located in the world’s 2nd largest economy and Arizona’s third largest export market. As someone who has led several delegations to China before, I’m excited to use my experience and expertise in U.S.-China relations to help accomplish this important objective, and promote job-creating trade between Arizona and China.”

As the only member of Congress to speak fluent Mandarin Chinese, Salmon played in integral role in improving U.S. trade and bilateral relations with China during his previous tenure in the House of Representatives. In 2000, Salmon was also instrumental obtaining the release of U.S. based academic researcher Song Yongyi who was being held in China on spying charges.

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.

Matt Salmon has received endorsements from Arizona Congressman Trent Franks, former Arizona Congressman John Shadegg, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, South Dakota Senator John Thune, East Valley mayors Gail Barney (Queen Creek), Hugh Hallman (Tempe) and John Insalaco (Apache Junction).

By Senator Jon Kyl

On August 22, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero announced that Spain would be the latest European country to adopt strict limits on budget deficits and debt. Zapatero, leader of Spain’s Socialist Party, quickly secured backing for the proposal from the opposition conservative People’s Party, which means the budget limits will likely pass through Spain’s parliament by a huge bipartisan margin.

Spain’s move comes in the wake of a wider European movement towards greater fiscal restraint spawned by Germany. In 2009, with a similar wide coalition of conservatives and leftists, the Germans passed the so-called “debt brake”– a constitutional amendment that prohibits a deficit greater than 0.35 percent of GDP (to put this in perspective, our deficit as a percentage of GDP has grown to nearly 25 times as large under President Obama).

Other European economies are now following Germany’s example. France and Italy, for instance, have also proposed similar ideas in recent weeks. With Greece just a short train ride away, these countries now understand the dangers of runaway deficits and debt.

It is about time we enacted something similar here in the United States. For free-spending Europe to be more aggressive on fiscal responsibility than us says less about how far Europe has come than how far we’ve fallen. Indeed, our fiscal position has become very dire. The federal government is now borrowing more than 40 cents of every dollar it spends. Our $14.6 trillion debt will continue to grow at a quickening pace and threaten our economy, our jobs, and the American way of life itself – unless we do something now to stop it.

I personally favor a mechanism to cap spending at a set percentage of GDP. Federal spending today is about 24 percent of GDP, well over the historical average and far more than we can afford as a nation. A more responsible level would be 18 percent. But there are other ways to get at this problem. For instance, as part of the legislation passed in early August to end the impasse over the debt ceiling, Republicans insisted on including a provision that will force Congress to vote on a balanced budget amendment by the end of the year. Congress should support it so that the states, through their legislatures, could vote on it.

In the 1990s, the balanced budget amendment came within one vote of the two-thirds margin necessary for passage. This year, Republicans in the Senate are unanimous in support of this common-sense idea, and some Democrats may support it as well.

Recent polling shows support for a federal balanced budget amendment hovering around 75 percent. It’s hard to think of another major policy issue with such broad support across political dividing lines.

At the same time, it’s unfortunate we even need such an amendment. Ideally, elected leaders should simply govern responsibly by making government live within its means. Yet, realistically, we know that will not always be the case.

To be sure, digging out of this fiscal crisis will be difficult – we cannot solve this with one cut, one bill, or even a constitutional amendment. It will take dedication and years of fiscal discipline, but we can get there.

Our European allies are showing us that traditional adversaries on the left and right can come together to enact sensible limits on deficits and debt. While every country will take its own way forward, some with better ideas than others, here in the U.S. it’s past time for us to act in a bipartisan way.

Sen. Jon Kyl is the Senate Republican Whip and serves on the Senate Finance and Judiciary committees. Visit his website at www.kyl.senate.gov or his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/senjonkyl.

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Presented by Dr. Steven Carol

 Date: Tuesday, Aug 23rd, 2011
Time: 6:30-8:30 PM
Location: Via Linda Senior Center
Address: 10440 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale (map)

Refreshments served

Cost: $10 per person

 Please register/RSVP on our website or RSVP on our Facebook page or email

honey@arizonamainstreamproject.org

As the first decade of the 21st century nears an end, the Middle East is a region with multiple conflicts that impact the world, and particularly the United States. With Iran crossing the nuclear threshold, civil wars raging in Iraq, Sudan, and Yemen, Christians embattled across the region, with Israel in existential peril and its survival being questioned, and radical Islam sweeping beyond the region, it is imperative, as Americans, that we have a knowledge and understanding of this region. Historian, author, and radio personality, Dr. Steven Carol can shed light on these issues and answer questions that arise. His books can be purchased at the seminar.