And the cutest independent expenditure mailer goes to…
the Arizona Free Enterprise Club for this mailer targeting Senator Bob Worsley for his vote supporting Common Core.
Bob Worsley Voted For Obamacare Medicaid And Lied To Me
July 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment
We’re seeing a lot of ads supporting Bob Worsley in his re-election bid to the Arizona State Senate. The last campaign finance report shows that Senator Worsley had over $180,000 of cash on hand (the job pays $24,000/year). Those ads will continue to run covering up his record supporting Obamacare and the MILLIONS of taxes and costs it will require to keep Obamacare Medicaid running here in Arizona.
Because no one can compete with the kind of money being spent on a simple legislative race, I felt compelled to make my own political ad and post it here on Sonoran Alliance. While Bob Worsley rakes in tens of thousands of dollars from bundlers in the healthcare industrial complex and the chamber of commerce, all I have is my handheld camera and a blog.
Here is my very own “selfercial” explaining why I am voting against Bob Worsley for Arizona State Senate.
http://youtu.be/qk0b15T7LUkFor more information, please visit www.ObamacareBobWorsley.com.
I wrote this ad and I paid for it.
Bob Worsley Backed by Health Care Industrial Complex
July 22, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The latest campaign mailer from Bob Worsley is a classic example of political quid pro quo. Those Republicans following the contest for the state senate in LD-25 probably received Worsley’s mailer in the last day touting the support of the healthcare industrial complex.
Let me explain.
Last year during the debate on the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, a minority of Republican legislators abandoned principle and joined with every Democrat in the Arizona Legislature to pass the federal program. Despite weeks of warnings and citizen lobbying, this cadre of Republicans were promised “protection” and big dollars by the Governor and the healthcare industrial complex.
Well, the time to deliver is now.
Worsley’s piece shows him surrounded by medical professionals (which we don’t have a problem with). But what is very revealing is a quote by Peter S. Fine (see below).
Fine is the President and CEO of Banner Health. With the passage of the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, access to the billions of dollars in taxpayer dollars was granted to Arizona hospitals. Part of that legislation also included giving the head of AHCCCS authority to establish a bed tax for Arizona hospitals. This is all part of the Medicaid funding scam that the State of Arizona works out with the federal government and Arizona hospitals. Here’s a video to explain how the scam works:
Let’s just say that Arizona hospitals such as Banner have a lot to gain by the new Obamacare Medicaid expansion here in Arizona.
Is it any wonder then that the President and CEO of Banner Health Care would be lending his support to Bob Worsley?
That’s how corporate cronyism works here in Arizona.
Joe Farnsworth Endorses Dr. Ralph Heap in LD-25
June 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 18, 2014
As a small businessman for over 30 years, I am always looking for a true conservative who will maintain the principles of lower taxes and smaller government that are paramount in continuing to run a small business and create jobs for the community. When I find that person I want to tell people about him or her and do what I can to help them in this difficult and very important endeavor. That person is Dr. Ralph Heap.
With all of the new challenges we face from Obamacare, local and state taxes, immigration and a whole host of other pressing issues, I feel very strong about having someone like Dr. Heap representing me and my family who I know will not continue to take us down the path of less freedom and more government regulations and higher taxes.
Dr. Heap has proven to be honorable in all of his business dealings and consistent in all of his moral and political convictions.
Now Dr. Heap is wanting to give back in the political arena as he has done in his medical career and his church and civic responsibilities by helping the less fortunate here and abroad with years of donated medical attention and in his church and other civic service.
Dr. Heap is doing the hard part by running for state senate, now we need to help him help us by getting the word out and donating to his campaign.
We can make a difference at the local level.
I support Dr. Heap 100% .
Joe Farnsworth
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Editor’s note: Dr. Heap’s primary opponent, Bob Worsley, voted for Obamacare for Arizona when he voted for the Medicaid Expansion (a provision of the Affordable Care Act).
During a legislative district meeting when I asked Senator Worsley whether he would support the Arizona Constitution’s Proposition 108 – which requires a 2/3 vote in both houses – before voting for Medicaid Expansion, he said that he would support the requirement. When it came time to vote for Medicaid Expansion in a kangaroo-legislative session, Senator Worsley voted against the Constitutional requirement. He lied to me and the entire legislative district.
This is the reason I am supporting Dr. Ralph Heap for State Senate.
– Shane Wikfors
Congressman Matt Salmon Endorses Ralph Heap for State Senate
June 16, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Dr. Ralph Heap
(Mesa, AZ) Conservative Ralph Heap, candidate for the Republican nomination for State Senate in LD25, announced he has received the endorsement of Congressman Matt Salmon.
“Ralph Heap is a principled conservative and a leader,” said Congressman Salmon. “As our next State Senator, I have no doubt that Ralph will be on the front lines in the battle to repeal big government policies such as the expansion of Obamacare and the federal takeover of our local education system. He understands that policies like these are little more than liberal attempts to expand the size, cost, and reach of government in Arizona.
“Ralph’s commitment to limited government and freedom are exactly what the voters of Legislative District 25 want from their next State Senator,” continued Salmon. “I’m proud to give Ralph Heap my strongest endorsement for State Senator.”
Dr. Ralph Heap was born and raised in Arizona and is a longtime resident of Mesa. He is an orthopedic surgeon with his own practice based in Mesa. In his spare time, he volunteers his medical skills around the world for those less fortunate. He and his wife Denise are the proud parents of three children and proud grandparents of seven grandchildren.
Dr. Ralph Heap on the Future of Healthcare
June 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Dr Ralph Heap
Having worked at the VA 30 years ago in my residency I was troubled by what I experienced back then, just as I am today.
This morning, President Obama announced the resignation of General Shinseki along with the firing of the administrators at the Phoenix VA. The change in management however will have little or no effect on resolving the serious issues involved. The recent revelations of malfeasance at the Veterans hospitals exposes for all to see the problems inherent in a government run healthcare system.
With the Obama-care expansion of Medicaid, the precursor to single payer socialized medicine, the similarities are unmistakable. The access to care is restricted by too many patients and too few providers to see them. The bureaucratic regulations limit the providers’ ability to care for the patients. The lack of accountability drives costs on an ever upward spiral. Many studies have demonstrated the poor quality of care in Medicaid systems all over the country. The results of treatment are commonly worse than is seen in those with no insurance at all.
We need to change course.
Let’s work to improve Medicaid through the introduction of cost effective free market principles such as health savings accounts, copay’s, and catastrophic insurance coverage. In this way we can greatly improve the care we provide to the poor and do it in a cost effective manner fair to those whose taxes pay for these benefits.
For our veterans, whom we owe a great debt, the problems of overworked doctors, wrestling with unintelligible bureaucratic regulations, in poorly staffed facilities, are unlikely to change. Let’s immediately provide vouchers for our veterans languishing on waiting lists, so they can receive the treatment they deserve without any further delay. Let’s work towards eliminating the current system of veterans care and moving the patients into the private medical system. This will insure that our veterans receive the best care available and not continue in the death grip of a disinterested bureaucracy.
Dr. Ralph Heap is a candidate for Arizona State Senate in Legislative District 25. Please join his campaign for a Healthier Arizona on Facebook or at his website at Ralphheap.com.
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Editor’s note: Dr. Heap’s primary opponent voted for Obamacare for Arizona when he voted for the Medicaid Expansion (a provision of the Affordable Care Act).
When I asked Senator Worsley whether he would support the Arizona Constitution’s Proposition 108 – which requires a 2/3 vote in both houses – before voting for Medicaid Expansion, he said that he would support the requirement. When it came time to vote for Medicaid Expansion in a kangaroo-legislative session, Senator Worsley voted against the Constitutional requirement. He lied to me and the entire legislative district.
This is the reason I am supporting Dr. Ralph Heap for State Senate.
– Shane Wikfors
Michelle Udall: Public Prayer, An Honored Tradition
January 22, 2014 by Leave a Comment
A few weeks ago, the Mesa School Board looked at their policy for prayer in public board meetings and recognized a need for a change. Since then, they have sought legal counsel, listened to input from the community, and worked to formulate a more appropriate policy. Beginning school board meetings with prayer is an honored tradition in Mesa, long upheld and appreciated by the community. Likewise, the Supreme Court has noted that beginning public meetings of deliberative bodies with prayer is a part of the fabric of our society. This valued tradition should be reincorporated into board meetings. Doing so shows respect for the founders of our nation.
In Arizona, prayer has been a part of public meetings for more than 100 years. In 1910, the Arizona Constitutional Convention was opened with an invocation and our State Legislature has opened with prayer since statehood. Mesa City Council Meetings and Mesa School Board Meetings have also begun with prayer since their earliest beginnings.
An appropriate policy for beginning board meetings with prayer ought to show respect for the diverse perspectives of the community. The opportunity to offer an invocation ought to be opened up to any and all faiths represented in the district. The newly proposed policy will do so. Such a policy provides the opportunity to invite members of the community who may not otherwise attend school board meetings. They will have the chance to learn more about what is happening in Mesa schools and how they can get involved. Greater community involvement in schools will benefit all students.
Beginning a meeting with prayer helps set the tone of the deliberations to follow. It solemnizes the proceedings, encourages a sense of cooperation, and is a means of expressing confidence in the future and recognition for that which is worthy of appreciation in society. Those who wish not to participate are always allowed to refrain. Certainly there is a need for mutual respect for those of all faiths and beliefs. School board meetings ought to be a place where tolerant, respectful behavior is modeled and promoted.
The founding fathers, authors of the Constitution, began their public meetings with prayer both before and after ratification of the Constitution. The Supreme Court and our founding fathers recognize the value of elected officials seeking divine guidance and wisdom when making decisions that affect the entire community. School board members ought to be as free as the founders to take advantage of such guidance and wisdom. With the daunting task of educating the children of the community resting on their shoulders, they can use all the help they can get. Heaven knows they need it!
Written by Michelle Udall, current Mesa School Board member.
Republican Primary Voters Weigh In on Medicaid Expansion for Arizona
April 11, 2013 by 1 Comment
Round two of a recent poll is now out and there are some revealing numbers on how Republican primary voters feel about Governor Brewer’s push to expand Medicaid in Arizona Senator Jeff Flake and several legislative districts. Here are those results:
This memorandum is an executive summary of an automated voice recorded survey of 718 likely Republican primary voters in six legislative districts in Arizona. The legislative districts surveyed were 13, 17, 18, 20, 25 and 28. The interviews were conducted March 27th and 28th, 2013. This survey has a margin of error of +/-‐ 3.65% at the 95 percent confidence interval. This survey was weighted based upon past Republican primary voter demographics. The focus of this survey was to measure Republican primary voter opinions regarding the expansion of Medicaid, the implementation of Obamacare, as well as voter reaction to their state legislator’s support or opposition to Medicaid expansion. The survey toplines are also included with this document.
GOVERNOR BREWER IMAGE RATING
Among Republican primary voters in the six legislative districts, Governor Brewer has a very strong image rating with 69% of voters having a favorable opinion of her, 23% having an unfavorable opinion of her, and 8% being undecided or not having an opinion.
SENATOR FLAKE IMAGE RATING
Senator Jeff Flake also has a very strong image rating among Republican primary voters in the six legislative districts, with 70% of voters having a favorable opinion of him, 18% having an unfavorable opinion of him, and 12% being undecided or not having an opinion.
GOP PRIMARY VOTER SUPPORT FOR THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID
Republican primary voters in the six legislative districts were asked if they support Governor Brewer’s proposal to expand Medicaid in order to fully implement the federal government’s health care system in 2014. Among all respondents, 30% support the expansion of Medicaid, 51% oppose expansion, and 19% are either unsure or do not have an opinion about the issue. The following table shows responses by legislative district.
“As you may know, Governor Brewer has proposed the expansion of Medicaid in Arizona in order to fully implement the federal government’s health care system in 2014. Knowing this, do you support or oppose the expansion of Medicaid in order to implement the federal government’s health care system?”
VOTER OPPOSITION FOR LEGISLATORS WHO VOTE TO EXPAND MEDICAID
To measure voter reactions if their state legislator voted to expand Medicaid, the following question was asked:
“Would you be more or less likely to vote to reelect your state legislator if they voted for the expansion of Medicaid?”
Not surprisingly, among Republican primary voters in the six legislative districts a majority, or 53% are less likely to reelect their legislator if they voted to expand Medicaid and only 22% would be more likely to vote for their state legislator. When looking at the results by legislative district, the percentage of voters that are less likely to reelect their state legislator ranges from a low of 37% to a high of 69%.
GOP PRIMARY VOTER SUPPORT FOR TAX INCREASE TO FUND MEDICAID EXPANSION
In addition to measuring Republican primary voter’s reactions toward their state legislators if they voted to expand Medicaid, the survey tested voter reaction to a tax increase on hospitals to fund the expansion of Medicaid. Again, it is no surprise that Republican primary voters vigorously oppose this idea and do not want their legislators supporting a new tax on hospitals to fund the expansion of Medicaid. Among all respondents in the six legislative districts, only 11% would be more likely to vote to reelect their legislator, and two thirds, or 68%, would not vote to reelect their legislator. In short, if an incumbent voted for such a proposal it would be toxic for their reelection. The following table shows the question responses by legislative district.
“Would you be more or less likely to vote to reelect your state legislator if they voted for a new tax on hospitals to fund the expansion of Medicaid?”
CONCLUSION
Among the likely Republican primary voters surveyed in these six legislative districts, it is clear they oppose the expansion of Medicaid by varying degrees from a plurality of 42% to a large majority of 62%. Support for Medicaid expansion ranges from a high of 35% to a low of 26%. The survey also finds a plurality, or a majority, of Republican primary voters would be less likely to vote for their legislator if they voted to expand Medicaid in all six legislative districts. Finally, the information in this research should be of concern to incumbent legislators as they consider how to handle this issue.
View/Download the entire report including the topline results.
Ask Senator Bob Worsley to help rein in government employee unions!
February 21, 2013 by 2 Comments
To all LD-25 Republicans!
Government employee unions in Arizona are out of control.
Government employee unions withhold dues automatically from employee wages, siphon political funds out of paychecks without safeguards for employees who disagree with the unions’ political agendas, and give workers paid time off (on the taxpayer’s dime!) to engage in pro-union lobbying. Then, the unions meet and confer with elected officials (many of whom they helped elect) in closed-door meetings! Finally, the unions use all that money and paid time off to lobby for more taxpayer dollars and to block pro-market and pro-consumer reforms such as school choice!
And then there is union political spending, which is heavily partisan. According to data available at the Secretary of State’s website, government employee unions gave money to the Democrat and Republican parties in a ratio of 48 to 1. Even in House legislative races, where the unions were reportedly going to go “easy” on Republicans, the ratio of support for Democrats versus Republicans was four to one. On the Senate side, the partisan spending ratio was 13 to 1. This involuntary, partisan spending by union bosses does not reflect rank-and-file workers’ political views.
ASK BOB WORSLEY TO VOTE FOR UNION REFORM BILLS
State Senator Bob Worsley (R-Mesa/LD25) failed to defend taxpayers and voted against a key union reform bill, Paycheck Protection (SB 1182) on Thursday, February 21. Please contact him and encourage him to allow vote for Paycheck Protection and ALL of the union reform bills next time around. Rather than following a failed policy of trying to appease the unions, conservatives need to take away the unions’ political slush funds. Please contact Sen. Worsley (bworsley@azleg.gov and/or 602-926-) with the following short message: “I am writing/calling to respectfully request that you vote for ALL of the labor reform bills (especially SB 1349 — Paycheck Protection — but also HB 2438, HB 2330, HB 2343 and HB 2026) when they come to floor and/or committee votes.
Paycheck Protection (SB 1349 and HB 2438) — Of the labor reforms moving in the Legislature this year, passing Paycheck Protection is the most important objective for 2013. Aside from the principled objective of protecting workers’ freedom of association, the political impact of Paycheck Protection cannot be overstated. After Washington passed Paycheck Protection, teacher union PAC funds in that State shrank by 75 percent. After Utah passed the reform, teacher union political funds shrank by 90 percent. Paycheck Protection (SB 1349 and HB 2438) would prohibit government employers from taking money from employee’s paychecks for political activities without express annual authorization.
Transparency in government union negotiations (HB 2330) — HB 2330 would protect taxpayers by requiring that union collective bargaining (“meet-and-confer”) be subject to the same open meeting laws as other government meetings, including the requirement that meetings be recorded by audiovisual means.
Reform abuses of government union release time (HB 2343) — HB 2343 would protect taxpayers by prohibiting governments from giving government workers paid time off (on the taxpayer dime!) for engaging in pro-union lobbying.
(For more info, contact: Tom Jenney, AFP-Arizona, www.aztaxpayers.org, tjenney@afphq.org)
More on the unrest in Arizona’s Republican LD-25
December 28, 2012 by 2 Comments
To LD-25:
I have spoken with Chairman Haney and he has directed that the election for January 9th be cancelled, and as a result, the results from the November 29th election will stand. This is due to the lawsuit filed by Paul Whetten, Robin Harris, John Giles, Barbara Abney, Traci Beagley, Dilworth C. Brinton Jr., Curtis Brown, Alayne Favreau, J. Glade Soelberg, Larry Winword, Brent Ellsworth, David Ricks, Colleen Wheeler, Drexden Davis, Brian Nissen, and Alan Soelberg. Chairman Haney indicated that the MCRC did not have the financial resources for a prolonged court battle. However, the lawsuit is an attack on the honor and integrity of each member of the committee.
I have been silent on the findings of the investigative committee because I have been working to insure that the next election would be fair and transparent, but now I feel duty bound to respond.
After the investigative committee reached its findings, I received two very different reactions from people. The first was to get to the bottom of what happened, how it happened, and who did it. The second reaction was an attack on the investigation, the methods used in the investigation, the members selected for the committee, and why the investigation was expanded to look at all aspects of the election.
This is not the first time that we have seen irregularity in our District’s election, so when you find irregularities in one area of an election, it makes only makes sense to examine the entire election. I have included some of the previous issues that I am personally aware of:
- During the reorganization meeting in June, individuals were observed signing the witness section of proxy forms during the meeting.
- During the Primary Election, an LLC known as the Liberty Education Project, created by Stephanie Butler, David Tolman and Ryan Wimmer, set up on April 27, 2012, funded a massive multicolor, political mailings for Precinct Committeeman Elections across multiple districts and precincts. This campaign had a serious effect on the outcome of the Precinct Committeeman elections. The major question about this activity is who funded it and why was so much money spent on PC elections.
- The issues did not begin after LD-25 was formed; there were issues prior to that. In 2011, a group of LD-19 PCs filed a complaint with the Secretary of State’s office about questionable activities about a notary’s (Jonathon Lindblom) activities in LD-19s elections. While there were eight violations of Notary Law included in the Secretary of State’s response, the most significant to me was “The Notary executed a statement known to be false. A.R.S. §41-330 (A)(10).” I have attached a copy of the Secretary of State’s response to the complaint that was filed.
I would also like to discuss some of the aspects of the lawsuit.
- One aspect was the lack of transparency of the investigation. Paul Whetten was part of the investigative committee and he is also a plaintiff on the lawsuit. How can a Plaintiff on a lawsuit claim lack of transparency when he was there for the entire investigation? I found it very interesting that at the end of the investigation, Paul indicated that we had done the right thing and at least he would be able to sleep at night.
- There appears to be a huge fixation with Russell Pearce in the lawsuit. It makes it appear that everyone opposed to Paul and his team are all controlled by Russell Pearce. This is incorrect. Most of the other people on the ballot were Ron Paul supporters. This was one of their first attempts to get involved in local politics so they could make a difference in the future. Unfortunately, the New Times labeled these newcomers to politics as “The Slate of Hate” because of individuals from our district saying that they were being controlled by Russell Pearce.
- The lawsuit indicated that no complaints were made about the election of the Board on the night of the election. This is true since no proxies had been examined yet. Based on the game playing that continually occurs in our District, it was suggested that the proxy forms be examined along with the signed interest forms. It was hoped, that unlike in past elections, no irregularities would be found. Unfortunately, this was not the case. What I did find concerning was the Sunday after the investigation was announced, Alan Soelberg sent an email wondering about where the proxies were and why they were not given to Paul. On Monday after the election, Paul requested that the proxies be delivered to him and that he would deliver them to Chairman Haney at the start of the investigation. My question is, if there was nothing to hide, why wouldn’t they want the forms delivered directly to Chairman Haney without the opportunity for any tampering?
- The lawsuit also reports that Colleen Wheeler delivered approximately 135 Candidacy Declaration Forms (Interest forms). This represents over 30 percent of the 434 State Committeeman candidates were delivered by one person. Normally, it would be expected that these forms would be delivered by their Precinct Captain. Because there were significant irregularities with the forms, all of the forms for the January 9th election were tracked to determine who sent them. With this new process, 85 Candidacy Declaration Forms were received by December 22, 2012. This is a significant difference compared to the November 29th election.
This investigation produced some major disappointments for me.
- First, I believed that Paul Whetten was an honest and ethical man who could be depended on to do the right thing. Unfortunately, a man is judged by his actions and not just his words.
- Second, we cannot assume “positive intent” from our fellow Republicans in LD-25 or expect them to do the right things. Instead, I found a group of individuals that follow the principle “Win at Any Cost.” This group has extremely deep pockets and funded the lawsuit against the MCRC and also funded the Liberty Education Project to manipulate the election of PCs in LD-25.
- Third, it is disappointing that the lawsuit will not be heard. I believe that a complete and independent investigation into all the LD-25 and former LD-18 and LD-19 elections will uncover a significant amount of unethical behavior.
- Fourth, I am disappointed with the Precinct Committeemen in LD-25. If you are a PC that signed a proxy form without the witnesses present or in front of a notary, then you are a part of the problem. Each PC was elected to represent the Republicans in his or her precinct by attending District meetings, the County meeting and the State meeting. If you are not doing these items, you are not fulfilling your duty as an elected official.
Since I do not have deep pockets to fund multi-thousand dollar mailings or to file lawsuits that will require tens of thousands of dollar to defend against, a website is being set up to expose and document the irregularities in LD-25 www.ld25fraud.org. The website will contain information such as the lawsuit and other information related to irregularities in LD25.
Unfortunately, prior to the cancellation of the January 9th election, the call letter had already been sent out—following the Bylaws which requires 10 business days notification of a meeting. However, Paul sent out a call letter for a January 2nd election. This did not follow the LD-25 Bylaws, which requires 10 business days notification.
It has been a pleasure serving as your First Vice Chairman. I can be reached at Ian@designedforlife.com.
Regards,
Ian Murray
Outgoing LD-25 First Vice Chairman
