Landmark Lawsuit Into Second Day of Oral Arguments

Arizona state director of named plaintiff says he’s confident Supreme Court will rule in NFIB’s favor.

PHOENIX, Ariz., March 27, 2012 — Farrell Quinlan, Arizona state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, the named plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit, NFIB v. Sebelius, said today he’s confident the U.S. Supreme Court will agree with and rule in favor of NFIB, Arizona and 25 other states challenging the constitutionality of ObamaCare.

“When we filed this lawsuit two years ago, some people called it frivolous, and there are plenty of people today who claim it’s doomed to fail, but we’re convinced the Supreme Court will agree, just as lower courts have, that the individual mandate requiring everyone to buy health insurance is unconstitutional,” Quinlan said.

“The issue here is whether Congress can force individuals to buy health insurance,” he said. “Under the health-care law, most people will be required to buy health insurance starting in 2014. If they don’t, they’ll have to pay a penalty.”

In what some media are calling the most significant court case since Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, the U.S. Supreme court yesterday heard the first of three days of oral arguments in NFIB v. Sebelius. Ordinarily, the court allots only one hour for oral arguments, but it’s set aside six hours over the three days to hear the case brought by NFIB, Arizona and 25 other states.

“Congress has no authority to make people buy anything,” Quinlan said. “They can’t force people to buy health insurance the same as they can’t force people to floss their teeth or eat their peas. Despite heroic efforts to obscure this fact, Congress clearly overreached by imposing this health-care law. It’s difficult to think of another case where the federal government’s intrusion into people’s lives has been so blatant and egregious.”

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NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.

Arizona Republican Party Decries 2-Year Anniversary of Obamacare

The survival of our Republic depends on the fate of Obamacare

(PHOENIX, AZ) – The Arizona Republican Party released the following statement on the two-year anniversary of Obamacare:

Two years ago, our Republic took an enormous hit to its Constitution when Barack Hussein Obama signed into law the most intrusive, most costly, freedom crushing entitlement program in our country’s history. That law, Obamacare, was not supported by one single Republican in the US Congress.

Last week, the Congressional Budget Office shocked the nation by revealing that the cost of Obamacare has doubled in cost to a heart-stopping $1.76 Trillion dollars over 10 years! That reality will financially destroy this country.

This election year, in addition to jobs and the economy being the most important issue to voters, the repeal of Obamacare is the single-most important public policy issue driving Americans to the polls. The Arizona Republican Party is working diligently to ensure that the repeal of Obamacare takes place.

Every Republican seeking election in Arizona is committed to repealing Obamacare. “It’s fundamentally inherent to our party position for Republicans to repeal and replace this horrible law with real non-political solutions,” said Republican Party spokesman, Shane Wikfors. “If Republicans fail in this mission it will mean the end of American freedom and prosperity as we know it,” he said.

“This is a matter of life and death – of pure survival,” said Arizona Republican Party Chairman, Tom Morrissey. “This law will either kill this great Republic or Americans must elect a President and Congress who are committed to terminating this law. This is our last chance,” Morrissey remarked.

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Stop ObamaCare in Arizona!

To all Arizona Taxpayers and Health Care Consumers,

As we approach the second anniversary of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid federal government takeover of health care, we must continue to fight for health care freedom.

Those of us who cannot make it to the Hands Off My Health Care Rally in Washington, DC on March 27 have a chance to tell Nancy Pelosi what we think of her health care legislation (now that we all know what’s in it!) this Saturday afternoon, March 24, when Pelosi visits Tempe.

We also have a duty to get the Arizona Legislature to STOP Gov. Jan Brewer from setting up an ObamaCare exchange here in Arizona.

Take Action to STOP ObamaCare in Arizona!

ObamaCare will make health care more expensive and less accessible, and will stifle innovation through huge new tax and regulatory burdens. And ObamaCare will ultimately put all control over health insurance and health care in the hands of Washington bureaucrats.

Unfortunately, Governor Jan Brewer is spending $30 million in federal funds (i.e., your federal tax dollars) to set up an ObamaCare health insurance exchange in Arizona. The exchange is a new bureaucracy that will soon require tens of millions of dollars annually in new surcharges, fees and/or taxes on Arizona families and businesses.

Worse still, the imposition of an ObamaCare exchange here in Arizona may prevent ObamaCare from being repealed. As enacted, ObamaCare is dependent upon state exchanges (such as Gov. Brewer’s exchange) for the distribution of federal subsidies. Once Arizonans become addicted to federal subsidies, ObamaCare will be extremely difficult to repeal.

AFP-Arizona is calling on Arizona’s Legislators sign the Health Care Freedom Pledge and to STOP Governor Brewer from imposing an ObamaCare exchange.

Here is the key text of the Health Care Freedom Pledge:

“I hereby pledge to OPPOSE any bill, regulation, legislation, or executive action that implements President Obama’s health care legislation, including bills that create new bureaucracies that must be funded by new surcharges, fees, or taxes of any kind.”

AFP-Arizona is asking all Arizona Legislators to sign the Pledge by the tenth day after the end of the 2012 legislative session (probably sometime in late April). Legislators who fail to sign the Pledge are leaving the door open to the imposition of an ObamaCare exchange in Arizona–and harming the prospects for the repeal of ObamaCare.

Please use this link to take action to stop ObamaCare in Arizona.

You and your friends, neighbors and co-workers can also take action at our AZ Health Care Freedom page: http://americanhealthcarefreedom.com/who-stands-with-you/

And again, please join us in Tempe on Saturday to give Nancy Pelosi the reception she deserves… (More info at http://tinyurl.com/pelositempe)

To see how the Committee members (and other Legislators) scored on AFP-Arizona’s 2011 Legislative Scorecard, along with cumulative scores for past years, click here.

To learn more about AFP-Arizona’s 2012 Legislative Agenda, and to see how the Health Care Freedom Pledge will be scored on AFP-Arizona’s 2012 Scorecard, click here.

For Liberty, Tom

Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
www.aztaxpayers.org

Vernon Parker Announces for Congress; Calls on Fellow Candidates to Sign Pledge to Repeal ObamaCare

Vernon Parker Announces for Congress; Calls on Sen. Sinema and Fellow Candidates to Sign Pledge to Repeal ObamaCare

Tempe, AZ – Today, on the second anniversary of Obamacare, Vernon Parker, joined by campaign Co-Chairman Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, announced his candidacy for Arizona’s Ninth Congressional District. At his announcement Parker called on all of his fellow candidates, both Republican and Democrat to join him in pledging to vote for a repeal of Obamacare.

“I was raised by my grandmother and during my early years I saw firsthand the desperation that so many lower income families feel, and came to the realization that the only way to succeed in life is through hard work. It’s a perseverance that my grandmother instilled in me as a young man, through college, law school , in the White House and as Mayor. It’s that tireless perseverance that will allow me to represent the people of Arizona in Congress and to always remember where I came from and what a difference one determined individual can make,” said Parker.

“Today I start the most important journey of my life, to represent the people of Arizona in Congress. We must find common sense solutions to fixing our economy, lowering gas prices, getting our housing market working again and to repealing the disastrous law known as Obamacare,” said Parker. “That’s why I am asking my fellow candidates to join me in pledging to vote for a repeal of Obamacare.”

“I invite the people of Arizona to join me in this struggle and together we can get our country back on track,” concluded Parker.

A copy of the letter sent to all candidates is below.

Vernon Parker previously served in the administrations of both Presidents Bush, and was Mayor of Paradise Valley where he cut spending by 29%, and is currently on the Town Council. Parker is seeking the Republican nomination to Congress from Arizona’s Ninth Congressional District.

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March 21, 2012

The Honorable Kyrsten Sinema
PO Box 25879

Tempe, AZ 85285

Dear Kyrsten:

As you know, today is the second anniversary of Obamacare, and in a few days’ time the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about the legality of the law. It is my sincere hope they do the right thing and overturn the law for its unconstitutional individual mandate provision. However, we must be prepared to take legislative action, and I write to you today to urge you to join me in pledging to the people of Arizona and the ninth Congressional district to repeal this disastrous law.

Nancy Pelosi infamously said, “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” As you know the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office last week reported that the legislation will cause 20 million Americans to lose their employer sponsored coverage, rates for those lucky enough to keep it will rise by more than 10%, and the overall cost of the program more than doubled.

The truth is over 80% of Americans like their existing coverage, and I agree with former Congressman John Shadegg who said it best, “Why don’t the politicians just fix what’s broken—cover those without care and people with pre-existing conditions?” My wife is a cancer survivor, and our family understands how difficult it can be to find affordable health insurance.

President Obama’s plan is the wrong solution to an urgent problem. We can replace this legislation with legislation that improve access and bring down costs. It’s common sense, something that seems to be lacking in Washington, D.C.

As you know the President’s plan adds nearly $2.4 trillion in additional debt to the already massive $14 trillion national debt that has been saddled upon the American people. We can do better than pass these costs onto our children and grandchildren.

It’s also a massive expansion of government creating 159 new government bureaucracies. We can both agree that patients should be in charge of their healthcare, not government bureaucrats.

The law also hurts seniors with a $500 billion cut to Medicare and the elimination of Medicare Advantage. Too many seniors have come to rely on the services they receive and can’t afford to lose them, they deserve better than that.

We can replace this legislation with legislation that improves access and bring down costs. It’s common sense, something that seems to be lacking in Washington, D.C.

Sincerely,

Vernon Parker

Candidate for Congress

Obamacare: A Panel Discussion

OBAMACARE:  Join us for this informative panel discussion

Phoenix, AZ – On Wednesday, February 8, 2012, Arizona Mainstream Project (AMP) will bring to the public a panel discussion on Obamacare.  Speaking on this panel will be Goldwater Institute’s Senior Attorney Diane Cohen and Director – Center for Economic Prosperity Byron Schlomach, Dr. Jeff Singer, and former AZ Congressman John Shadegg.  550 KFYI Talk Host Terry Gilberg will be the moderator for the discussion.

Each panel member will share their personal expertise and direct involvement with uncovering the facts about The Affordable Care Act and how it has begun and will continue to negatively impact the lives of ALL Americans.  You will gain a better understanding of this law and how it applies to your access to health care, the current legal battles, and how you can help stop this anti-American and socialistic agenda.

 Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Location:  Goldwater Institute Auditorium
Address: 500 E. Coronado Road, Phoenix,  AZ

Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm (doors open at 5:30)

Light snacks and beverages will be served

Cost:  $10.00 per person

To reserve your seat we encourage you to RSVP and purchase tickets in advance

Go to: http://www.arizonamainstreamproject.org/#q=Seminars-18

or send payment to:

Arizona Mainstream Project
15029 N. Thompson Peak Parkway
Suite B-111 Box 589
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

This panel discussion will be STREAMED LIVE from AMP’s website.

A “Live Stream” button will be available on our homepage www.ArizonaMainstreamProject.org on the day of the event.  Follow the instructions to access the live video stream.

Contact: Honey Marques, Executive Director, at 808-283-3661 or honey@arizonamainstreamproject.org

Arizona Mainstream Project is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit charitable grassroots organization whose mission is to attract, educate, and mobilize the people of Arizona around America’s founding principles and leadership. AMP believes in the principles of a constitutionally limited government, free markets, fiscal responsibility, and individual liberty to promote the common good and prosperity for the people of Arizona.

 

OBAMACARE: A Panel Discussion at the Goldwater Institute

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

A Panel Discussion: OBAMACARE

Phoenix, AZ – On Wednesday, February 8, 2012, Arizona Mainstream Project (AMP) will bring to the public a panel discussion on Obamacare.  Speaking on this panel will be Goldwater Institute’s Senior Attorney Diane Cohen and Director – Center for Economic Prosperity Byron Schlomach, Dr. Jeff Singer, and former AZ Congressman John Shadegg.  550 KFYI Talk Host Terry Gilberg will be the moderator for the discussion.

Each panel member will share their personal expertise and direct involvement with uncovering the facts about The Affordable Care Act and how it has begun and will continue to negatively impact the lives of ALL Americans.  You will gain a better understanding of this law and how it applies to your access to health care, the current legal battles, and how you can help stop this anti-American and socialistic agenda.

Diane Cohen:

The Affordable Care Act mandated states to establish insurance exchanges by 2014 or have exchanges set up by HHS. These exchanges are nothing more than invitation-only clubs where only government sanctioned insurers can play. They must meet all the federally mandated medical coverages/benefits specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In an effort to preserve some sovereignty, states, even some who opposed the federal healthcare law, including Arizona, are rushing to get federal money to set up these exchanges. Diane Cohen, Senior Attorney, of the Goldwater Institute will refute this notion.  Ms. Cohen has testified before Congress on the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). She will explain what effect this fifteen-member board of political appointees will have in our future.

Dr. Byron Schlomach:

Byron will discuss how government is at the root of our problems in health care, making it the problem, not the solution. He will show you how our income tax system plays a major role in determining what our health care system looks like and how it operates.

Dr. Jeff Singer:

Dr. Singer will discuss the ways in which “Obamacare” will affect the patient doctor relationship, the relationship of the doctor with the state, the relationship of the patient with the state, the loss of personal autonomy, and the ultimate decrease in quality and rationing of heath care that will inevitably result from “Obamacare.”

John Shadegg:

President Obama promised that the cost of health care would go down and it hasn’t. A recent HHS press release acknowledged that premiums have gone up by as much as 12.8% in the last year after the rates were reviewed by state bureaucrats under the provisions of Obamacare. Obama has also promised that if you liked your health care plan, you could keep it. Yet, we now know that Obamacare mandates will not allow anyone to keep the plan they had. As the nation’s economy struggles, Obamacare increases taxes by 800 billion dollars and crushes jobs. Learn how free market solutions will reform health care in ways that promotes quality and reduces costs for all Americans.

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Location:  Goldwater Institute Auditorium
Address: 500 E. Coronado Road, Phoenix,  AZ

Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm (doors open at 5:30)

Light snacks and beverages will be served

Cost:  $10.00 per person

To reserve your seat we encourage you to RSVP and purchase tickets in advance

Go to: http://www.arizonamainstreamproject.org/#q=Seminars-18

or send payment to:

Arizona Mainstream Project
15029 N. Thompson Peak Parkway
Suite B-111 Box 589
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

This panel discussion will be STREAMED LIVE from AMP’s website.

A “Live Stream” button will be available on our homepage www.ArizonaMainstreamProject.org on the day of the event.  Follow the instructions to access the live video stream.

Contact: Honey Marques, Executive Director, at 808-283-3661 or honey@arizonamainstreamproject.org

Arizona Mainstream Project is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit charitable grassroots organization whose mission is to attract, educate, and mobilize the people of Arizona around America’s founding principles and leadership. AMP believes in the principles of a constitutionally limited government, free markets, fiscal responsibility, and individual liberty to promote the common good and prosperity for the people of Arizona.

Rep Schweikert introduces Obamacare proceedings transparency bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2011
CONTACT: Rachel Semmel

REP. SCHWEIKERT INTRODUCES BILL TO MAKE OBAMACARE PROCEEDINGS MORE TRANSPARENT IN CONGRESS

Washington, D.C. – Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), introduced the Creating Sunshine, Participation, and Accountability for Our Nation (CSPAN) Act, H.R. 1432, today. This legislation would place transparency and accountability measures on any proceedings in Congress that touch the area of ObamaCare:

“Last year during the health care debate, President Obama and Congressional Democrats told the American people that our conversations on health care would take place with openness and transparency and would be aired on CSPAN,” said Rep. Schweikert. “This promise has yet to be fulfilled.”

“This legislation picks up the pieces of the Administration’s broken promises on ObamaCare transparency and makes it a reality. American families and job creators, who are forced to comply with ObamaCare’s detrimental regulations, deserve to know what goes on behind closed doors. If the president and Congressional Democrats won’t provide regulatory transparency and greater information to the public, then House Republicans will.”

“The American people deserve the facts. That is why they deserve the CSPAN Act.”

BACKGROUND

The CSPAN Act would do three simple things:

1. Require that all rules addressed by Congress in conjunction with the health care law be issued through the formal rulemaking process. This process requires that proceedings be “on the record” and under oath and subjected to a much more rigorous rulemaking process than the traditional notice-and-comment.

2. Require that each formal rulemaking process be presided over by a Senate-confirmed official.

3. Require that the formal rulemaking processes be opened to television and the media.

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Voter Guides from Western Free Press

Western Free Press is a news site dedicated to conservatives winning in CD 1, CD 5, and CD 8.

After reading the site for a couple of months, I came across this voter guide today and wanted to share it with the Sonoran Alliance community. Please consider signing up for their newsletter packed with great information and visit the site to show your support.

We need to take back Congress and Arizona can help in this process and CD 1, CD 5, and CD 8 are crucial districts.

You can find the voter guides on the homepage of Western Free Press at http://westernfreepress.com or here.

Also, The World’s Most Dangerous Gang . . . is here in Arizona is a must read.