Free winds concert - Feb. 24

2007-2008 Season

ARIZONA WINDS
Premier Concert Band
est. 1974

The Arizona Winds continue to entertain Arizonans throughout the West Valley. The band is well known for its high level of performance, pleasing AUDIENCES OF ALL musical tastes.

Musicians at their best.

Music to Remember

Sunday, February 24, 2008 — 3 PM
All Saints' Lutheran Church
(15649 N. 7th St., North Phoenix)
east side of 7th St., north of Thunderbird
Free Admission

Some Featured Selections:

La Belle Hélène by Jacques Offenbach, Chester by William Schuman, My Fair Lady by Lerner and Loewe, Victory at Sea by Richard Rodgers, The Thunderer by John Philip Sousa, plus so much more.

CAP: Bioethics conference March 6-8

In this issue:



(1) Time to Pray this Saturday!
(2) Information on Presidential Candidates.
(3) March Bioethics Conference.

Forward this email to a friend!



(1) Time to Pray this Saturday!


Next Tuesday, Arizonans, along with voters in 23 other states, will be voting in presidential primaries. Each of the major political parties may well decide the two nominees for the general election on Tuesday. That means it's time to gather together and pray! CAP will lead a special time of prayer this Saturday, February 2, 11:00 AM at the State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington.
Scripture calls us to pray for those in authority over us. We're to pray and petition our Lord for His blessing, guidance, wisdom, protection, and mercy. This is a crucial time for our nation as we determine our next president. Please come to pray and encourage friends, family, and church members to join us in prayer for this Tuesday's election and the elections this fall. Children are welcome for this prayer time. This is a prayer rally, not a political rally!


(2) Information on Presidential Candidates.


If you are trying to decide who to vote for next Tuesday and looking for information on candidates, one option is to search for the candidates' positions on the official websites of the candidates themselves. While CAP will have Voter's Guide information available for the September primary and the November general election, we are not publishing a Voter's Guide for the Arizona Presidential Preference Primary. The full list of candidates that appear on the ballot in both the Democrat and Republican races can be found here.



(3) March Bioethics Conference.


The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity will be hosting their first annual conference, Extending Life: Setting the Agenda for the Ethics of Aging, Death, and Immortality, March 6-8 at the Grace Inn Conference Center in Phoenix. CAP is a co-sponsor of this conference for healthcare workers, lawyers, pastors, and anyone else interested in bioethics issues. Experts from around the country will be speaking on aging, life extension efforts, dignity and dying, and more. I encourage you to make time to attend this conference - it's a great follow-up to the bioethics conference we organized last November. For complete details and conference agenda, please see the conference brochure available on the Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity web site. Act quickly: early bird registration ends on Friday, February 1.

Horizon: free campaign spot for Dennis Burke, & Kavanagh decimates Miranda

One of last night's topics on Horizon was state legislative bills on illegal immigration. First interviewed was Dennis Burke, who works for Governor Napolitano and is running for Attorney General. Since he's a political hack in the back rooms, not her spokesperson, and since most of us have never seen him before on TV representing her, it was pretty clear he was given this spot to help promote himself for his campaign, a way of skirting around campaign election laws. He just repeated the usual lines Napolitano delivers on illegal immigration, "it's a federal problem" and didn't have much of anything to say about actual state legislation.

Next, Rep. John Kavanagh and Rep. Ben Miranda came on to discuss modifications to the employer sanctions law. Miranda said the problem of illegal workers could be solved with a guest worker program that forces employers to pay for their health care. Miranda said we need to "force companies to deal responsibly with their role in the economy." This is how Miranda would solve the problem, have government burden businesses even more? Requiring businesses to provide health care for Americans is a bad idea in the first place, that shouldn't be extended to even more people. People should be responsible for their own health care, not their employers - I'm not sure where society ever accepted the notion that health care is the responsibility of employers, there's not much of a correlation which is why it doesn't work to force it. How is health care part of a "business's role in the economy?" Unless you're in the healthcare industry, that's a ridiculous stretch. Miranda is trying to put the blame on someone else other than illegal immigrants.

Miranda accused Kavanagh of "surrendering" to businesses because Kavanagh doesn't support a health care mandate. Kavanagh objected and pointed out that his employer sanctions law would end a business. He said that the legislature needs to keep in mind that any legislation must be "fair and firm," since that's what the voters want as indicated by their 70%-80% margins passing illegal immigration initiatives.

Miranda couldn't stop blaming everything on companies not providing health care to illegal workers, saying that if they had provided health care from the beginning, we wouldn't have any problems with this now. Kavanagh pointed out that's not true, illegal immigrants also bring with them crime, additional costs to society of educating them, as well as their children who are American citizens entitled to the full panoply of U.S. benefits.

Kavanagh said that he's proposing three additional bills addressing illegal immigation this session, one that would eliminate birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants' children, one that would eliminate sanctuary cities, and he's bringing back a bill he tried to get passed last year, making day labor loitering a criminal trespass. Miranda ended with a rambling accusation that our illegal immigration problem is all businesses' fault for not providing health care.

AZ Knights of Columbus newsletter is out

Check it out, this is a great group.

Goldwater Institute: Federal Clean Water Act Wrong for Arizona

New report recommends Arizona opt-out of Clean Water Act, manage its own water

Congress is considering whether to expand the reach of the federal Clean Water Act. But is expanding a law designed for water-rich environments like Florida good for the drought-stricken deserts of Arizona? A new report from the Goldwater Institute says no.

Muddy Waters: Deconstructing the Clean Water Act in Arizona finds that the Clean Water Act doesn't take Arizona's unique desert environment into account. As a result, Arizona homeowners and businesses pay the price with unnecessary property rights restrictions, less innovative environmental management, and high costs to navigate through the regulatory maze.

"The Clean Water Act adds substantial costs and delays to private developers and local governments attempting to comply with the law. When Arizonans are forced to treat sand as if it were water, serious attention should be given to reforming or opting out of the law," says Benjamin Barr, author of the report and Senior Fellow in constitutional studies with the Goldwater Institute.

The average property owner hoping to develop areas that fall under Clean Water Act authority will spend 788 days and $271,596 working with federal authorities to do so. State and local governments must also pay these extra compliance costs to build roads and schools. For example, the proposed 33,000 acre Douglas Ranch development in Buckeye, Arizona, contains 230 acres of desert washes that flow 1.5 times per year on average. Despite this limited flow, and the fact that these washes are 192 miles away from the nearest navigable river, they fall under federal jurisdiction.

But Barr says there is more than money at stake. Traditionally, state governments have had jurisdiction over land use and environmental policymaking. The Clean Water Act usurps that authority and hands it over to Washington, D.C., violating the core constitutional tenet of federalism.

Barr recommends that Congress revise the Clean Water Act to include a provision allowing states like Arizona to opt-out of the Act in favor of local control over the management and development of its waterways and wetlands. By reassuming control of its environmental policies, local Arizona policymakers will be free to use innovation as their guide in developing environmental policy, instead of a one-size-fits-all federal regulation, says Barr.

Building on 30 years of water quality legislation, Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1977 with the aim of cleaning up and protecting navigable waters and wetlands. In Arizona, Clean Water Act rules and regulations apply to dry washes, arroyos, and even sand. These "waters" then become regulated by water quality standards for swimming, fishing, and drinking water.

Arizona had a long history of regulating water effectively before the Clean Water Act passed. Today, state law covers water management extensively. Placing the responsibility for regulating and managing Arizona's water back in the hands of local lawmakers will ensure the state's water stays clean, while protecting citizens and local governments from unnecessary federal red tape.

Muddy Waters: Deconstructing the Clean Water Act in Arizona is available online or by calling (602) 462-5000. The Goldwater Institute is a nonprofit public policy research and litigation organization whose work is made possible by the generosity of its supporters. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution.

Contact: Starlee Rhoades Vice President of Communications srhoades@goldwaterinstitute.org (602) 462-5000 x 226

Feb. 9 & 23 - Crime Summits coming up for the public

(click to enlarge)

Goldwater Institute: Taxazona?

Legislature should permanently repeal County Equalization Tax

By Byron Schlomach

Arizona's Senate Finance Committee could prevent a record property tax hike next year by making permanent the repeal of the County Equalization Tax (CET). That tax, if it goes back into effect, will cost Arizonans $225 million in new property taxes. Every Arizonan will pay, including homeowners, business owners, and renters through their rent payments.

Twenty-three states, including all of Arizona's neighbors, have lower property tax burdens than Arizona when taxes are compared to personal income. Still, some may think another $10 per month for the CET on a $250,000 house may not seem so bad.

Problem is, Arizona is already a high tax state when it comes to commercial property. Owners of distribution centers in Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and California pay at least 40 percent less per square foot in property taxes than owners of similar properties in Arizona. So, while $10 per month may not seem like much, Arizona is competing for business with nearby lower tax states.

Letting the equalization tax go back into effect is a sure way to encourage businesses fleeing California to leapfrog us for other states or to persuade businesses already here that it's not profitable to stay.

Byron Schlomach is the director of the Center for Economic Prosperity at the Goldwater Institute.

Tell PHX City Council, "NO ENDLESS TAX!"

This Wednesday afternoon, January 30, the Phoenix City Council will decide whether or not to refer an ENDLESS TAX to the May 20^th ballot.

The current parks and preservation tax, enacted in 1999, is set to expire next year. Last week, the Phoenix City Council’s policy committee chose unanimously to move forward with a proposal to extend that tax “in perpetuity.”

If the ENDLESS TAX goes to the May 20^th ballot, and if it passes (thanks in part to low voter turnout for a May election), that would mean the tax would NEVER come up for review again.

The Arizona Federation of Taxpayers, a state chapter of Americans for Prosperity, suggests that Phoenix taxpayers ask Mayor Gordon and City Council members several very important questions:

1) Doesn’t an endless tax give city politicians a never-ending blank check?

2) Shouldn’t taxes sunset every ten years, so as to provide accountability, and allow citizens to periodically review city practices?

3) Do we really need this tax? The current tax has mainly been used to acquire and develop park lands, but the ENDLESS TAX would increasingly be used to pay for maintenance and operations functions, including park rangers and security. Isn’t that just a revenue source looking for a purpose?

4) Why has the City Council failed to use private-sector alternatives, such as taking competitive bids and granting private companies the right to operate exclusive concessions in parks (such as sports facilities, snack bars, or nature tours) in return for providing maintenance, landscaping, security, and other services?

5) Why put the ENDLESS TAX on the May ballot, when a much more substantial voter turnout will occur in the November general election?

If possible, please attend the Phoenix City Council meeting this Wednesday, January 30^th, beginning at 3:00 p.m., to register your opposition to the ENDLESS TAX. The City Council meets at 200 W. Jefferson, downtown. The ENDLESS TAX is Item #71, and is listed as Ordinance S. 34726

If you cannot attend the meeting, please send an email to the Mayor and to your City Council Members:

To find your council district, visit this site:

http://phoenix.gov/citygov/map.html

Here are the emails for the Mayor and City Council members:

Phil Gordon, Mayor, mayor.gordon@phoenix.gov
Thelda Williams, District 1, council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Peggy Neely, District 2, council.district.2@phoenix.gov
Maria Baier, District 3, council.district.3@phoenix.gov
Tom Simplot, District 4, council.district.4@phoenix.gov
Claude Mattox, District 5, council.district.5@phoenix.gov
Greg Stanton, District 6, greg.stanton@phoenix.gov
Michael Nowakowski, District 7, council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Michael Johnson, District 8, michael.johnson@phoenix.gov

Note: the May 20^th vote on the ENDLESS TAX would be the City’s second tax vote in less than a year. The City Council put the Prop 1 sales tax increase on the September ballot to get an additional $60 million a year for police and fire, after choosing to underfund police and fire budgets, despite having ample revenues.

Also note: The current tax, which is one-tenth of one percent on sales in Phoenix, will have raised over $200 million by the time it expires. Out of a $124 million annual parks budget, fewer than one million dollars come from self-funded enterprise functions. Expanded private concessions could easily replace the $15 million annual revenue from the ENDLESS TAX.

For more on operating parks through private concessions, see the Reason Public Policy Institute’s report on managed competition programs in San Diego:

http://www.reason.org/san_diego_managed_competition.pdf

From the Reason report: “Cost savings from outsourcing recreation facilities operation and management typically range from 19 to 52 percent. Cost savings from outsourcing park landscaping and maintenance range from 10 to 28 percent.”

Tom Jenney
Executive Director
Arizona Federation of Taxpayers
A state chapter of Americans for Prosperity
www.aztaxpayers.org

Guide to Arizona's Republican/conservative blogs

Your alternative to Arizona's left wing newspapers' political coverage


We have compiled a list of the most active, influential Republican/conservative blogs covering Arizona politics, ranked in order using three criteria, 1) popularity, 2) quality, and 3) influence - we asked political insiders whether they'd heard of them and read them. We have excluded Technorati's blog rankings to determine popularity because they aren't reliable; any small blog that gives themself just 1 favorable ranking on technorati immediately jumps ahead of all the other small blogs that don't have a favorable ranking yet. Instead, we have included Quantcast and alexa rankings. We decided not to include blogs that focus on national issues, such as J.D. Hayworth's, whose blog is almost completely national issues, nor blogs that have had little activity lately. The purpose of this list is to provide conservatives with alternative political analysis and news in Arizona, since the mainstream newspapers fail to cover a lot of news about conservatives and when they do it's so biased you're not getting the full story.

1. Sonoran Alliance
236,037 Quantcast, 6,238 estimated monthly unique visitors
467,587 alexa
Insider conservative political analysis by multiple anonymous contributors, lots of breaking news and insider baseball, posts are heavily commented on by mostly anonymous political activists

2. Espresso Pundit
9,133,328 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
4,534,745 alexa
The best, well-written yet enjoyable to read conservative political analysis in the state by Greg Patterson

3. AZ Political Intel
1,902,634 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
1,010,202 alexa
Mostly news releases from conservative organizations, upcoming conservative events, and coverage of bias on the local political PBS show Horizon

4. Red State Arizona
1,902,634 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
1,234,079 alexa
Breaking conservative political analysis on a wide variety of topics

5. Arizona Political Heat
707,246 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
1,456,527 alexa
Conservative political analysis with extra focus on illegal immigration and speeding tickets

6. Seeing Red AZ
364,698 Quantcast, 3,049 estimated monthly visitors
2,555,785 alexa
Not for the fainthearted. Critical conservative political analysis, with an emphasis on illegal immigration and pointing out problems with McCain.

7. Exurban League
1,463,335 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
1,502,670 alexa
Conservative political analysis from two exurban guys

8. Politico Mafioso
1,903,045 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
1,883,621 alexa
The only active pro-McCain blog in the state. Mostly copies and pastes pro-McCain articles and articles on terrorism. Has ties to the Shangri La nudist colony and the Grand Pachyderm club (not to be confused with the conservative Pachyderm Coalition). But has a good sense of humor about being ganged up upon for being a RINO by the rest of the conservative blogs.

9. AZ GOP's Pullen for the Party
1,887,974 Quantcast, 628 estimated monthly visitors
5,509,174 alexa
Mostly press releases and clips from talks by National Committeeman Bruce Ash

10. Arizona Eighth
1,902,633 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
5,910,061 alexa
Conservative political analysis of Arizona's 8th district (generally North Tucson area)

11. Think Right AZ
1,902,634 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
not on alexa
Sort of misnamed RINO blog run by a political insider, supports McCain

12. Arizona Report
1,902,634 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
not an alexa
Fairly conservative political satire site, run by a political insider

13. Lighthouse Blog
4,020,068 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
no alexa ranking
Conservative political analysis

14. Cactus Alliance
5,677,303 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
10,013,110 alexa
Aggregate of pro-life conservative blogs

15. Zonitics
not on Quantcast or alexa
Probably the first conservative blog in the Valley, run by an anonymous guy with occasional anonymous contributors. Known for breaking really good intel here and there.

16. Mesa Issues
1,903,052 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
5,188,715 alexa
Like it's name says, covers Mesa issues

17. Jakubczyk on Life
1,902,634 on Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
11,626,498 alexa
Conservative pro-life analysis from a major pro-life leader

18. AZ Watchtower
1,321,655 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
not on alexa
Conservative political analysis focusing mostly on Arizona's congressional candidates

19. Len Munsil
8,843,611 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
7,656,317 alexa
Conservative political analysis by the former gubernatorial candidate and founder/President of the Center for Arizona Policy

20. Arizona Growler
1,520,474 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
not on alexa
Conservative political analysis with an emphasis on Arizona State University

21. El Gringo
not on Quantcast or alexa
Conservative political analysis with an emphasis on economics from a former Goldwater Institute scholar

Red Arizona
only appeared a few days ago so not yet on Quantcast or alexa
Insider blog with connections to the Republican Party and the state legislature, supports McCain


Addendum
We did not include Righty Blogs or Blog Net News since those are nationwide aggregators of blogs, and Blog Net News includes liberal blogs, however, we do recommend them as excellent sources for monitoring the state's political blogosphere. Please email us at azpoliticalintel-at-yahoo.com if you have any corrections or additions.

Goldwater Institute: Cell Phone Bill of Rights Could Raise Prices

New report says legislation would hurt consumers with higher prices, fewer choices

During this legislative session lawmakers will consider a host of proposals aimed at protecting consumers. But a new report says one of those, the "Cellphone User's Bill of Rights," will likely hurt the consumers it aims to help.

The report released today by the Goldwater Institute, Hold the Phone: Why Arizona Doesn't Need a Wireless Consumer Bill of Rights, says the legislation will limit cell phone plan choices and raise prices. The Cellphone User's Bill of Rights would limit cell phone contracts to one year and allow customers to cancel contracts within 30 days for any reason, among other things.

"Lawmakers should not be in the business of telling consumers what terms of cell phone service they can or cannot buy," said Solveig Singleton, Senior Adjunct Fellow with the Progress & Freedom Foundation's Center for the Study of Digital Property and author of the report. "The government doesn't dictate our gym membership or our Blockbuster contracts, and it shouldn't mandate cell phone service terms either."

Many of the provisions in the Cellphone User's Bill of Rights have already been addressed voluntarily by cell phone providers. Verizon Wireless gives consumers 30 days to cancel contracts. AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile have introduced more flexible contract terms, and several companies are prorating termination fees. "Markets are working well in this industry. There is no reason to change course," says Singleton.

Some companies are willing to offer a lower monthly price in exchange for a two year contract. If these companies are no longer allowed to offer a two year contract, even if a customer wants one, prices may go up.

Five other states have considered similar proposals, but Minnesota is the only state to actually enact legislation. That legislation was later found unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Congress began deregulating the cell phone industry in 1993, and consumers saw a 40 percent price drop in six years, along with better, more affordable equipment, and more service options. The Cellphone User's Bill of Rights would reverse the national trend towards deregulation.

Hold the Phone: Why Arizona Doesn't Need a Wireless Consumer Bill of Rights is available online or by calling (602) 462-5000.

The Goldwater Institute is a nonprofit public policy research and litigation organization whose work is made possible by the generosity of its supporters. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Contact: Starlee Rhoades Vice President of Communications srhoades@goldwaterinstitute.org (602) 462-5000 x 226

Goldwater Institute: Napolitano's higher education proposals are off the mark

Ready, Shoot, Aim!
Napolitano's higher education proposals are off the mark

By Matthew Ladner, Ph.D.

Governor Janet Napolitano called for the doubling of the number of college graduates by 2020 in her 2007 state of the state address and paying the tuition for students who graduate high school with a B average. How fast can you say grade inflation?

What's important to note, however, is that there isn't any reason to think Arizona needs such a doubling. In the Carnegie Foundation's publication Change, Paul Barton wrote that the notion that the U.S. has a dire need for an ever increasing number of college graduates is a myth. "Confusion about the demand for college graduates runs throughout discussions of national workforce needs," Barton wrote.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, 29 percent of all jobs actually required a degree in 2004. But the U.S. Department of Education's National Education Longitudinal Study reports that 40 percent of its sample attained a two- or four-year degree or higher. Many people with college degrees have jobs that do not require them.

Of course, Arizona's universities can and should do more to improve their abysmal graduation rates. The National Center for Education Statistics lists Arizona State's four year graduation rate as 28 percent, the University of Arizona at 30 and Northern Arizona University at 27. The six year graduation rates for these three schools stand at 56%, 56% and 47% respectively. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like Arizona taxpayers are already subsidizing a good deal more than we should.

The crisis in our public universities is effectiveness, not affordability. They need focus, reform, and competition, not new subsidies and a continued lack of accountability. Massive new taxpayer subsidies will simply turn today's farce into tomorrow's tragedy.

Dr. Matthew Ladner is vice president of research at the Goldwater Institute.

AFT-AFP blasts Phoenix City Council’s “endless” parks tax

The Arizona Federation of Taxpayers, a state chapter of Americans for Prosperity, condemned yesterday’s unanimous policy decision by the Phoenix City Council to move forward with a proposal to extend a city parks and preservation tax “in perpetuity.” The current parks and preservation tax, enacted in 1999, is set to expire next year.

“An endless tax gives city politicians a never-ending blank check,” said AFT-AFP state director Tom Jenney. “If a tax sunsets every ten years, that provides much-needed accountability, so that citizens can periodically review city practices,” he said.

Jenney also questioned the proposed uses of the tax. While the current tax has mainly been used to acquire and develop park lands, Deputy City Manager Rick Naimark explained to the Council yesterday that the endless parks tax would increasingly be used to pay for maintenance and operations functions, including park rangers and security. “This is a revenue source looking for a purpose,” said Jenney.

Jenney also criticized the City Council for failing to consider private-sector alternatives, such as taking competitive bids and granting private companies the right to operate exclusive concessions in parks, such as coffee and ice cream stands, or nature tours, in return for providing maintenance, landscaping, security, and other services. “Out of a $124 million parks budget, fewer than one million dollars come from enterprise functions,” said Jenney. “Expanded private concessions could easily replace the $15 million annual revenue from the parks tax.”

AFT chairman Chad Kirkpatrick questioned the propriety of placing the tax question on the May ballot, when a much more substantial voter turnout will occur in the November general election. Kirkpatrick also pointed out that the vote on the parks tax would be the City’s second tax vote in less than a year. “The City Council put the Prop 1 sales tax increase on the September ballot to get an additional $60 million a year for police and fire, after it deliberately underfunded police and fire budgets in order to make the tax increase more attractive to voters,” Kirkpatrick said.

The current tax, which is one-tenth of one percent on sales in Phoenix, will have raised over $200 million by the time it expires.

At its meeting next Tuesday, January 29^th, at 3:00 p.m., the City Council will hold a final vote on an ordinance to refer the tax for voter approval to the May 20^th ballot.

Contact: Tom Jenney, Arizona state director, Americans for Prosperity
tjenney@afphq.org (602) 478-0146

For more on operating parks through private concessions, see the Reason Public Policy Institute’s report on managed competition programs in San Diego:

http://www.reason.org/san_diego_managed_competition.pdf

CAP: How much do you know about abortion numbers?

Every single abortion is a tragedy beyond compare. It takes the life of an individual who can never be replaced. It also harms the woman in deeply personal and physical ways. Today, though, I'd like to give you an idea of the both the toll of abortion and the very real hope that abortion's hold on our nation is coming to an end. At least 50 million preborn children have been killed through legal abortion over the last 35 years. Approximately 1.2 million abortions occur annually. About half of the women having abortions are 25 years or older with about 60 percent having given birth to at least one child prior to getting the abortion. About 47 percent of all women have had an abortion by the time they are 45 years old. Medical abortions - caused by taking abortion pills - account for 13% of all abortions, double the level of medical abortions in 2001. Abortion proponents see the abortion pills as one solution to the lack of doctors willing to perform surgical abortions. Women who abort a first pregnancy are nearly four times more likely to engage in subsequent drug or alcohol abuse than women who never have an abortion. The suicide rate for post-abortive women is six times higher than those who had miscarried. In 1992, there were 2,152 abortion clinics. There are now fewer than 750 in operation. There are at least 19 abortion "providers" in Arizona, compared to 43 in 1977. There are now more than 2,300 pregnancy resource centers all over the country, willing to help mothers find alternatives to abortion. There are at least 46 pregnancy resource center locations throughout Arizona. Only 28 percent of 18 to 29 year-old women believe that an abortion should be available to "any woman who wants it." That percentage has shrunk from 49 percent in 1993. The U.S. abortion rate has fallen to 19.4 abortions for every 1,000 women, the lowest level in three decades. In 2006, there were 10,506 abortions in Arizona, compared to 15,783 in 1990.

2) How Much Do You Know?

To test your knowledge about Roe v. Wade, take this quick online quiz, found at www.roeiqtest.com, about the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in America.

Sheriff Arpaio To Headline Friday Event In Tucson For Romney For President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
America's Toughest Sheriff to Visit Tucson for Mitt Romney for President
**Joe Arpaio Heads Romney Rally in the Old Pueblo** Arizona's Presidential Primary is February 5th TUCSON, Ariz - January 23, 2008 - With wins in Nevada and Michigan - and the most delegates of any Republican candidate for President - Mitt Romney is on a roll. With that in mind, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio will roll into Tucson this Friday (1/25) for a rally showing support for the man he believes can fix Washington. "Mitt Romney is the candidate who can overhaul Washington. Governor Romney proved it when he turned around a massive deficit in Massachusetts, when he turned around the Olympics after scandal and time and again when he turned around business after business in the private sector," says Arpaio, one of Arizona's most popular elected officials known for his tough stands on crime and illegal immigration. Sheriff Arpaio will attend a full slate of events as he tries to get the vote out for Mitt Romney in Arizona's February 5th primary election: Friday, January 25, 2008 11:30 to 1:00 Pima County Republican Women Luncheon Sheraton Four Points Speedway and Campbell 3:30 to 4:10 Broadway Proper Retirement Community 400 South Broadway Place 6:30 to 8:00 Rally for Romney - Featuring Sheriff Joe Arpaio Medicine Man Art Gallery 7000 E. Tanque Verde **To arrange an interview with Sheriff Joe Arpaio contact Jason Rose** -30- Romney for President email: info@roseandallynpr.com phone: 602-791-4488

McClure, Robson, and Stump Announce for Arizona Corporation Commission

Editor's note - there is also a trio of libertarian-leaning Republican candidates running as a slate.

A trio of veteran lawmakers – Arizona State Representatives Marian McClure (R-Tucson), Bob Robson (R-Chandler), and Bob Stump (R-Peoria) announced today their intention to seek election to the Arizona Corporation Commission. Combined, the three state legislators have strong and diverse backgrounds in protecting consumers, promoting families, and supporting business innovation and infrastructure development. The Republican team of McClure, Robson and Stump seek to replace three term-limited Commissioners and former Representatives: Republican Commissioners Jeff Hatch-Miller, Bill Mundell, and Mike Gleason.

The obligations and duties of Arizona’s Corporation Commission are critically important to Arizona’s economy. Commissioners are charged with oversight of all of Arizona’s critical utilities, including water, natural gas, electric, sewer, and telecommunications. Commissioners’ key duties also include regulation of the sale of securities or investments, as well as pipeline and railroad safety enforcement. Proposition 103, approved by Arizona voters in 2000, changed the term of office for Commissioners from six to four years, and limits Commissioners to two consecutive terms.

Representative Marian McClure, a civic leader and Republican activist from Southern Arizona, was elected to her first term at the Arizona House of Representatives in 2000 and currently represents the communities of Green Valley, Tucson, Sierra Vista, Sahuarita, Sonoita, Elgin, Patagonia, and Tubac. For 2008 McClure will continue as Chair of the House Public Institutions and Retirement Committee, as well as Vice Chair of the House Transportation Committee, and member of the House Committee on Counties, Municipalities, and Military Affairs. With over 15 years of professional experience working for several large international financial institutions, McClure has a thorough understanding of the banking and retail industry. McClure is well known at the Arizona Legislature as a leader in consumer protection issues including protecting retirees from investments scams, and protecting military families from unscrupulous high interest loans. An Arizona resident since1965, McClure has been active in GOP women’s groups in Southern Arizona.

Representative Bob Robson, a small business owner in Southeastern Maricopa County, was elected to his first term at the Arizona House of Representatives in 2000 and currently represents the communities of Chandler, Ahwatukee, and Tempe. Robson has served in the House Majority Leadership team as Speaker Pro Tempore for two House Speakers. Additionally, Robson is Chairman of the House Rules Committee, through which all successful legislative bills must be reviewed and approved, and is Vice Chairman of the House Environment Committee. Prior to his election to the Arizona House, Robson served on the city council of the fastest growing city in the United States, Chandler, Arizona, where he was elected by his peers as Vice Mayor. During his tenure, the City was well known for its innovative infrastructure planning and business promotion, resulting in historic employment and salary gains. During his years of public service, he has focused his policy efforts on supporting public safety officers and investing in the education of our children. Robson has been an active civic volunteer in his community, including his deep involvement as a member of Kiwanis Club for nearly 30 years.

Representative Bob Stump was elected to his first term to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2002 and currently represents the communities of Sun City, Peoria, Glendale, and Youngtown. Stump will continue his leadership role at the Arizona House in 2008 as Chairman of the House Health Committee, and is a member of the House Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance, Water and Agriculture, and the House Ethics Committee. Mr. Stump is well-known for his efforts to improve health care for Arizona’s seniors. Praised by Citizens for Arizona Policy as “one of Arizona’s most articulate and eloquent champions of conservative ideals,” Stump has received numerous legislative awards for his protection and promotion of Arizona families and taxpayers. A lifelong Republican, Stump holds degrees from Harvard University and the University of California at Berkeley.

Arizona’s primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, with early balloting beginning July 31. Arizona’s general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, with early voting beginning October 2.

Contacts:

Bob Robson
(602) 370-5676 Robson4az@yahoo.com
Bob Stump
(623) 776-3202 StumpCampaign@gmail.com
Marian McClure
(520) 749-2548
Mar42ian@cox.net

Tuesday night: presidential candidates forum hosted by LD16

Nixon's political bar & KKNT co-hosting Super Tuesday party

For more information click here.
No charge to attend, but they request that you sign up in advance and print out a ticket.

Will we find out Feb. 5 if we have a Republican presidential nominee or not?

Liberal journalist defends County Attorney crime prevention handbooks

On Horizon's Journalists' Roundtable last night, liberal journalist Mike Sunnucks from the Phoenix Business Journal defended Andrew Thomas's crime prevention handbooks, noting that numerous other politicians send out materials with their names on them and it's to be expected as part of the job. Gabrielle Giffords has sent out countless flyers as U.S. Representative, known as "franking." Napolitano has sent home pictures of herself with all Arizona schoolchildren, plastered her photo on billboards around the state at a cost of almost $150,000, inserted herself into a book about the Navajo Indians that was sent home with schoolchildren - thanks to Sonoran Alliance for remembering this one), and prominently featured her photo on the front of the Clean Elections website (thanks to Lighthouse for this one). Secretary of Jan Brewer issued a video of herself before elections reminding voters to bring identification with them to the polls. Perhaps the prize for the worst offender should go to AZ attorney general Terry Goddard, who has at least 73 publications listed on his "Publications" webpage. Most of them are glossy slick booklets with his picture prominently featured on the front.

One thing to take into consideration when considering whether to ban this type of thing is what benefit arises from the use of it? In Thomas's case, crimes - including deaths - will be prevented, and money will be saved from having to prosecute (and pay for public defenders) to deal with criminal offenders. If just one person is deterred from committing a heinous crime, isn't that enough to justify the $200,000 cost of the booklets? The cost to the victim and their family, in addition to the financial costs of prosecuting, defending, and housing one murderer, must be comparable to $200,000. I think an argument can be made for spending money to justify sparing lives, especially since the money ends up being saved since there is no crime to then prosecute.

As for the other politicians, it's not quite as easy to justify their flagrant self-promotion. How do you justify $150,000 worth of billboards with the Governor's smiling face on them that only say, "There's nothing like home cooking."

Goldwater Institute: Breakfast with Ward Connerly - February 7

2/7/2008 Breakfast with Ward Connerly 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

The Goldwater Institute presents a
2008 Speaker Series Breakfast featuring Ward Connerly

Ward Connerly has advocated racial and gender equality by eliminating racial and gender preferences in California and Michigan. Now he brings his Civil Rights Initiative to Arizona.

February 7, 2008

8:00 am

Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E. Missouri Avenue.
Phoenix, AZ 85016.

Goldwater Institute Member Tickets [$35 each]
Non-Member Tickets [$50 each]

Reserved Table
Reserved seating for ten guests [$500]

VIP Table
Preferred seating for ten guests [$1,000]

Premier Table
Premier seating for ten guests [$2,500]

For more information, please call Jenn Bryson at (602)-462-5000 ext. 229 or email her at jbryson@goldwaterinstitute.org

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No Taxpayer Money for Lobbyists--important reform bill

SCR 1009 was introduced yesterday.

Also known as No Taxpayer Money for Lobbyists, the bill would give voters in November the opportunity to prohibit governments and government agencies from using taxpayer money to lobby the Legislature. SCR 1009 would allow governments and government agencies to continue providing information to legislative committees, but they would not be allowed to spend our money to hire lobbyists.

To take action, view the related link on the AFP Arizona blog page.

Please send a note of thanks to Senator Linda Gray (R-10, Northwest Phoenix) and the other sponsors of SCR 1009, aka No Taxpayer Money for Lobbyists:

Sen. Robert Blendu (R-12, Litchfield Park, Goodyear), rblendu@azleg.gov

Sen. Bob Burns (R-9, Peoria, Sun City), rburns@azleg.gov

Sen. Ron Gould (R-3, Lake Havasu City, Mohave County), rgould@azleg.gov

Sen. John Huppenthal (R-20, Ahwatukee, Tempe), jhuppenthal@azleg.gov

Sen. Karen Johnson (R-18, Mesa), kjohnson@azleg.gov

Rep. Mark Anderson, (R-18, Mesa), manderson@azleg.gov

Rep. Russell Pearce, (R-18, Mesa), rpearce@azleg.gov

Rep. Judy Burges (R-4, Sun City West, Surprise, Wickenburg), jburges@azleg.gov

Rep. Doug Clark (R-6, Anthem, North Phoenix), dclark@azleg.gov

Rep. Eddie Farnsworth (R-22, Gilbert), efarnsworth@azleg.gov

Rep. Jim Weiers, House Speaker (R-10, Northwest Phoenix), jweiers@azleg.gov

Rep. Steven Yarbrough (R-21, Chandler), syarbrough@azleg.gov

To read the text of the bill, click here.

And thanks to longtime taxpayer activist Ken Bond of Mesa, who has worked for many years to implement meaningful restraints on taxpayer-funded lobbying. If you would like to help Ken to pass SCR 1009, please respond to this email and let me know.

Tom Jenney
Executive Director
Arizona Federation of Taxpayers
A state chapter of Americans for Prosperity
tjenney@afphq.org
(602) 478-0146

Slowing Down AZ’s Budget Rollercoaster

Pearce introduces Spending Limit Referendum Bill, HCR 2038

The Governor and her Big Spender allies in the Legislature have spent the state government into another deficit crisis. Now, some of the Big Spenders are using the deficit as an excuse to justify increased property taxes next year.

Arizona’s budget problems really got out of control in FY 2006 and FY 2007, when the size of state government as a portion of the state economy exceeded 6.5 percent—levels of spending not seen since the early 1990s. Spending as a portion of the economy is down a little this year, but the Governor and the Big Spenders will soon push it even higher.

Today, Rep. Russell Pearce (Republican, District 18, Mesa) introduced HCR 2038, a referendum bill that would give voters in November an opportunity to freeze the size of state government at 6.4 percent of state personal income. That would keep state government from taking a larger and larger piece of the state economy.

The 6.4 percent bill is a fiscally moderate proposal: It allows state government to grow, but only as fast as the state economy. If a Legislator believes that government should get larger as a portion of the economy, he or she is a Big Spender, not a fiscal moderate.

Please take a moment to send a note to say thanks to Rep. Pearce at rpearce@azleg.gov, and to the legislators in your district who signed on as co-sponsors of HCR 2038:

Rep. Mark Anderson (R-18, Mesa), manderson@azleg.gov

Rep. Ray Barnes (R-7, Northeast Phoenix, Cave Creek), rbarnes@azleg.gov

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-22, Gilbert), abiggs@azleg.gov

Rep. Judy Burges (R-4, Sun City West, Surprise, Wickenburg), jburges@azleg.gov

Rep. Sam Crump (R-6, Anthem, North Phoenix), scrump@azleg.gov

Rep. Eddie Farnsworth (R-22, Gilbert), efarnsworth@azleg.gov

Rep. Trish Groe (R-3, Lake Havasu City, Mohave County), tgroe@azleg.gov

Rep. John Kavanagh (R-8, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills), jkavanagh@azleg.gov

Rep. Rick Murphy (R-9, Peoria, Sun City), rmurphy@azleg.gov

Rep. Bob Stump (R-9, Peoria, Sun City), bstump@azleg.gov

Rep. Jim Weiers, House Speaker (R-10, Northwest Phoenix), jweiers@azleg.gov

Rep. Steven Yarbrough (R-21, Chandler), syarbrough@azleg.gov

Sen. Bob Burns (R-9, Peoria, Sun City), rburns@azleg.gov

Sen. Ron Gould (R-3, Lake Havasu City, Mohave County), rgould@azleg.gov

Sen. Jack Harper (R-4, Sun City West, Surprise, Wickenburg), jharper@azleg.gov

Sen. Karen Johnson (R-18, Mesa), kjohnson@azleg.gov

Sen. Thayer Verschoor (R-22, Gilbert), tverschoor@azleg.gov

To read the text of the bill, copy and paste this URL into your browser:

http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hcr2038p.htm

Tom Jenney
Executive Director
Arizona Federation of Taxpayers
A state chapter of Americans for Prosperity
tjenney@afphq.org
(602) 478-0146