Friday, May 30, 2008

AFP: Tell AZ Senators No Global Warming Tax

AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY

Stop the $1.2 trillion global warming tax!

The U.S. Senate will begin debate next week on a massive new regulatory scheme known as “cap-and-trade,” a phrase the Washington Post described as a “pithy marketing gimmick.” It’s a tricky way to hide a massive energy tax hike by hiding it behind a complex regulatory scheme. The cap-and-trade bill, sponsored by Sens. Joseph Lieberman and John Warner and known as Lieberman-Warner, will increase federal revenue by $1.2 TRILLION dollars over just the first 7 years that it is in effect, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Senator McCain is leaning towards supporting this legislation. We say leaning because we firmly believe that he can still be persuaded to vote no, which makes it crucial that you weigh in against this massive tax-and-spend bill now.

Al Gore, in a little noticed 2006 interview, said that the energy tax he pushed in 1993, known as the BTU tax, was one of the leading reasons Republicans won the House in 1994. The lesson he learned was not that massive energy tax hikes are a bad idea, but rather that they have to be hidden from voters. That’s what cap-and-trade is all about.

An analysis commissioned by the American Council on Capital Formation and the National Association of Manufacturers projects the economic impact of the S. 2191 by 2020 to Arizona: 23,000 to 34,000 fewer jobs, $800 to $2,600 in lower annual disposable income per household, an annual hit to Arizona GSP of between $2.6 and $3.6 billion, and much higher energy prices — 20 percent to 67 percent higher for gasoline and 23 percent to 30 percent higher for electricity. The study also found that lower-income families — people who are least able to absorb higher energy costs — will be the hardest hit.

And what do we buy, environmentally, with this hit to the economy? Cap-and-trade is already failing to reduce emissions in Europe. And even if emissions targets are met, climate models show that the reductions would have only a miniscule impact on global temperature—less than 0.1 degrees Celsius in 100 years—and would not be detectable against the background of natural variation. That’s why leading climate alarmists have hailed a Kyoto-style cap-and-trade regime as just the first step of thirty to curb global economic activity, a recipe for permanently destroying the global economy.

Tell Senator McCain to vote NO on the cap-and-trade energy tax!

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits.

For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Preston Korn files signature petitions for Congressional seat in District 1

Preston Korn for United States Congress

Preston Korn Files Nomination Petitions
For Immediate Release
May 29, 2008

(Flagstaff, Arizona) - Preston Korn has filed his nomination petitions with the Secretary of State on Tuesday, May 28th just after greeting the President's plane at Sky Harbor International.

Preston Korn was privileged to be an integral part of making it possible for four living generations of Eagle Scouts to meet the President of the United States.

Korn explained, "Tom Boggess IV had told me that his son, Shelton, would soon be earning his Eagle Scout. Shelton had worked very hard to earn his Eagle badge, particularly for his great-grandfather, Thomas Shelton Boggess, Jr., an Eagle Scout himself, whose health had been beginning to fail."

With Shelton's achievement, the Boggess family now had four living generations of Eagle Scouts.

"I believed that the Boggess family had achieved something unique and special and wanted to help in any way I could so that Tom Boggess, Jr. could meet the President with his descendents, who were also Eagle Scouts."

"I decided I was going to do what I could to help Mr. Boggess meet the President one more time. I contacted a few people who I thought could help and Ken Bennett came through with a phone call to Karl Rove. Eventually the call came from the White House, the arrangements were made, and Tuesday all four generations were able to greet President Bush at the bottom of the steps of Air Force One in Phoenix."

Korn says he "was honored to be there with the Boggess family."

Preston Korn is now the second Republican to file petitions for Arizona's First Congressional District.

"I believe it's important for the people to have a conservative representative who lives in this district and, thus, better understands the needs of those living in the district"

"Thank you to all those who have helped collect signatures to make this campaign possible." Korn concluded.

##



The Eagle Scouts meeting with President Bush


Myself with the Boggess family.


Shelton Boggess was able to also meet several Arizona political officials.
From left to right: Myself, State Senate President Tim Bee, Senator Jon Kyl, Thomas Shelton Boggess V, Congressman Trent Franks


Myself and friend Tim Vest on Air Force One.
Paid for by Preston Korn for Congress
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Humphries Files Signatures for House Race

Tuesday, May 27th, Trent Humphries filed 710 signatures with the Secretary of State’s office to qualify as a candidate for the state legislature in District 26. Humphries finished gathering signatures in February on Super Tuesday where campaign staff covered most northwest-side polling stations with signature petitions. With the exception of a candidate for state senate in the district, Trent Humphries was the first to complete the process of gathering the required signatures in District 26.
Trent Humphries has been acknowledged in the press as the front-runner in the District 26 House race. He has established himself as the solutions candidate in healthcare, education, public safety, and government spending holding bi-partisan public forums with expert panelists to define the issues.

For further information about Trent Humphries’ leadership on the issues, or for information on upcoming forums, please call Kevin Herring at 520-465-8594.

RSVP Now for Pure Goldwater

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Goldwater Institute Litigation Director Clint Bolick Named One of Nation's Top Lawyers


Legal Times Calls Clint Bolick a "Champion" of Law and Liberty


The newspaper Legal Times has named Clint Bolick, director of the Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation, a "champion" who should be honored for upholding the legal profession's core values and "fighting to expand liberties and protect civil rights." The list of Champions was compiled for the edition "The 90 Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Last 30 Years" marking Legal Times' 30th anniversary.

Mr. Bolick was selected based on his work to create the legal precedents that support school choice programs. This decade-long battle culminated in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2002, which Mr. Bolick won. Mr. Bolick has also been active in efforts to increase judicial scrutiny of racial preferences and restore judicial recognition of economic liberty as a civil right, an area which has resulted in several landmark rulings overturning regulatory barriers to enterprise.

"We are proud to have Clint's extraordinary legal acumen recognized by the prestigious Legal Times," said Darcy Olsen, president and CEO of the Institute. "We believe in championing liberty, and when necessary, using the courts to protect constitutional government. The government is Goliath, and Clint is our David, armed not with stones, but with the power of the law."

In addition to Mr. Bolick, the Legal Times list includes U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and activist lawyer Ralph Nader.

Before joining the Goldwater Institute in 2007, Mr. Bolick was co-founder and vice president of the Institute for Justice and president and general counsel of the Alliance for School Choice. He is the author of several books, including Voucher Wars: Waging the Legal Battle Over School Choice and Leviathan: The Growth of Local Government & the Erosion of Liberty. His most recent book, David's Hammer: The Case for an Activist Judiciary, was released in 2007 by the Cato Institute and received the Lysander Spooner Award for Advancing the Literature of Liberty.

In addition to his role at the Goldwater Institute, Mr. Bolick is of counsel to the Rose Law Group in Scottsdale, Arizona and serves as a research fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. This most recent award by the Legal Times is one of many recognitions of Mr. Bolick's work. In 2003 he was named one of three "Lawyers of the Year" by American Lawyer. In 2006 he was the recipient of the Bradley Prize for Excellence for "strengthening American democratic capitalism."

The Goldwater Institute is a Phoenix-based charitable research and litigation organization dedicated to protecting and expanding economic freedom, constitutional liberty and educational opportunity. The Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation was founded in 2007 to vindicate principles of state constitutions that protect and advance individual liberty. The Institute's work is made possible by the generosity of its supporters. To support the Institute's work, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution.

Goldwater Institute: Time to Draw Line in Sand on Dysfunctional Schools

By Matthew Ladner, Ph.D.

Remember the movie "Network"? I'll never forget that classic scene in which news anchorman Howard Beale decided he was mad as a hornet and just wasn't going to "take it" any more. Well, I'm there.

I'm a public school guy. I attended and graduated exclusively from public schools. My mother worked in a public school. My sons attend a fine public school that my wife and I are very happy with. I've got nothing against public schools. I am, however, opposed to dysfunctional public schooling, and that sadly widespread practice has just got on my last nerve.


The Arizona Daily Star has published the finest work of education journalism that I have seen in Arizona or anywhere else. The Daily Star conducted a ten-month investigation and found that one-third of Tucson middle and high school students failed a core academic class, but nonetheless, 90 percent were promoted to the next grade.


The series further finds that students promoted frequently ought not to be, thanks to grade inflation. At Naylor Middle School, for example, only nine percent of eighth graders failed English courses last year. Meanwhile, 59 percent failed the AIMS reading test, and 40 percent failed the writing component.

Seventy-nine percent of Tucson students attending community college must take remedial math; 48 percent take remedial writing, and 32 percent are placed in remedial reading.


The time has come to draw a line in the sand. We don't have to agree on all the solutions, but I want to know who in Arizona takes the sorry state of our public schools seriously? The Daily Star has stepped onto the right side of the line. They've invested serious time, money, and effort to reveal a horrible problem. So has the Arizona Community Foundation .

The fact that Arizona schools are socially promoting and warehousing children on a massive scale is your responsibility, too. School districts are doing this in your name, with your tax dollars. Forget about blaming politicians. They'll get serious about taking on the education bureaucracy only when the public compels them to do so.

We can either go on ostrich-like, pretending that we can spend our way out of this problem, or we can do something about it. It's time you choose your place on the line. Stepping over?

Dr. Matthew Ladner is the Vice President of Research at the Goldwater Institute.

Coalition for a Conservative Majority Phoenix meeting Monday, June 16



Coalition for a Conservative Majority (CCM) Phoenix/Valley of the Sun chapter will have its next meeting Monday night, June 16 at 7pm at the Starfire Golf Club, 11500 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale. The organization will be establishing its new subcommittees. To become a member, click here. CCM was formed by former Minority Whip Tom DeLay, and is chaired by Ken Blackwell. A primary goal of CCM is to bring conservative groups together and provide responses to current events. Join its local facebook group and start discussing here.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Sen. Harper counters the Arizona Republic's drum beat to license an entry-level job

Letter submitted to the Arizona Republic to counter the push to license "loan Originators"

I am writing to point out that Catherine Reagor's May 25th article (State Senate stalls bill to license loan officers) was completely without statistical facts. While I provided no statistics on the Senate floor when I said, "The Number 1 problem is people lying about their income on their mortgage application," Catherine provided no evidence to counter when she said, "That isn't true, according to the FBI... The bureau found that a growing number of loan officers are perpetrating fraud by lying on loan applications." A "growing number" is not a statistic and proves nothing. What is apparent is consistent fraud in reporting by the newspaper. Should we license reporters and require annual training? I say, "Be careful when you cheer on the taking of another's individual liberty, because it may be yours that someone comes for next."

State Senator Jack Harper

Friday, May 23, 2008

Riders USA offering free 1-hour lectures explaining immigration issues



Riders USA, a nonprofit organization of motorcycle riders formed two years ago to educate people about illegal immigration, offers free 1-hour lectures to groups educating them about the issue. Riders USA was created in order to provide a way for people concerned about illegal immigration to get involved, without resorting to protests or rallies. The vast majority of the lecture consists of educating people about existing immigration law, which is the biggest part of the problem. Email them at ridersusa-at-cox.net in order to ask for a speaker.

Classic quote by Senator Ron Gould

Thanks to the Yellow Sheet Report for highlighting this.

“I'm sure at this very moment the Turkish government is quaking in fear that the Arizona Legislature is sending them a postcard.” ~ Sen. Ron Gould, opposing a memorial urging that government to terminate discriminatory policies

AZGOP Tusk Times



IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE

Chairman's Message

Guest Column - Rep. Bob Robson

Guest Column - Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Guest Column - Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas

Event Updates

AZGOP News

Republican News




CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE


Fellow Republicans,

I am proud to report the 2008 AZGOP Victory Dinner and State Convention were great successes. The Victory Dinner, keynoted by Michael Reagan, was over-booked and required expanding the room to add tables! The State Convention had roughly 1,500 people in attendance, including nearly 1,000 delegates representing all eight congressional districts.

Many of our Republican elected officials joined us at our convention and we are thankful they took time out of their schedules to do so. U.S. Senator Jon Kyl spoke to the large crowd early in the morning on the importance of supporting our nominee for President of the United States, Senator John McCain. Congressman John Shadegg got the crowd fired up when discussing the asinine plans the Democrats have to socialize our country. Congressman Trent Franks extolled the importance of voting for men and women who make it a priority to safeguard our country from those groups of people who make it a policy of resorting to violence toward, and the destruction of, America. Secretary of State Jan Brewer and Treasurer Dean Martin both addressed the crowd and talked about the overwhelming need to elect Republicans at the state level who will work to balance our budget, reign in spending and not raise taxes.

Now, we are shifting our focus to the National Convention being held in Minneapolis, MN. Though still months away, excitement for the convention is growing daily. Expect to hear from us via my blog frequently when at the convention.
Again, many thanks to all who were involved making state convention such a success. We could not have done it without you.

In your service,



RANDY




GUEST COLUMN


The Budget Mess

By Arizona House Speaker Pro Tempore Bob Robson

As most of you are painfully aware, the economy, both here and nationally, slowed significantly in the last year. The revenue figures in the current state budget never materialized and some reductions had to be made. To fix the billion-plus shortfall, we also dipped into the state’s savings account and used money sitting in special funds.

Maintaining the current level of service and accounting for growth in our schools and prisons, Arizona would need nearly $2 billion more than we anticipate receiving in revenue. Clearly, the state cannot spend at its current pace. Yet, we also must be sensitive to the needs of all of our residents.

I sponsored a bill that would have frozen hiring for non-essential personnel. A hiring freeze is one of the best ways to control and reduce costs at the state. Unfortunately, the governor vetoed the bill. She did, however, instruct executive agencies to freeze some openings.
The new fiscal year begins in July and legislators are at work to reach a deal for the budget that makes some reductions while ensuring core functions are not harmed. The Arizona state budget has nearly doubled in the last six years. We now have to look at some of the spending of the last few years and make some painful but needed reductions.

Click HERE for Representative Robson's website



GUEST COLUMN

A Letter from Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Dear Fellow Republican,

As the election approaches, it becomes clearer every day that as Sheriff of Maricopa County, I have a serious fight on my hands.

The Democrats are lining up against me, waging a strong battle to unseat me. The liberal media which blatantly supports the Democratic candidate and social activists, even some elected officials from the Democratic party, including the Governor herself, are out in force raising money, spreading lies and doing whatever they can to stop me dead in my tracks.
Why? Primarily because they despise what I am doing to fight illegal immigration.

Make no mistake. The Democrats want Arizona to be an “Open Borders State” and Phoenix, a “sanctuary city.”

You and I, however, do not. We understand the high cost of uncontrolled immigration into a community.

As Sheriff, I remain the only law enforcement authority to enforce all aspects of the immigration laws. It is what I was elected to do and I will not shirk that responsibility simply to win political favor with moderates and the press.

I know this issue is of primary importance to you as well. That is why I am asking for your financial support. Your contribution of any amount up to $390.00 will go far in insuring the future of our community.

These are tough times economically for many of us which makes asking you for financial help difficult. But we have to think about what is at stake. If a Democrat becomes Sheriff, illegal immigrants will have nothing to fear. There will be no one to fight their entry into this county. This must not happen.

Contribute today by sending a check to my campaign headquarters at 10632 North 71st Place, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254. If you prefer, go to my website, SheriffJoe.org and simply fill in the information on the donation page and paste it into this email reply.

Immigrants have helped make this country what it is today - the greatest nation on earth. But those who did so, entered this country legally, like my parents and probably like some of your relatives did. We don’t want to stop immigration. But we must stop the huge flow of illegal immigration before this country loses its identity and before our tax supported social services like education and medical care crumble from the strain placed on them by undocumented aliens.

Thank you for your contribution and most of all, thank you for helping to preserve our American way of life.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio


GUEST COLUMN


Illegal Immigration and Possible Health Risks

By Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas


Many Americans say that the problem of illegal immigration makes them sick - they may be more right than they know.

Immigrants who come to the United States legally are required to undergo a medical evaluation performed by a licensed, highly-trained doctor. The doctors test for communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, syphilis, and leprosy, and ensure that applicants for citizenship have received required vaccinations. Immigrants who come to the United States illegally receive no medical evaluations and therefore risk introducing diseases into US communities.

One such dangerous disease is tuberculosis, commonly known as TB. TB, an airborne bacterial infection that takes root in the lungs, kills approximately 2 million people per year worldwide.

Read more HERE

EVENT UPDATES

PHOENIX CAMPAIGN SCHOOL: May 31st from 9:00am – 3:00pm at ASU West. The AZGOP, in partnership with The Aarons Company and The Leadership Institute, will host an in-depth grassroots campaign school. Topics covered will include: voter identification, message development, Get Out The Vote (GOTV) and debate techniques, just to name a few. Voter Vault 3 training will be done separately, after conclusion of the campaign school, from 3:00pm-5:00pm. For more information and to register click HERE.

TUCSON CAMPAIGN SCHOOL: May 31st from 9:00am – 3:00pm at ASU West. The AZGOP, in partnership with GOPAC, will host an in-depth grassroots campaign school. Topics covered will include: voter identification, message development, Get Out The Vote (GOTV) and debate techniques, just to name a few. Voter Vault 3 training will be done separately, after conclusion of the campaign school, from 3:00pm-5:00pm. For more information contact Linda White at 520-971-8384.

AZGOP NEWS

Reinhard to Bittner: Congress controls Congress

Governor Thwarts Will of the People


Republican News

NRO Editorial: Do Nothing Congress
NY Post Editorial: McCain has the right approach on judges
George Will: Alice in Housing Land
Karl Rove: The GOP Must Stand for Something
Seattle PI: Racism seeps through Dem primaries


Convention Note: At the state convention there were several slates of suggested delegates (to the national convention) passed out to delegates. The AZGOP-McCain Unity Slate received overwhelming support. A Ron Paul slate was also presented at the convention and the following people requested the AZGOP make public the fact they did not give permission for their names to be used on the Ron Paul slate. Those individuals are: Chris Dahm, Karen Fritz, Juan Ramos, Geneva Arthin, Kathleen Jacobs, Terri Kibler, Martin Hermanson, James Holman, Bjorn Meyer, Diana Arendt as well as Tom and Charleen Marshall.


Arizona Republican Party - 3501 N 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016 - p: (602) 957-7770 e: info@azgop.org

Goldwater Institute: More Spending on AHCCS, with No End or Results in Sight

By Byron Schlomach, Ph.D.

From 2000 to 2008, spending by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (Arizona's state-funded health program for low-income families, AHCCCS) is expected to nearly triple. For all that spending, you'd think we'd have made some progress in increasing the percentage of Arizonans with health insurance. The graph below is evidence to the contrary.

Arizona's uninsured
The percentage of all Arizonans without health insurance actually increased from 16 percent in 2000 to 20.9 percent in 2006 (the latest data available). Since 2000, the uninsured rate has risen by 31 percent. This happened during a period of rapid budget increases for AHCCCS.

To be fair, Arizona's population rose steadily over the seven years illustrated in the graph. Inflation pushed up costs, too. But General Fund spending on AHCCCS as shown in the graph is adjusted for population (per capita) and for inflation ("real," 2006 dollars). Nevertheless, even this heavily adjusted spending measure showed an increase of 46 percent from 2000 to 2006.

Advocates for government health spending have made health insurance coverage their measure of success, but with numbers like these, it's better characterized as a measure of failure. After all, 49 percent of Arizona's adults with incomes under the federal poverty level are uninsured, despite being eligible for the open-ended Medicaid program.

Policymakers should make health insurance more affordable at the state level by eliminating coverage mandates and letting people buy insurance across state lines. But, increased government health spending isn't translating into fewer uninsured people.

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

Goldwater Institute: Regulating HOAs Violates Freedom of Contract

By Nick Dranias 

The Arizona Senate is considering a bill that would regulate homeowner associations by imposing government mandates on HOA contracts.

This bill runs afoul of freedom of contract, the principle that the government should not interfere with agreements reached by willing parties. This principle recognizes that the state should not superintend the wisdom of contractual relationships.

Because the relationship between homeowner associations and their members is a voluntary contract, any law that overrides that relationship violates this principle. Moreover, such laws risk violating Article 2, § 25 of the Arizona Constitution, which provides, "No law impairing the obligation of a contract, shall ever be enacted."

If enacted into law, the bill under consideration would override "loser pays" provisions in homeowner association agreements that require a losing litigant to reimburse the association for the attorneys' fees and costs incurred in defending a lawsuit. The law would thereby erase provisions that are meant to discourage litigation. This threatens homeowner associations and their members with a greater risk of litigation and higher assessments.

The regulation of homeowner associations is unwise and unconstitutional. Even if a few abusive homeowner associations deserve to be sued more often, it would be ham-fisted to encourage an across-the-board increase in litigation against all associations. If freedom of contract means anything in this state, it means that we shouldn't all suffer together when the state overreaches in deciding what's best for us.

Nick Dranias is the Director of the Center for Constitutional Government at the Goldwater Institute.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

AZ Right to Life launches new website

Thanks to John Jakubczyk from AZ Right to Life for letting us know they have redesigned their website. Looks great guys!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Alliance Defense Fund launches new magazine: Truth & Triumph

About the magazine -

Truth and Triumph celebrates the profound impact your generous support for ADF is making in the courtrooms of America. In this magazine, you will see more clearly than ever before how, with your help, ADF and its allies are actively and successfully defending the right of all Americans to hear and speak the Truth.

Truth and Triumph replaces the quarterly Briefing ministry friends have been receiving from ADF for several years. We believe this new format – with its stronger photos and broader array of contributing voices – will provide you with more in-depth insight into the legal challenges we’re facing, and into the people whose lives are being transformed through the work you support.

Goldwater Institute: Arizona vouchers down, but not out

by Matthew Ladner, Ph.D.  

What is called the Blaine Amendment, Article 9, Section 10 of the Arizona Constitution, reads:

No tax shall be laid or appropriation of public money made in aid of any church, or private or sectarian school, or any public service corporation.

On the basis of that language, last week an Arizona appeals court struck down the voucher programs for children with disabilities and foster care children.

The Arizona Supreme Court explicitly rejected similar arguments in Kotterman v. Killian. The court recognized the Blaine amendment as a product of 19th century anti-Catholic bias, writing that, "We would be hard pressed to divorce the amendment's language from the insidious discriminatory intent that prompted it."

Sadly, the Appeals Court didn't feel pressed at all, voting 3-0 to overturn the program.

Leave it to the opponents of school choice who brought the suit to make use of the prejudices of the past in order to toss severely disadvantaged children out of schools that are meeting their needs.

Moreover, the structure of these programs makes it clear that they are aids to children, not to schools. The language gives a scholarship amount up to a certain maximum, or to the tuition and fees, whichever is less. The churches sponsoring these schools often subsidize them. Therefore, no public money is going to "aid" the church or private school involved.

The Institute for Justice is appealing to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Dr. Matthew Ladner is the Vice President of Research at the Goldwater Institute.

CAP: Marriage redefined, sexual liberty trumps religious liberty

In this issue:

(1) Marriage Redefined
(2) "Sexual Liberty" Trumps Religious Liberty?

(1) Marriage Redefined

The impact of the California Supreme Court decision redefining marriage is sending shockwaves through our country - and for good reason! Many citizens are unaware of the impact that this ruling in California WILL HAVE on states throughout America.
Here's one reason we are concerned: unlike Massachusetts, California does not have a residency requirement for couples wishing to marry in their state. We are less than 30 days away from an Arizona same-sex couple being able to "marry" in California, then return to Arizona to file a lawsuit challenging our state to recognize their California "marriage." CAP has already received reports of Arizona same-sex couples registering for gifts and making preparations for California weddings.
In the midst of this seemingly dark time, there is great news! Voters in Arizona, California, and Florida will likely have the chance this November to speak for themselves on the issue of marriage, instead of being told by judges what marriage is. In Arizona, this effort hinges on the state Senate passing SCR 1042 to refer the marriage amendment to the voters. If you have not yet contacted your Senator and Senate President Tim Bee to ask them to pass SCR 1042 and give the voters a chance to decide on marriage in November, please do so today and encourage your friends and family to do the same by visiting www.azpolicy.org.
The California decision highlights the urgency of passing a constitutional amendment defining marriage in Arizona as the union of one man and one woman. I encourage you to read CAP's opinion piece in today's Arizona Republic about the importance of the Arizona marriage amendment. Articles making the connection between the Arizona marriage amendment and the California decision also appeared in the Arizona Daily Star and the East Valley Tribune.


(2) "Sexual Liberty" Trumps Religious Liberty?

In court cases throughout our nation, we are seeing that "sexual liberty" is trumping religious liberty.
· In New Jersey, a church refused to rent its pavilion to a same-sex couple for a commitment ceremony because of the church's beliefs against homosexuality, and the state revoked the tax exemption on some of the church's land.
· In New Mexico, Christian photographers who refused to take pictures at a same-sex commitment ceremony were fined for "discriminating" on the basis of sexual orientation.
· An Arizona-based adoption web site can no longer do business in California unless they are willing to place children with homosexual parents, and Catholic Charities had to stop placing children for adoption in Boston because the state prohibited them from exercising their religious beliefs that children should not be placed with same-sex couples.
· Two Christian doctors are facing a lawsuit in California for refusing to artificially inseminate a lesbian woman, even though the doctors referred her to another provider who successfully performed the procedure. This case has now been appealed to the California Supreme Court, and in light of last week's ruling, the outcome is uncertain at best.
The grave threat to religious freedom posed by these decisions is only worsened by court rulings like the California decision from last week. The stakes for protecting marriage are higher than ever.

Tonight: PAChyderm Coalition meeting: Assessor Keith Russell speaking

PAChyderm Coalition MO

MONTHLY MEETING

Wednesday May 21, 2008

Please note the new location:

Deer Valley Airport Restaurant

702 W. Deer Valley Road

(7th Ave & Deer Valley)

Dinner at 6:15 – Order off the Menu

The Restaurant offers an excellent Buffet and Salad Bar!

Meeting begins at 7:00 PM

Key Note Speaker

Keith Russell

Maricopa County Assessor

Mr. Russell will be speaking to us about a subject near and dear to our wallets:

Our property taxes

Come hear more about the

PAChyderm Coalition Republican Legislator Rankings

Bring your first time guest to meet our chairman Carl Seel and receive a movie pass!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Goldwater Institute: Competing Discrimination Initiatives May Confuse Voters

by Clint Bolick

This November, Arizona voters will have a chance to outlaw government racial preferences. Similar initiatives passed by large majorities in three blue states: California, Washington, and Michigan.

The initiative is straightforward, forbidding discrimination or preferential treatment on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin in public education, employment, or contracting. Because it embraces the moral imperative of nondiscrimination, it will be tough to beat on its merits.

Enter a new opposition tactic: confusion.

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, who leads the opposition to the anti-preferences initiative, also is sponsoring a competing one. The language seems benign, forbidding employers from refusing to hire, discharge, or promote people because of religion, age, race, disability, or sex. The language is similar to existing federal anti-discrimination laws.

But as usual, the devil is in the details. Among other major expansions of government's regulatory reach, the proposal's definition of sex includes "gender, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation."

The initiatives couldn't be more different: One limits the power of government to apportion opportunities on the basis of skin color; the other marks a massive new intrusion into private decision-making. Yet the summaries and core language of the two initiatives are so similar that voters may think they're signing a petition or voting for one when it's actually the other.

It's crafty strategy. But fog rarely lasts long in Arizona. In the end each proposal will be judged on its merits or lack thereof.

Clint Bolick is the Director of the Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation at the Goldwater Institute.


Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Coalition Backs Goldwater Institute on CityNorth Attorney Fees

Groups Say Fees Would Have 'Chilling Effect' on Public Interest Litigation


A coalition of six policy organizations that agree on very few issues came together yesterday in a friend-of-the-court brief arguing against efforts by the City of Phoenix and the developer of the CityNorth mall to collect $688,000 in attorneys' fees from the Goldwater Institute in its challenge to a $97.4 million taxpayer subsidy for the mall.

In a brief on behalf of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest (ACLPI), the Institute for Justice, the Center for Arizona Policy, the Arizona Tax Research Foundation, the Free Enterprise Club Political Action Committee, and the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLPI attorney Tim Hogan argues that an attorneys' fees award would have a "chilling effect" on public interest litigation of all types.

The Goldwater Institute lost the opening round of the case and is appealing the decision to the Arizona Court of Appeals. CityNorth seeks a punitive attorneys' fee award in part because of the Institute's "intent to turn public opinion against CityNorth in order to put its case in a favorable light in the public arena."

The coalition brief counters that "public speech about the vindication of important public rights is one of the most important freedoms we enjoy in this country. It should not form the basis for a punitive award of fees."

The groups supporting the Institute have litigated a broad array of public interest cases, ranging from eminent domain to parental notification of abortions to education to free speech.

"This remarkable assemblage underscores the breadth and importance of what is at stake, as well as the frivolous and punitive nature of the City's and CityNorth's fee petitions," declared Clint Bolick, director of the Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation. "We're grateful to have this support."

The Goldwater Institute filed its opposition to the fee petitions yesterday as well. The matter is before Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Miles, who has scheduled oral argument for June 9, 2008.

The Goldwater Institute is a charitable research and litigation organization whose work is made possible by the generosity of its supporters. To support the Institute's work, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution.

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

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Goldwater Institute: Laws Should Recognize Value of Inner-City Private Schools

by Matthew Ladner, Ph.D.

Recently I had the opportunity to attend the White House Summit on Inner-City Children and Faith-Based Schools. The news was discouraging: From 2000 to 2006, nearly 1,200 inner-city faith-based schools closed, displacing 425,000 students. Inner city private schools work for many children. Minorities attending inner city Catholic schools, for example, are twenty six percent more likely to earn a diploma and twice as likely to earn a degree as their public school counterparts.

Arizona has been bucking this trend, largely because of our school choice programs. Nevertheless, the writing is on the wall for inner-city faith based schools in most areas of the country. That's because the school finance system showers funds on students attending public schools, while almost entirely denying funds to those attending private schools.

Innovators have mustered private efforts to help address this crisis. Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) prepares talented college graduates to work as teachers in inner-city Catholic schools. Today about 650 ACE teachers and graduates are at work, and the program has been successfully replicated at other universities. In the Cristo Rey schools, low-income students work part-time for local businesses to finance their Catholic school education. There are 19 Cristo Rey schools across the nation, including San Miguel High School in Tucson.

Public policy also has a role to play. Adoption of universal school choice laws, where children can access public or private schools with public support, could give inner-city students the educational opportunities that faith-based schools provide.

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

ADF: Judge halts discriminatory actions toward Christians at Deer Valley Unified School District

A federal judge Friday ordered the Deer Valley Unified School District to end its prohibition on a Christian student club’s PA announcements. The district is required to allow the meeting announcements as it does for other student clubs while a student’s civil rights lawsuit, filed by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund, moves forward in court.

"Christians shouldn’t be discriminated against for expressing their beliefs," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman. "Mountain Ridge High School officials deliberately silenced a Christian student club while allowing other clubs to convey their messages without fear of censorship. The government cannot discriminate against Christian student groups simply because they are religious."

"We are pleased that the students will be free to exercise their First Amendment rights while we continue to litigate this case," added ADF Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco, who argued in favor of the preliminary injunction order at a hearing April 17 (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4474).

On Jan. 30, ADF attorneys filed suit against the school district after school officials denied the Common Cause club’s request for a morning announcement over the PA system. The video and oral announcements, submitted by student Erin Krestan, invited students to attend a prayer meeting during non-instructional time.

On Feb. 28, ADF attorneys filed an amended complaint and motion for preliminary injunction requesting that the court suspend the school’s policies that were used to censor the Christian club’s announcement.

In its order, the court concluded that Krestan "is likely to prevail on the merits of her claim" that the federal Equal Access Act requires her school to allow the video and oral announcements she submitted. The court also concluded that the school district is unlikely to prevail in its arguments that the announcements violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

A copy of the preliminary injunction issued Friday by the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, Phoenix Division, in Krestan v. Deer Valley Unified School District is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/EKPI.pdf.

ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.

CAP: Marriage amendment passes house

Breaking News - Marriage Amendment Passes House!

Marriage Amendment Passed. The Arizona House of Representatives overcame a desperate technical maneuver by opponents and voted 33-25 to place the marriage amendment on the November 2008 ballot! SCR 1042 simply states, "Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state."

SCR 1042 now awaits a final vote in the Senate. To be referred to the ballot, this measure will not require action by the Governor.

Thank you for continuing to stand with us as we work to let you vote on the definition of marriage for Arizona! Pray for our legislative efforts to be successful.

Patient Care Bill Passes Senate. Today the Senate voted 17-9 to pass HB 2823, which helps protect patients who cannot communicate their wishes. This bill is based on the real-life story of Jesse Ramirez and requires the court to issue an order to restore food and fluid to a patient if it has been improperly removed. The Senate recognized Jesse and his family, who were present in the gallery for the vote. The bill now goes to the House for a final vote.


CAP will continue to keep you posted on the latest from the Capitol! Check the latest status of all our bills with our Bill Status tool.

Watch Horizon tonight - find out how much Phoenix spent to remodel its tourism department

Tonight at 7pm Horizon takes a look at remodeling done by the City of Phoenix to its Department of Tourism. Should be interesting to see how much they spent. The City of Phoenix is facing massive deficits, so discretionary projects like this should have been put on hold. But then again, this is the City of Phoenix - no expense is too great for its leadership.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Democrats launch anti-McCain website


We're no fan of McCain's, but this site is pretty shoddily thrown together. Their arguments against him aren't any good. Goofy and poorly written. "John McCain is to blame for millions of home foreclosures." No, the people who chose to buy subprime mortgages when they couldn't afford homes beyond their means are at fault. "John McCain is to blame for sending American jobs overseas to other countries." No, the changing economy is, lower-level service jobs are being shipped overseas and replaced with higher-skilled jobs here in the U.S. as our population becomes better educated (and fatter unfortunately as a result). Doesn't help that unions keep wages so high jobs are probably moved overseas faster than they would if it was a true free market.

Here's some more b.s. from the site -
John McCain will raise your gas prices to $5.00 or even $6.00 per gallon. Multimillionaire John McCain will raise your health care prices. Multimillionaire John McCain will raise interest rates on your bank loans, home mortgage, and credit cards. Multimillionaire John McCain will make it easy for health insurance companies to deny health insurance to sick people. Multimillionaire John McCain will make it easy for hospitals to deny health care to uninsured sick people.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

David Schweikert approaching $750,000 raised in CD-5 race





We are closing in on $750,000!!

This is half of our goal of $1.5 million that is needed to win this race. Please help push us over the top!

Other ways you can help:

  • We are looking for a campaign office in south Scottsdale / North Tempe.
  • We need desks and chairs for the office.
  • We need T-posts & rebar for signs.

With time growing short in this primary, we need every possible hour that you can give to take our message of fiscal responsibility to our Nation's capitol. Please sign up for our next fundraiser, or order your yard sign and bumper sticker to "Join the Fight" to take back the Fifth District from Harry Mitchell and the Democrats that are so sorely out of touch with Arizona. It is only with your help that we will be able to take this district back and help turn this country around!

Please sign up to volunteer today and "Join The Fight" to take back control of congress and help change the way things are done in Washington!

Get involved today!


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