Monday, June 29, 2009

NetworkingPhoenix upcoming events

Anywhere you turn these days it seems everyone is talking about short sale negotiations, loan modifications and bankruptcies. But who can you trust? If you're experiencing financial hardships and need help, I'd like to recommend a NetworkingPhoenix.com member, Kristi Collins of Barski Drake PLC, a law firm experienced in today's consumer financial needs. Kristi and team will be happy to provide you with a free consultation and guide you down the path that best suits your unique circumstances.

Social Media Workshop: You will not want to miss this! Join me and Dave Cooke, social media expert and strategist, for a one of a kind HANDS-ON workshop put together just for the NetworkingPhoenix.com community. You will walk away with a blueprint specific to YOUR business. More info here.

Save the Date! Our next BIG Signature Networking event is August 20th from 6pm - 9pm at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center. Missed the last one? Here is a video recap.

Interested in showcasing your company at our event? Please contact Mitra@networkingphoenix.com for a media kit.

Below are this week's featured events. Happy networking and see you soon!
Monday
Fempreneur Connections is all about entrepreneurship for the highly creative ambitious woman starting and growing her business using a woman's approach. Join us today!

Lunch with the North Phoenix Chamber and build relationships that will build your business!
Tuesday
Mastermind Roundtable - Meet for breakfast with this group of highly motivated, like-minded professionals and share ideas on how to increase sales, grow your business and dominate your markets.

Getting into the Social Media Game - Join Dave Cooke and Gelie for this empowering workshop that will give you the tools to prepare an effective social media strategy.

Christian Business Networking - Are you a Christian Business Professional? Let us help you get connected and as a visitor your first meeting is FREE!
Wednesday
The purpose of Arizona Business Circle meetings is to increase the business of the membership through referrals of business contacts. Join this dynamic group at Va Bene!

North Scottsdale Chamber partners up with Humana Inc. for a morning of health and wellness education and, of course, networking!

Employment Network is a "hands on" network of participants that meet to learn how they can identify their skill sets, reinvent themselves, and connect with employers in today's job market.
Thursday
Champions Breakfast - Meet with the Scottsdale Chamber for the popular 30-second Claim to Fame and network with 100+ professionals.

BNI East Valley Connections - See BNI in action at this chapter meeting for the world's largest referral organization.

Arizona Business Leads - Come experience this ABL leads group and see how we our meetings are designed for YOUR success.
Friday
Understanding Loan Modification & Foreclosure - Learn from the experts and discuss options and solutions when you attend this comprehensive class.

1st Friday's Phoenix - Unveiling the new concept in Friday After Work...ultra smooth, very classy and decidedly professional. Enjoy this evening of social networking.
Plan Ahead





Second Sundays Charity Wine & Music Series to benefit Kidstar Radio Network! Kidstar Radio Network's mission is to advance not only education, but character building and the instillment of value & goal systems for today's youth. Rally for a good cause on July 12th!




Christmas in July - Spend this evening with a group of energetic supporters to renew the war on cancer! Great food, music, networking & conversation, plus wonderful auction items and an exciting raffle! Join us on July 15th!

Special Announcements
A message from my trainer - Don't miss this great opportunity!: NetworkingPhoenix.com members that took advantage of my trainer's Urban Burn Boot Camp's last offer are seeing great results and it's only been 3 weeks! If you missed out on the previous offer, don't worry, you can be on the way to your BIKINI body in the next 2 weeks guaranteed! Register for a Free 2-week trial ($100 value) atwww.UrbanBurnBootCamp.com.

Congressman Trent Franks Offers Amendment to Fully Restore Vital Missile Defense Funding

Democrats Chose to Cut the Only System that is Proven to Defend the Homeland from ICBMs

June 26, 2009 - Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), the founder and co-chairman of the House Missile Defense Caucus, yesterday offered an amendment to H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, on the floor of the House of Representatives. The amendment sought to restore the $1.2 billion for vital missile defense programs that was slashed from last year’s appropriated amount. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 171 to 244.

"The threat from ballistic missiles is steadily increasing and the scope of the ballistic missile defense system is decreasing. Without this amendment, the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, based in Alaska andCalifornia, suffers a 35 percent cut in funding, while the number of planned ground-based interceptors is reduced by one-third. By rejecting this amendment, the majority of Democrats chose to cut the only system that has been proven able to defend the homeland from an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) -- the very threat we face from North Korea today.

Just this week, North Korea declared it is prepared to 'wipe out' the United States, in the event of escalated violence on the Korean Peninsula, and Japanese intelligence sources report a likely North Korean ICBM launch toward the United States in early July.

The Administration and the Majority on the Armed Services Committee increased theater defense at the expense of homeland defense. They have essentially presented the Congress with a artificial choice: should we fund one kind of defense or the other? If this Congress can find $787 billion for a so called 'economic stimulus' package, we can certainly afford $1.2 billion to protect our troops, our allies, and the American people from a ballistic missile attack.

In the face of present threats, this Congress was given two opportunities to restore critical missile defense funding through this amendment and the Republican's Motion to Recommit -- both were voted down. In so doing, this Congress has shown an unbelievably dangerous disregard for reality, thereby reducing our ability to respond to an increasingly complex threat and making us more vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks. Such fleeting political 'victories' have no place in the public forum and hold potentially grave consequences for America's national security."

The Franks Amendment would have fully restored to the Ballistic Missile Defense System the $1.2 billion cut by the Obama Administration. The amendment detailed the worldwide threats currently posed by short, medium, and long-range ballistic missiles, and included authorization to fully fund the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system and emplace all 44 interceptors. The amendment also funded the Airborne Laser, the Kinetic Energy Interceptor, the Multiple Kill Vehicle, and the Space Tracking and Surveillance System -- all systems that were cut in this year's president's budget request.

According to industry analysts, the Obama Administration's cuts will result in the loss of 11,000 American jobs.

Congressman Franks is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, Military Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, Constitution Subcommittee, and is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.

Goldwater Institute: Deregulation can help fix education crisis

All over the state, parents and students are rallying against budget cuts to Arizona's public colleges and universities. Instead of focusing ire at legislators, who are literally between a rock and a hard place, there's another avenue these newly-minted activists could pursue. For Arizonans concerned about increasing access to post-secondary education in our state, why not focus on loosening up state regulations that are choking higher education's private sector?

classroomNumerous laws make it a crime to open a private post-secondary or vocational school in Arizona without state approval. These laws result in fewer schools and fewer opportunities for both students and educators. Legislators could embrace academic freedom by deregulating private schooling and let the market work.

Arizona pervasively criminalizes entrepreneurs who teach or open a school without government approval. It is a Class 3 misdemeanor to open a private post-secondary school that offers a degree of any kind without approval from the State Board of Private Post-Secondary Schooling. Osteopaths and medical doctors cannot teach without a license. Private cosmetology and radiologic technology schools cannot legally open their doors without approval from state agencies.

The regulation of nursing schools is a particularly outrageous case in point. Despite the shortage of health-care workers in this state and elsewhere, Arizona law makes it a Class 6 felony to open a nursing school without approval from the State Board of Nursing. The risk of jail time for teaching nursing even extends to out-of-state schools who want to offer Arizonans the option of distance learning.

There is no need for these draconian laws because private post-secondary or vocational schools are already self-regulating. To compete with other schools and qualify for national accreditation, just about every school voluntarily meets minimum educational standards.

Arizona's heavy-handed regulation does nothing to promote quality or prevent fraud. It only stops the free market from giving students and educators viable alternatives to the taxpayer-funded public university and community college system. And by fostering an artificial scarcity of educational options, the regulation of private schooling magnifies any pain associated with the loss of public funding for higher education.

Arizonans can have it all: access to an excellent higher education without abandoning principles of fiscal responsibility. All the state needs to do is decriminalize private schooling and let people freely teach and learn.
Nick Dranias holds the Goldwater Institute Clarence J. and Katherine P. Duncan chair for constitutional government and is the director of the Institute's Dorothy D. and Joseph A. Moller Center for Constitutional Government.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

AFP: URGENT- Call your AZ Legislators, STOP the Brewer Tax Hike!

Legislative leaders just announced that they have made a deal with Gov. Jan Brewer that would involve referring a BILLION-DOLLAR TAX INCREASE to the ballot. But to make that deal happen, they need to get 31 votes in the House and 16 votes in the Senate. YOU CAN KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING.

Please call your state legislators NOW and ask them to hold the line against the Governor’s crazy and destructive plan to raise our taxes in the middle of a recession.

Senate phone numbers and emails are at this URL:
http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp?Body=S

House phone numbers and emails are at this URL:
http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp?Body=H

And check out the Goldwater Institute’s YouTube video, posted today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jPGUFwhyKM



Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity
(Arizona Federation of Taxpayers)
www.aztaxpayers.org
tjenney@afphq.org
(602) 478-0146

Goldwater Institute video about budget/tax increase

AZ Tea Parties & Taxpayer Town Halls in July

Below are listings of Tea Parties and AFPF Taxpayer Town Halls in July.

But first… Tomorrow (Friday, June 26), from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Doubletree PV Resort at 5401 N. Scottsdale Road, the Orange Coalition is holding a conference on private property rights. With so many legislators tied up down at the Capitol, organizer Laura Knaperek tells us that there are many spaces available, for no charge. To RSVP for the event (or even to come by for the luncheon speaker), email lknaperek@orangeaz.org.

Link to the Orange Coalition conference flyer:

http://www.americansforprosperity.org/files/orangesymposium_0.pdf

Tea Parties

Here is a web page with a link to all of the July 4th Tea Parties we know about so far:

http://www.americansforprosperity.org/042109-upcoming-events-afp-arizona

If any additions or corrections need to be made to our Tea Party list, please contact infoAZ@afphq.org by noon on Saturday (June 27). Disclaimer: AFPF is not a sponsor of any of these tea parties; we are providing this list as a service to the public.

AFPF Taxpayer Town Halls

Date: Thursday, July 16

Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Event: Southeast Valley Taxpayer Town Hall

Location: San Tan Flat Steakhouse* http://www.santanflat.com/

Leg. Dist(s): LDs 21, 22, & 23 (Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek)

Speakers: Legislators, Dr. Eric Novack (Health Care Reform)

*Come early and have dinner. Also, be sure to read about the Institute for Justice’s successful defense of San Tan Flat against Pinal County’s anti-dancing ordinance:

http://www.ij.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2331&Itemid=165

Date: Friday, July 17

Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Event: Pinetop-Show Low Taxpayer Town Hall

Location: Branding Iron Steakhouse, 1261 E. Duece of Clubs, Show Low

Co-Sponsor: White Mountain Independent

Leg. Dist(s): Leg. Dist. 5 (Apache, Gila, Graham, Greenlee Counties)

Speakers: Legislators (Sen. Sylvia Allen is confirmed so far),

Dr. Matthew Ladner, Goldwater Institute (Education Reform)

Date: Thursday, July 23

Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Event: Northeast Valley Taxpayer Town Hall

Location: TBA (Vicinity of 101 and Tatum)

Leg. Dist(s): LDs 6, 7, & 8 (North-Central Phoenix, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree)

Speakers: Legislators, Dr. Byron Schlomach, Goldwater Institute (Health Care Reform)

Date: Friday, July 24

Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Event: Sedona Taxpayer Town Hall

Location: TBA

Leg. Dist(s): Leg. Dist. 1 (Yavapai County)

Speakers: Legislators, Dr. Byron Schlomach, Goldwater Institute (Health Care Reform),

Dr. Matthew Ladner, Goldwater Institute, (Education Reform)

We post updated lists of town hall events at this web page:

http://www.americansforprosperity.org/042109-upcoming-events-afp-arizona

Tom Jenney

Arizona Director

Americans for Prosperity Foundation

www.aztaxpayers.org

tjenney@afphq.org

(602) 478-0146

Thomas-Woods-Police-Fire Endorse Sal DiCiccio

Contact: Jason Rose

Rose & Allyn Public Relations

Office: 480-423-1414

Mobile: 602-791-4488

Jrose@roseandallynpr.com

Bi-Partisan Group Of Public Safety Heavyweights Announce Support For Phoenix Councilman Sal DiCiccio At Press Conference
Andrew Thomas, Former AZ Attorney General, FOP, Professional Firefighters of AZ Tout Long-Time Commitment
PHOENIX, AZ – JUNE 26, 2009 – They may share different political preferences but they share one major thing in common: a belief that Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio is the right person to continue Phoenix’s successful efforts to reduce crime.
Statistics show that city crime rates have dropped as much as 50 percent in recent years.
"My family and I have lived in Phoenix for eighteen years. We feel safe with public safety advocates like Sal DiCiccio on our city council. I have known Sal for many years and know how deeply committed he is to public service and public safety. Phoenix is a safer place with him in a leadership position, as the bi-partisan group of professionals on his behalf today so clearly stated,” said Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.
“Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio has earned a reputation as a powerful advocate for public safety. The Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona proudly endorse Sal DiCiccio because of his dedication and commitment to the people of Phoenix and the Fire Fighters and Paramedics who protect them,” said Bryan Jeffries.
Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods and the Fraternal Order of Police were also on hand to lend their support to DiCiccio.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

A Passionate Plea to Contribute to Arizona Right to Life

I would not be writing this if our financial situation were not so dire. I am the Secretary for the Board of AZ Right to Life, and urge everyone to please consider contributing right now to AZ Right to Life, even if just $5 or $10. If 1000 of you contributed $5, that would be $5000, which would get us mostly through the financial crisis. Due to the bad economy, contributions are down everywhere for charities. Some will not survive. I hope this is not the case for AZ Right to Life. The work AZRTL does to protect the unborn as well as all life is invaluable. Women call us up asking about where to get an abortion, and our staff is able to direct them to a crisis pregnancy center, many times resulting in saving the life of the baby. Our PAC gets involved in elections by endorsing candidates, many times tipping the balance in favor of prolife candidates. We send speakers into the schools to educate children about embryos, fetuses, and pregnancies. Those of us on the board work long hours without pay, we survive with only 3-4 paid staff members, and most of them are part-time.

You probably know some of our hardest workers. Attorney John Jakubczyk, past President of the board and currently Vice-President, devotes countless hours of his time for free helping women with legal issues related to pregnancy and abortion. Jinny Perron, our current President of the board, is responsible for the beautiful galas and conferences AZRTL puts on every year without any compensation, bringing in nationally reknowned experts from around the country to teach the public about life issues. Melanie Welsch Pritchard, the charismatic young mom who is Education Director for our affiliate, Life Educational Corporation, has spoken to thousands of youth on life issues. Dr. Carolyn Gerster, longtime chair of the Board, is a doctor who founded AZ Right to Life and specializes in medical testimony to Congress and many other organizations. There are several more board members, who have made valuable contributions to the group. We have an impressive, hardworking team of volunteers who accomplish a lot together, but the organization needs a minimal amount of money to survive, in order to pay for the staff work, computers, paperwork, etc. I urge you to please, please consider contributing no matter how small. Those unborn babies you save will be forever grateful.

You can give a onetime donation online, or sign up to give monthly amounts. Or, contribute to our affiliate, Life Educational Corporation, which is tax deductible. Either one will greatly help. Please reference my name in the comments area because we'd like to track how many contributions come in through new media, thanks.


Join our facebook group here

Friday, June 19, 2009

Goldwater Institute: Stop the Special District Shell Game

In 2005, Maricopa County spun-off its hospital system to a newly-created special health care district. With the stroke of an accountant's pen, the county shifted what was then $400 million in annual spending off its books and onto those of the new special district. Maricopa County quickly took advantage of that new-found money with hundreds of millions in fresh spending. Meanwhile, the County's newborn special district toddled along, levying more than $40 million in new property taxes and spending more than $400 million in its first fiscal year.

shell gameSince then, Maricopa County and this district have saddled county taxpayers with more than $150 million in new spending and taxes that would have otherwise been blocked by the state constitution's spending and property tax caps. It is doubtful that voters had any idea this would result when they approved the creation of the "Maricopa County Special Health Care District".

Special districts are the municipal equivalent of Enron partnerships. They have benign sounding names like "health care district," "water district," and "stadium district," all of which disarm voters when they appear on the ballot. But once formed, numerous special districts can overlap, making them exceedingly difficult for ordinary citizens to track, much less to hold politically accountable. Special districts operate below the political radar, while wielding broad taxing and spending authority.

It is no accident that the number of special districts in Arizona has tripled from around 100 in 1980 to more than 300 today. When tax and spending caps were imposed in the early 1980s, those caps excluded most special districts. As a result, cities and counties remained free to avoid hard budgetary choices by spinning-off expensive programs into special districts.

Fiscal responsibility will return to local government only when this shell game is stopped. The best solution is to eliminate the incentive to indulge unsustainable spending through the device of special districts. This requires closing the special district loophole in the state constitution's spending and taxing caps.
Nick Dranias holds the Goldwater Institute Clarence J. and Katherine P. Duncan chair for constitutional government and is the director of the Institute's Dorothy D. and Joseph A. Moller Center for Constitutional Government.

Shadegg: Democrats Rush Health Care Bill Past American People

Shadegg: “Nancy Pelosi is forcing crucial legislation—legislation that will impact the lives of ALL Americans—to be rushed through Congressional Committees and fast-tracked on its path to being crammed down the throats of theAmerican people…”


Today, Congressman John Shadegg (AZ-3) released the following statement about the Democrat plans to pass health care legislation by August.

“The same Democrat party that once professed its belief that ‘Every person in America has a right to have his or her voice heard’ is now abusing its Majority status to silence any dissenters on what is arguably the most important issue of our time: health care reform. Although she claimed she would create the ‘most honest, ethical, and open Congress in history,’ Nancy Pelosi is forcing crucial legislation—legislation that will impact the lives of ALL Americans—to be rushed through Congressional Committees and fast-tracked on its path to being crammed down the throats of the American people before they know what hit them.

“Democrat leadership has promised the passage of a health care bill before August, yet neither Republicans in Congress nor the American people who have so much at stake have seen more than bits and pieces of the overhaul Democrats are concocting.

“The few details that have emerged about the Democrats’ proposed reform are troubling in and of themselves, but what is more troubling is the fact that Democrats have decided they can shut the American people out of the debate.

“This is not the first time Democrats have employed such a tactic, which allows the Majority to claim an interest in bipartisan, open debate while, in reality, avoiding one. In May, after having spent months drafting it behind closed doors, Democrats rushed a nearly 1,000 page climate change bill through the Energy and Commerce Committee in a mere four days. This process was so rushed, in fact, that hearings were held in Energy and Commerce AFTER the bill had been passed through it.

“Nancy Pelosi was absolutely correct when she said that all Americans have a right to be heard. However, she and her Democrat colleagues are proving that such statements are nothing more than political rhetoric. The Democrat Majority must stop silencing the dissent of Republicans and the concerns of the American people. This time, as they are crafting flawed health care legislation, they are not just casting aside public input; they are putting lives on the line.”

Sen. Pearce says we need TABOR

Tax Hike to Cause 14,400 Lost Jobs as State's Economic Output Falls by $1.2 Billion (Goldwater Institute)

New economic model shows proposed tax hike has hefty price tag for Arizona families


My #1 job is to the Constitutional rights of our citizens and to protect taxpayers; Our Constitutional rights that includes Life, Liberty and Property (that means your money and your God given freedoms) above all else.


Calculations prepared for me: I have received several inquiries from members regarding the tax increases that would be required to generate enough revenue to eliminate the FY 2010 shortfall. Our revenue projections and Federal bailout prospects may need to be revised as our revenues continue to slide, it is best to estimate that the FY 2010 shortfall is still $3 billion. Remember the real problem is not a lack of revenue. The past six years government grew by twice the rate of inflation PLUS population growth in this state. New programs were added by our former Governor, new spending when no money was available. We have simply over spent. Now with 50% of the budget off limits (voter initiatives and federal mandates) the task of resolving the deficit is made extra tough. We are dealing with the worse deficit in state history with one arm tied behind our backs. You want to know how to hurt families and businesses, over tax and over regulate them.

Property Tax:
• To generate $1 billion dollars through a statewide property tax increase, the tax on a $300,000 home would cost the taxpayer an additional $348 per year . To generate $3 billion, the impact on the same home would be $1,045.
• The impact on a business property would be more than double that amount, dollar for dollar in value. To generate $1 billion statewide, the tax on a million dollar business property would increase about $2,555. To address the entire $3 billion shortfall, the impact on a million dollar business property would be $7,666.
• These calculations assume the current statewide net assessed values. If assessed values drop, the tax rate impacts would be higher.
• This estimate is in lieu of the restoration of the state equalization tax rate -- not over and above the $250 million in revenue associated with that rate.

Sales Tax:
• Based on JLBC's FY 10 estimate, an increase in the sales tax rate from 5.6% to 6.6% would generate about $1.1 billion (assuming the state did not share the revenue with local governments).
• Obviously, the sales tax is very sensitive to market conditions and consumer behavior. This estimate, like others, is subject to revision as we move through this recession.

Income Tax:
• This is even more difficult to estimate, but for discussion purposes, tax rates on current taxable income levels would have to approximately double to generate $3 billion (from a static model perspective).

Assumptions:
• There are always a lot of assumptions in any taxation analysis. Any tax increase option could have a mixed or even negative impact by reducing some economic activity subject to the new tax.
• In addition, the impact of options to increase property, sales, or income taxes would have to be considered against the economic backdrop of increasing numbers of job losses, income reductions, business closings, and home foreclosures.


What we need to do to secure the future to stop this run-a-way spending:
Measure to Protect Taxpayers; TABOR:


– I am renewing the fight to stand up for the Taxpayer. I am renewing the fight against profligate overspending that has caused huge budget deficits. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), protects taxpayers and ensures fiscal responsibility at the Capitol by prohibiting the state from spending more than the previous year’s revenues, plus the rate of inflation and population growth (a reasonable growth that protects the taxpayer).


"State spending is out of control, State government has shown it is incapable of restraining its spending. We must take action to protect taxpayers from pork-barrel politicians. I urge my fellow lawmakers to join Arizona taxpayers in support of this measure. Taxpayers should have first claim on their money, not government. Excess revenues should be refunded, not used to grow government."


"State government must be held accountable for its spending binge; Taxpayers should not have to pay the price for reckless policies."


The Principles of Limited Government is Central to Freedom and Our Political System
We are in the worst economic times this state has been in for decades. NO one has done more to try and hold down increases and reducing spending than I have.


The portion of each family's income going to government has risen and threatens to rise even more, as previous restrictions of government Federal and Local activity has eroded and spending has exploded. The stealth tax of regulation has also crept deeper into the economy and into society, insinuating the power of government into new and more areas of our lives, imposing heavy costs on families and business and restricting personal freedom. The courts, once the fierce protectors of freedom and the guardians of government restraint, have in recent years often become an extension of the activist government.


It is time for government to take steps to restrain its growth and it is up to ordinary citizens to make sure it does.


The focus of the budget control should be on reducing spending as a proportion of income.
Entitlement programs should be corked through reform or elimination. Entitlement programs unfairly obligate future taxpayers and middle-class entitlements-such as Medicare (AHCCCS) are growing at unsustainable rates, threatening huge tax increases on future generations and threatening the economy. These problems must be addressed now.


Spending should be based on core Constitutional principles. The budget should contain measures of liabilities and obligations and force us to plan to meet these obligations.


TABOR would require lawmakers to set priorities, reduce wasteful spending, and reform entitlement programs.


TABOR would save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade and could be enforced by requiring a 2/3's supermajority to pass the budget or any spending bill that exceeds TABOR allowances. Such a bar is low enough to clear during an emergency and yet high enough to prevent abuse.


Next-Establish a "Base-Closing" Commission on wasteful programs:


To make it easier for members to eliminate programs, the legislature should appoint a commission, similar to the Federal Government's successful military base-closing Commission of the late 80's to crate a list of all wasteful, outdated, duplicative and unnecessary programs that should be eliminated. Lawmakers should then be required to cast a vote up or down to eliminate ALL programs on the list, preventing individual lawmakers from amending the list to protect their special-interest projects or programs.


Principles-Regulation is a burdensome and a hidden tax on American consumers:


According to estimates prepared by Mark Crain and Thomas Hopkins for the Small Business Administration, regulation's cost Americans $843 billion (over $8000 per house hold), and that was in 2000. This is almost half the amount collected in federal taxes and close to the $1 trillion paid in personal income tax that year.
While some regulations are justified they should be imposed only when market solutions and voluntary action have been proven not to work.


Arizona has become a huge, bloated welfare state – teetering on fiscal insanity.
We hear it all the time, "if a family should be forced to reduce its budget in bad times, so should government." It's become something of a mantra among fiscal conservatives.


Those on the opposite side have extended the analogy, arguing that just like families, government must often spend more than it has to pay for its needs. However, you don't mortgage your home every-year.
The state's budget has little in common with family finances. Given projected deficit of at least $1.2 billion, it's important to understand why.


While both are subject to overall conditions of the economy, the state has little incentive to reduce spending. Pressure from a seemingly endless array of interest groups encourages legislators to spend, but little countervailing force protects taxpayers from having to foot the bill.
Government, however, rarely considers such constraints when deciding how to tax and spend. Taxation, consequently, is rarely designed to be efficient, such that it will cause the least amount of economic disruption.


Without some kind of strict institutional check, we can't realistically hope for a consistently prudent budget from year to year - the evidence indicates few states ever do. Even a constitutional requirement for a balanced budget hasn't done the trick. With culpability not falling on any one person, the legislative and executive branches are able to spread blame without anyone actually taking the fall.
This would require the voters approval in 2010.


The Budget stabilization Act:
Limits State Spending to Population Growth Plus Inflation.


Senator Russell Pearce, LD18, Mesa www.russellpearce.com

NetworkingPhoenix.com Linked-In seminar

NetworkingPhoenix.com

You've asked for it...so here we go again...

Having a profile on LinkedIn doesn't mean that you're actually ‘using' LinkedIn!

Join Gelie, founder of NetworkingPhoenix.com, and Christine, founder of Link for Success, to find out how they use LinkedIn to generate new leads and add to their bottom line.

Two different strategies, same great results! Christine will share the ‘how-to' if your focus is nationwide or global; Gelie will share her strategies if your networking focus is local. Perhaps you're not even sure what your strategy should be...we can help you with that as well.

Learn from our wins and our mistakes to appear like a seasoned LinkedIn user yourself.


You should attend this class if:

- You have a profile set up and want to learn how to get the most out of LinkedIn

- You want to understand the theory and concept behind being an open networker or a closed networker

- You want to understand how to connect with people on LinkedIn (etiquette)

- You want to find out how to make your profile work for you

- You want to find out how to increase your exposure

- You want to find out more about how to leverage the ‘group' and Q&A' features



You should not attend this class if:

- You don't have a profile set up (this is NOT LinkedIn 101)

- The only thing you want to know is how to use the tools and gadgets (we go over the crucial ones, but this is not a ‘gadget' class, this is a ‘strategy' class)

- You are looking for one-on-one time with a LinkedIn consultant


Note:
This room does not have internet access, so you are not required to bring your laptop. If you have your own wireless device and would like to bring your laptop, you may do that.


The first 25 minutes will be dedicated to networking, so come with your business cards!


When: Tuesday, June 23rd (Next Tuesday!) 5:30pm - 8:00pm

Where: National Bank of Arizona, 6001 N. 24th St, Phoenix, 85016

Cost: $34

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER


Let me know if you have any questions!

Gelie

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Congressman Trent Franks Offers Amendment to Fully Restore Vital Missile Defense Funding

Democrats on Committee Chose to Compromise National Security, Cut 11,000 American Jobs

June 16, 2009 - Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), the co-founder and co-chairman of the House Missile Defense Caucus, today offered an amendment during the annual mark-up of the National Defense Authorization Act, which would have restored the $1.2 billion for vital missile defense programs that was slashed from the Obama Administration's budget submission for Fiscal Year 2010. The amendment addressed the fact that the legislation increased funding for near term threats and for missile defense funding for our allies, but significantly decreased missile defense funding for our homeland and to defend against more advanced, far term threats.

The amendment was defeated by a vote of 36 to 26. According to industry analysts, the cuts will result in the loss of 11,000 American jobs.

"There has never been a time in history when the correlation of ballistic missile proliferation, nuclear weapons programs, and jihadist terrorism so imminently threatened the peace of the entire human family." Franks stated. "America faces a growing threat in the rising belligerence, instability, and technological advancements of rogue nations like North Korea and Iran. Both have made their resolute commitment to a long-range missile and nuclear capability, their hatred of the United States, and their hostility toward our allies unmistakably clear.

"In the face of such realities, Democrats once again rejected valuable amendments today that would have restored the critical funding needed for a robust ballistic missile defense against these very real threats; and in so doing they have shown an unbelievably dangerous disregard for reality, reducing our ability to respond to increasingly complex and growing threat and making us more vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks. Such short-lived, so-called political victories have no place in the public forum when they hold such potentially grave consequences for America's national security."

The Franks Amendment would have fully restored the Obama Administration's $1.2 billion cut to the National Missile Defense System. The amendment enumerated the worldwide threats currently posed by short, medium, and long-range ballistic missiles, and included authorization to fully fund the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system and emplace all 44 interceptors. It also funded the Airborne Laser, Kinetic Energy Interceptor, the Multiple Kill Vehicle, and the Space Tracking and Surveillance System, all systems that were cut in this year's president's budget request.