LD 25 GOP votes to censure Governor Brewer and legislators who voted for Medicaid expansion

June 20, 2013

·       Tonight “A Resolution Of The Arizona LD25 Republican Precinct Committeeman To Censure The Governor And 15 Arizona State Legislators”  passed with two dissenting votes.  An Amendment to add the Governor to the Resolution passed unanimously. 

·       LD25 Resolution to Censure Gov. Jan Brewer and 15 legislators: Whereas, Governor Brewer and 15 Republican state legislators formed an alliance with Democratic elected officials for the express purpose of thwarting the will of the Republican majority in the legislature and violating Republican Party principles and the Republican Party Platform, including but not limited to the following:

o   They implemented the passage of Medicaid expansion.

o   They implemented government healthcare.

o   They approved taxpayer funding for abortion and increased funding for abortion services.

o   They expanded eligibility for welfare benefits, and invited 300,000+ new people into the welfare system.

o   They raised taxes.

o   They voted against tax relief & kept Arizona as the state with the 2nd highest tax rate in the nation.

o   They voted against auditing the hospital bed tax.

o   They increased property taxes.

o   The only tax relief they offered was for special-interest industries who could afford to hire lobbyists

o   They rejected a balanced budget and voted for one with a structural debt of $400 million.

o   They removed government oversight for special interests.

o   They voted against verifying citizenship as a requirement for Medicaid benefits.

o   They removed funding for English immersion for non-English-speaking students, thus ensuring the continuation of the failed, Democratic-Party-supported, bilingual programs.

ü  Whereas, they corrupted the legislative process by suspending the rules and depriving the public of the opportunity to scrutinize and comment on the proposed legislation.

ü  Whereas, they stymied the legislative process, dishonored American legislative traditions, stifled democratic notions of fairness and openness, and violated decorum by refusing to debate.

ü  Whereas, they violated the wishes of the vast majority of Republican precinct committeemen in the state of Arizona who had overwhelmingly opposed the passage of Medicaid Expansion, making their wishes known in formal resolutions.

ü  Whereas, they voted in favor of national health care, disregarding the will of the voters of Arizona who amended the Arizona Constitution via Proposition 106 in 2010 to oppose national health care.

ü  Whereas, they violated the separation of powers defined in the Arizona Constitution by voting for a budget amendment originated by the executive branch of government.

ü  Whereas, they violated the Arizona Constitution by surrendering the legislative authority to tax to an unelected bureaucrat in an Executive branch agency, and made such taxes subject to approval of the federal government.

ü  Whereas, they forced passage of a tax increase by a mere majority vote instead of the  constitutionally required 2/3 vote.

ü  Therefore be it Resolved, that we, the precinct committeemen of Legislative District 25, do censure the following Arizona State legislators:

Governor Jan Brewer

LD1 Senator Steve Pierce         

LD16 Senator Rich Crandall

LD18 Senator John McComish

LD23 Senator Michele Reagan

LD 25 Senator Robert Worsley

LD28 Senator Adam Driggs

LD5 Rep.  Doris Goodale

LD6 Rep.  Thomas “T.J.” Shope

LD8 Rep.  Frank Pratt

LD9 Rep.  Ethan Orr

LD15 Rep.  Heather Carter              

LD16 Rep.  Doug Coleman         

LD18 Rep.  Jeff Dial       

LD18 Rep.  Bob Robson

LD28 Rep.  Kate Brophy McGee