Goldwater Institute: Appalachazona?

Hispanic students excelling in other states with similar per-student spending

By Matthew Ladner

Last week I refuted the notion that the rising Hispanic population will doom the Southwest to becoming the Appalachia of the 21st century with data from Florida. I've dug into the numbers further, and they tell an extraordinary story.

Figure 1 presents reading scores from Florida and Arizona for all students. Looking at the data, the obvious question to ask: what happened after 1998? Two words: Jeb Bush.

Jeb Bush was elected Governor of Florida in 1998, and implemented a tough reform program of rigorous academic standards and parental choice. Florida is the only state to do more than Arizona to expand parental choice in education in recent years, and unlike Arizona, its testing program has not been watered down 

Figures 2 and 3 present the truly awe-inspiring scale of the radical success of those reforms. Florida's Hispanic students overtook all Arizona students by 2002. This isn't a fluke. Florida's Hispanic students outscore all Arizona students in fourth grade math and eighth grade reading as well. At current rates of improvement, Florida's African American students will tie the Arizona average for all students by next year.



Florida spends about the same amount per pupil as Arizona, has a higher percentage of low-income children, and has a majority-minority K-12 population.

Florida's lawmakers were able to put aside partisan bickering to enact a set of far-reaching education reforms in 1999 based on tough standards and parental choice and the results are clear. It is time for Arizona to follow suit.








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

Goldwater Institute: Repealing Sarbanes-Oxley would really stimulate economy

Show Me the Money

By Tom Patterson 

In the race to get credit for averting the recession, last month President Bush announced his economic stimulus plan to give $100 billion in cash rebates to individuals, plus a temporary cut for business investment taxes.

The "rebates" aren't really rebates, since many taxpayers aren't getting one while non-taxpayers are. And economists broadly agree that the stimulus plan isn't going to be much of a stimulus.

The truth is that economic growth doesn't result from money being moved around, it comes from enhanced productivity and wealth creation. Sound economic policies incentivize work, savings and investment.

The repeal of Sarbanes-Oxley would stimulate the economy without adding to the national debt or costing the Treasury a dime.

"Sarbox" was itself the result of the Congress acting on the urge to do something, anything. The "crisis" then was the financial collapse of Enron and WorldCom. The solution was to impose complex new regulations on the financial and accounting practices of U.S. public corporations.

The benefits of Sarbox have been debatable at best. But Sarbox has been horrendously expensive. The Securities and Exchange Commission, lobbying for the original bill, estimated companies would average $91,000 annually in compliance costs. The actual figure is more like $5 million.

Many public companies have gone private to save regulatory costs and small private startups are selling to conglomerates rather than going public. Sarbox appears to have cost the investors it was supposed to protect approximately $1.4 trillion.

The repeal of Sarbox would be a substantial, permanent boost to the economy. Instead, we get crowd pleasing gimmicks. We can do better.

Tom Patterson is chairman of the Goldwater Institute, a former state legislator and emergency room physician. A longer version of this article originally appeared in the East Valley Tribune. 

Goldwater Institute: Clinton's new health care proposal is as intrusive as the 1993 version

Clinton Care 2.0

by Clint Bolick

Largely lost amidst attention over Super Tuesday was Sen. Hillary Clinton's admission on Sunday that her proposed universal health care program would come with a huge dose of government coercion.

Hillary Clinton reported that Clinton said she would achieve universal coverage by "going after people's wages" and "automatic enrollment."  The healthy must support the sick, the senator insists, and must be forced to join a government health insurance program willingly or not.

Ironically, liberals who are fighting for government-compelled health care are risking a principle they worked very hard to establish in the law.  The U.S. Supreme Court decisions recognizing the right to have an abortion rest in large measure upon the intimate relationship between patients and their physicians, a relationship upon which the government may not lightly intrude. In their zeal, they would have the federal government decide a matter presently left to individual choice.
       
All of this underscores the importance of efforts by two Arizona physicians, Eric Novack and Jeff Singer, to place a state constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would prohibit the government from interfering with individual decisions regarding health insurance.  Should Clinton Care 2.0 pass at the national level, the measure would set off a major federalism battle.
In the meantime, the face of the nanny state has never been so vivid.  Americans surely want access to affordable health insurance, but not by coercion or compulsion.

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

Recap of Friday night's Horizon

Four left-wing male journalists discussing politics - yawn. Have you ever noticed that none of the successful popular national political roundtable shows feature only men of one ideology? Horizon really handicaps itself by this bias. You'd think that liberals who preach diversity every chance they get would at least have a token female conservative. We've been suggesting Darcy Olsen from the Goldwater Institute for months now. She's articulate, easy on the eyes, and writes exclusively about local politics - so what's the problem? The good old boys club doesn't want to permit the conservative viewpoint a fair playing forum.

Last night the guys discussed the recommendation made by the Mayor's advisory panel on eliminating Phoenix's sanctuary city policy by changing Phoenix Operations Order 1.4 to permit the police to inquire about someone's citizenship status when arrested. Howie Fischer said Gordon agreed to the change because he wants a political future. Sunnucks noted that this position is in the middle - a majority of the public wants this change.

Discussing the possible John Shadegg resignation in CD-3, Fischer noted that Steve May is planning to stay in the race regardless of whether Shadegg resigns. If McCain is planning on giving up his Senate seat, he would have to resign by June, to allow time for others to file to run for his seat. I'm hoping that they both resign, since I have a friend who is interested in running for Shadegg's seat. Sunnucks observed that there is no clear replacement for that seat, because the GOP machine is no longer what it used to be when McCain and Kyl determined who was going to be the favored candidates. Fischer said that Jim Waring has the best chance at winning, since he's well-known, good-looking, single, and has made a positive impression with his bills cracking down on drunk driving. He mentioned Pam Gorman as another candidate, and pointed out that she carries a .45 gun. Sunnucks, no friend to conservatives, said that the "kool-aid drinkers" in the GOP, the right wing, will turn out and vote which will favor an insider like Sean Noble or a social conservative. He also mentioned J.D. Hayworth and Jim Pederson as potential contenders. Fischer predicted that if Sean Noble - who is lacking in name recognition - wins in CD-3, then Lord will win the general. He was partially correct - the district is pretty conservative, so it's not rocket science to predict a conservative Republican will win. But the Democrat in the race, Lord, has no chance in a conservative district, especially considering McCain is running, pulling in a lot more Republican voters in Arizona this fall. Plus his name sounds like a porn star - no one in a conservative district wants to be reminded of that.

Next the guys discussed the CD-5 race for Harry Mitchell's seat. Fischer said that Mitchell is fairly safe. He's dead wrong there, because of the McCain factor, which will pull in more Republicans voting, and there are more registered Republicans in that district, as Benson pointed out. Mitchell won in 2006 because the Democrat National Committee poured money into that race specifically targeting J.D. Hayworth. This year, Democrats aren't going to bother with Arizona because of the McCain factor, noted by Sunnucks.

Fischer speculated that Giffords will beat Tim Bee in CD-8, since Bee is too enmeshed working on the budget he's not campaigned much. However they all failed to point out that Giffords, unlike Mitchell, has chalked up a very liberal voting record, which won't go over well in that moderate district.

Fischer and Benson predicted the Renzi seat will go Democrat, since there is no big-name Republican running. Sunnucks disputed this, however, noting that the leading Democrat for that seat, Ann Kirkpatrick, is probably too liberal. Kris Mayes doesn't have a shot, since the Corporation Commission has rarely led to higher office. Fischer said he felt sorry for Jeff Hatch-Miller, who moved out of CD-3 to CD-5 to run for that seat, then, after he's moved out of CD-3, Shadegg decides to resign.

Discussing the budget, Sunnucks said that the governor's idea to get more revenue from the state lottery is a bad idea, because the "stupid people tax" is already about tapped out. Fischer said there are 40,000 state employees, "you can't tell me that nobody can't go." Of course not, because if Napolitano starts laying off state employees, she loses one of her most powerful voting blocs! She hasn't even implemented a hiring freeze, someone I know who works for the Attorney General's Office says they haven't seen nor heard anything about a hiring freeze.

Fischer continued to take the devil's advocate conservative position since there were no conservatives on the panel, stating that part of the problem is that no one wants to say no to spending in prosperous years. He then analyzed the governor's duplicitous position on photo speed cameras - first she said it was all about safety, now she says it's for revenues.

Next Tuesday on Horizon is an interview with Jim Small of the Capitol Times. Should be interesting to see if he tries to be objective, considering Small has been accused of having a far left wing bias, which emerged at the paper when it was taken over by left wing ownership a few years ago.

Check out the picture above of Fischer - why does that rainbow frequently appear on the left side of the screen? Is Horizon trying to send a hidden message promoting diversity? If so, they're doing a terrible job since their panel is bunch of white left-wing males.

Bills being heard Monday from Russell Pearce

Summary of Bills to be heard Monday February 18th 1:30 pm

COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND PROPERTY RIGHTS House Hearing Room 1

HB2012 out of state driver licenses; identification purposes (Nichols, Pearce) - Support

This bill prohibits Arizona from accepting the Driver License of ANY state that does not require "proof of legal presence" in the U.S. In other words any state that issues licenses to illegal aliens, which could be terrorist or who knows. Accepting foreign documents is accepting unverifiable ID which makes that states ID no better than accepting a Matricular Card, which according to the FBI is one of the greatest threats to Homeland Security.

HB2412 criminal trespass; day laborers (Kavanagh,Harper) - Support

Goes after Day Laborers and allows law enforcement to enforce this law as a trespass violation if they are soliciting on property other than a sidewalk.

COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE House Hearing Room 3

HB2791 Arizona temporary worker program; provisions (Konopnicki et al) - Oppose

This is a back door attempt to continue to hire foreign workers instead of U.S. workers. It will suppress wages and continue to allow foreign workers to take jobs from Americans. George Borjas from Harvard University reported that these folks currently cost American workers $1,4 billion annually in lower wages due to this current environment and this would continue this policy (except try to legitimize it).

HCM 2012 Arizona temporary worker program (Konopnicki et al) - Oppose

This is a POST Card to Washington asking permission to implement HB2791 as it would take federal legislation. There kind of immigration reform is to continue to import foreign workers and continue business as usual. This is a back door attempt to continue to hire foreign workers instead of U.S. workers. It will suppress wages and continue to allow foreign workers to take jobs from Americans. George Borjas from Harvard University reported that these folks currently cost American workers $1,4 billion annually in lower wages due to this current environment and this would continue this policy (except try to legitimize it).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY Senate Hearing Room 1

SB1408 prohibited possessors; undocumented aliens (Verschoor) - Support

1. Removes, from the definition of prohibited possessor, references to federal law prohibiting illegal aliens from shipping or transporting any firearm or ammunition.

2. Expands the definition of prohibited possessor to include a person who is an undocumented or nonimmigrant alien, who is traveling with or without documentation in this state for business, pleasure or study while maintaining a foreign residence abroad.

3. Provides exceptions that allow the possession of a firearm by nonimmigrant aliens who:

a) possess valid hunting licenses or permits lawfully issued by another state.

b) are participating in a competitive target shooting event or displaying firearms at a sports or hunting trade show sponsored by a trade organization devoted to competitive or sporting use of firearms.

c) are certain diplomats, foreign government officials or distinguished foreign guests designated by the U.S. Department of State.

d) are foreign law enforcement officers of friendly foreign governments who enter the U.S. on official law enforcement business.

e) have received a waiver from the U.S. Attorney General.

SB1459 probation; drug offenses; illegal aliens: - Support

1. Requires, for an illegal alien convicted of a first or second time personal possession or use of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia, the court to order as an initial term of probation that the person be imprisoned in county jail for ____ days.

2. Stipulates that the jail term of incarceration cannot be deleted, deferred or otherwise suspended and is to commence on the date of sentencing.



COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND PROPERTY RIGHTS
Name Title Phone Fax E-mail
Ray Barnes Member (602) 926-5503 (602) 417-3107 rbarnes@azleg.gov
Nancy K. Barto Member (602) 926-5766 (602) 417-3011 nbarto@azleg.gov
Cloves C. Campbell, Jr. Member (602) 926-3042 (602) 417-3117 clcampbell@azleg.gov
Doug Clark Vice-Chairman (602) 926-3018 (602) 417-3006 dclark@azleg.gov
Steve M. Gallardo Member (602) 926-3392 (602) 417-3013 sgallardo@azleg.gov
Warde V. Nichols Chairman (602) 926-5168 (602) 417-3021 wnichols@azleg.gov
Jonathan Paton Member (602) 926-3235 (602) 417-3030 jpaton@azleg.gov
Tom Prezelski Member (602) 926-3424 (602) 417-3129 tprezelski@azleg.gov
Kyrsten Sinema Member (602) 926-5058 (602) 417-3015 ksinema@azleg.gov
Jerry Weiers Member (602) 417-3012 (602) 417-3012 jpweiers@azleg.gov

COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE
Name Title Phone Fax E-mail
Kirk Adams Vice-Chairman (602) 926-5495 (602) 417-3019 kadams@azleg.gov
Manuel V. Alvarez Member (602) 926-5895 (602) 417-3025 malvarez@azleg.gov
Eddie Farnsworth Member (602) 926-5735 (602) 417-3122 efarnsworth@azleg.gov
Bill Konopnicki Chairman (602) 926-5409 (602) 417-3105 bkonopnicki@azleg.gov
John McComish Member (602) 926-5898 (602) 417-3020 jmccomish@azleg.gov
Nancy McLain Member (602) 926-5051 (602) 417-3003 nmclain@azleg.gov
Robert Meza Member (602) 417-3114 (602) 417-3114 rmeza@azleg.gov
Ben R. Miranda Member (602) 926-4893 (602) 417-3116 bmiranda@azleg.gov
Bob Stump Member (602) 926-5413 (602) 417-3109 bstump@azleg.gov
Albert Tom Member (602) 926-5862 (602) 417-3102 atom@azleg.gov

SENATE COMMITTEE JUDICIARY
Name Title Phone Fax E-mail
Ken Cheuvront Member (602) 926-5325 (602) 417-3249 kcheuvront@azleg.gov
Ron Gould Vice-Chairman (602) 926-4138 (602) 926-4138 rgould@azleg.gov
Chuck Gray Chairman (602) 926-5288 (602) 417-3161 cgray@azleg.gov
Albert Hale Member (602) 417-3260 (602) 417-3260 ahale@azleg.gov
Karen Johnson Member (602) 926-3160 (602) 926-3429 kjohnson@azleg.gov
Richard Miranda Member (602) 926-5911 (602) 417-3171 rmiranda@azleg.gov
Jim Waring Member (602) 926-4916 (602) 417-3150 jwaring@azleg.gov




Forty-eighty Legislature - Second Regular Session

House Bills Sponsored by Rep. Pearce as Prime
House Bills Co-Sponsored by Rep. Pearce
HB2012 out-of-state driver licenses; identification purposes
HB2063 employer sanctions; federal citation; correction
HB2168 pupils; biometric scans; parental permission
HB2218 municipal zoning; technical correction
HB2220 state equalization property tax repeal.
HB2339 I didn't pay enough fund
HB2340 schools; American sign language; exemption
HB2392 NCLB opt out; cost study
HB2393 procurement services; outsourcing prohibited.
HB2443 constables; ethics; training.
HB2444 aggravated assault; constables.
HB2445 appeals; technical correction
HB2446 telephone records; technical correction
HB2600 state contract; performance management software
HB2623 constables; peace officers status
HB2624 illegal aliens; public benefits; reimbursement
HB2625 illegal aliens; commercial transactions
HB2626 weapons; peace officers; posse; reserves
HB2627 retired peace officers; background investigations
HB2628 carrying firearms; exceptions
HB2629 justification; defensive display of firearm
HB2630 concealed weapons; petty offense
HB2631 marriage license; proof of citizenship
HB2632 public supervisors; eligibility violations; penalties
HB2634 concealed weapons permit; felony convictions
HB2636 bond elections; prohibited contracts
HB2637 prohibiting municipal taxation of services
HB2638 municipal tax incentive penalty; application
HCR2021 nonliability for damages; criminal acts
HCR2024 aircraft; license tax; technical correction
HCR2025 militia; technical correction
HCR2038 state appropriation limit; reduction
HCR2039 illegal aliens; enforcement; trespassing
HCR2040 spending accountability and transparency act
HCR2041 discrimination; preferential treatment; prohibition
HCR2042 valid identification; consular cards; prohibition
HCR2043 educational institutions; proof of citizenship
HCR2044 voter-protection; temporary budgetary suspension
HCR2049 punitive damages awards; funds
HCR2050 bond elections; qualified electors; date
HCR2051 tax exemption; personal property
HCR2052 repeal business personal property tax



HB2045 handyman registration.
HB2064 e-learning task force
HB2272 ABOR; membership; tuition increases
HB2375 financial institution records; disclosure; notice
HB2459 university trust land management; exchanges
HB2573 off-highway vehicles; user fee
HB2603 photo enforcement; driving record; insurance
HB2604 consumer reports; security freeze
HB2635 insurance score; credit history
HB2639 CPS; investigations; confidentiality
HB2641 urban revenue sharing; tax credit.
HB2642 tax simplification; income tax repeal
HCR2019 legislators; school board members; ineligibility
HCR2020 legislature; designated seat
HCR2027 trust lands; universities; beneficiary exchanges
HCR2037 constitutional rights; game and fish
HCR2053 income tax repeal; tax simplification


Senate Bill Sponsored By Rep. Pearce as Prime Senate Bills Co-Sponsored by Rep. Pearce
SB1002 state equalization property tax repeal
SB1072 AHCCCS; proof of citizenship
SB1080 operating under the influence; watercraft
SB1099 partial-birth abortion; definition.
SB1102 parental consent; abortion..
SB1138 local development fees; schools; exclusion
SB1139 state treasurer; administration; management fund
SB1152 chiropractors; copayments
SB1213 AHCCCS; children; psychiatric medications; information
SB1214 concealed weapons; school grounds
SCM1003 illegal aliens; children; noncitizenship status
SCR1009 public agency lobbyists



SB1216 schools; biometric information; prohibition
SCM1002 constitutional amendment; U.S. senators; repeal

Capitol Times interview with Goldwater Institute's Clint Bolick

The AZ Capitol Times has a revealing interview with the charming Clint Bolick, Director of the Goldwater Institute's Schwarf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation. Bolick is a hero to conservatives and libertarians across the country and we're fortunate to have him in Arizona. Unfortunately, due to copyright restrictions, we are not permitted to post the entire interview, however we can include a few excerpts.

Bolick said that the Goldwater Institute is the first free-market think tank to form a litigation unit, going from a watchdog group to watchdog group that bites. Discussing their recent lawsuit against the City of Phoenix for taking tax dollars to fund a $100 million subsidy to CityNorth to develop a high-scale retail development, Bolick observed, "Here we have a luxury shopping mall that many of the people who are paying for it won’t be able to afford to shop at. It’s Robin Hood in reverse." He noted that Arizona shouldn't be leading the country as the corporate welfare capital of the country. He named a few politicians he's attacked, mostly rightly, although he was wrong to attack county attorney Andy Thomas, who has an outstanding record as a protector of rights and fiscal conservativeness, with less staff in his office today than when he entered office three years ago.

Bolick discussed his career, from launching the Institute for Justice in 1991 to leading the Alliance for School Choice. He left the school choice group for the Goldwater Institute when, "I felt that the organization was in good enough shape that I could get back to my true love, which is suing bureaucrats." Justice Clarence Thomas is godparent to one of Bolick's sons. He explained his support for the AZ Civil Rights Initiative, "I view racial preferences as 'trickle-down civil rights.' They tend to help the people at the top and do nothing to solve the glaring problems at the problem of the economic ladder."

Bolick defended his kind of judicial activism, which he wrote about in his book David's Hammer, distinguishing protecting people's rights from the bad kind of judicial activism which legislates from the bench. Let's hope Bolick can win his suit against CityNorth. Considering Arizona is home to McCain, one of the biggest opponents of pork projects, it's embarrassing that at the same time in his home state we're #1 in the country for taxpayer pork projects.

Goldwater Institute: McCain’s position on judges needs clarification

Slip of the Tongue

By Clint Bolick

Sen. John McCain, the probable Republican presidential nominee, has discovered that the fastest, surest, and best way to win over skeptical conservative voters is to promise to appoint conservative judges—a critical issue considering that several Supreme Court justices are likely to retire during the next administration.

But a close parsing of his words at last week’s Conservative Political Action Committee convention raises the question of exactly what type of “conservative” judges McCain would appoint.

McCain vowed to nominate judges who “take as their sole responsibility the enforcement of law’s made by the people’s elected representatives.”

Say again? It’s basic grade school civics that the executive branch enforces the laws, while the courts interpret them. Foremost among judges’ responsibilities is interpretation and enforcement of the Constitution, which all too often requires striking down laws that exceed the constitutional boundaries of executive and legislative power.

It is understandable that McCain, who as a senator has sponsored laws that strain those boundaries, might champion legislative hegemony. But those who cherish freedom must demand judges who take seriously their oath to place the Constitution above legislation.

McCain went on to say he would appoint judges in the mold of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito “who can be relied on to respect the values of the people whose rights, laws, and property they are sworn to defend.” Odd wording, though slightly reassuring; more so is the fact that former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and Solicitor General Ted Olsen have joined his campaign team to advise on precisely those issues.

McCain’s voting record on judges has been sound; but if he is to earn the power to nominate them, he needs to speak clearly on what we can expect.

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

AZ is nearly last in education because of illegal immigrants

It gets so old hearing the media complain how terrible it is that Arizona doesn't spend more money on education, considering how poorly Arizona's students do compared to students in other states. Because the media is so politically correct they fail to point out what should be noted every time this topic is addressed - it's because of Arizona's illegal immigrant population. When you have kids who started school in the U.S. at age 10 and can't speak English very well, of course their test results are going to be lower. So Arizona's low test scores aren't a result of its schools being any worse than other states. Throwing more money at the problem isn't going to resolve it. As long as there are illegal immigrant children, there will be a larger learning curve. This topic came up last night on Horizon, and of course illegal immigrants were never mentioned, the problem was blamed on lack of enough money. With Arizona's new employer sanctions law in effect, however, illegal immigrants are fleeing the state in droves, and test scores will begin improving.

Kyrsten Sinema will not be opposing the constitutional gay marriage ban

Speaker Weiers was on Horizon last night discussing legislation that would put Arizona's ban on gay marriage in the constitution. He clarified that Arizona already has a ban on gay marriage, but it's only statutorial, and would be better in the Constitution so an activist judge can't find a way around it as easily. He explained that this year's proposed amendment does not include the ban on same-sex partner benefits that the 2006 initiative did - part of the reason why it didn't pass. He said that Rep. Kyrsten Sinema told him at the time she would have had no problem with the amendment if it hadn't included the ban on benefits. So it will be interesting to see if she opposes it now that it doesn't - was she telling the truth or lying for political reasons.

ASU lecture: Why Your Business Needs a Blog

Wed., Feb. 20

"Why Your Business Needs a Blog"

Presented by Dave Barnhart

* Have you heard of blogs and wonder what they are all about?
* Are you wondering if a blog could help your business?
* Do you want to be known as an authority in your field?
* Do you want to leverage the most cost-effective means
for boosting your business' image, exposure, and revenue?

Blogging has evolved into a cutting-edge marketing tool that
is immediate, personal, and engaging. Blogging can boost your
image, exposure, reputation, and revenue. Best of all, blogging
is within the financial reach of everyone. Done well, a small
company or organization can achieve results that large firms with
millions of dollars to spend on marketing would be hard-pressed
to achieve.

Blogging expert Dave Barnhart will help you learn what a blog
is, how they work, why they are so effective and how you can
get started.

About the Speaker
Dave Barnhart is a Blog Strategy Consultant, founder of
Business Blogging Pros, and a passionate blogger. His
company helps small businesses have a large impact without
correspondingly large marketing and PR budgets. Dave is a
frequent speaker to groups of business owners and
entrepreneurs and recently was a guest on Pat McMahon's
show on KAZ-TV.

A couple years ago, Dave, an avid gourmet chef, started a
food and cooking blog called The Fumbling Foodie. It began
as an experiment for leveraging the power of the blogosphere
for marketing and PR. The Fumbling Foodie has been quoted on
the CBS News website and many Fumbling Foodie posts rank
in the top 10 Google searches with over a million hits.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHEN ...... Noon - 1 p.m. on days listed below

WHERE ..... The Mercado, ASU at the Downtown Phoenix Campus
502 E. Monroe St., Phoenix 85004

COST ...... FREE, but RSVPs required as seating is limited

RSVP ...... To RSVP, email us at least 48 hours before
the scheduled program. Reply to this email
(ASUlectures@asu.edu) with your name, phone #
and lecture title for each attendee

PARKING .... Available in the in the Heritage Science garage,
5th St./Monroe (NOTE parking rate is $3.00 per
hour but subject to change, sorry we do not validate)

SHUTTLE .... The DASH stops at our building on 5th St./Monroe
(info: http://www.coppersquare.com)

PAChyderm Coalition meeting Wed., Feb. 20 - election of officers

PAChyderm Coalition

ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Wednesday February 20, 2008

Annual Meeting & Election of Officers

Please note the new location:
Deer Valley Airport Restaurant
702 W. Deer Valley Road
(7th Ave & Deer Valley)

Meeting begins at 7:00 PM


Annual Meeting & Election of Officers:

Executive positions include: Chairman, 1st Vice Chairman, 2nd Vice
Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

Please contact Carl Seel at CarlSeel@cox.net if you are interested in
running for any of the above offices.

Nominations may be made from the floor.

Numerous upcoming Federalist Society events

We have been invited to attend the J. Reuben Clark Law Society’s evening event this Friday, February 15, 2008 featuring Judge Janice Rogers Brown from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.  The event is free of charge and will be held in ASU’s Gammage Auditorium at 6pm.  If you have questions on this event, please contact Casey Blais (casey.blais@gmail.com)
 
Thursday, February 14, 2008 (ASU Student Chapter, contact Joe Giles gilesjoseph@gmail.com for info or to RSVP)
Mr. Jeffery J. Ventrella, Alliance Defense Fund
Topic: "For Better of For Worse: Legal and Philosophical Considerations for Evaluating Challenges to Binary Marriage" 
Armstrong Hall, Room 105, 12:15pm-1:15pm
 
Monday, February 25, 2008 (UA Student Chapter, contact Jason Doucette doucette@email.arizona.edu   for info or to RSVP)
Mr. Clark Neily, Institute for Justice
Topic: “The Supreme Court Sets Its Sights on the Second Amendment: District of Columbia v. Heller” 
Classroom Commons Room 115 (corner of Fremont and Mabel) 12:15pm-1:15pm
 
Monday, February 25, 2008 (Phoenix Lawyers Chapter, contact Kasey Higgins khiggins@ij.org for info or to RSVP)
Mr. Clark Neily, Institute for Justice
Mr. Neily will be available to discuss public interest litigation in general as well as his various cases; no formal remarks
Happy Hour 5-7pm!  Location TBD (feel free to send your vote in now…)
 
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 (ASU Student Chapter and Phoenix Lawyers Chapter, contact Joe Giles gilesjoseph@gmail.com  for info or to RSVP)
Mr. Clark Neily, Institute for Justice
Topic: "Resolved: The Rational Basis Test Is a Big, Fat Fraud" 
Armstrong Hall, Room 105, 12:15pm-1:15pm
Up to 1 hour Arizona CLE credit available for this event (nominal charge applies for CLE)
 
Wednesday, Februrary 27, 2008 (Phoenix Law School Student Chapter, contact Niki Swank naswank@phoenixlaw.org  for info or to RSVP)
Ms. Christina Hoff Sommers, American Enterprise Institute
Topic: “What is Wrong (and Right) with Feminism” 
Phoenix Law School 12pm-1pm
 
Thursday, February 28, 2008 (ASU Student Chapter, contact Joe Giles gilesjoseph@gmail.com for info or to RSVP)
Ms. Christina Hoff Sommers, American Enterprise Institute
Topic: “Osama’s Worst Nightmare: The Liberation of Muslim Women”
Armstrong Hall, Room 105, 12:15pm-1:15pm
 
Monday, March 17, 2008 (ASU Student Chapter, contact Joe Giles gilesjoseph@gmail.com for info or to RSVP)
Dr. Francis J. Beckwith, Baylor University
Topic: TBD
Armstrong Hall, Room 105, 12:15pm-1:15pm
 
Thursday, March 27, 2008 (ASU Student Chapter, contact Joe Giles gilesjoseph@gmail.com for info or to RSVP)
Mr. Edward Whelan III, Ethics and Public Policy Center
Topic: TBD
Armstrong Hall, Room 105, 12:15pm-1:15pm
 
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 (UA Student Chapter, contact Jason Doucette doucette@email.arizona.edu  for info or to RSVP)
Mr. Robert Levy, Cato Institute
Topic and Specific Location: TBD
 
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 (Phoenix Lawyers Chapter and Phoenix Law Student Chapter, contact Kasey Higgins khiggings@ij.org  for info or to RSVP
Mr. Robert Levy, Cato Institute
Topic: “The Supreme Court Sets Its Sights on the Second Amendment: District of Columbia v. Heller” 
Hilton Garden Inn, 4000 N. Central in Phoenix 11:30am-1pm; lunch buffet provided
Up to 1.5 hours Arizona CLE credit available for this event (nominal charge applies for CLE)
 
Thursday, April 17, 2008 (ASU Student Chapter, contact Joe Giles gilesjoseph@gmail.com for info or to RSVP)
Mr. Robert Levy, Cato Institute
Topic: DC Gun Ban Litigation
Armstrong Hall, Room 105, 12:15pm-1:15pm
 

Jennifer M. Perkins, President
Federalist Society Phoenix Lawyers Chapter
480-557-8316
jperkins@ij.org 

Three strikes against Gilbert's Big League Dreams ballpark

Dear Gilbert Taxpayer—

In case you missed the ABC 15 news story on the Big League Dreams ballpark controversy, I have pasted the URL for the video and the write-up here:

“Big League Dreams has taxpayers crying foul,” by Josh Bernstein, ABC 15 Investigators

Today’s related story by Tribune reporter Beth Lucas

For the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers, a state chapter of Americans for Prosperity, there are three strikes against the Big League Dreams project in Gilbert:

1) Cities should not use taxpayer money to pay private companies to build and operate recreational facilities. Instead, cities should take competitive bids and award concessions to private entities that can build, operate, and maintain recreational facilities using their own funds. If a city’s park spaces are sufficiently valuable, the city could even charge companies rent for access to the spaces. Instead of saving the city money, schemes such as Gilbert’s Big League Dreams facility threaten to become drains on taxpayer wallets.

2) Cities should structure their public-private partnership contracts so as to discourage cost overruns. Big League Dreams got the ballpark contract because it said the facility could be built for $23 million. The final cost looks to be around $40 million. It is difficult to imagine a private contract allowing a contractor to get away with a cost overrun of that magnitude. Governments must protect taxpayers from having to write blank checks for the costs of poorly-designed public-private partnerships.

3) To help prevent the possibility of cost overruns, feasibility studies should ideally be done by third parties, preferably consulting firms that depend upon maintaining good reputations for producing accurate estimates.

The current controversy stems from the fact that Gilbert had Big League Dreams do its own feasibility study. But Gilbert really struck out because the project began as a giveaway of taxpayer money, and then became an even bigger giveaway thanks to an absence of contractual safeguards against cost overruns. Hopefully, other cities in Arizona can learn from Gilbert’s costly errors.

Tom Jenney

Executive Director

Arizona Federation of Taxpayers

a State Chapter of Americans for Prosperity

vc@aztaxpayers.org

(602) 478-0146

Horizon interview with Ward Connerly on AZ Civil Rights Initiative

Ward Connerly, who is spearheading Civil Rights Initiatives around the country, spoke at the Goldwater Institute Thursday and was interviewed on Horizon. Connerly has been an outspoken opponent of racial preferences, beginning back in 1996 when he got Prop. 209 passed in California. Arizona's Civil Rights Initiative uses identical language to Prop. 209, and would ban racial and gender preferences in government, including government contracts, education admissions, and employment.

Horizon newscaster Larry Lemmons played a clip of Cloves Campbell first, a small business owner from Tucson speaking at a rally. Campbell is part of a very small opposition group calling themselves "Protect Arizona's Freedom to Discriminate in Government." Cloves' speech didn't really address any of the issues involved with affirmative action in government, he had a few tired old slogans like "Ward thinks there are equal opportunities for everyone in Arizona....it's an assault on civil rights in Arizona....Ward is paid well to say the things he does....I think Ward Connerly is a damn fool and I'm going to continue saying that....this is not an equal country.....Ward Connerly is completely wrong."

Campbell was a nice-looking well-dressed man in a suit, whose motivation appeared to be that he was going to lose some cushy contracts with the City of Tucson. That demonstrates part of the problem with the preferences - they're not helping the disadvantaged, they're helping guys like Campbell who are obviously well-off.

When Lemmons interviewed Connerly, Connerly explained that affirmative action has changed over the years. Initially, under JFK, it was set up to make sure there was no discrimination against minorities. Now, it has morphed into something completely different, a system of discrimination against whites and Asians, treating people differently. It's now this elaborate system of "what color of skin do we want for this particular job?"

Connerly discussed one of the most egregious examples of racial preferences in Arizona, the City of Tucson's discriminatory government contract bidding preference. Minority-owned or women-owned businesses receive a 7% advantage over everyone else when bidding on government contracts. So, for example, if a regular white guy bids $100k for a project, but a woman or minority bids $106,999 for the project, the women or minority will qualify as having the lower bid.

In response to criticism from guys like Campbell that he's ignoring that discrimination still exists, Connerly acknowledged that discrimination still exists, but said that nobody has a monopoly on discrimination. And some minority groups discriminate against others. In addition, the preference system is abused, men pretend that their wives are heading up their businesses.

Connerly ended saying the solution is really as easy as Chief Justice Roberts characterizes it, "The way to end discrimination is to stop discriminating."

Goldwater Institute: Disability and Foster Care Scholarships in Danger

by Matthew Ladner

Governor Janet Napolitano has very different ideas about education reform from my own, but I have had to confess a grudging respect for her. In 2006, she went down in history as the first Democrat governor to sign a new school voucher program into law. A few seconds later, she did it again, creating voucher programs for both students with disabilities and foster care children.

It took real strength of character and independence to face down the overwrought hysteria from the state’s powerful education establishment. Napolitano’s own ideas on education reform are consistently misguided from my point of view, but I’ve never had any cause to doubt her sincerity in wanting to do what she believed to be the right thing.

Perhaps, that is, until now.

Governor Napolitano signed these two voucher laws into existence, and children across the state are benefiting from them. Now, as a part of her budget proposals, the Governor’s office has proposed “sweeping” the accounts of funds despite the fact that hundreds of severely disadvantaged children are using these funds to attend school.

Let me be clear: the governor’s proposal outlined in her budget would not only take away as yet unused funds. The proposal would also take away funds that children have been using to attend school, kicking some children out of the program.

We should not delude ourselves that this constitutes any savings to the state. Children stripped of scholarships will revert to the public school system, which will cost taxpayers more money than the scholarships they are given to attend private school.

Children like Lexie Weck are the hostages of this proposal. The East Valley Tribune profiled Lexie, a little girl working through multiple disabilities. The disability scholarship program gave Lexie’s mother the opportunity to choose a specialty private school for her, and she has thrived in it.

Lexie’s mother Andrea Weck said “something clicked” for Lexie in her new school: “She’s signing; she’ll make eye contact now. She’s feeding herself. She’s verbalizing sounds . . . She still isn’t speaking, but I know it’s in there. And they’ll find a way to get it out.” Lexie’s family cares so strongly about the program’s benefits that they are serving as clients in the Institute for Justice’s defense of the program against the legal assault of the ACLU.

Governor Napolitano signed these bills into law. Lexie Weck and many other disadvantaged children now depend upon them. Nothing could be more cruel than to create an opportunity for a child and then to capriciously snatch it away.

With her signatures, Governor Napolitano created as much of an obligation to these children as the legislators who passed the bills. Proposing to throw special needs and foster children under the proverbial bus simply cannot be justified.

Please reconsider, Governor. These children deserve much better.

CAP: This year's legislative agenda: abortion, school choice, & religious liberties

In this issue:
	(1) CAP at the Capitol (2) CAP Guide to Family Issues Now Available

(1) CAP at the Capitol

Each Friday, I'm planning to update you on what's going on at the state capitol. Our priorities this session include: State Ban on Partial-Birth Abortion. Patterned after the federal law upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, SB 1099/HB 2769 places a ban on partial-birth abortion in Arizona statute. I will be testifying on SB 1099 in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, February 11, 1:30 PM. You're welcome to attend this hearing and see CAP and your legislators in action. You also can watch it on the Internet by going to www.azleg.gov and clicking on "Live Proceedings." Parental Consent for Abortion. This legislation will codify guidelines from an appellate court's opinion for judges considering granting permission for a minor to have an abortion without parental consent. The bills passed in the House Health Committee and the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee this week. In opposing these bills, Planned Parenthood continues to allege that the legislation would add additional burdens to a minor seeking an abortion. That simply isn't accurate. In my testimony before both committees, I stressed that this opinion doesn't add any new burdens. Rather, it simply puts into state law for all to see the guidelines a court already has ordered be followed. These bills may see further action in their respective houses next week. School Choice. HB 1098 to extend the corporate tax credit program for tuition scholarships has passed the House Ways and Means Committee and awaits further action. HB 2100 to facilitate individual scholarship tax credit donations through payroll deductions also has passed House Ways and Means and awaits further action. As always, our priority is to expand school choice opportunities for students and their parents. Students' Religious Liberties Act. HB 2713 enumerates the constitutional rights that students in public schools have to express religious viewpoints in class, in academic work, and through clothing or jewelry. This legislation is needed desperately to avoid the many situations arising in schools over whether students can make announcements about a prayer service, have yearbook pages acknowledging God, etc. For CAP's full legislative agenda, Fact Sheets on each issue, and current bill status, visit our website at www.azpolicy.org.

(2) CAP Guide to Family Issues Now Available

CAP's newly revised and updated 2008 edition of the Guide to Family Issues is now available. The Guide condenses 45 family issues into 2-3 page briefs on each topic. It's an excellent way to get a quick overview of current issues. Whether you are a pastor looking for statistics for a sermon, a student writing a research paper, or a citizen wanting to keep up to date on the latest information on family issues, the Guide is written for you! To order a CD of the Guide, send a request to info@azpolicy.org.

Coalition for a Conservative Majority meeting this Tuesday Feb. 12

This is Tom DeLay's group, led by Ken Blackwell. Regardless of what you think about DeLay, he doesn't like McCain. This may be the right group for the right time here in Arizona for conservatives.

Best of the Capitol Times awards - Feb. 27

Forget the Oscars, Emmys, or Tonys - Join us for the unveiling of...

Wednesday, February 27 - 5 - 7 p.m. Majerle's Sports Grill - 24 North Second Street - Phoenix Find out if Mitch Menlove, Michael Preston Green and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema retain their titles as Best Dressed at the Capitol; is Chuck Coughlin still the person you'd least want to oppose and where's the best place to impress a client? Over 50 awards will be presented.

Get Your Tickets Here »

THIS won first place for best-dressed???? Maybe in a horror movie. Is that a hammer and sickle on the podium in front of her? Appropriate.

David Schweikert for Congress fundraiser - Feb. 22, Friday

Former Maricopa County Treasurer and state legislator David Schweikert is having a fundraiser party to raise money for his Congressional campaign for the seat currently held by Democrat Harry Mitchell. The meet-and-greet will be Friday, February 22 , at a $10 million dollar gorgeous home on Scottsdale Mountain, and tickets are an affordable $50. David is running against a couple of former legislators in the Republican primary, but has snagged endorsements from numerous current legislators, some who are listed below, Scottsdale City Council members, and the Club for Growth. Lots of notable politicos will be in attendance. To RSVP for the event, click here.

(click image to enlarge)

Superbowl rally today to help Mitt Romney

From: Nancy Case
To: Nancy Case
Sent: Sunday, February 3, 2008 12:58:21 AM
Subject: Superbowl rally for Mitt needs your help(Pre game 12-4pm)

Calling all volunteers:

Here is the info for those wanting to help at the Super Bowl rally for Mitt.

They'll have stickers, signs and flyers (print) to give out to Superbowl fans.

The rally will be from 12 noon to 4pm. (Sunday before the game)

Meet at the empty field West of Cabelas (Sporting Goods Store), the Shuttle stops there. Print the attachment (Mitt Flyer.pdf) and bring with you to give out. (Attached below)

Call Sherry 623 882 4225 cell

623 533 6648 home (am).

(click to enlarge)

John Shadegg: Stimulus Bill is Bad Policy, Bad Economics

It's surprising and unfortunate one of our other Congressmen, Trent Franks, doesn't share this position.

To: Shadegg Friends
From: Congressman John Shadegg

---

On Tuesday, the U.S. House voted on H.R. 5140, the Economic Stimulus Bill. As you may know, I was one of only 25 Republicans to vote against the bill.

Every American knows that the Federal government does not have the money to pay for these rebates. We will have to borrow it.

It makes absolutely no sense to me to go give away money we don't have. These rebates will push us even further into debt to China and Saudi Arabia and impose the burden of this debt on our children and grandchildren.

Temporary rebates will not stimulate economic growth. The most they'll do is make politicians feel good.

We are, in fact, not all Keynesian's now.

---

Also, contrary to the claims being made by some, under the House stimulus bill, illegal aliens who filed tax returns last year will receive rebate checks. These checks will be in the amount of $600 per individual or $1200 per family plus $300 per child as provided in the law. This will happen, even though a provision of the bill stipulates that rebate checks are not to be sent to 'any nonresident alien individual.'

The reason that illegal aliens will nonetheless receive rebate checks is that under the terms of the bill, checks are to be automatically sent to all people who filed a tax return and earned the requisite $3000. Because tax returns do not disclose a taxpayer's legal status, rebate checks will automatically be sent to all illegal aliens who filed a tax return.

It's a little like going out on Halloween and telling your babysitter that she should only give out candy to kids from your neighborhood. But, she has no way of knowing which kids are from your neighborhood and which are from somewhere else, so she just gives it to all the kids who come to your house.

Simply put, the IRS has no way to know whether the individual who filed the tax return is an illegal alien or not. As a result, it will issue checks to all illegal aliens who filed a return.

According to a New York Times story from last April, the number of illegal aliens who file tax returns has risen recently and has hit a record high.

The Democrats continue to try to attack my record and they have been making automated, pre-recorded calls (so-called "robocalls") to voters in the 3rd Congressional District attacking me.

I sent out a press release - partially tongue-in-cheek - that said, "I want to thank the Arizona Democratic Party for educating voters about my vote against increasing the national debt and giving rebate checks to illegal aliens. I hope the Democrats call every voter in CD 3 so that people know that I oppose going further into debt to foreign countries like China and Saudi Arabia and I oppose giving tax rebates to illegal aliens.

The Democrats are required to report the cost of the calls to the FEC, and because the calls are providing direct support to my re-election efforts, it may be considered an in-kind contribution.

GOV. MITT ROMNEY ELECTION GATHERINGS TO BE HELD STATEWIDE FEB. 5th

Of course, some of us will be at the Nixon's Super Tuesday party instead.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GOV. MITT ROMNEY ELECTION GATHERINGS TO BE HELD STATEWIDE FEB.5th On Tuesday evening, Feb. 5th, 2008, election night parties will be held in both the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas in support of Gov. Mitt Romney's Presidential Campaign. Details are below: PARADISE VALLEY, AZ: WHO - Gov. Mitt Romney Supporters WHAT - Election Day Gathering & Media Opportunity WHEN - 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. WHERE - Home of Paul & Susan Gilbert, 5950 E Valle Vista, Paradise Valley, AZ, 85253 (Between Lincoln & McDonald, or 59th Place.) This event is by invite only, or for media. TUCSON, AZ: WHO - Gov. Mitt Romney Supporters WHAT - Election Day Gathering & Media Opportunity WHEN -6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. WHERE - Charlie's Tavern & Grill, 3412 N Dodge Blvd.,Tucson, AZ, 85716 For more information on this event, please contact David Hoefferle at 520-861-1360 or david@unitedfinancial.net. VAIL, AZ: WHO - Gov. Mitt Romney Supporters WHAT - Election Day Gathering & Media Opportunity WHEN - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. WHERE - Home of Gina & Nate Henderson, 9091 S Halana Lane, Vail, AZ, 85641 For more information on this event, please contact the Hendersons at 520-777-5967. ORO VALLEY, AZ: WHO - Gov. Mitt Romney Supporters WHAT - Election Day Gathering & Media Opportunity WHEN - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. WHERE - Home of George & Diane Milton, 475 E Naranja Drive, Oro Valley, AZ 85737 For more information on this event, please contact the Miltons at 520-797-0949. Gov. Romney enjoys widespread support throughout Arizona. More than 5,000 residents have contributed more than $1.5 million to his presidential campaign. Gov. Romney has been endorsed by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Arizona's most popular GOP official, as well as State Senator Chuck Gray, State Representative Mark Anderson, State Representative Rich Crandall, Queen Creek Mayor Art Sanders and Coolidge Mayor Tom Shope. Contact: Ryan Anderson - 602-359-8868 -30- Romney for President email: info@roseandallynpr.com phone: 602-791-4488