AZ Right to Life march & rally is next weekend

Visit azliferally.com for more info. AZ Right to Life rallies are one of the hugest local event gatherings of the year, with over 1000 usually in attendance.

The Phoenix and Tucson Pro-life March and Rallies are a little more than ONE WEEK from today. 2008 has the potential to be a pivotal year for the pro-life movement as a new President is elected and pro-life legislation moves towards becoming law in many states. These initiatives could serve to be serious challenges to Roe v Wade and its 35 years of protection for the destruction of human life.

Please join us as we rally to demonstarte our heartfelt conviction to change hearts, minds, and laws towards choosing life. If you would like to volunteer at the rally to inflate balloons or to help clean up after the event, please email Trent Horn at trent@arizonarighttolife.org

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In addition to the Phoenix event, Tucson Right to Life and other pro-life groups will be hosting an excellent March and Rally during the weekend before the 35th commemoration of Roe v Wade:

Tucson Rally and March for Life
Starts at St. Augustine Cathedral Hall
Saturday, January 19, 2008
10:00am

For more information or to download flyers and maps please visit:
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001rr1b1BKpEyn8i5Jp8lnEivV5hRUiOELqDAroSUZ9_T3CWYBE2KPT5QuLeNIhEjs2hKivIWryFydwfwCe2DTwg94pIr7R47nKlCZMWWbDJtG7oX26EcLaEw== or http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001rr1b1BKpEyleL4mEegOIpoGmBq0onZ2X6VCsLjDXHIUT4N2n-Ztt401uRAdCuwWux7qpfUuBx3vTZBiQioGsDSdS5lAmXnTXeLeB4wgXGKLUNsFxIsfid2vIUke3Aau1

Surprise! Affirmative action benefits rich white kids

Yet another reason why Arizona's Civil Rights Initiative needs to be passed to ban racial preferences. According to author Peter Schmidt, affirmative action policies have had the opposite effect - helping rich whites, not poor minorities. Affirmative action is a feel-good idea that hasn't worked and has served to stigmatize, marginalize, and ghettoize minorities. Schmidt's website has a wealth of information on the subject and should be required reading for anyone interested in the topics of affirmative action and quotas.

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas releases Roadmap to Crime Prevention handbook for the public

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has released a free informational guide for the public on crime and how to protect yourself from it. The booklet contains information on burglary, auto theft, drunk driving, gang threats, identity theft, drugs, cybercrimes against children, illegal immigration related crime, elder abuse and fraud, graffiti, animal protection, victim services, bad checks, making the community safer, prosecution and crime statistics in Arizona, the differences between prosecution agencies such as the attorney general's office and the U.S. district attorney, the differences between felonies and misdemeanors, a list of helpful phone numbers and websites, and how to report crimes.

Republicans Open Sun City Office This Week

A new Maricopa County Republican office is opening in the West Valley this week, according to Maricopa County Republican Committee (MCRC) Chairman Lyle Tuttle.

The office will open Jan. 9 at 10050 W. Bell Road, Suite 49 (NW corner of 99^th Avenue and Bell Road, Sun City). A grand opening is scheduled Feb. 2.

The office will be open between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, according to office manager Chuck Carpenter. Or call 623-977-4532.

“We’ll be doing some last minute interior work early this week, but the public is already stopping by to see what we will have to offer. And the coffee pot is on.” Carpenter said.

Services include registering voters, obtaining petition signatures, and political information. Precinct committee and district leaders will also be able to pick up political supplies for local campaigns. Information on the proposed ballot propositions will be available.

The office is moving from its prior location on 35^th Avenue and Greenway to better accommodate foot traffic, according to Tuttle.

Media contact: Chairman Lyle Tuttle at 623-583-2354

Central Women Republican Ass. putting on presidential candidates' forum

JANUARY MEETING

Our meeting will be held on Tuesday, JANUARY 15, at the Arizona American Italian Club, 7509 N. 12th Street. Our lunch will be catered again and the cost will be $15.00. We must have an exact count for meals so it is imperative that you make a reservation, and noshows will be charged. Please call your reservations to June Bryan at 602-249-3650 when you receive this, or no later than Saturday evening. This meeting will be a forum on the Republican candidates for president and will feature representatives of the various candidates’ campaigns. As of this writing we do not have confirmation of the attendees but regardless of the number this promises to be a an informative and dynamic discussion of the issues and the candidates’ positions on the issues. Let’s have a good attendance.

Goldwater Institute: Breathless in Arizona

Regulating carbon dioxide emissions could leave Arizonans out of breath

By Byron Schlomach, Ph.D.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) appears to want to regulate our very breath. But not with mandates for regular doses of Listerine in the morning. The problem is carbon dioxide, the gas we expel with every breath. It has become public enemy number one.

ADEQ's director, Steve Owen, wants to impose rules on Arizona's economy similar to those California has proposed for the regulation of the so-called greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. Ironically enough, it is the federal government and the Environmental Protection Agency that are blocking those rules. Carbon dioxide, a naturally occurring gas that is quite useful to plant life, had not been considered a pollutant. The U.S. Supreme Court, narrowly disagrees, however, saying the executive branch has to make a case for not regulating carbon dioxide.

A recent article in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons (reprinted here) presents some stark facts in graphical form, striking at the heart of the computer model-driven theory of carbon-forced global warming. The article shows that recent warming pre-dates higher atmospheric carbon concentrations, is part of a longer-term trend, and is highly related to the waxing and waning of sun activity. I don't think it would surprise most people in Arizona to know that the earth's temperature might just be is related to the sun's energy output.

Maybe Mr. Owen justthe folks at ADEQ suffers from California envy. We already have a big budget deficit, just like California, but we haven't yet mastered the art of throwing business out of the state. Perhaps regulating carbon dioxide based on questionable scientific information could be a good first step toward that end. It's too early to tell how much breathing would be affected.

Dr. Byron Schlomach is the director of the center for economic prosperity at the Goldwater Institute.

Budget Talks Start Today— - Tell AZ Politicians to Stop Over-Spending

Wally the (Empty) Taxpayer Wallet

CLICK HERE TO SEND EMAILS TO YOUR LEGISLATORS.

Legislative budget talks begin this week. Please contact your Arizona Legislators today and tell them to stop over-spending. In their quest for ever-expanding government programs, the Governor and the Big Spenders in the Arizona Legislature have emptied the state's wallet. The state's budget deficit has now climbed to $900 million, exceeding the money in the state's rainy day fund.

To “fix" the deficit, the Big Spenders plan to raid the rainy day fund, use accounting gimmicks, and transfer funds from dedicated revenue sources (such as state highway money). Some of the Big Spenders are even talking about raising taxes--taking even more money out of taxpayer wallets!

But there is no need for gimmicks, fund transfers, or for raiding the rainy day fund.

The FY2007 budget, for the fiscal year that ended on June 30 th, was $9.7 billion. The FY2008 trial budget, which the Legislature and Governor approved in June, is $10.6 billion.

The Legislature can fix the deficit and save $900 million by spending the same amount it did last year. No spending cuts are necessary.

To stop overspending in the future, Legislators must give voters a chance to lower the state's existing constitutional spending limit. The current limit is 7.41 percent, which was helpful back in the big-spending days of Jimmy Carter, but we do not want state government to ever get that big again!

The state's spending limit should be reduced to no more than 6.5 percent of state personal income, which is a little less than what the government is currently spending. That way, if the economy grows, the government can grow with it—but the government should not be allowed to grow faster than the economy.

Last session, the spending limit bill was sponsored by Reps. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa), Trish Groe ( R-Lake Havasu City), Rick Murphy (R-Glendale), Kirk Adams (R-Mesa), Andy Biggs (R-Gilbert), Sam Crump (R-Anthem), and Michelle Reagan (R-Scottsdale), as well as by Sens. Jack Harper (R-Surprise) and Karen Johnson (R-Mesa). This coming year, we need every state Legislator to sign on and support the spending limit reduction.

CLICK HERE TO SEND EMAILS TO YOUR LEGISLATORS.

Wally the Wallet to greet Taxpayer Champions, Big Spenders

PLEASE JOIN US down at the Arizona Capitol Mall this coming Monday, January 14, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Wally the (Empty) Taxpayer Wallet will be there to give awards to the Legislators who scored as Champions of the Taxpayer on our 2007 Legislative Scorecard.

We will also see if we can find Rep. Steve Farley of Tucson, and give him the “Empty Wallet" Award, for earning the lowest score on the Scorecard.

The Capitol Mall is located at 1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Public parking may be available off next to Bolin Park (entrances on Adams and Jefferson Streets). It will be hard to miss Wally… We will bring a supply of coffee and doughnuts for the taxpayer activists who join us.

RSVP today with an email to TJenney@afphq.org, so we know how much coffee and how many doughnuts to bring.

CAP: The Truth Project & Capitol Prayer Walk

Please take three minutes to watch this video trailer (click here) on Focus on the Family's Truth Project.

Family Research Council's Tony Perkins wrote in yesterday's Washington Update about the latest strident attacks by the National Academy of Sciences on intelligent design theory. Why do some scientists assault those who have exposed weaknesses in Darwinian evolution? Does it make any difference whether you believe in one or the other? You'll find the answers to these questions in The Truth Project's science lesson, one of twelve covering nearly every facet of life. Don't panic if the word "science" conjures up bad memories of sixth grade biology - every single lesson is understandable and extremely engaging. They are all designed to clearly convey God's Truth in a way that everyone can understand and benefit from.

Highly respected theologians and apologists, like Ravi Zacharias, Os Guinness, and R.C. Sproul weigh in on each lesson and give a biblical perspective on the implication of God's Truth for our everyday lives. This is not just another Bible study or fad, it has the potential to turn Arizona upside-down for Christ and His Church! And this is where you can help! We would like for more than a thousand people to receive training to become Truth Project small group leaders, then return to their home churches to share this exciting curriculum with others. Thankfully, a Truth Project Training Conference is coming to Arizona this month! Please don't let this life-changing opportunity slip by. Register online today.

When: January 18-19, 2008
Venue: Scottsdale Bible Church
Where: 7601 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Cost: $119* per attendee or $149* for attendee and spouse

* includes The Truth Project DVD set comprised of 12 lessons (13 hours of total content)

(2) Join us For Prayer!

On Monday, January 14, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., join us for the Capitol Prayer Walk at the flag pole between the Arizona House and Senate buildings. We'll be following the admonition of 1 Timothy 2:1-2 and will pray for those in authority over us in state government just before the Arizona Legislature goes into session that day. Print out this flyer and share it with your friends at church on Sunday. email: cathi_herrod@azpolicy.org phone: 602-424-2525/800-FAMILY-1 web: http://www.azpolicy.org

Goldwater Institute: Subsidies Fuel Ethanol Craze

Policymakers should end ethanol subsidies by the next Iowa Caucus?

By Tom Patterson

Now that the Iowa caucuses are over, can we finally have a sensible discussion about the federal government's obsession with ethanol?

Weirdness seems to be taking over the minds of normally sane people when candidates including Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney claim to believe that agricultural subsidies are necessary for "food security." Are markets so wildly inefficient that unless government pays the farmers, they will quit producing food and we'll all go hungry?

Washington politicians are so enthused about ethanol they not only subsidize it 51 cents a gallon, they impose a 54 cents per gallon tariff on imported ethanol and a mandate to burn 7.5 billion gallons per year by 2012, with a near-term goal of 15 billion. Ethanol refiners get tax credits, investors in ethanol plants can have their loans guaranteed and some producers get direct subsidies.

But virtually every claimed benefit (except the political ones) for ethanol is bogus. According to Robert Hahn, the former co-chair of the U.S. Alternative Fuels Council, if all the corn produced in the U.S. were devoted to distilling ethanol, the fuel produced would supply just 12 percent of today's gasoline demand. Corn can't possibly be the answer to energy independence.

The next Iowa caucuses are four years away. This is a window of opportunity in the election cycle. Let's ax the whole ethanol mess. Even Iowa would be better off.

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: City of Phoenix Spends $10,000 a Week on Attorneys to Defend CityNorth Subsidy

Goldwater, NFIB file briefs in CityNorth case

The City of Phoenix has paid more than $100,000 to attorneys from the law firm of Fennemore Craig to defend the City in a legal challenge filed by the Goldwater Institute. This taxpayer-funded legal counsel is above and beyond the City of Phoenix's Law Department of 250 full-time attorneys and support staff.

Darcy Olsen, president and CEO of the Goldwater Institute, criticized Phoenix's cavalier use of taxpayer resources, saying "Even Marie Antoinette would find this spending excessive."

The Goldwater Institute filed its lawsuit, Turken v. Gordon, in August, challenging the City's $100 million subsidy to the developers of the upscale shopping mall called CityNorth. Between August 14 and October 31, the City spent more than $100,000 in legal fees, which include the billable hours of some of the law firm's highest paid lawyers. In cases like this, cities often rely on in-house counsel. "Given that city lawyers negotiated the subsidy, presumably they would have expertise to defend it," said Olsen.

The Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation filed its opening brief with Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Miles yesterday. The brief explains how the CityNorth deal violates three separate sections of the Arizona Constitution and is available here. Also yesterday, the National Federation of Independent Businesses concurred in an amicus brief. Oral arguments are scheduled in the case for February 4, 2008.

Visit www.goldwaterinstitute.org to learn more about Turken v. Gordon or the CityNorth subsidy.

The Goldwater Institute is a nonprofit public policy research and litigation organization whose work is made possible by the generosity of its supporters. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution.

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

Contact: Clint Bolick Director, Center for Constitutional Litigation (602) 462-5000

County Attorney Files Expert’s Report in Employer Sanctions Suit

Analysis Indicates That Proper Enforcement of Law Should Result in Improved Wages

The County Attorney’s Office announced today that it has filed a response and supporting expert analysis to a motion for a preliminary injunction to halt the Legal Arizona Workers Act with the United States District Court in Phoenix. County Attorney Andrew Thomas is named as one of the defendants in the case.

The act, commonly known as the employer-sanctions law, went into effect on January 1, 2008. It authorizes the county attorney to seek the suspension and, ultimately, revocation of the business license of an employer who knowingly or intentionally hires an illegal immigrant.

The County Attorney’s Office released a 42-page expert report that it also filed today with the federal district court in support of its pleading. Entitled “Labor Market Consequences of Unauthorized Aliens in Arizona,” the report is authored by Dr. George Borjas, a Robert W. Scrivner Professor of Economics and Social Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, as well as a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

The analysis by Dr. Borjas, one of the nation’s leading authorities on the effects of illegal immigration on the American economy, demonstrates that enforcement of the employer-sanctions law will help to protect and potentially increase wages in Arizona, especially among lower-skilled workers. Dr. Borjas reports that the employment of unauthorized workers has depressed wages in Arizona by nearly $1.4 billion, and has reduced the earnings of low-skilled authorized workers in Arizona by 4.7%.

Thomas stated, “This economic analysis concludes that the employer-sanctions law, if properly enforced, will help protect and potentially raise the wages of Arizonans, particularly working-class Arizonans.”

The full report can be viewed here.

For more information contact:
Mike Anthony Scerbo, Public Information Officer
(602) 506-3170 (office) or (602) 489-6913 (cell)

Seminar this Thursday on adoption & the controversial in-vitro fertilization

3700 North 24th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85016 602-285-0063 Dear Friend of Life,

This Thursday - January 10th - Children and the Gift of Life: In-Vitro Fertilization, Adoption, and the Pro-life Response. Arizona Right to Life, Christian Family Care Agency, and Catholic Charities will be presenting a free educational seminar about the questionable ethics of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and the virtue of both private and community adoption for the general public this Thursday night at 7:00pm. This seminar is an excellent chance to learn and ask questions about the pro-life ethics involved in fertility treatments and the in's and out's of the adoption system. Please RSVP to trent@arizonarighttolife.org if you are interested in attending . Presentation Information: Thursday, January 10th, 2008 from 7:00-9:00pm AZRTL Office at 3700 N 24th St. Suite 100, Phoenix, 85016 Email: trent@arizonarighttolife.org or call at 602-285-0063 Also, don't forget about the Tucson March for Life on Saturday, January 19th and the Phoenix March and Rally on Sunday, January 20th! For more information visit www.azliferally.com

Once again thank you for your committment to defending life and we hope to see you at one of our upcoming events. Sincerely, Trent Horn Program Specialist Arizona Right to Life

Phoenix Seminary President's Course: Seven Attacks on the Christian Faith

Taught by the excellent, gifted and entertaining Phoenix Seminary President Darryl DelHousaye, Pastor Emeritus of Scottsdale Bible Church.

Class Schedule:

January 7th The New Spirituality
Januray 14th The New Thought
January 21st The New Atheism
January 28th The New Islam
February 4th The New Hedonism
February 11th The New Gnostic
February 18th The New Tolerance

Christianity has always been under attack and today those attacks come from very specific sources. Come here President Darryl teach about these attacks, how they occur, what God’s Word says about them and how Christians should deal with them. Be Biblically prepared for the spiritual warfare that surrounds us.

Speaker: Dr. Darryl DelHousaye, President of Phoenix Seminary
Date: Monday Nights – January 7 – February 18
Place: Scottsdale Bible Church Chapel
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Cost: $295 per person - $550 per couple
View: phoenixseminary.edu
Call: 602 850 8000

Scottsdale Bible Church offering lecture on the 2008 economic outlook, financial class, and essential Bible Studies

Dr. Barry Asmus: 2008 Economic Outlook
January 10, 7pm, Worship Center, south campus contact Lorraine Willis, lwillis@sbcaz.org or 480.824.7245
Dr. Barry Asmus, Senior Economist with the National Center for Policy Analysis, is an outstanding motivational speaker and author who will give us the economic forecast fore 2008. This event is open to the community. Tickets are $10.

Crown Financial Ministry
Orientation Thursday, January 17, 7pm, E205, south campus for more information call 480.824.7350 x655
Are you concerned about money, saving, debt, giving, ownership or stewardship? If so, we have a small group just for you. To learn more, please attend this mandatory orientation in preparation for the 10-week biblical stewardship class.

Class 100-300: Essentials of the Christian Faith
South Campus: Begins Sunday, Jan. 27, 9:45am, B133. 12-week series.

Class 400: Advanced Bible Study/Interpreting Scripture
South Campus: Begins Sunday, Jan. 27, 11:15am. B133. 12-week series.
Register for either class online at register.scottsdalebible.com.

John Allen for Corp. Comm. fundraiser Jan. 8

(click to enlarge)

RNC raised $32 million more than Dems last year - $83 v. $51 million

There's a big elephant in the room

From the RNC - Wednesday, the RNC and DNC both released fundraising numbers for 2007. What’s immediately clear is that the RNC is pummeling its opposition: as reported by Marc Ambinder, the RNC raised a whopping $83 million. Meanwhile, the DNC managed a whole $32 million less-- (just) $51 million. More details on the RNC’s 2007 fundraising success here.

Reminder to conservative blogs - give your RSS feed to Cactus Alliance

As noted recently by Lighthouse blog, the Cactus Alliance, an aggregate of SW conservative and pro-life blogs, is accepting new blogs to run. All you need to do is email him the link to your RSS feed and you're done (for example, the RSS feed for this site is called "Subscribe to posts" at the bottom of the site and looks like this - http://azpoliticalintel.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default). I see a few blogs that haven't yet joined such as Seeing Red AZ, espressopundit, Exurban League, and El Gringo. (Not sure if Politico Mafioso and Think Right AZ would be eligible since they appear to come from the liberal wing of the Republican Party and the blogs must be pro-life) This makes 3 political blog aggregates that you should check every day; there's also the granddaddy of blog aggregates, blognetnews.com/arizona, which aggregates all AZ political blogs, and rightyblogs/arizona from Red State (affiliated with blognetnews) which aggregates all AZ conservative political blogs.

AZ Right to Life: rally approaching, pro-life lecture series

Dear Friend of Life,

This January marks the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that legalized abortion on demand through all nine months of pregnancy. 2008 will be a pivotal year for pro-lifers when we as a nation elect a new President in November. Pro-life legislation, U.S. Supreme Court and federal court nominations, and federal spending on abortion, euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research all hang in the balance. In the meantime, pro-lifers throughout our state have committed to grassroots activism and we at Arizona Right to Life are committed to standing behind their efforts to promote the pro-life message peacefully and effectively.

In This Issue

Voter Deadlines Approaching

Films Showcase Pro-life Themes

Project Jericho Planning Underway

Pro-life March and Rally

Upcoming Events!

Voter Deadlines Approaching

The presidential primary process began today as voters in Iowa selected their choices for the Democratic and Republican nominations for President of the United States. For the first time in nearly fifty years neither party is running an incumbent candidate and with so many viable candidates the race is still open on both sides of the political aisle. Arizona will have its chance to vote in the primary election February 5th, but only voters registered with one of the two major parties will be allowed to cast their ballots. If you are not registered, or know a friend or family member who isn't, please visit the Secretary of State's website before January 7th to complete the registration process. Arizona Right to Life has not endorsed a candidate for the presidential nomination at this time; however, if you would like to review a fact sheet comparing the candidates views on pro-life issues please see this October 2007 flyer from National Right to Life. Also, please forward our: "Get Out the Vote Video"

Films Showcase Pro-life Themes

Movies like Cider House Rules (a pro-choice drama about illegal abortions) or Million Dollar Baby (a pro-euthanasia boxing story) once made it appear that Hollywood was interminably in the grip of pro-death advocates. But a recent outpouring of pro-life themed movies has shown that not even Tinsletown wants to defend the ugly side of the Culture of Death. Bella, Waitress, and now the recently released Juno have all capitalized on one powerful theme: Women with unintended pregnancies have the courage to choose life. For example, the movie Juno tells the story of a high school student who unexpectedly becomes pregnant after her first time having sex and chooses to keep her baby. She even goes so far as to visit an abortion mill, but a plucky pro-lifer outside the clinic reminds her that her unborn child has fingernails and she subsequently cancels her abortion in front of the apathetic staff. While the director of Juno claims there is no pro-life agenda in the movie, the truth about the beauty of life can't help but break through the film. Over 90% of critics on the popular meta-review site rottentomatoes.com have given the movie a favorable review and we encourage our readers to use these movies as springboards to discuss pro-life issues with friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else they meet.

Project Jericho Planning Underway

Arizona Right to Life's Project Jericho campaign is now in it's final planning stages. Pro-lifers in Flagstaff and Glendale have begun work on the Project, which will involve prayer vigils at abortion mills; donation drives for Crisis Pregnancy Centers, and pro-life outreach at local churches. Peaceful presence at abortion mills SAVES LIVES. I myself have witnessed women leaving these mills because of a peaceful non-violent pro-life presence. These women thanked the pro-lifers I was with for showing them that another way is possible and their children did not have to perish. What would have happened if we had not been there? If you would like to help or involve your church or organization in Project Jericho, please contact Trent Horn at trent@arizonarighttolife.org.

Pro-life March and Rally

Please mark your calendars for these two important pro-life marches in Arizona this month: Tucson March for Life: The march will be held on Saturday, January 19th, starting at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone, after the 9:00 AM Mass. Immediately following the Mass, attendees will gather out in front to make the approximately 3-mile walk to Rachel's Monument in Holy Hope Cemetery. Participants may also drive to the cemetery and meet other marchers for the service there. March Information: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 after the 9:00am Mass St. Augustine Cathedral at 192 S. Stone, Tucson, 85701 Email: AZRTLSUNNYT@aol.com Phoenix March for Life: Join thousands of pro-lifers as we celebrate this year's theme of "Living the Dream: The Right to Life for All." The march will be held at Wesley Bolin Park in downtown Phoenix at 1:00pm on Sunday, January 20th. The Rally afterwards will feature live music with the Ike Ndolo Band and a performance by Atomik-12. Various speakers such as emcee Cathi Herrod from the Center for Arizona Policy, keynote speaker Alan Sears from the Alliance Defense Fund, Brooke Burns from Metanoia Films (The Producers of Bella), members of Congress, and others will offer powerful messages to inspire us to make a difference. Many organizations, all serving critical roles, will be present to offer resources, services and ways to get involved. March and Rally Information: Sunday, January 20th, 2008 at 1:00pm Wesley Bolin Park, near the Korean War Memorial 1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix, 85007 Visit: www.azliferally.com or call 602-285-0063

Thank you for taking the time to read Arizona Right to Life's monthly e-newsletter. As the New Year begins we would like to thank those who made generous year end contributions that allow us to continue defending life. One generous donor contributed the funds we need for producing a pro-life documentary this Spring. If you would like to partner with us to devlop new projects and continue effective ones (pro-life videos and mobile exhibit, public outreach, legislation and politician tracking, and new chapters and liaisons) then please send a donation to:

Arizona Right to Life

3700 N 24th St, Suite 100

Phoenix, AZ 85016

Once again, thank you for your time and your commitment to being a "Friend of Life."

Upcoming Events!

Upcoming Local Pro-life Events Sanctity of Life Speaker Our Lady of Pereptual Help in Scottsdale (Miller Rd. and 2nd St.) will be hosting 17 year old Angela Cosentino on Tuesday January 8th at 7pm. For more information visit the OLPH Respect Life Website. Children and the Gift of Life Infertility, Adoption, and the Pro-life Response AZRTL will be hosting the first part of a pro-life lecture series for the general public on Thursday January 10th from 7:00-9:00pm. The presentation "Children and the Gift of Life" will focus on in-vitro fertilization and adoption, and will feature presentations from Christian Family Care Agency and Catholic Charities. For more information contact Trent Horn at trent@arizonarighttolife.org or 602-285-0063. Diocese of Phoenix Pro-life Youth Vigil January 18th at 7:00pm at the ASU Catholic Newman Center. For more information email Mike Phelan at mcphelan@diocesephoenix.org The annual AZ Pro-life Rally Wesley Bolin Park January 20, 2008 "Living the Dream: Right to Life for All" www.azliferally.com Arizona's Largest Baby Shower hosted by CPC's of Greater Phoenix and KFLR 90.3 at Scottsdale Bible Church, Friday January 25th, 2008, 7:00pm contact James Alexander at KFLR Radio (602-978-0903) for more information. Save the Date! The Arizona Right to Life Spring Gala Fundraiser will be held at the Chaparral Suites Resort in Scottsdale on February 23, 2008. If you would like your pro-life events posted in our monthly newsletter, email us at trent@arizonarighttolife.org

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Newsletter Editor: Trent Horn

Goldwater Institute's New Year's Resolutions

Goldwater Institute issues 100 Ideas to advance liberty in 2008

By Starlee Rhoades

With the next Arizona legislative session just ten days away, the Goldwater Institute has released 100 ideas to advance liberty. 100 Ideas for 100 Days provides one idea for each day that the legislature is supposed to be in session. Each idea is linked to a policy report or a Goldwater Institute analyst who can help legislators with research and analysis.

The full list of 100 Ideas for 100 Days is available here. But, for those of you who like to cut to the chase, here is our top eight for '08:

8. Allow private companies to assume the full responsibility of promoting Arizona as a tourist destination by eliminating public funds for the Tourism Authority. Idea #2.

7. Make all health-related out-of-pocket expenses tax deductible under the state's income tax. Idea #93.

6. Enact a "Spending Accountability and Transparency Act" requiring all state and local government, board, and commission expenditures to be individually posted online, including recipient, amount, purpose, and categorical coding. Idea #21.

5. Replace the state's flawed TerraNova exam with a reliable national norm-referenced test. Idea #72.

4. Tap the private sector to finance the construction of new roads in exchange for the ability to collect tolls for a defined period of time. Idea #96.

3. Conform the state budget to the debt limit and special law requirements of the Arizona Constitution. Idea #7.

2. Keep Arizona regionally competitive by lowering the corporate income tax rate to the same rate as the individual income tax, 4.54 percent. Idea #9.

1. Relieve overcrowding and give every Arizona child an equal opportunity in education by creating a universal system of parental choice that includes private options. Idea #85.

Each idea would expand freedom and that's a New Year's resolution worth keeping.

Starlee Rhoades is the vice president of communications at the Goldwater Institute.

Washington Politicians Mortgage Our Future

Washington Politicians Mortgage Our Future for Their Benefit
by Congressman John Shadegg

As they left town for Christmas, Congress passed an unprecedented end-of-the-year appropriations bill with billions in wasteful spending designed principally to benefit incumbent Members of Congress. This bill includes thousands of self-serving Member-directed spending projects and displays total disregard for both legislative process and the Constitution. Though civics teaches that both Houses of Congress must pass a bill before it can be presented to the President for his signature to become law, this did not happen. Instead the House, fearful of political fallout, used trickery so Members could avoid voting on the actual bill as it passed the Senate. A dangerous precedent.

The 3,417 page bill (34 pounds) was dropped barely 20 hours before final consideration by the House. It included 9,170 Member-directed spending projects. Over 300 of these had never been made public, seen by rank-and-file Members, or passed by either House. Combined with the 2,161 passed earlier, Members gave themselves a total of 11,331 self-serving projects, costing Americans over $20 billion this year. During this season of goodwill, this bill, and those who crammed it through Congress, showed none toward American taxpayers, their children, or grandchildren.

This legislation continues an embarrassing trend in government pork-barrel spending, funneling untold billions into pet projects designed to re-elect incumbents. Most such projects are not requested, or even supported, by the Departments obligated to deliver them. Many are outright corrupt - directing funds to Members' contributors, former staffers, and even family members. The Democrat leadership promised to "make this the most honest, ethical, and open Congress in history," yet under their guidance Members of both parties continue brazenly using tax dollars to benefit themselves.

Senator Ted Stevens matched his "Bridge to Nowhere" with $20 million for a "Ferry to Nowhere" that appears to benefit his brother-in-law and former staffers Congressman Jim Clyburn, the Democrat Whip, obtained $229,000 for the Drew Wellness Center, a physical fitness center where his daughter works. In 2003, Clyburn obtained the $900,000 to construct the center. Clyburn also obtained $3 million for a private charity associated with the "James Clyburn Golf Center" he established at taxpayer expense in 2002. Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee obtained $1.95 million for a center bearing his name and bragged on the House Floor that he deserved it. The bill even restored the now infamous Hillary Clinton-Chuck Schumer Woodstock museum.

Members devote huge amounts of time to these projects and openly acknowledge the funds are being used - not for the larger public good - but to ensure incumbents' reelection. In a letter to Speaker Pelosi, the leader of a prominent Congressional Member caucus complained that caucus Members weren't receiving enough projects to ensure the reelection of its incumbents in "highly contested races." At this rate, Members will soon complain they aren't receiving sufficient bribes to maintain their lifestyle.

While the short-term ramifications of Washington's corruption and fiscal promiscuity are disturbing, the long-term consequences for our children and grandchildren should give every American cause for serious concern. Because Congress chooses to spend far more than is collected in current taxes, the government must borrow money to fund our largess.

And borrow we have, to the point where our current national debt is a whopping $9.2 trillion dollars - or more accurately $9,193,315,468, 899.43 as of December 21, 2007. That translates to $30,323.94 of debt for every man, woman, and child in America.

Who, exactly, is lending us all this money? Well, Japan has lent us $586 billion. We owe communist China $400 billion. Our "friends" in Saudi Arabia and other oil producing nations have lent us $123 billion. And here is the really bad news: they expect us to pay them back - with interest. In fact, we paid $430 billion in interest on our debt last year alone.

Of course, current taxpayers are not going to pay anywhere close to all of that debt - we can't possibly. So who will be stuck paying for our wasteful and irresponsible spending? Today's wasteful and corrupt spending will be tomorrow's obligation. Our children and grandchildren will be forced to repay today's wasteful spending. Anyone who truly cares about the future of their children and grandchildren must demand that Washington put an end to this corrupt and economically disastrous practice.

One recent survey put Congress's approval rating at eleven percent. Given the self-serving, wasteful conduct Congress continues to engage in, it is shocking the number is not lower.

There will be much celebration and back slapping in Washington this Christmas as Members congratulate themselves for a job well done. But I suspect, as Americans learn once again that Members of Congress devote more energy to looking out for themselves than the nation's and our children's well-being, Congressional approval ratings will sink ever further, and deservedly so.

For more on Member-directed spending projects, see Congress Daily article at:
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=weeklyreport-000002596442

GOP raised more money in 2007 than Dems

RNC Chairman Mike Duncan announced today that the RNC raised more than $83 million in 2007, outpacing the DNC and even the RNC’s own internal goals . This figure means that more than 800,000 supporters sent an average of $227,000 to the RNC every single day last year. These figures are all the more impressive, considering that the RNC is debt free and had $17.2 million cash on hand at the end of the year.

Goldwater Institute: Governments must tell us how our money is spent.

Trust But Verify

By Byron Schlomach, Ph.D.

"Trust but verify." That's how Ronald Reagan described his philosophy of dealing with the Soviet Union on nuclear arms reductions. It should also be our philosophy when it comes to how government spends our money.

As taxpayers we are required to send our money to various levels of government through a plethora of taxes and we are asked to trust that the money is spent wisely and in our common interest.

There is no doubt that most public servants try to be good stewards of our money. But the amounts available and the fact that taxpayers are distracted with making a living present a mighty temptation. Funds can potentially be spent in ways taxpayers would not approve with little chance that questionable spending will be discovered.

Surely, had Avondale's city fathers known that taxpayers would be looking over their shoulders, they would have been more circumspect in some of their spending. In an investigative news report, they were caught wining and dining wealthy pro sports interests with $100 bottles of wine. Taxpayers footed that bill and another for a visit to a nail salon.

There are many state and local government entities and a lot of potential for officials to lose perspective. It's easy to view government like a business where expensive meals are a common practice. But businesses don't have the power to compel people to buy their products. Government does. That means government officials have to take the title of "public servant" very seriously.

Taxpayers need to take verification seriously too. That's why we need state and local government check registers posted on the internet with plain explanations of how the money is spent. Other states are doing it. Arizona should too.

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

CAP: Prayer Walk at the Capitol on Jan. 14, Truth Project Training

Happy New Year!

Now that the Christmas celebrations are over, take a minute and be sure you've got these dates on your calendars: First, don't forget that the voter registration deadline for the Presidential Preference Primary is Monday, January 7. Only those registered as a Democrat or a Republican can vote in the primary coming up on February 5. Consider holding a registration drive at your church this Sunday, January 6. To find out how, visit www.azpolicy.org or call our office at (602) 424-2525. Join CAP's Capitol Prayer Walk on Monday, January 14, to coincide with the first day of this year's legislative session. As Scripture commands us, we're going to make it a priority to pray for our governmental leaders before the session begins. The walk will begin at 9 a.m. at the Arizona Capitol, 1700 W. Washington in Phoenix. Meet us by the flagpole between the House and Senate Buildings. Print out this flier to give to friends at church! Truth Project Training will be held January 18 & 19 at Scottsdale Bible Church. The Truth Project is a DVD-based small group curriculum produced by Focus on the Family. Taught by Dr. Del Tackett, it includes valuable insights from a host of Bible scholars and theologians, including Os Guinness, R.C. Sproul, and Ravi Zacharias. More information on The Truth Project is available at www.azpolicy.org. To register, visit www.thetruthproject.org/events. Join me at the Pro-Life Rally on Sunday, January 20. I'm serving as this year's emcee! The Rally starts at 12:30 p.m., giving you time to drive to Wesley Bolen Park, just East of the Capitol. Don't forget to bring disposable diapers, wipes, or formula for the diaper drive to help stock the diaper bank! Please let your pastor know about CAP's first annual Pastor's Day at Capitol on Tuesday, January 29 from 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Dr. Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Bible and Theology at Phoenix Seminary will be the keynote speaker. For details, visit the CAP website. Volunteers! We still need volunteers to monitor legislative committee meetings, starting January 14. Committee meetings usually occur at the same time each week (Monday afternoon through Thursday morning) and usually last from 1-3 hours, depending on the number of bills on the agenda. If you are interested, please call us at 602-424-2525 or email Jennifer Clark at jclark@azpolicy.org. Quick Links... Printer-Friendly version RSS sign up Read AZ Policy Blog! Donate today! Arizona Citizen Newsletter: Why We Do What We Do Family Voice Radio: Blatant Attacks On Families Visit our website