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.

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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).

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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

AZ Right to Life Life Times: Primary voting guide

Dear Friend of Life,

February should prove to be an exciting month for the pro-life community. As the Christian season of Lent approaches, the 40 Days for Life and Project Jericho campaigns are using prayer as a powerful weapon to end abortion. Along with prayer and fasting, there have been several victories in the form of activism, outreach and pro-life legislation that we would like to share with you in this month's edition of the Arizona Life Times.

In This Issue

Election Next Tuesday!

March for Life

St. Mary's High School Outreach

40 Days for Life/Project Jericho

License Plate Victory

Upcoming Events!

Election Next Tuesday! Voting Guide Available

In less than one week Arizonans will take part in what has been dubbed by some as "Super Duper Tuesday" or the 21 state-wide Republican and Democratic presidential primaries taking place on Tuesday, February 5th. It is crucial that a pro-life president is elected in November. Along with signing into law pro-life legislation, the next President will have the opporuntity to appoint federal and Supreme Court judges who will interpret the law, rather than arbitrarily finding law in imaginary "penumbras." This is especially pressing because the imminent retirement of two or three Supreme Court justices could change the balance of the Court and finally allow Roe v Wade to be overturned. In that regard, Arizona Right to Life PAC has acknowledged that former governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, has the strongest pro-life record of any candidate. However, we encourage you to consult our voting guide to compare each of the candidates seeking the presidency by their own individual pro-life credentials. Click here for the Arizona Right to Life 2008 Primary Voting Guide NRLC Statement on the Presidential Candidates

250,000 March on Washington, Hundreds Rally in Arizona

January kept all of us at the State Office very busy organizing various forms of pro-life outreach. For example, AZRTL directed two successful pro-life marches and rallies that energized those who attended and provided a faithful witness to those who saw the demonstrations. In Phoenix, hundreds gathered at Wesley Bolin Plaza on January 20th to march and listen to inspiring speakers who shared stories of courageously being pro-life in the face of tremendous adversity. Emcee Cathi Herrod, the President of the Center for Arizona Policy, exhorted the attendees to stand firm in their convicitons and to brace themselves for the coming pro-life challenges in Arizona (such as passing a future state ban on partial-birth abortion). In Tucson (pictured above), the local right-to-life chapter was invaluable in the efforts to gather hundreds of pro-lifers together for a march and rally at Rachel's Monument.

St. Mary's High School Outreach

During the week before the 35th commemoration of Roe v Wade we spent three full days with nearly 200 St. Mary's high school students teaching them about the pro-life movement's history, the case for defending the unborn, and practical ways they could help to defend life. After the talks some students chose to volunteer at the 2008 Phoenix March for Life so they could immediately join the pro-life cause. This high school outreach culminated on the commemoration of Roe v Wade where, during a school wide assembly, our Education Director, Melanie Pritchard, was the emcee for guests like Atomik 12, Silent No More, Edel Horvath, and Ike Ndolo Band. Arizona Right to Life also debuted a short, self-produced 15 minute documentary on the history of abortion, euthanasia, and stem cell research entitled "The Price of Choice: The Rise of The Culture of Death" that students praised as "informative" and "eye-opening." If you would like a speaker or group listed above to speak at your child's school or your own church, please contact the Life Educational Corporation's Education Director, Melanie Pritchard, at Melanie.lec@yahoo.com

40 Days for Life/Project Jericho

40 Days for Life is a nationwide movement of activists who are committed to praying at abortion mills and performing outreach in their local communities. This ministry was one of the inspirations for our Project Jericho campaign. Project Jericho was originally conceived to fill the void that the Fall 40 Days for Life campaign left behind after it concluded in November. We did not anticipate 40 Days for Life's return but are excited to work with this campaign to further the goal of defending life. Arizona Right to Life is working in collaboration with both local 40 Days for Life Coordinators and Project Jericho Coordinators to organize state-wide prayer to end abortion in Arizona. We encourage those who wish to participate in either campaign to contact Arizona Right to Life to learn more about each program and how they can help or join. Those who wish to participate in either campaign can also use any resoruces from the Jericho packets to help them in their goals, which can be downloaded from our website. Important Links 40 Days for Life AZRTL Webpage Project Jericho Webpage Offcial 40 Days for Life - Phoenix Website 40 Days for Life Kick Off Rally begins this Saturday February 2nd! Where: Townsend Park, 5th St. and Mcdowell Rd., across the street from First Way Women's Clinic When: 1:00pm - 2:00pm 40 Days for Life and Project Jericho begin on February 6th! Contact trent@arizonarighttolife.org or 602-285-0063 if you would like to help.

AZRTL Outreach and Education

Our educational outreach was also in full swing during January when we hosted a successful seminar on January 10th highlighting the pro-life ethic involved with in-vitro fertilization and adoption. On January 18th we were the featured guest on the Biblical Worldview Hour with Keith Shull hosted on 1360 KPQX Radio (pictured above). Arizona Right to Life discussed how the pro-life viewpoint is not only compatible with a Christian worldview, but is also a necessary part of it. Also, on January 23rd we were interviewed by 3TV to provide a counterpoint to Linda Lopez's introduction of a bill (HB 2387) that would legalize assisted suicide in our state. We correctly noted that, among other problems, the bill does not require family notification and told 3TV, "your aunt, grandmother, or grandfather could choose to end their own life and you wouldn't find out about it until it's too late." According to a recent Tucson news article, this bill may never reach committee and therefore not receive a vote. However it could end up on the ballot in a general election. AZRTL will continue to follow this and other anti-life legislation and inform you when your vote is needed to combat laws that deny the dignity and value of the human person.

License Plate Victory

Arizona Right to Life would like to congratulate the general counsels and legal teams of the Center for Arizona Policy and the Alliance Defense Fund for their victory in the Ninth circuit court in regards to the "Choose Life" license plates dispute. The Center for Arizona Policy writes: "Since 2002, the [Arizona] Life Coalition has sought to participate in a program that allows nonprofit organizations to obtain a "special organization license plate," which includes the organization's name, logo, and slogan. Proceeds from plate sales go to support the organization's work in the community. In 2003, the Arizona License Plate Commission denied the Life Coalition's application. Life Coalition filed a federal lawsuit, and a federal judge upheld the Commission's decision in 2005. Today's decision from the Ninth Circuit reverses that decision. The Ninth Circuit judges agreed unanimously with Arizona Life Coalition's claim that the Choose Life plate application had been denied due to discrimination against the pro-life viewpoint." We will keep you updated on this story and inform you when the Choose Life license plates become available for sale in Arizona.

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 once again thank those who have already made generous year end donations as well as those who are a part of our monthly, quarterly, or yearly lifesaver program. If you would like to learn more about our lifesaver program please email us at azrtl@azrtl.org or call our office at 602-285-0063.

If you would like to partner with us to devlop new projects and continue effective ones (pro-life videos and mobile exhibits, 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."

Newsletter Editor: Trent Horn

Free winds concert - Feb. 24

2007-2008 Season

ARIZONA WINDS
Premier Concert Band
est. 1974

The Arizona Winds continue to entertain Arizonans throughout the West Valley. The band is well known for its high level of performance, pleasing AUDIENCES OF ALL musical tastes.

Musicians at their best.

Music to Remember

Sunday, February 24, 2008 — 3 PM
All Saints' Lutheran Church
(15649 N. 7th St., North Phoenix)
east side of 7th St., north of Thunderbird
Free Admission

Some Featured Selections:

La Belle Hélène by Jacques Offenbach, Chester by William Schuman, My Fair Lady by Lerner and Loewe, Victory at Sea by Richard Rodgers, The Thunderer by John Philip Sousa, plus so much more.

CAP: Bioethics conference March 6-8

In this issue:



(1) Time to Pray this Saturday!
(2) Information on Presidential Candidates.
(3) March Bioethics Conference.

Forward this email to a friend!



(1) Time to Pray this Saturday!


Next Tuesday, Arizonans, along with voters in 23 other states, will be voting in presidential primaries. Each of the major political parties may well decide the two nominees for the general election on Tuesday. That means it's time to gather together and pray! CAP will lead a special time of prayer this Saturday, February 2, 11:00 AM at the State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington.
Scripture calls us to pray for those in authority over us. We're to pray and petition our Lord for His blessing, guidance, wisdom, protection, and mercy. This is a crucial time for our nation as we determine our next president. Please come to pray and encourage friends, family, and church members to join us in prayer for this Tuesday's election and the elections this fall. Children are welcome for this prayer time. This is a prayer rally, not a political rally!


(2) Information on Presidential Candidates.


If you are trying to decide who to vote for next Tuesday and looking for information on candidates, one option is to search for the candidates' positions on the official websites of the candidates themselves. While CAP will have Voter's Guide information available for the September primary and the November general election, we are not publishing a Voter's Guide for the Arizona Presidential Preference Primary. The full list of candidates that appear on the ballot in both the Democrat and Republican races can be found here.



(3) March Bioethics Conference.


The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity will be hosting their first annual conference, Extending Life: Setting the Agenda for the Ethics of Aging, Death, and Immortality, March 6-8 at the Grace Inn Conference Center in Phoenix. CAP is a co-sponsor of this conference for healthcare workers, lawyers, pastors, and anyone else interested in bioethics issues. Experts from around the country will be speaking on aging, life extension efforts, dignity and dying, and more. I encourage you to make time to attend this conference - it's a great follow-up to the bioethics conference we organized last November. For complete details and conference agenda, please see the conference brochure available on the Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity web site. Act quickly: early bird registration ends on Friday, February 1.

Horizon: free campaign spot for Dennis Burke, & Kavanagh decimates Miranda

One of last night's topics on Horizon was state legislative bills on illegal immigration. First interviewed was Dennis Burke, who works for Governor Napolitano and is running for Attorney General. Since he's a political hack in the back rooms, not her spokesperson, and since most of us have never seen him before on TV representing her, it was pretty clear he was given this spot to help promote himself for his campaign, a way of skirting around campaign election laws. He just repeated the usual lines Napolitano delivers on illegal immigration, "it's a federal problem" and didn't have much of anything to say about actual state legislation.

Next, Rep. John Kavanagh and Rep. Ben Miranda came on to discuss modifications to the employer sanctions law. Miranda said the problem of illegal workers could be solved with a guest worker program that forces employers to pay for their health care. Miranda said we need to "force companies to deal responsibly with their role in the economy." This is how Miranda would solve the problem, have government burden businesses even more? Requiring businesses to provide health care for Americans is a bad idea in the first place, that shouldn't be extended to even more people. People should be responsible for their own health care, not their employers - I'm not sure where society ever accepted the notion that health care is the responsibility of employers, there's not much of a correlation which is why it doesn't work to force it. How is health care part of a "business's role in the economy?" Unless you're in the healthcare industry, that's a ridiculous stretch. Miranda is trying to put the blame on someone else other than illegal immigrants.

Miranda accused Kavanagh of "surrendering" to businesses because Kavanagh doesn't support a health care mandate. Kavanagh objected and pointed out that his employer sanctions law would end a business. He said that the legislature needs to keep in mind that any legislation must be "fair and firm," since that's what the voters want as indicated by their 70%-80% margins passing illegal immigration initiatives.

Miranda couldn't stop blaming everything on companies not providing health care to illegal workers, saying that if they had provided health care from the beginning, we wouldn't have any problems with this now. Kavanagh pointed out that's not true, illegal immigrants also bring with them crime, additional costs to society of educating them, as well as their children who are American citizens entitled to the full panoply of U.S. benefits.

Kavanagh said that he's proposing three additional bills addressing illegal immigation this session, one that would eliminate birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants' children, one that would eliminate sanctuary cities, and he's bringing back a bill he tried to get passed last year, making day labor loitering a criminal trespass. Miranda ended with a rambling accusation that our illegal immigration problem is all businesses' fault for not providing health care.

AZ Knights of Columbus newsletter is out

Check it out, this is a great group.

Goldwater Institute: Federal Clean Water Act Wrong for Arizona

New report recommends Arizona opt-out of Clean Water Act, manage its own water

Congress is considering whether to expand the reach of the federal Clean Water Act. But is expanding a law designed for water-rich environments like Florida good for the drought-stricken deserts of Arizona? A new report from the Goldwater Institute says no.

Muddy Waters: Deconstructing the Clean Water Act in Arizona finds that the Clean Water Act doesn't take Arizona's unique desert environment into account. As a result, Arizona homeowners and businesses pay the price with unnecessary property rights restrictions, less innovative environmental management, and high costs to navigate through the regulatory maze.

"The Clean Water Act adds substantial costs and delays to private developers and local governments attempting to comply with the law. When Arizonans are forced to treat sand as if it were water, serious attention should be given to reforming or opting out of the law," says Benjamin Barr, author of the report and Senior Fellow in constitutional studies with the Goldwater Institute.

The average property owner hoping to develop areas that fall under Clean Water Act authority will spend 788 days and $271,596 working with federal authorities to do so. State and local governments must also pay these extra compliance costs to build roads and schools. For example, the proposed 33,000 acre Douglas Ranch development in Buckeye, Arizona, contains 230 acres of desert washes that flow 1.5 times per year on average. Despite this limited flow, and the fact that these washes are 192 miles away from the nearest navigable river, they fall under federal jurisdiction.

But Barr says there is more than money at stake. Traditionally, state governments have had jurisdiction over land use and environmental policymaking. The Clean Water Act usurps that authority and hands it over to Washington, D.C., violating the core constitutional tenet of federalism.

Barr recommends that Congress revise the Clean Water Act to include a provision allowing states like Arizona to opt-out of the Act in favor of local control over the management and development of its waterways and wetlands. By reassuming control of its environmental policies, local Arizona policymakers will be free to use innovation as their guide in developing environmental policy, instead of a one-size-fits-all federal regulation, says Barr.

Building on 30 years of water quality legislation, Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1977 with the aim of cleaning up and protecting navigable waters and wetlands. In Arizona, Clean Water Act rules and regulations apply to dry washes, arroyos, and even sand. These "waters" then become regulated by water quality standards for swimming, fishing, and drinking water.

Arizona had a long history of regulating water effectively before the Clean Water Act passed. Today, state law covers water management extensively. Placing the responsibility for regulating and managing Arizona's water back in the hands of local lawmakers will ensure the state's water stays clean, while protecting citizens and local governments from unnecessary federal red tape.

Muddy Waters: Deconstructing the Clean Water Act in Arizona is available online or by calling (602) 462-5000. 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

Feb. 9 & 23 - Crime Summits coming up for the public

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Goldwater Institute: Taxazona?

Legislature should permanently repeal County Equalization Tax

By Byron Schlomach

Arizona's Senate Finance Committee could prevent a record property tax hike next year by making permanent the repeal of the County Equalization Tax (CET). That tax, if it goes back into effect, will cost Arizonans $225 million in new property taxes. Every Arizonan will pay, including homeowners, business owners, and renters through their rent payments.

Twenty-three states, including all of Arizona's neighbors, have lower property tax burdens than Arizona when taxes are compared to personal income. Still, some may think another $10 per month for the CET on a $250,000 house may not seem so bad.

Problem is, Arizona is already a high tax state when it comes to commercial property. Owners of distribution centers in Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and California pay at least 40 percent less per square foot in property taxes than owners of similar properties in Arizona. So, while $10 per month may not seem like much, Arizona is competing for business with nearby lower tax states.

Letting the equalization tax go back into effect is a sure way to encourage businesses fleeing California to leapfrog us for other states or to persuade businesses already here that it's not profitable to stay.

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

Tell PHX City Council, "NO ENDLESS TAX!"

This Wednesday afternoon, January 30, the Phoenix City Council will decide whether or not to refer an ENDLESS TAX to the May 20^th ballot.

The current parks and preservation tax, enacted in 1999, is set to expire next year. Last week, the Phoenix City Council’s policy committee chose unanimously to move forward with a proposal to extend that tax “in perpetuity.”

If the ENDLESS TAX goes to the May 20^th ballot, and if it passes (thanks in part to low voter turnout for a May election), that would mean the tax would NEVER come up for review again.

The Arizona Federation of Taxpayers, a state chapter of Americans for Prosperity, suggests that Phoenix taxpayers ask Mayor Gordon and City Council members several very important questions:

1) Doesn’t an endless tax give city politicians a never-ending blank check?

2) Shouldn’t taxes sunset every ten years, so as to provide accountability, and allow citizens to periodically review city practices?

3) Do we really need this tax? The current tax has mainly been used to acquire and develop park lands, but the ENDLESS TAX would increasingly be used to pay for maintenance and operations functions, including park rangers and security. Isn’t that just a revenue source looking for a purpose?

4) Why has the City Council failed to use private-sector alternatives, such as taking competitive bids and granting private companies the right to operate exclusive concessions in parks (such as sports facilities, snack bars, or nature tours) in return for providing maintenance, landscaping, security, and other services?

5) Why put the ENDLESS TAX on the May ballot, when a much more substantial voter turnout will occur in the November general election?

If possible, please attend the Phoenix City Council meeting this Wednesday, January 30^th, beginning at 3:00 p.m., to register your opposition to the ENDLESS TAX. The City Council meets at 200 W. Jefferson, downtown. The ENDLESS TAX is Item #71, and is listed as Ordinance S. 34726

If you cannot attend the meeting, please send an email to the Mayor and to your City Council Members:

To find your council district, visit this site:

http://phoenix.gov/citygov/map.html

Here are the emails for the Mayor and City Council members:

Phil Gordon, Mayor, mayor.gordon@phoenix.gov
Thelda Williams, District 1, council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Peggy Neely, District 2, council.district.2@phoenix.gov
Maria Baier, District 3, council.district.3@phoenix.gov
Tom Simplot, District 4, council.district.4@phoenix.gov
Claude Mattox, District 5, council.district.5@phoenix.gov
Greg Stanton, District 6, greg.stanton@phoenix.gov
Michael Nowakowski, District 7, council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Michael Johnson, District 8, michael.johnson@phoenix.gov

Note: the May 20^th vote on the ENDLESS TAX would be the City’s second tax vote in less than a year. The City Council put the Prop 1 sales tax increase on the September ballot to get an additional $60 million a year for police and fire, after choosing to underfund police and fire budgets, despite having ample revenues.

Also note: The current tax, which is one-tenth of one percent on sales in Phoenix, will have raised over $200 million by the time it expires. Out of a $124 million annual parks budget, fewer than one million dollars come from self-funded enterprise functions. Expanded private concessions could easily replace the $15 million annual revenue from the ENDLESS TAX.

For more on operating parks through private concessions, see the Reason Public Policy Institute’s report on managed competition programs in San Diego:

http://www.reason.org/san_diego_managed_competition.pdf

From the Reason report: “Cost savings from outsourcing recreation facilities operation and management typically range from 19 to 52 percent. Cost savings from outsourcing park landscaping and maintenance range from 10 to 28 percent.”

Tom Jenney
Executive Director
Arizona Federation of Taxpayers
A state chapter of Americans for Prosperity
www.aztaxpayers.org

Guide to Arizona's Republican/conservative blogs

Your alternative to Arizona's left wing newspapers' political coverage


We have compiled a list of the most active, influential Republican/conservative blogs covering Arizona politics, ranked in order using three criteria, 1) popularity, 2) quality, and 3) influence - we asked political insiders whether they'd heard of them and read them. We have excluded Technorati's blog rankings to determine popularity because they aren't reliable; any small blog that gives themself just 1 favorable ranking on technorati immediately jumps ahead of all the other small blogs that don't have a favorable ranking yet. Instead, we have included Quantcast and alexa rankings. We decided not to include blogs that focus on national issues, such as J.D. Hayworth's, whose blog is almost completely national issues, nor blogs that have had little activity lately. The purpose of this list is to provide conservatives with alternative political analysis and news in Arizona, since the mainstream newspapers fail to cover a lot of news about conservatives and when they do it's so biased you're not getting the full story.

1. Sonoran Alliance
236,037 Quantcast, 6,238 estimated monthly unique visitors
467,587 alexa
Insider conservative political analysis by multiple anonymous contributors, lots of breaking news and insider baseball, posts are heavily commented on by mostly anonymous political activists

2. Espresso Pundit
9,133,328 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
4,534,745 alexa
The best, well-written yet enjoyable to read conservative political analysis in the state by Greg Patterson

3. AZ Political Intel
1,902,634 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
1,010,202 alexa
Mostly news releases from conservative organizations, upcoming conservative events, and coverage of bias on the local political PBS show Horizon

4. Red State Arizona
1,902,634 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
1,234,079 alexa
Breaking conservative political analysis on a wide variety of topics

5. Arizona Political Heat
707,246 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
1,456,527 alexa
Conservative political analysis with extra focus on illegal immigration and speeding tickets

6. Seeing Red AZ
364,698 Quantcast, 3,049 estimated monthly visitors
2,555,785 alexa
Not for the fainthearted. Critical conservative political analysis, with an emphasis on illegal immigration and pointing out problems with McCain.

7. Exurban League
1,463,335 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
1,502,670 alexa
Conservative political analysis from two exurban guys

8. Politico Mafioso
1,903,045 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
1,883,621 alexa
The only active pro-McCain blog in the state. Mostly copies and pastes pro-McCain articles and articles on terrorism. Has ties to the Shangri La nudist colony and the Grand Pachyderm club (not to be confused with the conservative Pachyderm Coalition). But has a good sense of humor about being ganged up upon for being a RINO by the rest of the conservative blogs.

9. AZ GOP's Pullen for the Party
1,887,974 Quantcast, 628 estimated monthly visitors
5,509,174 alexa
Mostly press releases and clips from talks by National Committeeman Bruce Ash

10. Arizona Eighth
1,902,633 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
5,910,061 alexa
Conservative political analysis of Arizona's 8th district (generally North Tucson area)

11. Think Right AZ
1,902,634 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
not on alexa
Sort of misnamed RINO blog run by a political insider, supports McCain

12. Arizona Report
1,902,634 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
not an alexa
Fairly conservative political satire site, run by a political insider

13. Lighthouse Blog
4,020,068 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
no alexa ranking
Conservative political analysis

14. Cactus Alliance
5,677,303 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
10,013,110 alexa
Aggregate of pro-life conservative blogs

15. Zonitics
not on Quantcast or alexa
Probably the first conservative blog in the Valley, run by an anonymous guy with occasional anonymous contributors. Known for breaking really good intel here and there.

16. Mesa Issues
1,903,052 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
5,188,715 alexa
Like it's name says, covers Mesa issues

17. Jakubczyk on Life
1,902,634 on Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
11,626,498 alexa
Conservative pro-life analysis from a major pro-life leader

18. AZ Watchtower
1,321,655 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
not on alexa
Conservative political analysis focusing mostly on Arizona's congressional candidates

19. Len Munsil
8,843,611 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
7,656,317 alexa
Conservative political analysis by the former gubernatorial candidate and founder/President of the Center for Arizona Policy

20. Arizona Growler
1,520,474 Quantcast, < 2,000 estimated monthly visitors
not on alexa
Conservative political analysis with an emphasis on Arizona State University

21. El Gringo
not on Quantcast or alexa
Conservative political analysis with an emphasis on economics from a former Goldwater Institute scholar

Red Arizona
only appeared a few days ago so not yet on Quantcast or alexa
Insider blog with connections to the Republican Party and the state legislature, supports McCain


Addendum
We did not include Righty Blogs or Blog Net News since those are nationwide aggregators of blogs, and Blog Net News includes liberal blogs, however, we do recommend them as excellent sources for monitoring the state's political blogosphere. Please email us at azpoliticalintel-at-yahoo.com if you have any corrections or additions.

Goldwater Institute: Cell Phone Bill of Rights Could Raise Prices

New report says legislation would hurt consumers with higher prices, fewer choices

During this legislative session lawmakers will consider a host of proposals aimed at protecting consumers. But a new report says one of those, the "Cellphone User's Bill of Rights," will likely hurt the consumers it aims to help.

The report released today by the Goldwater Institute, Hold the Phone: Why Arizona Doesn't Need a Wireless Consumer Bill of Rights, says the legislation will limit cell phone plan choices and raise prices. The Cellphone User's Bill of Rights would limit cell phone contracts to one year and allow customers to cancel contracts within 30 days for any reason, among other things.

"Lawmakers should not be in the business of telling consumers what terms of cell phone service they can or cannot buy," said Solveig Singleton, Senior Adjunct Fellow with the Progress & Freedom Foundation's Center for the Study of Digital Property and author of the report. "The government doesn't dictate our gym membership or our Blockbuster contracts, and it shouldn't mandate cell phone service terms either."

Many of the provisions in the Cellphone User's Bill of Rights have already been addressed voluntarily by cell phone providers. Verizon Wireless gives consumers 30 days to cancel contracts. AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile have introduced more flexible contract terms, and several companies are prorating termination fees. "Markets are working well in this industry. There is no reason to change course," says Singleton.

Some companies are willing to offer a lower monthly price in exchange for a two year contract. If these companies are no longer allowed to offer a two year contract, even if a customer wants one, prices may go up.

Five other states have considered similar proposals, but Minnesota is the only state to actually enact legislation. That legislation was later found unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Congress began deregulating the cell phone industry in 1993, and consumers saw a 40 percent price drop in six years, along with better, more affordable equipment, and more service options. The Cellphone User's Bill of Rights would reverse the national trend towards deregulation.

Hold the Phone: Why Arizona Doesn't Need a Wireless Consumer Bill of Rights is available online or by calling (602) 462-5000.

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

Goldwater Institute: Napolitano's higher education proposals are off the mark

Ready, Shoot, Aim!
Napolitano's higher education proposals are off the mark

By Matthew Ladner, Ph.D.

Governor Janet Napolitano called for the doubling of the number of college graduates by 2020 in her 2007 state of the state address and paying the tuition for students who graduate high school with a B average. How fast can you say grade inflation?

What's important to note, however, is that there isn't any reason to think Arizona needs such a doubling. In the Carnegie Foundation's publication Change, Paul Barton wrote that the notion that the U.S. has a dire need for an ever increasing number of college graduates is a myth. "Confusion about the demand for college graduates runs throughout discussions of national workforce needs," Barton wrote.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, 29 percent of all jobs actually required a degree in 2004. But the U.S. Department of Education's National Education Longitudinal Study reports that 40 percent of its sample attained a two- or four-year degree or higher. Many people with college degrees have jobs that do not require them.

Of course, Arizona's universities can and should do more to improve their abysmal graduation rates. The National Center for Education Statistics lists Arizona State's four year graduation rate as 28 percent, the University of Arizona at 30 and Northern Arizona University at 27. The six year graduation rates for these three schools stand at 56%, 56% and 47% respectively. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like Arizona taxpayers are already subsidizing a good deal more than we should.

The crisis in our public universities is effectiveness, not affordability. They need focus, reform, and competition, not new subsidies and a continued lack of accountability. Massive new taxpayer subsidies will simply turn today's farce into tomorrow's tragedy.

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