Sal DiCiccio - Phoenix: Detroit or Austin?

 

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"The goal for Phoenix must not be to only be better, and being one of the best is not good enough.   In this new economy, we must be known as the best."

             - Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio

In the not-too-distant past, the engines of American commerce hummed in cities like Detroit and Buffalo. That’s where jobs, wealth and prosperity were created. That’s where new businesses moved to or sprouted. 

Eventually, they came to a point in their history when they were faced with adapting to changing economic times and business environment, or stay the course. The same naysayers’ arguments made there are what you will hear in Phoenix now: “What’s the rush?” “There’s no reason to change.” “Things will be OK if we just ride it out.” “Let’s slow things down.” 

Phoenix has an opportunity to make the Valley a national leader in job creation, to turn what was Ground Zero in the housing bubble into the vanguard solution for entrepreneurial revival.  It requires bold new ideas, doing things differently and adapting to a changing economy. Witness how adapting has benefited places like Austin, TX., or Palo Alto, CA. 

Phoenix leaders understand this opportunity and voted to create a committee with Councilman Simplot and me as chairs,  revamping how Phoenix deals with job creation. Our goal is to make Phoenix the best place in the country for business by removing the time, hassle and cost of starting and running a business here. Start up businesses will build and begin operating in a single day - not months - using certified professionals to work the process. 

I’ve always said that being better is not good enough; being one of the best is not good enough. We have to be known in Phoenix as the being the best at job creation, the most efficient and the least costly place to set up shop and start hiring. It’s “the best” that will succeed in this economic climate. 

The Arizona Republic article below outlines the goals of the committee. (Arizona Republic: Task force to ease way for small businesses)

Detroit or Austin? The road could not be more clear.

My best to you and your family,

Sal DiCiccio

Phoenix City Councilman District 6

Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio represents District 6, which includes Ahwatukee, Arcadia, Biltmore, East Camelback and North Central. He can be reached at council.district.6@phoenix.gov or 602-262-7491.

Where your Phoenix tax dollars go: 

$98,322           Average  annual total compensation for Phoenix staff 

14,999             Number of city employees 

$17,975           Average compensation increase since 2005-06 

$270 million    Amount taxpayers pay more for same number of workers  since 2005 

$130 million    Increases in Phoenix taxes/fees in past 18 months 

15                    Total number of city employees laid off because of the recession 

40.5                 Days off (sick, holiday, personal, vacation) for first-year clerk 

$8,000             Education benefits per employee 

$0                    What staff pay for bus/rail (It’s free to them.) 

50s                   Age at which Phoenix staff can retire with pension 

Task force to ease way for small business

Phoenix poised to create panel that curbs red tape

Lynh Bui - Nov. 29, 2011

The Arizona Republic

When Caffe Italia restaurant owner Mirko Masini tried to expand operations with a patio and grill, he hit some development roadblocks.

This summer, Masini obtained the right permits from Maricopa County to get his patio grill going but was shut down days later after a Phoenix building inspector discovered he wasn't complying with city regulations.

Masini was told that he didn't get the right Phoenix permits to build his patio and then discovered a host of other rules he had to meet because his plan complied with county code but didn't match city standards.

The small-business owner's plans stalled as he tried to navigate two sets of bureaucratic hurdles.

"Phoenix is such a nice town, but a lot of people have been driven away by the bureaucracy," said Masini, who has spent more than $7,000 on the project, which still isn't complete.

Masini's story is the type of small-business complaint that elected officials hear over and over again, as entrepreneurs struggle to expand or open their operations amid a weak economy. But the Phoenix City Council hopes to give Masini and others a hand with a Development Task Force it plans to formally consider today.

The task force, proposed by Mayor Phil Gordon and Councilmen Sal DiCiccio and Tom Simplot, will explore ways to cut red tape and reduce bureaucracy to make it easier to do business in the city.

"I really believe if we can do this right, we can cut headaches for the people creating jobs in the community," said DiCiccio, who asked Gordon to create the task force. "This would make Phoenix the Number 1 city in the nation for job creation."

DiCiccio and Simplot will co-chair the group, which will consist of people appointed by each member of the council and people suggested by Gordon and City Manager David Cavazos.

The task force will review everything from outsourcing inspections and allowing business owners to submit plans via the Internet to giving inspectors the power to grant permits in the field that would eliminate an extra step of having to physically visit Phoenix City Hall for the paperwork.

The task force also will explore expanding the same-day permitting or self-certification program, which became a central campaign issue during the recent mayoral and City Council elections.

Earlier this year, the city revamped part of the Planning and Development Department to allow developers to bypass the city for their building permits.

The change allowed registered architects, designers and engineers who have been trained by the city to sign off on plans to ensure they comply with city code instead of requiring developers to review hundreds of pages of plans with city employees to obtain building permits.

The program, which started as a pilot in 2010, shaves days and potentially weeks off a project, which means businesses can open sooner and start pumping money into the economy, DiCiccio said. Through the task force, he hopes to see the the same-day permitting program expand.

"Instead of taking months to create jobs, it puts job creation in hyper-drive, allowing businesses to hire today," DiCiccio said.

Since the self-certification program began in Phoenix, the city's Planning and Development Department estimates almost half of the development permits issued in 2011 were issued in a single day, according to a memo from Gordon's office.

Gordon said he hopes the task force, which will include people who've started small businesses in the city, will turn Phoenix into a model for streamlining development.

Phoenix Planning and Development Deputy Director Mo Glancy said Masini's case isn't a perfect example because he built some of the patio without the right permits and didn't have the right fire-safety equipment.

"I understand he's frustrated, but there were some definite safety violations," Glancy said.

The city has met with Masini twice to help him open the grill and patio.

Masini said he plans to hire an additional cook to run the patio grill once it opens.

He said he hopes to find the extra revenue to pay for the building delays and improvements by opening for lunch.

"We really want the guy's business to be a success," Glancy said. "We could have taken him to court and charged him a bunch of fees, but he's trying to work on it, and we're here to help him as much as we can."

Balancing safety and convenience will be one of the biggest challenges for the Development Task Force as it proposes changes.

Deputy City Manager David Krietor said the goal is to make sure things run as smoothly as possible so Phoenix is ready when the economy improves.

The Planning and Development Department was nearly twice its current size during the economic boom a few years ago, but the recession forced layoffs and cuts.

Krietor said that when the economy picks back up, the goal isn't to ramp up hiring only to have layoffs again during the next downturn. The idea is to still provide the same -- and better -- service with the staff already in place.

"We have a great story to tell because of the changes that we've made in that department," Krietor said.

"This task force gives us the chance to get even better."

*Any e-mail you send to council.district.6@phoenix.gov will be subject to the Arizona Open Records Law and may be reviewed by the Arizona Republic.

Congressman Flake Introduces Legislation to Prevent House Members From Using Taxpayer Dollars for Online Advertising

PRESS RELEASE

Online Ads Dull Line Between Political and Official Business

Washington, D.C., Dec 2 - Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today introduced H.Res.482, which would prohibit members of the House of Representatives from using funds from their Member Representational Allowance (MRA) to purchase online advertising to drive traffic to their website and increase their name recognition.

The resolution will prevent members of Congress from purchasing online advertisements on websites like Facebook and Google with funds from their office budgets, which are funded by taxpayer dollars.

“Using taxpayer money to purchase online ads that boost the name identification of congressmen dulls the line between political and official business,” said Flake. “Congress’ approval rating is already in the tank – members of Congress are not doing this body a service by giving taxpayers another reason to question how Congress is spending their money.”

Congressman Flake has long sought to curb the abuse of the congressional franking privilege, which allows members of Congress to send constituents glossy mailers highlighting their achievements.

Filing bankruptcy in Arizona: Is my income too high?

I am a bankruptcy attorney in Arizona ($995/Chapter 7) and clients are frequently worried they make too much money to file bankruptcy. The 2005 changes to federal bankruptcy laws put in place an income cap eligibility requirement for filing Chapter 7 (you can still file Chapter 13 with a higher income).

Generally, you cannot file Chapter 7 if you make above the median income for your state. In Arizona, the median income is $42,603 per person, and for a spouse it is a total of $55,404 for both.

However, that is not an absolute bar. If you have legitimate expenses that reduce your income, you may be able to fit under the cap. Legitimate expenses include things like child support or alimony, mandatory retirement taken out of your paycheck, healthcare expenses, insurance, educational materials, union dues, as well as payroll taxes.

The Alexander Bankruptcy Law Firm provides low low cost Chapter 7 and 13 personal bankruptcies. $995 Chapter 7 or $2500 Chapter 13 bankruptcies plus court filing fee. Free consultation with a compassionate attorney who will handle your case personally. Call 24/7, available to meet with you around your schedule. 602-326-9116. Conveniently located in Central Phoenix along the Camelback corridor. AlexanderBankruptcyLawFirm.com

City, Police Union Sued By Taxpayers

‘Release Time’ Practice Grants Full-Time Pay, Benefits to Officers For Union Work

PHOENIX — Calling it an unconstitutional giveaway that harms taxpayers and takes police resources off the streets, two Phoenix residents today filed suit against the City of Phoenix and the city’s largest police union, seeking to end the widespread practice of allowing public-sector employees to do union work while on the city payroll.

Working with the Goldwater Institute, William R. Cheatham and Marcus Huey filed suit in Maricopa County Superior Court.

“Taxpayer money should be used exclusively for public purposes,” said Clint Bolick, director of the Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation at the Goldwater Institute. “The practice of shoveling millions of taxpayer dollars into union coffers must be stopped.”

Bolick said that the union work includes lobbying, advertising, and generally pursuing the unions’ missions and organizational success. He added that, each year, the city of Phoenix and other Arizona cities spend millions of taxpayer dollars sending city employees to work exclusively for labor unions.

“The most generous deal is with the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (“PLEA”), he said. “The city authorizes the transfer of six police officers from their ordinary duties to work for PLEA on a full-time basis, plus overtime and 35 officers on a part-time basis. In total, the city has granted PLEA at least 31,000 hours of paid release time in the past two years.”

The Phoenix City Council is at fault for authorizing an illegal subsidy to a private company, according to the suit.

Bolick said that, beyond the constitutional problems, the agreement is bad for the city. Phoenix residents pay an estimated $900,000 a year to fund the union, which endangers public safety by taking police officers off the street. Officers themselves are harmed too – PLEA’s past president confirmed that if the city did not give paid release time to union leaders, more money could go to police officer wages and benefits.

If the challenge is successful, it will bring an end to what has become a statewide tradition of granting millions of dollars in union release time with no demands in return.

MORE INFORMATION:

·         Goldwater Institute case page: http://goldwaterinstitute.org/article/cheatham-v-gordon

·         “Money for nothing: taxpayers foot union bill” investigative report by reporter Mark Flatten: http://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/article/money-nothing-taxpayers-foot-union-bill

Sal DiCiccio: PHX Council District 6: DEC. 13 Mixer & Other News

**Follow me on FACEBOOK   **Follow me on TWITTER   Dear Friends and Neighbors,   Council District 6 Mixer on December 13:   I am hosting a mixer at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at O.H.S.O. Eatery + nanoBrewery (4900 E Indian School Rd.), a new business in District 6.  I will be talking about my goals for 2012 and answering any questions you may have.  Light appetizers & refreshments will be provided; additional items will be available for purchase. To RSVP: Call 602-262-7491 or e-mail council.district.6@phoenix.gov.    Arcadia: Camelback Market   If you haven't already checked out the Camelback Market, this is a great place to do some holiday shopping right in Arcadia.  The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at Vincent's on Camelback (3930 E. Camelback Rd.)  This European-style market offers local produce, flowers, pastries, tamales, pizzas, cheeses, wines, imported French soaps and much more.  For more information click HERE.       Biltmore Fashion Park: Movie on Dec. 9   The Biltmore Fashion Park will be showing "It's a Wonderful Life" at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 9 as a finale to their "Fall Movies In The Park" series.  For more details click HERE.    North Central: Coffee with a Cop, Dec. 7   At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Maizie's (4750 N. Central Ave.) the Phoenix Police Department's Mountain View Precinct will host a Coffee With a Cop event.  This is a great opportunity to come listen to crime prevention tips and ask your community officers questions.     Ahwatukee - Kyrene Item Drive:   The Kyrene Schools Community Foundation is holding a drive for canned food items from now until December 8.  They are most in need of dry beans, rice, canned pasta sauce, canned tuna and canned chicken dry beans, rice, canned pasta sauce, canned tuna and canned chicken.  Items can be dropped off at Family Resource Center (on the campus of Kyrene de los Ninos Elementary School, 1330 E. Dava Dr., Tempe 85283).  For more information, please click HERE.     My best, Sal DiCiccio City of Phoenix Councilman, District 6

Verdict for America: Solutions for our Most Pressing Problems

Bill Ponath, an attorney and long-time pro tem judge living in Arizona, has written the definitive up-to-date and eye-opening book on the most critical issues facing the U.S. Written so anyone will understand, but not so basic as to bore the experienced politico, he analyzes eight issues thoroughly and recommends insightful common sense solutions.

At one point the U.S. had its act together. Bill lays out the mistakes we made and the only rational solutions to overcome our errors. For example: In Russia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia their economies tanked based upon their socialist/communist infrastructures. They each elected to apply flat taxes and those taxes have directly caused economic booms. Even those nations that still rely on so much socialism; including government health-care, ie.; Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, have had economic recovery despite having flat taxes of 20 to 25%. Russia instituted a 13% flat tax and their economy skyrocketed. The U.S. can turn things around just like those countries did.

Bill explains things many of us should know but don’t or have forgotten. What is the Laffer Curve? Why isn't illegal immigration decreasing, even though we continue to increase the number of border agents on the border? What do you need to know about investing in gold?

Having spent many years in politics, I started reading the book expecting not to learn much. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover otherwise. Bill has thought these issues through much further than most of us including me, and researched them to a level that most people do not have the time for. There are plenty of illustrations throughout which make for easier understanding.

Healthcare

Bill reveals how much healthcare is costing us and how much costs have increased over the years. The numbers are staggering. Costs have increased by 5189% since 1960! Public funding from government sources has increased 10,013%. Bill proposes shifting payments back to per treatment rather than spread out over annual premiums. If patients pay higher co-pays and lower premiums, they will be discouraged from running to the doctor frequently unless really necessary. Bill also recommends high-deductible policies and Health Savings Accounts.

Bill does a thorough job of discrediting the often-repeated claim that 45.7 million Americans are uninsured. 26% are actually eligible for public insurance coverage, 19% have family incomes above $75,000, and another 18% have family incomes above $50,000.

Education

Bill believes that the most fundamental error we are making in the U.S. is in the area of education. It is the only error that cannot be solved for those who have already endured such a poor and deteriorating system. We spend more money on education than on defense. Fortunately it can be corrected quickly by privatizing the system and providing vouchers, as is done with great success in every other industrialized nation in the world.

Bill goes over the success Florida schools have had had due to implementing a voucher system and emphasizing performance. Arizona’s premier think tank, The Goldwater Institute, has done extensive research comparing the academic successes Florida schools have achieved in contrast with other states. Funding is tied to performance, and teachers receive bonuses based on performance. As a result, the average Hispanic student’s test scores are higher than the overall score for students in 15 other states including Arizona.

Federal involvement in the schools does not work. No Child Left Behind created an incentive for states to lower standards to make tests easier to pass in order to avoid federal sanctions.

Illegal Immigration

Bill lambastes the media for misleading the public about what Arizona's SB 1070 law really does, stating that the inflammatory coverage is meant to incite a riot. One interesting solution Bill proposes for fixing illegal immigration is to offer illegal immigrants dependent upon welfare a sort of “severance pay” in exchange for leaving the country.

He explains why illegal immigration is not decreasing even though the numbers of border patrol agents on the border is increasing. The problem lies in that we are only securing parts of our border. Illegal immigrants are finding other routes to cross the border that are more dangerous, resulting in more deaths. The real way to fix the problem is to dismantle the welfare state magnet that attracts illegal immigrants.

Oil and Energy

The United States has more than 70% of the world’s oil under our feet; not including the inherently dangerous offshore drilling.Yet the U.S. is the only country in the world that is decreasing its production of oil instead of increasing it. This puts us at a tremendous disadvantage as we are forced to pay higher and higher prices to foreign countries who manipulate oil prices. If the U.S. were to produce its own oil and export oil to China and Japan, we could pay off all of our $3 trillion debt to those countries within seven years. In addition, Bill explains that the gas prices we pay are entirely fictitious and that proper production in the U.S. will cause prices to go to the low $1 range, AND we will stop providing financial assistance to the governments who finance terrorist organizations.

Housing and the Economy

Bill nails precisely what is wrong with the housing market and what caused the recession. Government manipulation of our housing market is responsible for the current crisis. If the government would stay out of the market and stop providing special deals for homeowners who really cannot afford them, home prices would stay relatively stable.

Bill offers some useful insights on investing in gold. He explains that gold is very stable, but that means it does not increase in value long term, other than to keep pace with inflation. In the short term, its value increases and decreases inversely to the stock market. This leads me to believe when the stock market eventually starts to rebound, it will be a bad time to invest in gold. Gold sold for more than $2,000 per ounce at the end of the Carter administration. When a president who understands the economic principles outlined in this book is elected, gold will subside to what Bill believes is its real inherent value, $500 to $800 per ounce.

Religion

Bill's background as an attorney is an asset in this section as he explains how constitutional law has developed in the area of religion in the public sphere. The “Lemon test,” so named from the court case it emerged in, has become the main method the courts use to determine whether there is an impermissible entanglement of government and religion. Bill advises those dealing in this area to tread carefully so their actions are not perceived as promoting religion, because that is the key factor the courts look at when determining whether something violates the Lemon test.

Abortion

This is one of the best chapters in the book, rightfully reflected in the positive reviews at the beginning of the book. As he did in the preceding chapter, Bill carefully advises those involved in this area how they can best accomplish their goals while avoiding the courts striking down their efforts as unconstitutional. He begins with a discussion of partial birth abortion. It is heartbreaking to read the testimony of a nurse who assisted with these “D&X” abortions. It is even more distressing to read that “D&E” abortions are not really any different but they are legal. Bill maps out an approach for dismantling Roe v. Wade by chipping away at it little by little. He cites a case in Idaho where an employee at a computer chip plant filed a wrongful death claim against her employer for causing six miscarriages. The Ninth Circuit dismissed her complaint, holding that the law did not allow for claims by nonviable fetuses. Bill urges state legislators to pass laws granting protection to nonviable fetuses. Louisiana passed a law in 1997 creating liability for wrongfully terminating a pregnancy that damages either the mother or the unborn child. Bill emphasizes that legislatures must take small steps for now and not overreach, or the courts will strike the laws down. Arizona has some of the best prolife laws in the country, including an informed consent law that requires doctors to provide women seeking abortions with extensive information such as a physiological and anatomical description of the unborn child.

Federal Budget

Bill reminds us that the federal government is spending an unsustainable $1.50 for every $1 it brings in (some estimates are even higher, above $1.70). He shows where spending has increased and makes recommendations for cuts. Increasing taxes won’t solve runaway spending, because the Laffer Curve demonstrates that as taxes are increased, taxpayers have less of an incentive to work harder, so revenues start decreasing. Defense spending has decreased in recent years. In 1962, defense spending made up 60% of the federal budget. Now it only makes up 24%. Still, almost half of all military spending in the world is done by the U.S., 47%.

The book ends with a list of every bill relevant to the issues in the book considered on the House and Senate floor in 2008 and half of 2009, and a chart giving each member of Congress a score reflecting how they voted on each bill.

Anyone can slap together a knee-jerk superficial book about politics. This is nothing of the sort. Bill understands the issues better than anyone and has analyzed them further than most political authors. This is a must read for anyone who wants a first-rate update on the hottest political issues facing us today, and should be a required textbook for high school and college courses on government.

Order the book from Amazon

Verdict for America website

Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Arizona: Help for veterans to keep their homes

I am a bankruptcy attorney in Arizona ($995/Chapter 7) and was grateful to find out there are organizations that help veterans stay in their homes when they get behind in their payments. The nonprofit organization USA Cares assists post-911 veterans facing foreclosure.

The Veterans Administration also is making an effort to step up and work with veterans to save their homes, however some of the comments left after this article seem rather skeptical about the success they've had dealing with the VA.

Two Congressman introduced the Veterans' Homelessness Prevention and Early Warning Act of 2010 last year, Representative Tim Walz (D-MN) and Senator-elect John Boozman (R-AR). Veterans might try contacting their offices and asking for assistance or direction on where to go for help. Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ) is also assisting homeowners deal with their lenders.

In Orange County, the nonprofit Veterans First has helped numerous veterans. Daniel Foster, a wounded 23-year old army veteran who holds a purple heart and silver star, was unfairly facing foreclosure because there had been a mistake and he was not receiving benefits. Lenders had threatened to foreclose the day before Thanksgiving. Veterans First jumped in and with the help of an anonymous $12,000 donation, saved his home.

The Alexander Bankruptcy Law Firm provides low low cost Chapter 7 and 13 personal bankruptcies. $995 Chapter 7 or $2500 Chapter 13 bankruptcies plus court filing fee. Free consultation with a compassionate attorney who will handle your case personally. Call 24/7, available to meet with you around your schedule. 602-326-9116. Conveniently located in Central Phoenix along the Camelback corridor. AlexanderBankruptcyLawFirm.com

Politics on the Rocks 4 Year Anniversary Party with Presidential Candidate Michele Bachmann

Politics on the Rocks is proud to announce our 4 year anniversary party featuring Presidential Candidate Michele Bachmann on Sunday, December 11th 6:00 PM at The Mint in Scottsdale located at 7373 E. Camelback Rd. in Scottsdale, Arizona. This free event is also our 2011 Christmas party. Immediately following our free public event, there will be a private VIP reception with Presidential Candidate Michele Bachmann. Get a chance to meet and take a picture with Michele Bachmann. TO RSVP for the private reception, please click on this link: http://www.facebook.com/events/118028284979656/ To get more information on the VIP reception, please send an email to charles@politicsontherocks.com. Part restaurant, part ultra-lounge, The Mint occupies a 7,000 square foot space that was previously a bank, giving inspiration to the name. In a nod to its past, The Mint’s centerpiece is the original vault door, while updated touches evoke a Hollywood Regency design influence. For more information on The Mint please visit: http://www.themintaz.com/ We would like to thank our marketing partners Gem Ray & Scottsdale Nights.

Michele Bachmann is running for president to bring a new voice to the White House - a voice of constitutional conservatism, limited government, and a safe and secure America.

Elected in 2006, Michele is the first Republican woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota. From the beginning, she has demonstrated bold reform, pushing to fix Washington's broken ways.

Michele is a leading advocate for tax reform, a staunch opponent of wasteful government spending, and a strong proponent of adherence to the Constitution, as intended by the Founding Fathers. She believes government has grown exponentially, with Obamacare being the most recent example of its uninhibited growth. Michele wants government to make the kind of serious spending decisions that many families and small businesses have been forced to make. She is a champion of free markets and she believes in the vitality of the family as the first unit of government. She is also a defender of the unborn and staunchly stands for religious liberties.

Prior to serving in the U.S. Congress, Michele was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 2000 where she championed the Taxpayers Bill of Rights. Before that, she spent five years as a federal tax litigation attorney, working on hundreds of civil and criminal cases. That experience solidified her strong support for efforts to simplify the Tax Code and reduce tax burdens on family and small business budgets. Michele also led the charge on education issues in Minnesota calling for the abolishment of Goals 2000 and the Profiles of Learning in its school. She recognized the need for quality schools and subsequently started a charter school for at- ‐risk kids in Minnesota.

Michele sits on the Financial Services Committee (FSC) and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. This experience has given her keen insight into the housing crisis and credit crunch, leading Michele to be a staunch opponent of the taxpayer- ‐funded bailout of Wall Street and the Dodd- ‐Frank legislation. Serving on the Intelligence Committee, she has consistently advocated peace through strength to ensure America's national security. She has proudly taken a vow to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Our charity of the month for December is “Packages from Home.” Their sole purpose is to provide food, personal care, and recreational items to deployed American troops, at no cost to them. Since March 2005 they have averaged 1,000 to 1,500 packages a month being shipped to our heroes. Their goal is to ship many more. They collect donated items from generous patriotic citizens who live all across America. These items include non-perishable food, personal toiletries, and recreational items like games, books, music CDs and movie DVDs. If you feel inclined to participate in this charity, please bring these types of goods to the event. They will then be given to the charity to be shipped to American Troops. For more information on Packages from Home, please visit their website: http://www.packagesfromhome.org/

We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday, December 11th 6:00 PM at The Mint in Scottsdale.

Regards,

Politics on the Rocks National Committee
http://www.politicsontherocks.com/

SMART GIRL POLITICS & 100 MILE HUMP PROJECT RAISE FUNDS FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS

Smart Girl Politics & the 100 Mile Hump Project Set $10,000 Goal

TUCSON, AZ – On Monday, December 12, 2011, Nick Bajema, Mendon Dornbrook

Corey Eck and Trey Terry will embark on a 123-mile journey from the University of Arizona to Arizona State University to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Starting from Old Main building on UA campus, 1200 E University Blvd at 8:00 am Monday, they anticipate arrival at ASU Football Stadium on Friday, December 16.

This is the 3rd Annual 100 Mile Hump to Benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization helping veterans injured in the line of duty. For more information on the Wounded Warrior Project :www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Nick Bajema and Trey Terry are both combat veterans. All four men are currently students at the University of Arizona, in undergraduate and graduate programs. The event will be documented and daily updates available. In Tucson listen to the morning Jon Justice Show on 104.1 FM The Truth www.1041thetruth.comand in Phoenix listen to the Mike Broomhead Show on 550 AM KFYI www.KFYI.com.

For more information on the 100 Mile Hump to Benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, please go to the event website at http://www.100milehump.com.

Donations can be made at: http://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/individual-fundraising/100MileHump .Smart Girl Politics is pleased to work with the 100 Mile Hump for the second year to organize this event. For more information about Smart Girl Politics, please go to  www.spgaction.com. This year’s goal is to raise $10,000 in Arizona for the Wounded Warriors Project.

This event would not be possible without the exclusive sponsorship of Chosin Cycles and Firearms inHuachuca City. This is Chosin’s second year as a sponsor

and supporter of this fundraiser.  Chosin Cycles and Firearms can be reached at: www.chosincycles.com

In addition to the Arizona leg of the 100 Mile Hump, the Founder of the 100 Mile Hump Project, Mark Finelli, a 9/11 World Trade Center survivor and Marine combat veteran, will embark solo on the first Virginia 100 Mile Hump on December 16, 2011 and shadow the Arizona 100 Mile Hump.

Contact:
Karen Schutte
Smart Girl Politics State Chairperson
Phone 520-877-3230
SGPKaren@gmail.com

Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Arizona: Banks can seize your account money if you owe money on a credit card

I am a bankruptcy attorney in Arizona ($995/Chapter 7) and warn clients about getting behind on credit cards if they also have a bank account with that financial institution. Usually creditors need to obtain a judgment against you in order to collect past due money, and the entire process of taking you to court and then collecting usually takes a few months and you have forewarning.

But there is an exception if you have a bank account with the same financial institution you have a credit card with. When you signed up for your checking or savings account, the bank probably included language in the agreement which said that you granted them approval to seize funds in your accounts should you owe them money.

If you do start getting behind on credit card payments, the best thing to do is to close out your checking or savings accounts - including business accounts - with the bank, or withdraw all of your money from the accounts.

If more than $600 is frozen or seized, you may be able to get it back if you file bankruptcy within 90 days. Or the trustee may take the money that was seized and divide it up amongst all of your creditors.

This is what I want you to take away from this: DO NOT WAIT TO ACT if you get behind in your credit card payments and have a checking account with that bank.

The Alexander Bankruptcy Law Firm provides low low cost Chapter 7 and 13 personal bankruptcies. $995 Chapter 7 or $2500 Chapter 13 bankruptcies plus court filing fee. Free consultation with a compassionate attorney who will handle your case personally. Call 24/7, available to meet with you around your schedule. 602-326-9116. Conveniently located in Central Phoenix along the Camelback corridor. AlexanderBankruptcyLawFirm.com

Club for Growth PAC Endorses Matt Salmon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 29, 2011
CONTACT: Adam Deguire

Club for Growth President Chris Chocola: “Matt Salmon will be an excellent replacement for Jeff Flake in the house and we are excited to support his candidacy.” 

EAST VALLEY – Club for Growth PAC today announced that it is endorsing former Congressman Matt Salmon. The Club for Growth is one of the nations leading organizations in advocating for lower taxes, limited government, less government spending, and free trade.

“The Club for Growth PAC strongly supports returning Matt Salmon for Congress,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “Matt will bring rock-solid conservative principles to Congress and he’s also a courageous veteran who will certainly play a leadership role for the new generation of pro-growth Congressmen. Matt Salmon will be an excellent replacement for Jeff Flake in the house and we are excited to support his candidacy.”

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of Club for Growth today,” said Matt Salmon. “The Club for Growth is one of America’s leading conservative organizations advocating for the principles of smaller government, lower taxes, and economic freedom. These are the very same principles I have always fought for in my career and will continue to fight for in Congress.”

About Club for Growth
Club for Growth is a national network of thousands of pro-growth Americans, from all walks of life, who believe that prosperity and opportunity come through economic freedom. We work to promote public policies that encourage a high growth economy and a swift return to America’s founding principles primarily through legislative involvement, issue advocacy, research, training and educational activity.

The primary tactic of the separate Club for Growth PAC is to provide financial support from Club members to viable candidates to Congress who believe in pro-growth policies, limited government, low taxes and economic freedom, both in Republican primaries and general elections.

About Matt Salmon
Matt Salmon was first elected to the United States Congress in 1994 and served until 2000, honoring his term limit pledge. A proud conservative, Salmon was rated in the top five among all 535 members of the House and Senate by Citizen’s Against Government Waste for all six years he was in office. He is a lifetime member of the NRA with an A+ rating and also earned a 100% rating by the National Right to Life. He was also the proud recipient of the American Cancer Society’s “Top National Elected Official” award.

Matt Salmon has received endorsements from Arizona Congressman Trent Franks, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, South Dakota Senator John Thune, Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-49), Mayor Scott Smith (Mesa), Mayor Jay Tibshraeny (Chandler), Mayor Hugh Hallman (Tempe), Mayor John Insalaco (Apache Junction), Mayor Gail Barney (Queen Creek), former Arizona Congressman John Shadegg, Arizona State Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs (LD22), State Senator John McComish (LD20), and State Representatives Eddie Farnsworth (LD22), Jeff Dial (LD20), and Bob Robson (LD20).

Very few Occupiers show up to protest ALEC; stumped by National Debt Relief Amendment

North Dakota State Senator Curtis Olafson had a little fun with the Occupy protesters this week at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) annual conference in Scottsdale. Only about 50 protesters showed up yesterday (many shipped in from out of town) and today there was only one lone protester, pictured below. Olafson is trying to get a Constitutional amendment passed to the U.S. Constitution that would require a majority of state legislatures to approve any increase in the federal debt. The Occupiers are ostensibly angry at the federal government's spending and bank bailouts. So Olafson approached a few of them and asked them what they thought about the proposal. The Occupiers had no response, they were completely confused! Why are they protesting ALEC if ALEC's legislators are proposing legislation that would restrict the runaway federal government spending? He walked away with them scratching their heads....

Culture of Life pianist Eric Genius comes to Phoenix December 8

Eric Genuis - Coming to Scottsdale Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church - Miller Road south of Indian School Road on DECEMBER 8, 2011 @ 6:30 pm - for a FREE Culture of Life concert. Free will offering will be taken to support the pro-life cause. He is amazing and just the event to help you get into the spirit of the season.

http://www.ericgenuis.com/

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  Eric Genuis

  www.ericgenuis.com

Goldwater Institute: States damaging their own case with insurance-exchange moves

by Diane Cohen

On November 14, the U.S. Supreme Court granted review of the 26-state lawsuit against the President’s healthcare law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Court granted 5 ½ hours for oral argument, including two hours of argument on the individual mandate and 1 ½ hours on severability, which addresses whether, in the event the mandate is found unconstitutional, the entire Act must be stricken as well.

The severability issue is a critical consideration for states like Arizona, which are suing over the law’s constitutionality while at the same time moving forward with implementing other parts of the law, specifically the law’s health insurance exchanges. This undermines the idea that if the mandate is found unconstitutional the whole law must be thrown out.
The federal district court that first heard the lawsuit brought by the states found the mandate unconstitutional and not severable from the remainder of the statute, and thus struck down the entire Act as unconstitutional. The judge explained that to sever the mandate from the remainder of the Act would require “reconfiguring an exceedingly lengthy and comprehensive legislative scheme,” including “going through a 2,700 page Act line-by-line, invalidating dozens (or hundreds) of some sections while retaining dozens (or hundreds) of others.”
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the federal court’s decision on the mandate, but disagreed on severability. The Circuit court held that the “stand-alone nature of hundreds of the Act’s provisions” and their “lack of connection to the Mandate” cut against non-severability. The Supreme Court will now decide the issue.
For its part, the Obama Administration has maintained that the mandate is closely linked to the guaranteed issue and community ratings provisions, and that they must also go if the mandate is found unconstitutional. The Goldwater Institute argued in its lawsuit challenging the Act that the establishment of health insurance exchanges and increases in Medicaid eligibility are also linked to the Act’s overall reform scheme and that the entire Act must be stricken.
Now that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the severability issue, states like Arizona must return federal exchange money they have received and cease from establishing health insurance exchanges. Efforts to stop the federal takeover of healthcare must not be placed in jeopardy by the states voluntarily complying with a law that they are at the same time challenging as unconstitutional.
Diane Cohen is a senior attorney for the Goldwater Institute’s Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation.
Learn More:
Goldwater Institute: Ten Resons Why Arizona Must Reject Health Insurance Exchanges
Arizona Republic: A welcome mat for 'Obamacare' in Ariz.
U.S. Supreme Court: Granting of Cert