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Sunday, January 13, 2013
Come meet Brad Zinn at the Arizona Red Mountain Patriots
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Sheriff Arpaio sends armed posse volunteers to patrol schools
Joe Arpaio, the Arizona sheriff who reinstituted chain gangs and challenged the legitimacy of President Barack Obama’s birth certificate, has dispatched armed volunteers to patrol around schools outside Phoenix after last month’s mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school.
School officials and parents weren’t asked if they wanted the 500 volunteers, some with automatic and semiautomatic weapons, who were posted to areas around 59 schools in parts of Maricopa County under Arpaio’s jurisdiction, the sheriff said yesterday.
“We had to do this too quickly,” Arpaio said. He said he had no obligation to clear the plan with educators. “We are not going into the schools. This is outside the schools; it is not on school properties or inside the schools.”
“We had to do this too quickly,” Arpaio said. He said he had no obligation to clear the plan with educators. “We are not going into the schools. This is outside the schools; it is not on school properties or inside the schools.”
Read the rest of the article at Newsmax
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Councilman Sal DiCiccio: Bye Bye Food Tax in April 2013
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Follow me on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/DiCiccioSal
Follow me on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/PhxDistrict6 “I join [Councilwoman Williams] in advocating for a tax that will expire in April 2013, saving taxpayers $100 million.”
- Mayoral Candidate Greg Stanton on Phoenix food tax,
Ahwatukee Foothills News, 17 Sept. 2011
Bye Bye Food Tax in April 2013
Candidates make promises. They
become commitments when elected. It’s important for government -- and
the people that citizens elect to run it -- to follow through on
commitments. It’s about trust. No more scare tactics. No more delays. No more phony stories about how police and fire will be cut. This morning Councilman Jim Waring and I sent a letter
to Mayor Stanton (see below) to schedule a meeting and a vote on the
food tax as soon as possible to meet his campaign promise to abolish
this ill conceived tax by April 2013. Other council members and myself have a long-running commitment to repeal the food tax.
It is time to rid our city of the
tax on the poor….the food tax. Council members Bill Gates, Thelda
Williams, Jim Waring and myself have worked relentlessly to get this
recinded. With the mayor and his commitment we will finally remove this from our history and from your family’s grocery bill. The food tax has been the No. 1 complaint I have heard since it was passed with barely 24-hour legal public notice. It was hidden even from some members of the council until the last moment. This "middle of the night" maneuver not only robbed our citizens of over $50 million a year, but it made citizens in our great city feel betrayed by their own government.
Since that episode Phoenix has made great strides to repair the damage of trust that was done, with a much improved financial position, zero-based budgeting and effective innovations and efficiencies.
During the mayoral campaign, Mayor Stanton made a promise -- one I intend to help him keep. It was a promise to get rid of the food tax by April 2013.
It’s the most regressive tax on the poor. We
have been pressing for this repeal since the inception of this tax and
have lost several votes to do so – that last one by a single vote.
I’m looking forward to helping the mayor fulfill his campaign commitment. I’m looking forward to seeing this item on a City Council agenda soon enough to have it repealed by April 2013. I and Councilman Jim Waring have asked the mayor to instruct staff to put together the plan that accomplishes the repeal without affecting public safety and call for the vote.
This means voting on it by April
for a repeal to take effect in April. It doesn’t mean sending it to
voters to repeal, which couldn’t happen until August at the earliest –
and still would probably take effect much later. The commitment was the repeal by April 2013.
We will be talking about this in the neighborhoods and throughout Phoenix from now until this gets rescinded. And
I’m looking forward to seeing a plan soon that eliminates the food tax
without hurting public safety, as was originally promised.
I’ve
been looking forward to this day for a long time, and I’m excited about
the prospect of fulfilling that commitment and ending this unfair tax. We have enough time to prepare for its elimination.
Excerpts from Mayoral Candidate Stanton on food tax:
“The
food tax needs to be repealed as soon as possible. If I was able to
vote last week, I would have supported a repeal of the food tax two
years early…We can do this as soon as April 2013 and save taxpayers $100
million while also protecting key city services.”
- Greg Stanton, ABC 15, 6 Nov. 2011
“I support ending the food tax, and was the first candidate to give a deadline by when to do so.”
- Greg Stanton, AZ Republic, 3 Oct. 2011
“I join her [Councilwoman Williams] in advocating for a tax that will expire in April 2013, saving taxpayers $100 million.”
- Greg Stanton, Ahwatukee Foothills News, 17 Sept. 2011
Gullett has called for
the immediate repeal of the food tax, approved by the City Council last
year, while Stanton says that it should remain in place until 2013, two
years before it is currently set to expire…
Stanton, a former
councilman, also believes that the food tax should be repealed, but in
2013. That's two years before it is set to expire, saving taxpayers $100
million.
Phoenix New Times, 15 Sept. 2011
My best to you and your family,
Sal DiCiccio
City of Phoenix
Councilman, District 6
602-262-7491
council.district.6@phoenix.gov
In your
campaign for mayor, you promised voters that you would work to repeal
the city’s food tax by April, 2013. We join you in that commitment.
Several
Council members have joined you in calling for repeal. We look forward
to seeing both the plan for fulfilling your campaign pledge and to
seeing the repeal scheduled for a vote before the Phoenix City Council.
According to your comments in an Ahwatukee Foothills News article dated September 17, 2011(see attached) the repeal would take effect by April.
Before you
were elected mayor, the food tax repeal lost by a single vote. At the
time, you stated in an ABC15 interview that if you had been on the
council you would have voted for repeal(see attached). Now, with your support, we should have the votes to repeal a tax passed with barely 24 hours notice. Since imposing that tax, Phoenix
has made great strides with a much improved financial position,
zero-based budgeting, more transparent meetings and effective
innovations and efficiencies. Now is the time to eliminate the food tax.
Between
now and April, we will be talking about the food tax in our
neighborhoods. We are looking forward to seeing a plan that eliminates
the food tax without affecting public safety, as promised. We ask that
you schedule this for a vote, as promised, as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Councilman Sal DiCiccio, District 6 Councilman Jim Waring, District 2
*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.
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Phoenix City Councilman Bill Gates Endorses Lisa Gray and her team for County Leadership
Lisa Gray and her team, Paul Brierley, 1st Vice Chairman; Rene Lopez, 2nd Vice Chairman; Colleen Lombard, Secretary; and Walter Dudley, Treasurer, represent a broad segment of the County and have a combined 45 years of grassroots Republican leadership experience. They are known as the Arizona Party Builders because their focus will be on building the Party to win elections. Lisa and her team continue to garner the support of many conservatives across Maricopa County.
To learn more about the candidates and details of their plan, please visit www.AZPartyBuilders.com.
SHAWNNA BOLICK ON ‘SUNDAY SQUARE OFF’!
H/T Politico Mafioso. See who Shawnna is supporting for Arizona Governor, and her thoughts on Arizona's newest Congressmen.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio Endorses Lisa Gray for County Chairman
About Lisa Gray
Lisa is a grassroots, conservative leader in the Northwest Valley, working with Republicans, and Tea Party Activist. She has served as LD9 and LD21 District Chairman, LD9 Second Vice Chairman, Sun City Republican Club President and Northwest Valley Tea Party Co-Leader. Lisa continues to garner support from many conservative leaders across the County including Speaker Pro-Tempore J.D. Mesnard, Rep. Debbie Lesko and Republican National Committeeman Bruce Ash.
To learn more about the candidates and details of their plan, please visit www.AZPartyBuilders.com.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Buckley the Cat's kindhearted friends raise the full $1700 for his surgery!
In less than two weeks, 51 of our kind friends contributed the full $1750 needed to save the life of Buckley the Cat. Buckley has successfully had the surgery and made a full recovery! Thank you everyone so much, God Bless and check back with http://savebuckley.weebly.com occasionally as we convert it to a fan page for Buckley with new updates on the fierce beast. Be sure to click on the social media links on the Buckley site to add Buckley as a friend on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
Former MCRC Larry Pickard Endorses Lisa Gray for County Chairman
"I am honored to have a former Maricopa County Chairman of Larry's stature join the growing numbers of those supporting me and my team," said Gray. "Larry is a Precinct Committeeman in my district and has witnessed my work ethic and passion that I will bring to this position."
Lisa Gray and her team, Paul Brierley, 1st Vice Chairman; Rene Lopez, 2nd Vice Chairman; Colleen Lombard, Secretary; and Walter Dudley, Treasurer, represent a broad segment of the County and have a combined 45 years of grassroots Republican leadership experience. Known as the Arizona Party Builders because their focus will be on building the Party to win elections.
About Lisa Gray
Lisa is a grassroots, conservative leader in the Northwest Valley, working with Republicans and Tea Party activists. She has served as LD9 and LD21 District Chairman, LD9 Second Vice Chairman, Sun City Republican Club President and Northwest Valley Tea Party Co-Leader. She was also a plaintiff against Proposition 121, which was not only detrimental to the Republican Party, but to all Arizona voters.
The Maricopa County Republican Committee (MCRC) statutory meeting will take place on Saturday, January 12, 2013. To learn more about Lisa, her team and the details of their plan, please visit www.AZPartyBuilders.com.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
New Pinal County Attorney cleans up office, fires one-quarter of attorneys
Good to see Lando Voyles cleaning up the Pinal County Attorney's Office. An excerpt from the Arizona Republic article -
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2013/01/02/20130102pinal-attorney-issues-pink-slips.html#ixzz2HEHFF0rd
In one of his first official acts as Pinal County attorney, Lando Voyles has fired nearly a dozen lawyers from his office and reduced the number of attorneys there by 25 percent.
Sources say a human-resources official notified the terminated employees by phone just before the close of business Monday.
Among those who confirmed their termination were Paul Ahler, charging bureau chief -- who headed Voyles' transition team and gave Voyles his first prosecuting job in 2003 when Ahler was chief deputy at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office -- and decorated trial attorney Sylvia Lafferty. Lafferty, who was weeks shy of marking 20 years as a Pinal County prosecutor, was one of three lawyers in the previous administration qualified to prosecute a capital case. A second attorney who could work those cases, chief deputy Richard Platt, retired in December.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2013/01/02/20130102pinal-attorney-issues-pink-slips.html#ixzz2HEHFF0rd
Saturday, January 5, 2013
JD Hayworth Endorses Robert Graham for Arizona Republican Party Chairman
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Robert S. Graham is running for State Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. Graham is a member of the Arizona GOP Leadership Council which serves to support and foster leadership, vision and the growth of the Arizona Republican Party. Graham is also a Life member of the National Rifle Association. |
Speaker Pro Tempore J.D. Mesnard Endorses Lisa Gray for Chairman of the Maricopa County Republican Party
"I evaluate people by what they do, not just what they say," said Mesnard. "Lisa Gray has worked tirelessly to get Republicans elected, including raising money and organizing grassroots support, and has successfully worked with all members of our Party. This is the type of person we need as Chair in Maricopa County." Mesnard went on to say, "Lisa's strategy will produce the type of strong County Republican Party we'll need in 2014. And as I look at the team she has put together, including Paul Brierley, Rene Lopez, Colleen Lombard and Walter Dudley, I see Lisa not only has the strategy we need but a great team of leaders who will help make it a reality. That is why I fully support Lisa Gray for Maricopa County Republican Party Chairman."
"I'm truly honored to have Representative Mesnard's support," said Gray. "Like me, J.D. got involved in politics because he was tired of politics as usual and promises made but not kept by our elected officials. We need more people in office with proven track records, who have the ability to forge relationships that work to effectively advance our conservative principles. J.D. knows that I do what I say and so does the team I have asked to run with me."
About Lisa Gray
Lisa is a grassroots, conservative leader in the Northwest Valley, working with Republicans and Tea Party activists. She has served as LD9 and LD21 District Chairman, LD9 Second Vice Chairman, Sun City Republican Club President and Northwest Valley Tea Party Co-Leader. She was also a plaintiff against Proposition 121, which was not only detrimental to the Republican Party, but to all Arizona voters.
The Maricopa County Republican Committee (MCRC) statutory meeting will take place on Saturday, January 12, 2013. To learn more about Lisa, her team and the details of their plan, please visitwww.AZPartyBuilders.com.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Republican National Committeeman Bruce Ash Endorses Lisa Gray for MCRC Chairman
Phoenix - Bruce Ash, Republican National Committeeman has endorsed Lisa Gray in her race for Chairman of the Maricopa County Republican Party. "It's not everyday that you run across a person with such passion and optimism for our Party, but that is what you find in Lisa. She knows that now, more than ever, is the time to build our Party. I believe she is the right person at this time to lead us in Maricopa County," said Ash. "She is a strong conservative with a proven track record of getting things accomplished by not wavering on principle but by working with all factions of our Party. She has a solid plan to build our Party and has recruited a stellar team to help implement that plan. Please join me in supporting Lisa Gray and her team to lead our Party in Maricopa County." "I am grateful to have the support of Bruce Ash, our National Committeeman, who is well respected within our Party, both nationally and within our state," said Gray. "I have assembled a well qualified team of leaders from across Maricopa County with over 45 years of combined experience to help lead our County. We have a solid plan that will prepare us for the 2014 elections so that Republicans are victorious!"
About Lisa Gray
Lisa is a grassroots, conservative leader in the Northwest Valley, working with Republicans and Tea Party activists. She has served as LD9 and LD21 District Chairman, LD9 Second Vice Chairman, Sun City Republican Club President and Northwest Valley Tea Party Co-Leader. She was also a plaintiff against Proposition 121, which was not only detrimental to the Republican Party, but to all Arizona voters. The Maricopa County Republican Committee (MCRC) statutory meeting will take place on Saturday, January 12, 2013. To learn more about Lisa, her team and the details of their plan, please visit www.AZPartyBuilders.com.
Civil Rights Organization Files Brief Asking SCOTUS to Uphold Equality New Civil Rights Org - Founded by Jennifer Gratz - Fights to Uphold Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
NATIONAL – Over six years ago Michigan voters overwhelmingly passed the
Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI) and made it unconstitutional for
the state to discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to,
any group or individual on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or
national origin. On Nov. 15, 2012, in a ruling that defied logic, eight
federal judges on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals struck the initiative
down - claiming equality violates the 14th (XIV) Amendment of the
Constitution.
Immediately following the ruling Jennifer Gratz co-founded the XIV Foundation to continue to fight for equality for all people.
“Much progress has been made over the past 15 years in challenging the discriminatory policies that are errantly described as ‘affirmative action’ policies,” Gratz stated. “Eight judges put this progress at risk when they decided to overturn MCRI and the will of over 2.1 million Michigan voters who chose equality over discrimination.”
XIV has taken the lead in coordinating MCRI’s legal defense and amicus filings at the U.S. Supreme Court. The organization recently filed an amicus brief (attached) supporting Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette's request that the U.S. Supreme Court reverse the 6th Circuit's decision.
Signatories to the amicus include:
· Larry Arnn - President, Hillsdale College; Founding Chairman, California Civil Rights Initiative
· Glynn Custred – Author, California Civil Rights Initiative
· Rachel Alexander – Chairman, Arizona Civil Rights Initiative
· Marc Schniederjans – Chairman, Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative
· Leon Drolet – Chairman, Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
· Representative Gary Hopper – State Representative, New Hampshire; Sponsor of the New Hampshire Civil Rights Initiative
· Representative Pete Lund – State Representative, Michigan
· Senator Joe Hune – State Senator, Michigan
· Senator Dave Robertson – State Senator, Michigan
In light of the fact that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has twice upheld a constitutional amendment in California that has the exact same language as MCRI, the XIV brief argues that “lower courts need firm, clear direction” on this issue. “Without such clarity,” XIV insists, “States and federal courts will continue to struggle with race and gender equity and, in so doing, stymie citizen-led progress toward racial equality.”
In addition to defending MCRI, the XIV Foundation is dedicated to teaching the personal and societal advantages of fair and equal treatment by telling the untold, personal stories of those harmed by discriminatory policies.
Jennifer Gratz challenged racial discrimination in the admissions policy at the University of Michigan and won at the U.S. Supreme Court (Gratz v. Bollinger). She spearheaded a successful constitutional amendment in Michigan (MCRI) that made race and gender preferences unconstitutional in public education, public employment, and public contracting. Jennifer is the co-founder and CEO of the XIV Foundation.
Immediately following the ruling Jennifer Gratz co-founded the XIV Foundation to continue to fight for equality for all people.
“Much progress has been made over the past 15 years in challenging the discriminatory policies that are errantly described as ‘affirmative action’ policies,” Gratz stated. “Eight judges put this progress at risk when they decided to overturn MCRI and the will of over 2.1 million Michigan voters who chose equality over discrimination.”
XIV has taken the lead in coordinating MCRI’s legal defense and amicus filings at the U.S. Supreme Court. The organization recently filed an amicus brief (attached) supporting Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette's request that the U.S. Supreme Court reverse the 6th Circuit's decision.
Signatories to the amicus include:
· Larry Arnn - President, Hillsdale College; Founding Chairman, California Civil Rights Initiative
· Glynn Custred – Author, California Civil Rights Initiative
· Rachel Alexander – Chairman, Arizona Civil Rights Initiative
· Marc Schniederjans – Chairman, Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative
· Leon Drolet – Chairman, Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
· Representative Gary Hopper – State Representative, New Hampshire; Sponsor of the New Hampshire Civil Rights Initiative
· Representative Pete Lund – State Representative, Michigan
· Senator Joe Hune – State Senator, Michigan
· Senator Dave Robertson – State Senator, Michigan
In light of the fact that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has twice upheld a constitutional amendment in California that has the exact same language as MCRI, the XIV brief argues that “lower courts need firm, clear direction” on this issue. “Without such clarity,” XIV insists, “States and federal courts will continue to struggle with race and gender equity and, in so doing, stymie citizen-led progress toward racial equality.”
In addition to defending MCRI, the XIV Foundation is dedicated to teaching the personal and societal advantages of fair and equal treatment by telling the untold, personal stories of those harmed by discriminatory policies.
###
Jennifer Gratz challenged racial discrimination in the admissions policy at the University of Michigan and won at the U.S. Supreme Court (Gratz v. Bollinger). She spearheaded a successful constitutional amendment in Michigan (MCRI) that made race and gender preferences unconstitutional in public education, public employment, and public contracting. Jennifer is the co-founder and CEO of the XIV Foundation.
Temporary Fiscal Cliff Compromise Full of Pork, Tax Hikes and Spending Increases
Congressional Republicans caved in to the Democrats this week, surrendering their principles in order to pass a bill that merely delays the looming fiscal cliff by two months. This is the first time Republicans have voted for a tax increase in 20 years. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) strong-armed Republican members of the House into supporting it, no doubt by threatening them with loss of their committee positions should they dare to oppose it. The Wall Street Journal described the massive sellout in an editorial, “The Senate-White House compromise grudgingly passed by the House is a Beltway classic: the biggest tax increase in 20 years in return for spending increases, and all spun for political purposes as a ‘tax cut for the middle class.’"
Members of the Senate received the 154-page bill only three minutes before voting on it, not enough time to actually read it. The bill is full of pork unrelated to fixing the fiscal cliff. It contains $59 million for algae growers, in order to encourage the production of environmentally correct biofuel. Electric motorcycle manufacturers are given a $4 million green energy tax credit, and there is a wind tax credit for $12.1 billion. $430 million is awarded to Hollywood producers to expense up to $15 million of their project costs. Another $70 million in pork is designated for NASCAR, and a rum tax subsidy for Puerto Rican rum makers.
Only eight Senators voted no on the Senate's fiscal cliff plan. The five principled Republicans who stood up to the Democrats were Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rand Paul (R-KY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Richard Shelby (R-AL). The House voted to pass it by 257-167. Some of the House Republicans deceitfully only voted against the bill when they knew it would safely pass without their yes votes, including Majority leader Eric Cantor and Whip Kevin McCarthy.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
House Majority Whip Debbie Lesko Endorses Lisa Gray for MCRC Chairman
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January 2, 2013
House Majority Whip and Legislative District 21 Representative, Debbie Lesko has endorsed Lisa Gray for Chairman of the Maricopa County Republican Party. "I wholeheartedly support Lisa and her candidacy for Chairman of our County Party. Lisa is a proven leader, full of energy and is passionate about the Republican Party. Under her leadership as Chairman of Legislative District 9 and 21, I have witnessed first hand how she increased both our district finances and the ranks of our precinct committeemen. She has also worked tirelessly in organizing precinct walks, fundraising events, PC training, and GOTV efforts. I know that she will serve as the Maricopa County Chairman with the same energy and passion as she has in her role as District Chairman. I encourage all Precinct Committeemen to join me in supporting Lisa Gray." "I'm honored to have Representative Lesko's support," said Gray. "Debbie is a staunch conservative and a strong supporter of limited government and fiscal responsibility, two issues that our Party should be leading on. Debbie also isn't afraid to stand up for what is right even when it isn't popular to do so. I have a lot of respect for Representative Lesko." About Lisa Gray Lisa is a grassroots, conservative leader in the Northwest Valley, working with Republicans and Tea Party activists. She has served as LD9 and LD21 District Chairman, LD9 Second Vice Chairman, Sun City Republican Club President and Northwest Valley Tea Party Co-Leader. She was also a plaintiff against Proposition 121, which was not only detrimental to the Republican Party, but to all Arizona voters. The Maricopa County Republican Committee (MCRC) statutory meeting will take place on Saturday, January 12, 2013. To learn more about Lisa, her team and the details of their plan, please visit www.AZPartyBuilders.com.
REP. SCHWEIKERT: ‘FISCAL CLIFF’ DEAL NOT ‘BALANCED’ NOR A ‘COMPROMISE’
Washington, D.C. – Tuesday evening, Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), voted against H.R. 8, the “Fiscal Cliff” bill. He released the following statement after the vote:
“Sadly, a new year brings more of the same.
“Only
in Washington would a bill that spends more, taxes more, and creates
more debt, without addressing our out-of-control spending be called a
‘balanced approach.’
“Further,
this is not a compromise and it certainly does nothing to address our
entitlement crisis or the $16 trillion in debt that continues to grow
every day.
“Any fix to our economic woes will be nothing more than window dressing until we address our spending problem.
“However
bleak this fiscal cliff ‘solution’ may look, I am only more determined
to continue to do what Arizonans sent me to Washington to do—fight to
reduce the size and cost of government.
“Our fight is just beginning.”
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