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Wednesday, November 14, 2007
AZGOP Trunk & Tusk dinner with Fred Thompson Nov. 29
Goldwater Institute: Don't Know Much About History
American colleges and universities failing to teach civic literacy
by Tom Patterson
The Constitution of the
These questions were part of a 60-question test of civic literacy administered to college freshmen and seniors at 50 American colleges and universities. The test (available at www.isi.org) covered American history, government, international relations and economics.
The results were disheartening. Freshman overall scored an average 50.4 percent, while seniors improved only to 54.2 percent. Eight of the 50 colleges were left to explain how four years at their institution could actually diminish students' knowledge base, including elite schools Cal,
It can be amusing to point out the shortcomings of the privileged and prestigious, but what difference does it make?
Here is the problem. The
But we are producing generations who don't know much about these foundational ideas. They can't possibly be counted on to protect and pass on a heritage of which they are largely ignorant and for which they have been taught a vague disrespect. Big questions like the future of Social Security are already being affected by leaders unaware of basic principles and history.
Our only option is to insist that our colleges produce civic literates. Time isn't on our side. We must act now if we hope to pass on to future generations the wisdom and decency of what it means to be an American.
Dr. Tom Patterson is chairman of the Goldwater Institute, a former state legislator and emergency room physician. A longer version of this article originally appeared in the
Goldwater Institute: Crisis and Opportunity
School district budget override failures open door for creativity
By Matthew Ladner, Ph.D.
The patience of the
There has already been a steady stream of news stories about districts struggling to deal with a new fiscal reality. This situation reminds me that the Chinese use the same symbol for crisis and opportunity.
School districts overflowing with students but whose voters rejected new debt for buildings should consider opening charter schools. This would allow districts to make use of existing space in the community without going millions into debt to build new facilities.
Some districts will be facing maintenance and operations shortfalls, and fear they won't be able to hire enough teachers. Research shows children are much better off in a large classroom with a high quality teacher than in a small class with a less talented instructor. A skilled administrator could manage teacher attrition over time and help kids by giving high quality teachers more students.
We cannot spend our way to great schools. We have tried and failed. Real spending per pupil in
Dr. Matthew Ladner is vice president for research at the Goldwater Institute.
Martin Sepulveda fundraiser tonight 5PM
MARTIN SEPULVEDA
is serving his second term on the
Stan Barnes
and the team at
invite you to join the
Sepulveda finance team’s
Campaign Fundraising Kick-off
Wednesday, November 14th
5:00 until 7:00 pm
The Ninth Floor
[SE Corner Central & Earll]
Please contact Alice Lara
with any questions @ 602-229-1010
Your support and contribution
are greatly appreciated.
If you are unable to attend,
checks may be mailed payable to:
Elect Sepulveda for
(Please include employer, address & occupation information.)
Maximum individual contribution permitted by law is $390.
Couples may contribute $780 with one check from a joint account.
Corporate checks are prohibited by law.
Contributions are not tax deductible from state or federal funds.
Paid for by Elect Sepulveda for
AZ Federatio of Taxpayers: Tell AZ Legislators to Stop Over-Spending!
No new debt, no gimmicks, and NO TAX INCREASES!
Please contact your Arizona state Legislators and tell them to stop over-spending. In their quest for ever-expanding government programs, the Governor and the big spenders in the Arizona Legislature have emptied the state’s wallet. The state’s budget deficit has now climbed to $900 million, exceeding the money in the state’s rainy day fund. Click here to contact your lawmakers.
To “fix” the deficit, the big spenders plan to raid the rainy day fund, use accounting gimmicks, and transfer funds from dedicated revenue sources (such as state highway money). Some of the big spenders are even talking about raising taxes--taking even more money out of taxpayer wallets!
But there is no need for gimmicks, fund transfers, or for raiding the rainy day fund.
The FY2007 budget, for the fiscal year that ended on June 30th, was $9.7 billion. The FY2008 trial budget, which the Legislature and Governor approved in June, is $10.6 billion.
The Legislature can fix the deficit and save $900 million by spending the same amount it did last year. No spending cuts are necessary.
Voter-approved formulas require increased spending in some program areas, but those departments can offset those spending increases with reductions in non-formula areas. The overall FY2008 budget can be the same as it was in FY2007. No spending cuts, but no spending increases, either.
To stop overspending in the future, Legislators must give voters a chance to lower the state's existing constitutional spending limit. The current limit is 7.41 percent, which was helpful back in the big-spending days of Jimmy Carter, but we do not want state government to ever get that big again! Click here to contact your lawmakers.
The state’s spending limit should be reduced to no more than 6.5 percent of state personal income, which is a little less than what the government is currently spending. That way, if the economy grows, the government can grow with it -- but the government should not be allowed to grow faster than the economy.
Last session, the spending limit bill was sponsored by Reps. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa), Trish Groe ( R-Lake Havasu City), Rick Murphy (R-Glendale), Kirk Adams (R-Mesa), Andy Biggs (R-Gilbert), Sam Crump (R-Anthem), and Michelle Reagan (R-Scottsdale), as well as by Sens. Jack Harper (R-Surprise) and Karen Johnson (R-Mesa). This coming year, we need every state Legislator to sign on and support the spending limit reduction.
Monday, November 12, 2007
National Right to Life to endorse Fred Thompson for President
Hat tip to lighthouseblog for this breaking news from Fox; apparently it paid off to have lobbied for Planned Parenthood. Well, it could have been worse, they could have endorsed Giuliani, or McCain. Or Romney, who used to be for abortion before he said he was against it. The official announcement will be tomorrow.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
PR firm of Jason Rose throwing open house happy hour - Fri., Nov. 16
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Rush Limbaugh review of the movie Bella
RUSH: I want to tell you about a movie I saw recently. I flew out to
These kinds of movies used to get made a long time ago, but not anymore. These are the kind of movies that the public would love to see. It's going to be opening, I think, in 30 more markets over the weekend. The way to contrast this would be Million Dollar Baby. Did you guys ever see that? I did not see Million Dollar Baby. I've got it on my Kaleidescape system, but I haven't watched it, but I do know in that movie, Hilary Swank, the female boxer, becomes paralyzed, and asks her manager, Clint Eastwood, to help her end her life. There was an uproar over that because it seemed to glorify the courage of euthanasia. This is just the opposite. It takes a situation, a woman becoming impregnated, where in most cases in the country the first thought is, "Ah, I gotta abort. I didn't want this to happen." Two people deal with this in a rational way. It's breaking box office records. There hasn't been a whole lot of screens. It hasn't been in a lot of markets, but where it has been playing, it's been breaking records. You probably haven't heard about it. The Drive-Bys are not writing about the movie -- (interruption) Bella, yeah, Bella as in Bella Abzug. It'll soon be in the rental library at the Bay Haven Elementary school in Sarasota.
It runs just a little under two hours, and it's not captioned, this was a promotion copy and I was listening to it on the airplane. I got most of the dialogue, but I'm sure I missed some, but I got enough to understand how powerful the movie is. I remember when it started, "Oh, boy, this is awfully slow," because it was raved about to me, and I said, "This is starting off a little slow here," but for some reason I stuck with it, not because I knew what was coming, but just because I was compelled to stay with it. So if Bella is in your market and you are upset over fourth graders being taught about conscientious objectors on Veterans Day and that kind of stuff happening in the country, this is a movie that you'll like and you'll applaud and it will warm your heart. So keep a sharp eye out for it. I was frankly surprised. I really was.
The Real Pachyderm is meeting this Wed., Nov. 14
PAChyderm Coalition MO
MONTHLY MEETING
Wednesday November 14, 2007
Please note the new location:
Deer Valley Airport Restaurant
702 W. Deer Valley Road
(7th Ave & Deer Valley)
Dinner - 6:00 P.M.
Dinner will be an "order off the menu"
Meeting begins at 7:00 PM
Upcoming Meeting Schedule:
December 19 will be our Christmas Party.
Please consider contributing to Pachyderm -
http://pachydermcoa
National Review looking for an editor
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
We Want You [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
If you are yearning to play a key, hardworking, behind-the-scenes role at National Review and National Review Online.
It's not every day that National Review has editorial openings. At the moment, however, we have a few — for both NR and NRO. (They have come up because of natural transition and expansion afoot.)
If you're someone with editing experience — and someone who edits well, enjoys the process of editing, and understands its importance — then you'll want to pay attention to this post.
(By contrast, if you'd really rather be the next great reporter, columnist, or pundit, you should skip — there are other opportunities for you out there. And, in fact, feel free to pitch me a piece if that's the case.)
National Review and National Review Online are in the market for an NRO Managing Editor, an NR Deputy Managing Editor, and an NR Associate Editor — all to be based out of our New York office.
Requirements: a real talent for editing, and experience with editing; a broad political and cultural knowledge; and knowledge of and enthusiasm for National Review and National Review Online.
If I've described you, your talents, and your interests, send a r̩sum̩ and Рof at least equal importance Рa letter of interest making the case for yourself to Erica Stalnecker, at estalnecker@nationalreview.com.
Thanks. If the description above sounds like you, I look forward to meeting you soon... We're looking to fill these slots ASAP, so don't delay if you are ready and willing, and possess the editing talent that we're looking for.
Goldwater Institute: Sound the Alarm
Are Charter Schools the Death Knell of Inner City Private Schools?
By Matthew Ladner, Ph.D.
The Education Next article "Can Catholic Schools Be Saved?" asks the provocative question: Will charter schools finish off inner city Catholic private schools? The author cites a RAND Corporation study that found private schools in
Writing in the latest issue of the Journal of Catholic Education, I detailed a more hopeful example than
Catholic education is anything but wilting in
Inner city private schools have long histories of educating disadvantaged children. The last thing these students need is another door to opportunity closed.
Dr. Matthew Ladner is the vice president for research at the Goldwater Institute.
Free FairTax presentation with Janet Huckabee on Mon., Nov. 12
To all FairTax supporters:
Please reserve the afternoon of
Veteran's Day
Monday, November 12, 2007
Arizonans for the Fair Tax
invites you to attend a
Special Update and Call to Action
with your Arizona FairTax leaders
and
A Special Address by
Janet Huckabee
wife of Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
1:00 PM -- Registration starts
2:00 pm -- Door opens
2:00 pm to 2:30 pm – AZ FairTax Update Presentation
2:30 to 3:00pm – Special Address by Janet Huckabee
3:00 to 5:00 pm -- Arizona FairTax Call to Action
Venue
Sheraton Crescent
2620 W. Dunlap Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85021
(602) 943-8200
Cost of the Arizona Fair Tax event is: Free
(Donations to help pay for the venue and refreshments are welcome)
Please RSVP by November 9th
to Greg Dutton, AZ FairTax Volunteer State Director
(480) 763-9791 or statedirector@azfairtax.org
If you cannot attend but would like to contribute to the Arizona effort,
please send your contribution to:
Arizonans for The Fair Tax
3637 W. Medinah Court
Anthem, AZ 85086
If you are unable to attend, but would like more information about our grassroots efforts here in Arizona,please join the AZFairTax Yahoo Discussion Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/azfairtax/
Americans for Fair Taxation is a non-partisan grassroots organization and does not promote any party or candidate.
The purpose of this email is to communicate events and opportunities to extend the FairTax message and promote the passage of the FairTax Act.
State Treasurer Dean Martin to speak at AZ Fed. of Taxpayers annual Awards luncheon
State Treasurer, Investment Fund Head to Speak at Taxpayer Lunch
The Arizona Federation of Taxpayers, a state chapter of Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFT-AFPF), announced today that Arizona Treasurer Dean Martin will speak at the group's annual "Friend of the Taxpayer" Awards Luncheon. At a time when the budgets of most Arizona departments have grown at unsustainable levels -- exacerbating the state's growing budget deficit -- the State Treasurer's office actually cut its budget by three percent.
AFT-AFPF also announced that Dr. Thomas Borelli, principal of the Free Enterprise Action Fund, will make a presentation. The Free Enterprise Action Fund is the first mutual fund dedicated to defending the free enterprise system by directly countering the increasing influence of left-wing activists on American corporate management.
Martin and Borelli join former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson for an all-star line-up at the 2007 awards luncheon. Johnson, who cut taxes on income, gasoline, and capital gains, and halted the growth of New Mexico government, will be the keynote speaker at the awards luncheon. Johnson is the only U.S. governor to climb Mt. Everest.
The Luncheon will take place Saturday, December 15, at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Seats for the luncheon are $49, and $39 for AFT-AFPF members.
If you cannot attend the awards luncheon, but would like to support AFT-AFPF, click here.
For a printable mail-in ticket purchasing form, click here.
For information on becoming a Benefactor or a Sponsor of the luncheon, contact AFT-AFPF executive director Tom Jenney at vc@aztaxpayers.org.
# # #
Americans for Prosperity Foundation is a section 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to AFP Foundation are tax deductible, less the fair-market value of goods or services received. AFP Foundation’s focus is to educate the general public about public policy issues, not to support or oppose specific legislation.
The mission of the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers (AFT) is to expand economic growth and prosperity for all Arizonans. To view AFT's 22nd annual Legislative Scorecard, visit our website. AFT is a state chapter of Americans for Prosperity.
Website: www.aztaxpayers.org
About Americans for Prosperity
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation's premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits.
Website: www.americansforprosperity.org
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Horizon interview with Max McPhail of the AZ Civil Rights Initiative
One example of an egregious program the initiative would ban is the city of Tucson's 7% price preference for women and minority contractors. That preference currently allows women or minority contractors bidding on city projects to compete on the same level as white males even if their bid is up to 7% higher than bids from white males. Max noted that not only is this unfair to white males, but it hoses the taxpayers who are stuck paying for the difference. Another example of preferences that is so unfair it is actually a quota, which the Supreme Court has held are unconstitutional, is ASU's graduate program, which requires that 50% of research assistantships go to minorities. Max said that affirmative action is taking place at UA and ASU's law schools, although so far it appears that gender and race are amorphously taken into account as one of several factors in deciding who will be admitted, which makes them more difficult to correct. Max emphasized there is never a reason for discrimination; past discrimination does not justify discrimination now.
Goldwater Institute: Middle Class Melt Down
New book highlights failure of public schools to educate middle class students
By Dan Lips
Pacific Research Institute scholars Lance Izumi, Vicki Murray, and Rachel Chaney offer an alarming wake-up call for parents in their new book Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice.
The authors tell a troubling story about the quality of public schools in
The authors argue the solution is to create more competition in public education by expanding parental choice. Middle class parents in Orange County or Modesto have as much need as poor parents in Washington, D.C. or Milwaukee to take their children out of failing public schools and place them in better-performing private or public schools.
Beyond the traditional proposals reform advocates should consider education savings accounts, which help families save for their children's education expenses.
Today, more than 30 states offer tax incentives for contributions into 529 college savings plans, which are ESAs that help families save for their children's college expenses. In addition, the federal government offers families tax-free saving for both K-12 and higher education expenses through the Coverdell ESA program. But no states provide a tax incentive for contributions made into these accounts.
Offering families the same tax incentives for K-12 education savings that are currently available for higher education would help more families give their children a quality education. A promising student who isn't doing well in the local public school, for example, might benefit from a transfer into private school or from tutoring, summer school, or home instruction.
But beginning to solve the problems in America's middle class public schools won't be possible until more people recognize there is a problem. For this reason, Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice should be required reading for parents concerned about their children's future.
Dan Lips is an education policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation and a senior fellow with the Goldwater Institute. A longer version of this article appeared in the Heritage Foundation's Education Notebook.
Lou Dobbs to speak in Scottsdale - Mon. Nov. 12
Residents in greater
Dobb’s latest book, Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit is a populist’s view of the critical issues and challenges that confront the presidential candidates and American voters as we approach the 2008 election and will be the focus of his remarks. Dobbs will discuss why he believes the public policy choices over the past thirty years have eroded individual liberties, disenfranchised the middle class, reduced worker rights and pay, and led our nation into social and political division at home as well as into conflict around the world. Dobbs will discuss what he believes are the consequences of continuing to follow existing domestic and foreign policies. In addition, he will explore how he believes we can move forward from here.
Lou Dobbs is the anchor and managing editor of CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight. He writes for Money and U.S. News & World Report and manages the Lou Dobbs Money Letter. He has received the Peabody Award, the Luminary Award by the Business Journalism Review, the Horatio Alger Association Award for Distinguished Americans, as well as an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The presentation is free for Boomerz members and $12 for non-members. The reception is $75 for Boomerz members, and $125 for non-members which includes one book per family. Both events are open to the public. To register for this event or for more information about it or other Scottsdale Boomerz activities, go to www.BoomerzAZ.com or call (480) 990-1450.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Horizon: Howie Fischer on Mayor Gordon's downtown expansion: "At some point this is becoming socialism"
Last Friday night's Journalists' Roundtable on Horizon was actually worth watching (should appear here soon). Since one of the journalists was Amanda Crawford from the Republic, who is so far to the left she looks like she's falling off the side of the table, Howie Fischer had to go out of his way more than usual to throw in conservative arguments so there would be some debate.
One of the discussion topics was Mayor Phil Gordon's never ending plans to have government build things downtown. Mike Sunnucks noted that the government has already paid for hotels, stadiums, the convention center, and the AZ Center downtown, now he wants to pay to have all of ASU move downtown. A cynical friend of mine observed why doesn't the government just start paying for bars too? (like the book 1984) Fischer said there is a slippery slope between cities giving businesses incentives to build and the government managing the economy like a government-run Eastern European country and we know how well that works. Sunnucks pointed out that subsidies to sports teams and developers are hurting small businesses which are the engine of our economy; why are we favoring one type of business over another. Most of the subsidies given away by government in Arizona are to big developers and biotech. Crawford responded with a classic far left line: "We need to give artists subsidies to move here." Huh? And how is that supposed to help the economy?
There was a discussion of the latest security breach at the Palo Verde nuclear station run by APS. A guy brought a pipe bomb into the plant in the back of his truck. APS has already been disciplined several times for security breaches, how long is this inept government-subsidized company going to continue to jeopardize the safety of Arizonans as it gouges us for costs? The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rated this a low-level security threat, but it's just one more incident in a long list of many. We need to get some new members elected to the Corporation Commission who don't just slap APS on the wrist.
The panel discussed the $600 million shortfall in the state budget, and how the governor and legislature will end up resolving it. The consensus seemed to be taking half of it from the Rainy Day fund, and using economic gimmicks to come up with the rest. Sunnucks suggested some should be cut from the $400 million mandated to K-12 education. Fischer said it's untouchable because of the way the initiative was passed in 2000, and Crawford said we shouldn't cut education since Arizona is consistently ranked the lowest performing schools in the nation. Apparently she hasn't read any of the Goldwater Institute's studies, which have refuted this myth. The highest performing schools in the state are charter schools and private schools, which run on less money than the bloated public schools. She then noted that the numbers of people on AHCCCS (welfare) are continuing to increase; the federal poverty level is now $20,600/yr. I have a friend who recently graduated from college who is making $9.50 /hr. He is looking for a real job while he kills time between now and when he goes to grad school. Why should he bother finding a job that will just bump him over the poverty level where he'd actually have to pay for his own health insurance? Plus he gets all the goodies like the earned income tax credit. The number of people on AHCCCS is something that needs to be reduced, not accommodated as it grows.
The last topic was the new Arizona Civil Rights Initiative, which will ban preferences by the government based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Fischer said the opposition (which is being labeled "Protect Arizona's Freedom to Discriminate in Government") held a press conference earlier that day, claiming they don't want preferences, yet they're against eliminating them, which is what this initiative would do. He said the initiative will pass, because people will get their ballots and see that it's about ending illegal discrimination.
John Shadegg forms Reagan 21
To: Shadegg Friends
From: Congressman John Shadegg
Last week I was joined by a bicameral group of my Republican colleagues to announce the formation of Reagan 21, a national organization dedicated to integrity, principle, and freedom. The Wall Street Journal covered this announcement which you can read here or below.
The choices for America have never been clearer. On almost every issue, Democrats and the left are promoting more government ownership and control, pushing America closer to a welfare state. All of the Democratic Presidential hopefuls are running on a decidedly collectivist and socialistic leaning platform. The Democrats want socialized medicine and more federal control of our schools. They are committed to raising taxes and expanding federal government programs. They will increase the burden of regulations and taxes on the American people, cost American jobs, and reduce America's competitiveness around the world. Democrats will once again weaken our nation's defenses and intelligence systems, while continuing to hold Americans hostage to foreign oil. They will seek citizenship, government benefits, and voting rights for illegal aliens. And Democrats will appoint liberal judges who will replace America's traditional values with government's directionless secular views.
Americans need a clear alternative to the Democrats radical agenda. Reagan 21 is composed of individual Americans, including Congressmen and Senators, who are committed to fight for Reagan's principles of liberty and America's vision of individual freedom, free enterprise, and common-sense traditional values. Its goal is to give Americans a positive choice in 2008 by restoring the integrity, optimism, and leadership of the Republican Party. Republicans must, once again, fight to keep taxes low, stop wasteful government spending and political earmarks, rebuild a strong defense, make America more competitive with a simpler tax code and regulatory system, promote health care choices for every American, open America's energy reserves, stop illegal immigration, and appoint judges who will uphold the Constitution and protect American values.
These are the principles of liberty that will once again make the party of Ronald Reagan the party that will guide America's future.
Reagan 21 will serve as a guidepost for Americans who believe in holding elected officials to the highest standards of conduct and the policies of tax reform, budget and spending reform, entitlement reform, ending earmarks, providing greater choice in health care and focusing on our national security.
Americans need to know that there are some in Congress, and across the country, still committed to freedom, and anyone who shares these principles will be welcome to join Reagan 21 and participate in its activities.
The other members of Congress who worked to create Reagan 21 and recruit other members were Senators Tom Coburn (OK) and Jim DeMint (SC), and Congressmen John Campbell (CA), Jeb Hensarling (TX), Tom Price (GA), and Paul Ryan (WI).
Others who have now joined include: Michele Bachman (MN), Gresham Barrett (SC), Marsha Blackburn (TN), Eric Cantor (VA), Jeff Flake (AZ), Virginia Foxx (NC), Trent Franks (AZ), Patrick McHenry (NC), Marilyn Musgrave (CO), Peter Roskam (IL), and Lynn Westmoreland (GA).
I encourage you to join us in this effort. You read can more about Reagan 21 by going to www.reagan21.org
Is the Party of Reagan Dead?
Sen. Charles Schumer today declared the era of Ronald Reagan to be in its final throes. At the same time, a group of 21 conservative members of Congress announced they are putting the band back together.
Schumer, who chairs the campaign committee to elect Democratic senators, said the 2008 election is poised to create a seismic shift in politics and put the nail in the coffin of Reagan conservatism. "To me this could be a seminal election," Schumer said at a briefing for reporters. "They occur about once a generation, they change the tectonic plates of politics and they create a generation where one party dominates. In 1932 Roosevelt did it. In 1980 Reagan did it - and we're about at the tail end of the Ronald Reagan era." The New York senator, who has endorsed the other New York senator (Hillary Clinton) for president, summed it up: "We are feeling very good, we are feeling the wind is at our back."
Not so fast, says a small band of conservative lawmakers that includes Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Jim DeMint of South Carolina along with and Reps. John Shadegg (Arizona), Paul Ryan (Wisconsin), Jeb Hensarling (Texas), Tom Price (Georgia), and John Campbell (California). The self-styled revolutionaries announced the creation of Reagan21, and they are "committed to the advancement of a new and invigorated Republican Party for Reagan's principles of liberty and a 21st Century vision for America."
Their policy paper today advocates for a "fairer, flatter tax," as well as a presidential line-item veto, private retirement accounts for Social Security, a repeal of No Child Left Behind, and formal adoption of English as the official language, among others. The lawmakers are also calling for a full ban on earmarks, and have pledged not to make any spending requests. The lawmakers have been meeting quietly since February, and without House party leaders' input.
It is also, perhaps, a sign of conservatives ongoing frustration with the Bush administration - No Child Left Behind is, after all, the president's signature domestic achievement, and Bush's effort to carve out private accounts in Social Security was a disastrous effort on Capitol Hill. It remains to be seen if Reagan can still turn on conservatives in 2008, but Democrats believe Bush will be a more potent liability. Schumer said he views lawmakers who continue to support Bush as "seemingly marching off a cliff" heading in to 2008.
Why is the Federalist Society having a luncheon in a tavern?
Nanny State:
How Food Fascists, Teetotaling Do-Gooders, Priggish Moralists, and Other Boneheaded Bureaucrats Are Turning America Into a Nation of Children
A Book Event*
Denver Post Columnist and author David Harsanyi (www.davidharsanyi.com) will join us to discuss his book, in which he delves into the smoking bans, the recent trans-fat bans, zero-tolerance policies, and the end of “happy hour” as we know it. Harsanyi argues that when the government intervenes in this overzealous manner, no matter how good the intentions may appear to be, it not only diminishes our ability to make our own choices, but it promotes a culture of dependence that goes against the freedoms we celebrate so earnestly.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 11am-12:30pm
The Tavern on Mill
404 South Mill Avenue
Tempe, AZ 85281
www.tavernonmill.com
There is no cost to attend this event, and lunch--in the form of unhealthy, greasy, bar food--will be provided. Space is limited, however, so please RSVP if you plan to attend
* Mr. Harsanyi's book will be available for purchase
RSVP to Kasey Higgins (khiggins@ij.org, 480-557-8300) no later than noon on Friday, November 30, 2007.
Some thoughts on "Nanny State":
“The average American has little idea just how many liberties have been lost through the growth of the Leviathan. Increasingly, there’s a regulation, the need to get permission, and the outright banning of ordinary activities that have always been seen as personal and private. David Harsanyi gives us a detailed script of this ugly process. He is more than generous by titling this egregious attack on our liberties as the ‘Nanny State.’”
--Walter E. Williams, John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University and author of More Liberty Means Less Government
“The scariest thing about the creeping authoritarianism of What’s Good For You is how few people notice it anymore. David Harsanyi notices it, thank God, and has written a terrific reminder of why, if they can force you to wear your seatbelt, they can force you to do just about anything. Buy this book: You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you may wind up voting Libertarian.”
--Tucker Carlson, host of MSNBC’s Tucker and author of Politicians, Partisans and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News
"This is a dangerous book--mostly because if it falls into the hands of legislators or city councils, they'll find new ideas for things to ban or mandate. But for sensible people, it's a wake-up call about the efforts of busybodies on both left and right to nitpick every aspect of our lives, from what we eat and drink to what we watch on television to what games our children can play."
--David Boaz, Executive Vice President of the Cato Institute and author of Libertarianism: A Primer
"David Harsanyi makes a frightening case for the dangers of big government, and a strong argument that less government is better government."
--Glenn Reynolds, Instapundit
Jennifer M. Perkins, President
Federalist Society Phoenix Lawyers Chapter
480-557-8316
jperkins@ij.org
AZ Civil Rights Initiative Files Constitutional Amendment with Secretary of State
“Arizona voters will have a chance to debate and ultimately decide if government should utilize race and gender preference policies.”
Today the Arizona Civil Rights Initiative (AzCRI) filed an initiative application with the Secretary of State. If approved by voters in November 2008, the
Chairman Andrew Thomas, Maricopa County Attorney, stated, “I am delighted that we are starting the ballot initiative process. The Arizona Civil Rights Initiative reaffirms our state’s commitment to fairness and equality for all
Ward Connerly, Chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute echoed Thomas’ comments, “When given the chance, voters have consistently voted for the principles fairness and equality which the Civil Rights Initiative embodies. How can we move toward the colorblind ideal of the 1964 Civil Rights Act if our very own government insists upon treating people differently? I believe
In order to qualify for the November 2008 ballot, AzCRI must collect 230,047 signatures from registered Arizona voters by July 3, 2008. Executive Director Max McPhail added, “It is unfortunate some people feel that granting preferences because of race or sex is acceptable. However, I think the majority of Arizona Citizens believe that discrimination of any kind is wrong.”
The Arizona Civil Rights Initiative is dedicated to giving the people of Arizona the opportunity to end preferential treatment based on race, gender, ethnicity or national origin by state or local governments. AzCRI will make Arizona a place of equal opportunity for all, not a state that uses discrimination as a tool to create “diversity.” Achieving “diversity” should never be an excuse to discriminate.
Language:
Article 30
(a) The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting bona fide qualifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary to the normal operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as invalidating any court order or consent decree that is in force as of the effective date of this section.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting action that must be taken to establish or maintain eligibility for any federal program, if ineligibility would result in a loss of federal funds to the state.
(e) For the purposes if this section, “state” shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the state itself, any city, county, city and county, state and county, public university system, including the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, community college district, school district, any other political subdivision or governmental instrumentality of or within the state, or any other governmental entities formed under the laws of Arizona.
(f) The remedies available for violations of this section shall be the same, regardless of the injured party's race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin, as are otherwise available for violations of then-existing Arizona antidiscrimination law.
(g) This section shall be self-executing. If any part or parts of this section are found to be in conflict with federal law or the United State Constitution, the section shall be implemented to the maximum extent that that federal law and the United States Constitution permit. Any provision held invalid shall be severable from the remaining portions of this section.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Goldwater Institute: How Did Freedom Fare this Legislative Session?
Goldwater Institute issues annual report, says 2007 worst for freedom in five years
Mark Twain once quipped, "No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session." That certainly held true in
Scores for the Forty-eighth Arizona Legislature's first session reveal a trend toward more government involvement in education, business, and individual finances. The average grade in both the House of Representatives and Senate this year is a D.
The Goldwater Institute Legislative Report Card scores
"The report's broad scope shines light into what are often dark recesses of a complex legislative process," said Andrea Woodmansee, Goldwater Institute Director of Publications and author of the report. "The sheer amount of legislation--more than 1,500 bills, memorials, and resolutions--introduced this session makes it difficult for citizens to know whether their elected representatives are serving the interests of liberty. This report attempts to objectively quantify legislative action in that regard."
Both chambers scored highest in the constitutional government category; which includes bills like SB 1359 that protects property owners from city liens when tenants fail to pay city utilities. The Senate scored worst overall in education, and the House scored worst in the tax and budget category.
From 2003 to 2005, average scores rose nine points in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Since 2005, however, the average House score has fallen 12 points and the average Senate score has fallen 13 points.
The highest-scoring senator this session was Ron Gould (R-3) and the highest-scoring representative was Judy Burges (R-4).
Scores for each member of the legislature are detailed in the Legislative Report Card and are available online at www.goldwaterinstitute.org/my- tools/Legislators.aspx by entering your Zip Code, selecting your district, or typing in your representative's name. The Legislative Report Card 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 Director of Communications srhoades@goldwaterinstitute.org (602) 462-5000 x 226 |
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