Brewer Honored with Achievement Award

Brewer Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
By Helaine Chersonsky
　
Congratulations and kudos to Governor Jan Brewer, who will receive the 2009 John F. Long Lifetime Achievement Award on November 5 at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel and Spa. The Phoenix Business Journal described the award being given to the governor in spite of the recent “nail-biting legislative session.” As I see it, the award is actually an acknowledgment of Governor Brewer’s political courage in the face of the U.S. tanked economy and the reality of lower revenues for states because of the on-going recession-depression.
Governor Brewer has always displayed a combination of political courage and common sense as she has served the state of Arizona in her capacity as Arizona’s Secretary of State. I want to remind the citizens of Arizona about the financial debacle former governor Janet Napolitano left the state of Arizona in when she became head of the Department of Homeland Security under our “dear leader” President Barack Obama.
Napolitano’s spending spree during her years as governor put the state of Arizona on a deficit footing with increased expenditures for the state on a three-year average of 13.25 percent (these figures are taken from the Arizona 10-year budget history from 2000 to 2009). Napolitano was also warned by the treasurer about the budget-busting expenditures. Think about one of Napolitano’s pet projects: day care for children under five years old; now think about how much that one little item cost per year and you will have a small idea of Arizona’s budget deficit and the reason for the budget deficit in 2009.

Pullen on the fall of ACORN

"One too many nuts have fallen from this tree," said Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen, as public outcry mounts for a transparent and accountable investigation into the activities of Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN.)

Widely reported in the national news media, ACORN employees were recently filmed giving two individuals posing as a pimp and prostitute, illicit financial advice encouraging them to scam the Internal Revenue Service. This comes on the heals of nearly a dozen arrest warrants being issued in Miami for ACORN workers suspected of falsifying information on hundreds of voter registration cards last year, and States from coast to coast clamping down public funding to the corrupt organization.

"Over the years, we've all suspected that ACORN was involved in nefarious activities," said Chairman Pullen. "Now we can see exactly what they are up to, and it is as disturbing as it is appalling. ACORN officials would have you believe that the actions of a few employees are not representative of their organization, but a few poisoned apples makes me suspicious of the whole barrel. I suspect the more people look into the ACORN's activities, the more irregularities they will find. I think that this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg."

"Ironically, they are appointing someone to oversee an internal investigation who already has a criminal record," the Chairman continued. "Henry Cisneros, who may be best known for being caught lying to the FBI prior to being named as Clinton's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will participate in the probe into ACORN's practices. I can think of no better person to advise ACORN on legal issues than someone who had a mistress convicted of bank fraud and obstruction of justice," he said. "This man also sat on the board of Countrywide Financial which was roundly criticized for their dubious mortgage practices which allowed borrowers to buy homes without down payments, income verification and who allowed monthly payments that didn't even cover the interest. This is the guy they want looking into their misdeeds? You couldn't make this up if you tried."

"More troubling is the media's coverage and President Obama response," said Chairman Pullen. "All but one of last Sunday's talk shows failed to address the issue, but when they did, the President brushed it off as if he was vaguely aware of the controversy. President Obama has evidently seems to be suffering from have short-term memory loss when it comes to his involvement with ACORN. He worked with ACORN for 20 years. He was a community organizer, Director of Project Vote in Chicago, and even served as their attorney. But I guess we shouldn't be surprised by this approach towards his involvement with ACORN. During the campaign he denied had been an ACORN trainer until the New York Times proved he was. We all know that the President has a soft spot in his heart for ACORN, but these recent revelations warrant a strong and immediate response from President Obama."

"Some Democrats like the New York Attorney General have launched full investigations and we need more to follow the lead of Republican Governors from Georgia, Louisiana and California who have already halted ACORN's funding. Even the nonpartisan Census Bureau has severed ties with the group. The question is, 'Who will be the last person left on this sinking ship'?"

Pearce Demands End to Sanctuary Cities.

Arizona State Senate

1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007

Sen. Russell Pearce, R-18
Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee
602-926-5760

NEWS RELEASE


Oct. 21, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pearce Demands End to Sanctuary City and “Catch and Release” Policies

Legislation would crack down on these illegal practices



(STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX) – State Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, J.D. Hayworth, Phoenix Law Enforcement Association President Mark Spencer and others today demanded the end to sanctuary city and “catch and release” policies and pledged to deal with recent attempts by the federal government to erode the progress made in Arizona in combating this problem. Pearce announced he will file a citizen’s initiative and has the support of the Governor’s Office to eliminate these illegal practices.



“We pledge to work with the governor to end these ‘catch and release’ policies and remove the political handcuffs on our law enforcement. Enough is enough,” Pearce said. “The Governor’s Office has assured me they will work with us to end these illegal policies and support our law enforcement and our Hometown Heroes.”



Pearce points to the federal government and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano for trying to erode the progress made in Arizona with our tough and effective laws.



“If our leaders want to address the growing disdain, they must first restore trust with the American people. If you say you are going to secure our borders, then secure them, if you say you are going to enforce the law, then enforce it. If you take an oath of office then keep it,” Pearce declared.



Pearce unveiled his legislation, the “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” that would crack down on illegal immigration in the following three ways:


1. Outlawing sanctuary city policies by prohibiting cities and towns in Arizona from limiting or restricting enforcement federal immigration laws to less than the full extent of the law. This state has seen and continues to see various open border special interests groups constantly apply pressure to give illegal immigrants a pass. Outlawing sanctuary cities makes sure the dedicated men and women in Arizona law enforcement are not handcuffed by bureaucrats who would turn a blind eye to the illegal immigration crisis.



2. The second provision would make it a Class 1 misdemeanor for an illegal alien to enter into or be on any public or private land in Arizona if they are in violation of federal immigration law. The charge is elevated to a Class 4 felony if someone is convicted, deported and they return to Arizona. The charge would rise to a Class 2 felony if this person violates this section of the law while committing other crimes involving illegal drugs, weapons or terrorism.



3. The third provision puts some needed teeth in the state’s employer sanctions law. It would give civil subpoena power to prosecuting agencies enabling them to question witnesses and obtained needed documentation. That’s the same type of authority that is used by the Arizona Insurance Department and the Department of Liquor License and Control. This authority will give prosecutors the ability to more efficiently and more quickly investigate claims. It will essentially open the second half of the employer sanctions law that up until now has dealt primarily with criminal complaints against employees.



“We have seen sharp decreases in both crime and illegal immigration, which demonstrates that enforcement works. What we need to do now is safeguard that enforcement by making some much needed changes in state law. Illegal immigration creates one of the greatest hardships on working families who live in neighborhoods impacted by kidnappings, home invasions, gangs, drugs and drop houses. They see their wages depressed by greedy business owners who exploit an illegal work force. This law will also have a deterrent effect. Until the federal government wakes up to the crisis, illegal border crossers will at least be on notice to stay out of Arizona,” Pearce said.



County Attorney Andrew Thomas said “I greatly appreciate Sen. Pearce’s continuing efforts to reign in illegal immigration by giving law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to address this crisis. By strengthening our employer sanctions law, outlawing sanctuary city policies, and making it a crime to illegally immigrate into Arizona, this legislation would send a strong deterrent message to would-be illegal immigrants and the people who hire them.”



Sheriff Joe Arpaio stated, “This new legislation is very important given the fact that the federal government has moved to restrict my authority to enforce illegal immigration laws. Their recent action in doing so makes this legislation even more critical to ensure that state laws are in place so I can continue to do my job.”



Officer Mark Spencer, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association stated, “It’s never wrong to support the rule of law. Phoenix Police officers see a clear connection between illegal immigration and the quality of life in the city of Phoenix. When it comes to illegal immigration, rank and file Phoenix police officers have paid a heavy price protecting our communities. Over 80 percent of PLEA members are supportive of legislation that gives them the discretionary ability to enforce immigration statutes.”



Pearce shifted his plan to address this crisis from a call for an immediate special session to filing a citizen’s initiative and letting the voters decide. He remains open to tackling it in a special session or in the regular session that begins in January. He is pleased to have the support of the Governor’s Office to end these illegal practices.



Supporters of this legislation include the following members of the Arizona Legislature:

Rep. Frank Antenori

Rep. Cecil Ash

Rep. Ray Barnes

Rep. Andy Biggs

Rep. Judy Burges Rep. Steve Court

Rep. Rich Crandall

Rep. Sam Crump

Rep. Doris Goodale

Rep. David Gowan

Rep. Laurin Hendrix

Rep. John Kavanagh

Rep. Debbie Lesko

Rep. Lucy Mason

Rep. Nancy McLain

Rep. Steve Montenegro

Rep. Rick Murphy

Rep. Warde Nichols

Rep. Franklin Pratt

Rep. Michele Reagan

Rep. Carl Seel

Rep. David Stevens

Rep. Andy Tobin

Rep. Jerry Weiers

Rep. Jim Weiers

Rep. Vic Williams

Rep. Steve Yarbrough

Sen. Sylvia Allen

Sen. Bob Burns

Sen. Ron Gould

Sen. Linda Gray

Sen. Jack Harper

Sen. John Huppenthal

Sen. Al Melvin

Sen. Jonathan Paton

Sen. Steve Pierce

Sen. Thayer Verschoor

Sen. Jim Waring



Additional supporters of the “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act” include:

Latest poll: 89 percent of the public
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas
Mark Spencer, president, Phoenix Law Enforcement Association
Ed Tuffly, Local 2544 president, National Border Patrol Council
Brian Fieros Thomas Hardie, Local Union No. 394 Plasterers' and Cement Masons
Arizona Republican Party by a unanimous resolution
Rob Haney, Maricopa County Republican Party Chairman
Tom Husband, Maricopa County Republican Party executive director
Sandy Doty, member-at-large, Maricopa County Republican Party
Pinal Co. Sheriff Babeu
Mohave Co. Sheriff Sheahan
Yavapai Co. Sheriff Waugh
Cochise Co. Sheriff Dever
Gila Co. Sheriff Armer
Navajo Co. Sheriff Clark
Graham Co. Sheriff Allred
Greenlee Co. Sheriff Tucker
The Maricopa Deputy's Law Enforcement Association
Arizona Highway Patrol Association
Bryan Stoller, Arizona Fraternal Order of Police
Col. Albert Rodriguez , president of You Don't Speak for Me
Arizona African American Republican Club
Arizona Republican Assembly
Anna Gaines, president, American Citizens United
NAILEM
The Pachyderms
9-11 Families for a Secure America
United Sovereign America (USA)

Pearce Calls for Special Session

Pearce calls for special session to address illegal immigration crisis



WHAT:

Advocates of tougher illegal immigration laws will hold a press conference Wednesday urging Gov. Jan Brewer to call a special session to address the immigration crisis and recent attempts by the federal government to erode Arizona’s progress in combating this problem.



"If our leaders want to address the growing disdain, they must first restore trust with the American people. If you say you are going to secure our borders, then secure them, if you say we are going to enforce the law, then enforce it. If you take an oath of office, then keep it," declared Sen. Russell Pearce.



Surrounded by more than 200 police officers and other supporters, Sen. Pearce will unveil legislation that would outlaw all sanctuary cities policies and toughen sanctions on people in the country illegally. Specifics of the bill and a list of 35+ legislators and additional proponents will be distributed.


“We have seen sharp decreases in both crime and illegal immigration, which demonstrates that enforcement works. What we need to do now is safeguard that enforcement by making some much needed changes in state law,” Pearce said.




WHO:

Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas
J.D. Hayworth, talk radio show host, KFYI
Mark Spencer, president, Phoenix Law Enforcement Association
Arizona Fraternal Order of Police members
Hundreds of members of state and federal law enforcement, citizen groups, victims of violent crimes and other supporters



WHEN:

10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009



WHERE:

Arizona State Capitol, Senate lawn
1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Ariz.





###

AZ FACING MORE CUTS

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, a conservative Republican, inherited, as a result of the housing slump and a spending spree by Democrat former Governor, Janet Napolitano, a state government spending more then it was taking in. Hard, responsible, decisions had to be made and Brewer made them. She made the greatest cuts in state spending in Arizona history.

Brewer accepted reality however, budget cuts alone would not solve the budget crisis and let the Republican controlled legislature know that nothing was off the table, including the need for increased revenue to provide government services.

The governor sponsored a plan that was hailed by the Wall Street Journal as a budget breakthrough for state government and an alternative to the California tax and spend model. The plan would have repealed the hated tax on business property, would have provided one of the largest state corporate income tax cuts in the nation, from 6.97% down to 4.86% and cut all individual income tax rates by 6.6%. In exchange, the legislature would allow a one cent temporary sales tax increase to be referred to the voters. The temporary sales tax referral would have given the people of Arizona a say in how much they wanted to spend on government and would have only taken effect if they approved it.

Former U.S. Treasury economist Robert Carroll of the Tax Foundation claims that states with lower corporate tax rates have higher wages and more productivity. Small business also would have benefited from the lower rates, which would have allowed them to reinvest in their business.

Governor Brewer's plan was a, win-win, for Arizona and an agreement was reached with the Republican Caucus of both the House and the Senate to repeal the business property tax and cut the corporate and individual income tax rate in exchange for a referral to the voters of a temporary sales tax increase of one cent.

The Arizona House approved the agreement but two extremist in the Republican controlled Senate, Pamela Gorman and Ron Gould, who both claim to be Republican, broke ranks and voted with the Democrats against the sales tax referral and therefore killed the agreement.

Arizona now faces a $1,5 billion deficit for the FY 2010 and possibly a $3 billion deficit next year unless draconian cuts are made in state spending.

The governor's office has asked state agency directors to submit plans for a possible additional 15% cut in their budgets.

Some state agencies have reported what they would have to cut if budget cuts of 15% were required of their agencies because extremist in the legislature insist on cuts to close the state budget deficit.

According to a report in today's Arizona Republic.

The Arizona Department of Corrections would be forced to reduce its budget by $153 million. which would require;

* Early release of 13,000 prisoners.

* Reducing mandatory time served by 50 percent for most serious felonies,

* Closing the Arizona State Prison Complex at Douglas and the prisons at Globe, Fort Grant, and St. Johns,

* Laying off 1,500 employees.

In his letter to Brewer's budget director, Eileen Klein, DOC Director Charles Ryan explained, "Rewriting the criminal code and releasing thousands of prisoners is neither realistic nor in the best interest of public safety," and that , "Releasing thousands of prisoners because of the budget deficit will place the public at risk and is akin to turning our back on the law-abiding citizens of Arizona."

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality warned of increased noncompliance at landfills and bio-hazardous medical waste treatment facilities and reduced monitoring of pesticides entering the water systems in Arizona.

Arizona's universities, ASU, UofA and NAU, have already cut $231 million, or 21% of their state funding this year and estimate that a 15 % cut would equal an additional $135 million is cuts.

Regents President Ernest Calderon reported that, "We'd have to look at everything." Calderon explained that 15% was the equivalent of $1,300 in additional annual tuition charges per student or the elimination of 2,200 jobs.

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, (AHCCCS), would be forced to reduce its budget by $44 million and would have to eliminate its Kids Care program, which currently covers 46,957 children, who would lose their health insurance coverage.

The Department of Public Safety, (DPS), Director, Roger Vanderpool, during a radio interview today said he would have fever officers, resulting in longer response time to emergencies. He estimated 570 to 600 employee cuts.

We may have to suffer further cuts that may turn Arizona into a third world state and seriously hurt the Republican party in future elections for the legislature and the governor's office, but Senator Pamela Gorman, who is eyeing a Congressional seat and Senator Ron Gould, can always say they never voted for a tax increase or referral and are therefore champions of the taxpayer, of course what is good for Gorman and Gould comes first before; country, state, community or party, at least according to Gorman and Gould.


Bob Haran,
American Conservative Republican

Hayworth Considering Run Against McCain

According to a report in the Washington Post by Chris Cillizza, "former representative J.D. Hayworth is weighing a candidacy against Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) in 2010, according to sources familiar with his thinking. Hayworth, a former sportscaster who spent more than a decade in Congress before he was defeated in 2006 by Rep. Harry Mitchell (D), is a popular figure among grassroots conservatives -- a status McCain has never courted or achieved. McCain already faces a primary challenge from Chris Simcox, a founder of the Minutemen -- a leading anti-immigration group. While there is considerable resentment from some grassroots conservatives toward McCain, it's not clear that he is vulnerable to a primary challenge. McCain ended June with $4.65 million in the bank."

GOP NEEDS BUCKLEYS Not BIRTHERS & GLENN BECK

OPINION

By Will Munsil - ASU

I begin by clarifying objectives: Like you, I desire a vibrant, intellectually serious, politically ascendant conservatism.

In political debates, we are often grateful for aid, from wherever it may come. But in the current struggle — a necessary one, I hasten to add — against the political agenda of President Barack Obama, too many conservatives have fallen to the temptation to find no enemies to the Right.

This has meant we have accepted, tacitly or explicitly, the aid of Glenn Beck, Orly Taitz, Michael Savage and the thousand anonymous lunatics called “Birthers” who maintain, clear evidence to the contrary, that Obama was born elsewhere, and serves in violation of the Constitution.

We have accepted, tacitly or explicitly, the Godwin’s Law-flaunting ravings of those who would compare the president, with clever ambiguities, to certain historical dictators.

We have accepted the metaphor of politics as war, and we have accepted that we must fight, as in war, with whatever weapons are at hand.

It’s easy enough to denounce the insane ranting of the Birthers, and we should. They destroy our credibility and damage our better arguments against the president’s agenda.

But we must also realize that many of the voices that have led conservatism in the past are not the voices that must lead it into the future.

William F. Buckley, the man most responsible for creating the intellectual movement that flounders today, was once faced with a familiar choice. Before Bush, before Reagan, and even before Goldwater, he was confronted with the dilemma of the John Birch Society.

The members of the society, to draw an easy modern comparison, were the Birthers of the 1960s. They were convinced that 60 to 80 percent of the American government was communist, that Eisenhower had been their agent and that anyone who did not accept these arguments was a willing accomplice to the Soviets.

Buckley treated them like the menace they were, writing what he termed a “five thousand word excoriation” of them in National Review.

We can cast out our Birchers, but where are our Buckleys?

Unlike in the 1960s, there is an intellectual void in conservatism. The market has spoken, and in many ways we have the leaders we deserve. Our side of the debate is driven by Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, the aforementioned Beck and by whichever congressman has most recently insulted the president. This is not to say these are bad people, or even that they’ve never contributed to the movement.

It is simply to say that a vibrant, intellectually serious, politically ascendant conservatism needs new voices, and that a modern American conservatism must take a new shape.

True conservatism, winning conservatism, is not afraid of argument. It is not angry or shrill. It does not call names. It does not denigrate the intellect. It is calm and measured. It is passionate in defense of great truths, yet reasonable in small differences.

We will discover new voices, ones that speak the language of our changing country instead of shouting at it for changing.

Until then, we race into uneasy exile when our country needs us most.

Reach Will at wmunsil@asu.edu.

TRENT FRANKS UNDER ATTACK

By Helaine Chersonsky
　
Liberal blog, Huffington Post, attacked Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ)
for comments Franks made at last weekend's "Take Back America" conference held in St. Louis, MO. The conference was sponsored by the American Family Association.

Franks criticized President Barack Obama's first act as president when he sent taxpayer money to fund abortions in other countries "in the middle of a financial meltdown."

The blog has posted a video on its site showing Franks' remarks about Obama.
Franks, who is staunchly pro-life, said if a president would prioritize abortion to that extent "there's almost nothing that you should be surprised at after that."