AZ Judge Blocks Pro-Life Laws

From the Center for Arizona Policy.

September 30, 2009

State Court Stops New Abortion Measures from Taking Effect!

Late Tuesday, Maricopa County Judge Donald Daughton agreed with Planned Parenthood and decided that key provisions of Arizona's new abortion laws should not go into effect as scheduled on September 30. The judge gave no reasons for his decision but simply accepted Planned Parenthood's assertion that portions of the law should not be enforced while the lawsuit continues. Judge Daughton further denied our motion to intervene in the lawsuit.

For now, the judge's ruling has the following result:
Non-doctors like nurse practitioners may continue to perform first trimester surgical abortions.
Women do not have a right to an in-person consultation with a doctor 24 hours before having an abortion.
A parent's consent to their minor daughter's abortion does not have to be notarized.
Arizona's law granting rights of conscience protection does not cover abortion medication or pharmacists and pharmacy owners.

Judge Daughton's ruling, however, does allow these provisions to go into effect:


24-hour waiting period after the woman is provided information by a "qualified staff member" (although not necessarily in person), including the name of the doctor performing the abortion, the nature of the procedure, its risks and alternatives.
Women cannot be coerced into having an abortion.
Women cannot be forced to pay for an abortion before the 24-hour waiting period.
Women have a right to sue if the information is not provided.
Parents have a right to sue if the abortion clinic violates the parental consent statute.

In contrast, U.S. District Judge David Campbell in the federal case filed by Center for Reproductive Rights issued a 23-page ruling that abortion advocates had not met the legal standard for him to keep the law from being enforced.


We are very disappointed that Judge Daughton appeared to give little consideration to the needs of women considering an abortion. The blocked provisions are common sense regulations intended to protect the rights of women, parents, and health care professionals. Yesterday's rulings, however, are only "Round 1" in what promises to be a long legal battle.


CAP and our allies will continue to work to defend and protect these laws in their entirety. Now is not the time to grow weary or faint. Rather, it is the time to persevere. We very much appreciate your partnering with us to defend these laws.

SHERIFF"S OFFICE COLLARS 40 ILLEGALS IN 4 HOURS

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), has reported that they arrested 40 illegal aliens during a four hour human smuggling saturation patrol in the North Valley Tuesday night. The arrest were made during four separate traffic stops near Anthem Way under the 287g agreement between the federal government and MCSO.

Those arrested last night admitted to paying between $1,000 to $5,000 for illegal entry into the United States from Mexico.

25 of those arrested by sheriff's deputies were taken into custody under Arizona human smuggling charges, which is a class four felony. The remaining 15 illegal aliens were arrested and processed by the sheriff's office and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The MCSO reported that Tuesday night's arrest bring the total booked under Arizona human smuggling charges by sheriff's deputies to 1,637 since the state law was enacted.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio commented on recent reports that claim the flow of illegal aliens has slowed down into the United States but every time his deputies have gone out they have had no problem making numerous arrests in short periods of time.

One week ago deputies arrested four illegal aliens from The People's Republic of China originating from Beijing.

Arpaio stated that a decision has not yet been made on whether or not the controversial 287g contract will be renewed as the deadline for signing is rapidly approaching.

THE OBAMA MALAISE

By Helaine Chersonsky

I have worked consistently during the past 30 years as a journalist, corrections officer for the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, and for an airline. Each time I was out of work, I quickly found another job within various professions and organizations. Not this time; not during Obama/Time. For the past five years I had a job I loved- working for an airline. I loved wearing our new, classy uniforms, loved helping people get to their destinations, both domestic and internationally, loved the customer interaction. Now I am on furlough from my job at the T. F. Green Airport in Providence, R. I.; a product of the general malaise throughout the economy; not as many people are flying, and business travel has dipped way down. So, I am laid off , along with the other 14.5 million Americans. (This figure was published in the September 27th issue of the New York Times, under the article “U.S. Job Seekers Exceed Openings by Record Ratio,” by Peter S. Goodman.)
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Yesterday, was the Jewish High Holiday of Yom Kippur; I observed the holiday by going to services at conservative Temple Beth Israel and visiting my cousins, who have a jewelry store in Waltham, MA on Moody Street. My two uncles started the string of medium-priced jewelry stores over 60 years ago, after they came back from serving in the Pacific Theater in World War II. I know the business struggled at first; their first store in Marlboro didn’t do as well as their second larger store in Waltham. The Moody Street store took off, and served as the launching pad for other stores on Arsenal Street in Watertown, Burlington and Peabody.

The Waltham and Arsenal street stores are holding their own, but my cousin Bobby, who manages the Waltham store along with my other cousins said when ObamaCare gets passed, that will mean a tax increase for the store, plus added insurance costs. Think more layoffs throughout America, especially in small businesses, once the ObamaCare Express begins in earnest.

There is a general sense of unease now that some people can't put their fingers on similar to the Carter year’s misery index throughout the 1970's. We‘re not through yet because Obama/Management hasn't yet hit . I have a sense that the recession/depression hasn’t dropped yet. It’s as if the country is holding its breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. The real effect of the recession is holding off, I guess, until Obamacare is passed, then businesses will take a look at the tax bite the health care bill will take out of them and lay off more people. Then the malaise index will rise; the middle class will again feel the squeeze of recession and Massachusetts liberals will blame the last eight years of the Bush presidency for it all.

Sheriff Joe Fights Back

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio seems to be getting a little tired of being under attack by the Arizona Republic and instead of surrendering to those that by ink by the barrel, he has decided to take the bull by the horns and wrote a Special to the Republic article fighting back.

What follows is Sheriff Joe's Special to the Republic.
The real witch hunt is vs. Sheriff's Office
by Joe Arpaio - Sept. 26, 2009 12:00 AM
Special for the Republic

The Arizona Republic's editorial on Wednesday suggests that the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office should be removed from the investigation of Don Stapley because of a political dispute between the Board of Supervisors member and myself ("Sheriff must be removed from Stapley case").

What nonsense.

As usual, the paper's Editorial Board fails to mention some very pertinent points that run contrary to their assertions.

First, the Maricopa County Anti-Corruption Enforcement Unit was started by County Attorney Andrew Thomas and me in 2007 with the aim of fighting political corruption and white-collar crime.

It is the duty of both offices to follow up on any and all leads pointing to the possibility of such crimes.

Turning their backs on information out of political favor to a fellow elected official would be tantamount to dereliction of duty.

Additionally, our offices are not the only law enforcement agencies to investigate elected officials.

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, a Democrat and apparent darling of The Arizona Republic Editorial Board, over the years has also investigated several of Arizona's elected Republican officials for various crimes.

Goddard's investigations often were not earth-shaking. Charges were minor, many were reduced, and still other cases were found not guilty. Why doesn't The Arizona Republic shame Goddard for his poor record as it so willingly does County Attorney Thomas and me?

The newspaper also makes the claim in its editorial that I only go after my political enemies, such as County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, former county schools Superintendent Sandra Dowling, Stapley and Goddard.

The fact of the matter is this: None of these officials were my adversaries when the investigations against them launched. To say that each one was a friend of mine would go too far; it's true, because in politics, a person has no friends. But they were by no means my enemies.
The paper also makes the claim that my deputies went after Dowling on a Sunday morning, replete with armored SWAT team members and three helicopters. The search warrant was executed on a Wednesday evening, not a Sunday morning; there were no armored SWAT members present and no sheriff's helicopters were called to the scene. The fact is that the Dowling case was indicted by Goddard, with the final decision being made by prosecutors. It was not my doing.

The paper constantly criticizes me for orchestrating political witch hunts, and yet it fails to write about what a huge political witch hunt is now going on against me. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice are investigating me and my office. Why? Because politically they disagree with how I enforce illegal-immigration and corruption laws in Maricopa County.

The Arizona Republic has joined forces in the witch hunt and has printed numerous misleading headlines, editorial commentaries and negative news articles relating to illegal-immigration and corruption cases.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander, except at The Arizona Republic, where writers and editors always make me out as the evil villain of Maricopa County. They have done this now for 17 years, and sadly, there is no end in sight.


Joe Arpaio is sheriff of Maricopa County

A COURAGEOUS GOVERNOR

Bill McCune is a broadcaster, documentary maker and former Arizona legislator. In the Opinions Section of Today's Republic, McCune authored a Special to the Republic titled, "Brewer's Valor Merits Spot in History Books."

There is a difference between today's politicians and yesterday's political leaders. This article shines a light on the problem with today's political community. Too many politicians put themselves first and the good of the country and community last. Politics has become more of a business then a public service. The only concern our current crop of elected officials seem to have is how to get re-elected.. Public policy is being determined by campaign contributions and public opinion polls and not the public good. And powerful special interest have learned who to contribute to and how to manipulate public opinion to get what they want.

Where have all the statesmen gone?

In this last season of the Arizona Legislature, some members have been guided by dogma instead of practicality, theory over reality, and a pledge to a protegee of corrupt political operative Jack Abramoff, Grover Norquist, over doing what Arizona must do to close a devastating budget gap.

What follows is the full article by Bill McCune .


Brewer's Valor Merits Spot in History Books.
by Bill McCune, September 22, 2009.

Other then some political TV reporting, I have not spent time at the Legislature since I left the state Senate in January 1977. My focus has been Arizona history and the 80-odd documentary projects I've produced.

This year, however, the Legislature captured my attention - and not in a good way. It makes my mind wander back and remember others who had qualities quite in contrast:

I was in awe of Sandra Day O'Connor and Burton Barr as they worked to create a school-tax equalization law.

I remember legislators such as David Kret of Scottsdale and John Wettaw of Flagstaff.
Brillant! Tom Goodwin of Tucson made the University of Arizona Medical School happen. And Howard Adams, himself quadriplegic, gave Arizona its emergency-medical services and put paramedics into every fire department.

Every name I mentioned was a "conservative" Republican.

Now, we turn to that sad aggregation of today's legislative leadership. I wonder if any of the landmark legislation mentioned above would have been approved by the current cast. "Too expensive," So much for Arizona's future.

"Gotta get rid of government! What matters is this year's tax bills...and next year's election."

A real conservative takes a different approach:

Today, we struggle. We have to raise more revenue for a year or two perhaps. Revenue means taxes. It's the true conservative approach - balance the damn budget! It's in our Arizona Constitution.

And finally, this; if memory serves, Gov. Jan Brewer's very first political activity was campaigning door to door for my re-election to the House in 1972. Today, Jan and I would probably disagree on many issues. And that's just fine, for more importantly she has turned out to be a profile in courage.

She has stood up for her righteous beliefs - for schoolchildren, for the mentally and physically challenged. And stood up to pay for it! This, in direct opposition to the small-minded powers of her own angry party. Politically, she has everything to lose. And, indeed, may well lose it.

But in producing Arizona history documentaries, I've studied the political career of every Arizona governor. Never before has one so consciously chosen to stand up and be counted, come what may.

We are witnessing a courageous, historic moment in Arizona history.

DON STAPLEY ARRESTED

DON STAPLEY ARRESTED


Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies arrested Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley about 9:30 AM on 93 new felony counts relating to campaign fraud; including the use of campaign funds to pay personal bills.

Stapley was booked into the downtown fourth Avenue Jail for new allegations unrelated to his previous indictment which is currently being appealed, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office reported in a news release.

Today's arrest stems from an eight month investigation into Stapley's business and campaign accounts. Sheriff Joe Arpaio said this new investigation began as a result of information uncovered by his deputies earlier this year.

"Our investigation began in January of this year and concluded just days ago, on September 11, 2009. After a brief supervisory review of the investigation, deputies were able to locate Stapley and arrested him," Arpaio said.

The 93 felony and 7 misdemeanor allegations are for fraudulent schemes involving his mortgage and loan businesses, campaign account fraud, tax return fraud and campaign fraud which allege Stepley used campaign funds to pay personal bills and pad personal accounts.

Stapley currently is in jail and scheduled for arraignment this afternoon.

McCain a Little ACORN

This was discovered on Facebook from Michelle Malkin's Blog, it shows how changable Sen. John McCain can be.


Sigh: McCain and his friends at…ACORN
By Michelle Malkin • October 13, 2008 01:14 PM
If you want to know why see-sawing John McCain has had to be goaded, prodded, begged, and dragged into spotlighting Barack Obama’s radical ACORN roots, here’s your answer:

Turns out John McCain had no problem calling ACORN members his friends during his ill-fated illegal alien shamnesty crusade.

Ugh.

Here’s a February 2006 press release trumpeting McCain’s appearance at a pro-shamnesty rally organized by a coalition led by ACORN. As the release notes, he made a second appearance for the group in NYC. Read it and gag:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Major Rally in Miami to Support Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Senator John McCain and many others to speak at the rally at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus

Miami, Florida – February 20, 2006 ― Leaders from a diverse array of sectors will hold a rally in Miami on Thursday, February 23, 2006, in support of comprehensive immigration reform in an effort to keep immigration reform at the forefront of the public debate. Leaders from both political parties, immigrant communities, labor, business, and religious organizations will gather to call on Washington to enact workable reform.

The rally will feature Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) as the headline speaker along with elected officials, immigrants and key local and national leaders. Sen. McCain is one of the chief sponsors of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act; bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform legislation introduced last Congress and scheduled for consideration by the Senate in the coming weeks. A similar rally with Sen. McCain is planned for New York City on February 27.

WHO: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL.), and immigrant, religious, community, business and labor leaders.

WHAT: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Rally

WHEN: Thursday, February 23, at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus

Chapman Conference Center
Bldg 3000
300 NE 2nd Avenue

EDITOR’S NOTE: Miami Press Availability: Sen. McCain will be available for interviews starting at 4:15 p.m. on location, Feb. 23.

The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act was introduced in the Senate by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and John McCain (R-AZ) and in the House by Representatives Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). It addresses border security and illegal immigration while bringing the 11 million undocumented immigrants out from the shadows and onto a path to legal permanent status; setting up legal channels and realistic caps for workers and family members to enter in the future; providing for tough enforcement; and enabling more immigrants to learn English and prepare for citizenship.

The rally in Miami is being sponsored by the New American Opportunity campaign (NAOC) in partnership with ACORN, Catholic Legal Services – Archdiocese of Miami, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Miami Dade College, People for the American Way/Mi Familia Vota en Acción, Service Employees International Union, and UNITE HERE.

ACORN is now gleefully reminding McCain of his common cause with the group to paint itself as bipartisan — while at the same time issuing the usual strident, anti-conservative statements that ought to be immediate grounds for revoking its non-profit tax status.

“I’ll rely on people to judge me by the company that I keep,” McCain said in February.

That’s not working out so well now, is it?

VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL EXHIBIT COMING TO AZ

"All Gave Some - Some Gave All"

A replica of "The Wall," as Vietnam vets refer to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., will be on display in Phoenix, Arizona at the Phoenix Memorial Park located at 200 W. Bearsley Rd in north Phoenix.

Free and open to the public 24 hours a day from Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20, the replica's black reflective surface is inscribed with the names of the more then 58,000 American who gave their lives or are still listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War.

The three day exhibit is sponsored locally by Phoenix Memorial Park and VFW Post 9400.

"The monument was created as a service to those who might never travel to the nation's capital to experience the Vietnam Veterans Memorial firsthand," said Dan Salter, director of Dignity Memorial providers in the Phoenix area. Our replica offers visitors a chance for healing and reflection, we are very pleased to be able to share it with the community." he said.

The exhibit will open to the public Friday, Sept 18. Opening ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m.

On Saturday, Sept 19. a sunset POW/MIA ceremony will include a candlelight vigil and the reading of the names of prisoners of war and those missing in action, MIA.

Closing Ceremonies will begin at 2:45 p.m. Sunday , Sept. 20 with a motorcycle salute to Vietnam veterans and will conclude with the burial of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vault of items and memorabilia left at the exhibit . The burial ceremony will include a 12-gun salute and the playing of taps.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington is the most visited National Park Service site.

Each year the replica crisscrosses the country , allowing millions of visitors to see and touch its black, mirror-like surface inscribed with the names of those who gave their all in Vietnam.

After Phoenix, the exhibit will be on display in Houston, Texas.

ANGRY ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST IN D.C.

Anti-Government Demonstration Draws Tens of Thousands to D.C.

By Emma Brown and James Hohmann
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, September 12, 2009 2:52 PM



Conservative protesters by the tens of thousands crowded outside the U.S. Capitol on Saturday, a massive demonstration aimed at stopping what organizers called the over-expansion of the federal government under the Obama administration.

"Hell hath no fury like a taxpayer scorned," declared Andrew Moylan, head of government affairs for the National Taxpayer Union, urging protesters to call their representatives. "You're being ignored today by the media and some politicians."

The crowd -- loud, rambunctious and sprawling -- gathered at the foot of the Capitol after a march along Pennsyvania Avenue from Freedom Plaza. Invocations of God and former President Reagan by the an array speakers drew loud cheers, echoing across the Mall. On a windy, overcast afternoon, hundreds of yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flags flapped in the breeze, mingled with U.S. and Texas state flags.

"We own the dome," the crowd chanted loudly, pointing at the Capitol.

Estimates of the number of protesters varied widely but about 30,000 people have registered online for the march, according to one of the rally's sponsors, FreedomWorks, a Washington-based group headed by former House majority leader Dick Armey (R-Tex.).

"You will not spend the money of our children and our grandchildren to feed an overstuffed government," Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) said of the Obama administration, drawing loud cheers from the throng on the west side of the Capitol.

"Our history is decorated by those who endured the burden of defending freedom," Price said. "Now a new generation of patriots has emerged. You are those patriots."

FreedomWorks and other sponsors, including Tea Party Patriots and ResistNet, comprise a loose coalition of conservative groups that helped organize several health-care and anti-tax rallies during the spring and summer.

At the Federal Triangle Metro stop, demonstrators emerged from packed trains and broke into a rendition of "God Bless America" as they rode escalators to the street.

"Nobody's standing up for us, so we have to stand up for ourselves," said Phil Chancey, 66, who drove to the District from Clinton, Tenn., for the rally. The sign he carried, deriding the president health-care reform plan, read, "OBAMACARE MAKES ME SICK."

Participants in the demonstrations span the spectrum of conservative anger at Obama, including opponents of his tax, spending and health-care plans and protesters who question Obama's U.S. citizenship and liken his administration to the Nazi regime. By 11 a.m., the route between Freedom Plaza and the Capitol was a sea of demonstrators chanting "USA!" and carrying signs such as, "Taxed enough already," "The audacity of dope" and, "Czars belong in Russia."

Most signs were hand made: "Socialism is UnAmerican," "King George Didn't Listen Either!" "Terrorists Won't Destroy America, Congress Will!" "The American Dream R.I.P."

Debbie Wilson, 51 of Apollo Beach, Fla., flew to Washington last Sunday to make a week out of the protest. She drove to colonial Williamsburg in a rented car.

"We want our country to go back to the roots of doing what our Founding Fathers wanted us to do -- less government in every aspect of my life," she said. "We walked the streets of Williamsburg, and it felt like we were learning how to be a patriot."

Dozens of signs mentioned Rep. Joe Wilson, (R-S.C.), who jeered at Obama during his health-care speech to Congress on Wednesday night. Dee Meredith, 62 of Callao, Va., said she had never of Wilson before he shouted at the president, "You lie!" At the rally, Meredith waved a placard: "Thank You Joe Wilson."

"We're the forgotten people, and he's given us a voice," she said.

When Armey, in his address to the crowd, referred to Obama having pledged to uphold the Constitution, the protesters shouted at the president in absentia: "Liar! Liar!"

Jeff Mapps, 29, a stagehand and labor union member from South Philadelphia, left home about 6 a.m. to come to the protest. He said he hadn't been involved in previous Tea Party demonstrations, but he watches Fox News host Glenn Beck "all the time" and he wanted to be a part of something he thinks will be historic. Beck has been drumming up support for the march.

Holding a sign that said "Preserve, Protect, Defend" on a Red Line Metro train packed with conservative activists, Mapps fretted over a "blatant disregard for the Constitution."

"We've been watching it for six to eight months," he said. "It was finally an opportunity to get involved. It's been boiling over . . . It's not just about health care. It's about so much more than that."

Anna Hayes, 58, a nurse from Fairfax County, stood on the Mall in 1981 for Reagan's inauguration. "The same people were celebrating freedom," she said. "The president was fighting for the people then. I remember those years very well and fondly."

Saying she was worried about "Obamacare," Hayes said: "This is the first rally I've been to that demonstrates against something, the first in my life. I just couldn't stay home anymore."

Like countless others at the rally, Joan Wright, 78 of Ocean Pines, Md., sounded angry. "I'm not taking this crap anymore," said Wright, who came by bus to Washington with 150 like-minded residents of Maryland's Eastern Shore. "I don't like the health-care [plan]. I don't like the czars. And I don't like the elitists telling us what we should do or eat."

UPDATE: 9/13/09 05:11

NBC Evening News last night reported crowds in Washington, D.C. to be in the hundreds of thousands and a sea of people stretching from the U.S. Capitol to the White House.

PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST SHOT AND KILLED IN MICHIGAN

Authorities have charged an Owosso, Michigan, man with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder in the Friday shooting deaths of an anti-abortion activist and another man, a prosecutor's office said.

Activist Jim Pouillon was shot and killed Friday while protesting outside Owosso High School.

Authorities say the suspect, Harlan James Drake, was offended by anti-abortion material that the activist had displayed across from the school all week.
Drake, 33, is accused of shooting anti-abortion activist Jim Pouillon, 63, and Michael Fuoss, 61, who were killed in separate locations Friday morning, the prosecutor's office in Shiawassee County said.

Authorities also have charged Drake with a felony firearm count and carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, the prosecutor's office said.

Drake also is suspected of "attempting to locate a third victim without success," the office said.

He was arraigned Friday and is being held without bail, the office said. It was not immediately known whether he had an attorney.

Pouillon, whose anti-abortion activity was well-known in the area, was protesting across the street from Owosso High School about 7:20 a.m. Friday when he was killed by several shots fired from a passing vehicle, Owosso Police Chief Michael Compeau said.

Several people witnessed the shooting, and one was able to provide a license number, he said.

About an hour later, Owosso police officers found the suspect, Compeau said.

"At the time of his arrest, the suspect made statements that he was involved in another homicide in Shiawassee County the same day," he said.

Sheriff George Braidwood said a call had come to a 911 dispatch center about 8:17 a.m. saying that an employee at Fuoss Gravel, outside Owosso, had discovered the owner, Michael Fuoss, dead. He had been shot several times, Braidwood said.

Authorities believe that Fuoss and the suspect knew each other, Braidwood said.

According to Sara Edwards of the county prosecutor's office, authorities do not believe that Drake knew Pouillon.

Operation Save America, the anti-abortion group of which Pouillon was a member, said in a written statement that he was "well known for his love of Christ and unborn children."

The Owosso school district went into immediate lockdown after the shooting outside of the high school and remained so until the suspect was in custody, Compeau said


The high school's administration offered parents the option of picking up their children, he said. All after-school activities were canceled, he added.

Owosso, a town of about 15,000 people, is about 25 miles west of Flint, Michigan.

Census Bureau drops ACORN

WASHINGTON - The Census Bureau on Friday severed its ties with ACORN, a community organization that has been hit with Republican accusations of voter-registration fraud.

"We do not come to this decision lightly," Census director Robert Groves wrote in a letter to ACORN, which was obtained by The Associated Press.

In splitting with ACORN, Groves sought to tamp down GOP concerns and negative publicity that the partnership will taint the 2010 head count.

"It is clear that ACORN's affiliation with the 2010 census promotion has caused sufficient concern in the general public, has indeed become a distraction from our mission, and may even become a discouragement to public cooperation, negatively impacting 2010 census efforts," Groves wrote.

Stephen Buckner, a census spokesman, confirmed the letter, but declined additional comment.

ACORN spokesman Scott Levenson did not immediately return a request for comment.

In recent months, Republicans have become increasingly critical of the census' ties with ACORN, which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. The group, which advocates for poor people, conducted a massive voter registration effort last year and became a target of conservatives when some employees were accused of submitting false registration forms with names such as "Mickey Mouse."

ACORN has said only a handful of employees submitted false registration forms and did so in a bid to boost their pay.

Partly citing ACORN's role, Sens. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and David Vitter, R-La., earlier this year blocked a full confirmation vote of Groves for several weeks. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., also has been calling for a census boycott because of her concerns about whether the group would tamper with the high-stakes population count.

Up to now, the Census Bureau had defended ACORN's involvement, explaining it was one of 80,000 unpaid volunteer groups that the bureau hoped would be able to raise local awareness. But in his letter, Groves said it no longer had confidence that ACORN was effectively managing the partnership.

ACORN fired two employees who were seen on hidden-camera video giving tax advice to a man posing as a pimp and a woman who pretended to be a prostitute. Fox News Channel broadcast excerpts from the video on Thursday. On the video, a man and woman visiting ACORN's Baltimore office asked about buying a house and how to account on tax forms for the woman's income. An ACORN employee advised the woman to list her occupation as "performance artist."

In a statement, ACORN Maryland board member Margaret Williams said the video was an attempt to smear ACORN, and that undercover teams attempted similar setups in at least three other ACORN offices. Williams said no tax returns were filed and no assistance was provided.

PULLEN WRITES ON LATINO AND GOP VALUES.

The following was published in the September issue of "Latino Perspective" magazine.
my perspective on: Latinos and the Arizona Republican Party
A sharing of values
By Randy Pullen

Imagine a political organization that is truly built from the ground up. An organization that learns from its mistakes and gets better. A group of people who believe in self reliance and encourage an independent spirit. An organization that implements new and innovative strategies in public policy. An organization which believes that individual rights and responsibilities are the foundation of a free society. That political organization exists. And it is the Arizona Republican Party.

Last year’s Democrat tsunami taught Republicans around the country a valuable lesson. Americans will hold you accountable if you get off track. While other Republican states were unable to withstand a political tsunami of Democrat support, I am proud to say that Republicans in Arizona did remarkably well. In fact, we picked up seats in the state Legislature and scored wins at nearly every level of elective office. While we are proud of those achievements, we will not rest on our laurels.

Since being reelected as chairman of the AZGOP last January, the party has undergone a thoughtful and thorough review of our operations. We have identified areas of concern and have taken steps toward improving our political organization.

One of the areas in which we have rededicated ourselves is our outreach efforts into the Latino community. The Republican Party shares much in common with Latinos. We maintain strong bonds with family and we are strongly patriotic. We have great appreciation for our military troops and those who have fought for our freedom. Our commitment to protecting life and our religious traditions endure. We take pride in our ability to be productive citizens. As Ronald Reagan once said, a person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend not a foe. The Republican Party understands that we need to do a better job communicating the values we share, instead of letting others mistakenly define that relationship for us.

The AZGOP has added a new Coalitions Department to our organization to improve this effort. We are creating new materials promoting our intent and have incorporated new technologies to enhance our ability to communicate the Republican message of lower taxes and smaller government. With Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, blogs and a new Web site, we will expand our effort to encourage participation and an ongoing dialog.

Improving our relationship with Latino voters is a top priority for the Arizona Republican Party. For too long, the Democratic party has taken the Latino vote for granted and pushed liberal, anti-family policies assuming that Latinos will vote Democrat regardless of how little they represent the Latino values. I think it might be time for that to change. For those frustrated with the leadership of the Democrat Party, I would suggest that they take a look at the Republican Party platform and discover how much we have in common.

Much has been made of declining voter enrollments for the Republican and Democrat parties. Across the nation, the Republican Party lost ground to the Democrats in voter registration throughout the 2008 election cycle.

Although Republicans still maintain the advantage in registration totals, there is still plenty of work to be done in order to prepare for the 2010 election cycle. We must work harder than ever to register voters, successfully communicate our message and recruit strong candidates that can win on Election Day.

The Latino community is a vital part of the Arizona Republican Party as we share a wide range of common interests. Working together, we can make a difference in Arizona’s future. A future which reflects our principles and values. A future that respects the right to self-determination and a level playing field on which to achieve it.

Randy Pullen is the Arizona Republican Party Chairman and Republican National Committee Treasurer.






This article appears in the September 2009 issue of Latino Perspectives Magazine.

ANDY THOMAS EXPLORING RUN FOR AG

The Arizona Republic has reported that Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas will officially form an exploratory committee today for election in 2010 as Arizona Attorney General.

Two other Republicans, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and Arizona Representative Sam Crump of LD 6, have already announced an interest in running for AG in 2010, along with Democrat Arizona Representative David Lujan.

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, a Democrat, is term limited and has said he is running for governor. Goddard is the son of former Arizona Governor Sam Goddard and is a former mayor of Phoenix. In 2002, Goddard defeated Thomas, who was the Republican nominee for AG.

During Thomas' time as county attorney he made a name for himself as a fighter of illegal immigration and corruption. His relations with the county board of supervisors as been sometimes stormy since indicting Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley.

Some county officials are looking forward to Thomas leaving the office of county attorney. Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek said that in the past 8 to 10 month, Thomas has turned the law "into a weapon" against them, The Republic reported.

Maricopa County Manager David Smith said that it would take a change of players to fix the dysfunction in county government.

Thomas has until May 26, 2010 to formally announce and, because of the resign to run law, resign as county attorney, then the board of supervisors would appoint an interim county attorney to hold the office until a special election in November of 2010 for someone to serve the last two years of Thomas' term.

IRON LADY of ARIZONA TAKES ACTION

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today signed some budget bills to keep state government alive and line-item vetoed others with school funding cuts.

$250 million property tax repeal vetoed, casualty of refusal by a few extremist senators to allow voters to decide question of one cent temporary sales tax increase.

STATEMENT BY ARIZONA GOVERNOR JAN BREWER,
Source, Eye on the 9th Floor.

Good afternoon.

Today I have approved a number of budget bills that will allow state government to continue important operations -- and I have vetoed legislation that needs additional work and compromise.

Just as I said last March – I will NOT give up on the future of our State. I will NOT give up on education, I will NOT give up on the fight for our most vulnerable citizens -- and I will NOT allow the state we all love to fall into the abyss of bankruptcy.

The voters of Arizona don’t want me to give up, and I WILL NOT give up on them.

Right now, Arizona faces a roughly $4 billion deficit. We are spending roughly $11 billion, and we are bringing in roughly $7 billion.

So what can we all do – in addition to my actions today -- to solve this historic problem?

This fall and in the next regular session of the Legislature, legislative leaders and I must work to break the stranglehold that a handful of Republican and Democratic EXTREMISTS have on the Arizona legislature.

We cannot cut our way out of this problem. We cannot tax our way out of this problem. BOTH solutions will be necessary to resolve this crisis, and doing both will take incredible political courage and compromise.

This is a NOT a political game. It is gravely serious. It is a time to set aside political agendas, or personal campaign agendas, and -- for once -- place our State ahead of the tired and uncivil politics of the most extreme in both Parties.

46 Republicans, all but an extreme few, have now courageously trusted the voters on the issue of a temporary one-cent sales tax.

I have always trusted the voters during my 27 years as an elected official, and 46 Republicans have demonstrated – SO DO THEY!

Whether it is now -- or whether it is in the next several weeks -- the handful of extremists on the fringes of the Legislature will see the deeper and more painful cuts that will be necessary because of their delays on resolving the state deficit. Every month that goes by only makes the deficit and the pain more severe.

My actions today -- and the clean-up bill I have proposed -- will allow our State to weather the storm at least until the next regular session of the Legislature.

Until then, the voters of this State can be confident that we will continue to prioritize education, public safety, and protect our state’s most vulnerable.

Let me reiterate once more: I am NOT giving up, I am NOT surrendering, I am NOT abandoning what the people of Arizona want me to do. I am doing what is right, and I believe they know that.

I would be happy to answer a few questions…

OPEN LETTER To PAM GORMAN With COMMENTARY

Dear Senator Gorman;

You seem to have forgotten whom you work for, please let me remind you, you work for the people of Arizona. I am a citizen of Arizona and a resident of the district you represent in the Arizona Senate, therefore, as a citizen of Arizona and a voter from the your district, you work for me.

Since the majority of the Arizona Senate and the Governor of Arizona are unable to reach an agreement concerning raising the sales tax temporarily by one cent to help close the budget gap and save some services to the people of Arizona and since you and Senator Ron Gould have blocked referral of this question to the ballot, I now want you to allow my fellow citizens and myself to decide this question by the process of a legislative referendum.

Enough is enough, you have made your point, you are against an increase in taxes, however, I really do not care about your making points, your ambition or some pledge you made to get votes, I care about Arizona.

If the governor can trust the people, why can't you?

Bob Haran,
Phoenix

This letter was sent to Senator Gorman via E-Mail on Monday, August 31, 2009.


xxx
COMMENTARY:

I have made this letter to Senator Gorman public in an effort to get her to put the people of Arizona and her party before her own petty ambition, being nice doesn't seem to work with her.

The American Conservative Republican was started because I was seeing too many elected officials and candidates for office putting their ambition and party before God and country and politics before principle. I have seen this in people from both parties and every ideology. That "me first," mentality is hurting America and our state and our party. Pamela Gorman is a good example of the politician who puts their ambition before all else, including the good of the people and her party.

Pam Gorman was first elected only five years ago as a Republican to the Arizona House and moved up to the Arizona Senate in 2006 and at the beginning of this current session she was elected Senate Majority Whip. The position of Whip requires a certain level of party loyalty as it is the Whip's responsibility to make sure the votes are there to advance the position of the party caucus over the position of the opposition party. I'm not someone who demands blind party loyalty against what someone feels is in the publics best interest, we are not tin men without a brain, incapable of making our own decisions, we are human beings and the Republican party is not the Army or a corporation where the troops or employees must follow orders, but we do function as a party by a certain amount of loyalty and cooperation. Gorman seems to be lacking in both loyalty to the Republican party and cooperation with the party leadership.

During the 2008 primary in District 6, Gorman endorsed a candidate for the Republican nomination for the Arizona House who was registered as a Democrat only five days before filing for the position. The person Gorman endorsed was also being funded by the business group, "Wake Up Arizona," who have vowed to defeat any legislator or candidate who supported sanctions against employers for the hiring of illegal aliens. Not only did Gorman endorse, this life long Democrat, she did negative auto-dialer calls against a conservative Republican candidate with firm roots in the party and who supported employer sanctions, our current Representative, Carl Seel. Where was Gorman's Republican party loyalty? During the general election Gorman failed to appear for the Clean Elections candidates forum. Where was Gorman's accountability to the people of District 6?

On March 13, 2009, The Arizona Guardian reported that there was a blow-up in the Arizona Senate between Gorman and Senate President Bob Burns.

Here is what Paul Giblin and Patti Epler of the Guardian reported.

"Some Senate Republicans were mulling the possible removal of GOP Whip Pam Gorman, a day after a blow-up between Senate President Bob Burns and Gorman about the latest budget fix nearly cost Gorman her position.

The true strength of the movement could not be ascertained on Friday, but some members told the Guardian that a vote of no confidence could be called as soon as Tuesday."

The Guardian also quoted a senator who spoke on condition of anonymity as saying, referring to Gorman,
"She has a list of people she's alienated - and it grows daily."

Where was Gorman's cooperation with the party leadership? Can't we Republicans all just get along?

Gorman would later be kicked of the Rules Committee after voting against the Republican leaderships agreement with the governor on a one cent sales tax referral and still later she would resign as Majority Whip.

From 1994-99, I had the honor to serve as chairman of the district Bob Burns represented in the Arizona House, he is very easy to get along with and one of the most responsible and respected elected officials I have known. Bob Burns has always put the state of Arizona before himself.

Gorman has so little trust in the wisdom of the people, she blocked, along with Senator Ron Gould, the opportunity to decide for themselves to temporarily increase the state sales tax by one cent to help protect critical funding for education, public safety and Arizona's most vulnerable citizens such as children and the elderly or not to increase the sales tax.

Gorman's irresponsible actions in the Arizona Senate has called into question the Republican parties ability to govern when they have control of both houses of the legislature and the governors office, is dividing the Arizona GOP at a time when unity is necessary and has given the Democrats great leverage in budget negotiations with the governor, who unlike Gorman, cannot just say no and pass the buck to someone else.

The budget is one area where party members should cooperate with their caucus. Each member of the legislature cannot have their own budget for the state, the best they can get is a budget approved by the majority of their party. If there is cooperation amongst members of the majority party they should be able to get a budget to their liking passed and after negation with the governor, signed into law. If the majority party cannot work together and vote together, the minority party will hold the balance of power and want a budget more to their liking and less to the liking of the majority. 47 of the 53 Republicans in the legislature reached an agreement with the governor on a budget that offers income tax cuts to individuals and corporations in Arizona, which should help stimulate Arizona's economy, in exchange for a referral to the voters of a one cent sales tax increase to capture some that increased spending. The Wall Street Journal praised the agreement, as did many Arizona conservatives and business groups, but Senator Pam Gorman decided that she knows best and those 47 Republicans don't understand. I would like to know what advance degree in Economics Senator Gorman has to think she knows better then the Republican party, the governor, the Wall Street Journal and the voters about public finance? The only people that seem to agree with Gorman, besides Gould, are the no tax, no government, extremist on the lunatic fringe.

The latest I have heard regarding the budget is that Gorman still being stubborn and will not cooperate with Republican leadership to resolve the budget in the GOP's favor.

Gorman acts as if she is a party of one or is she really a Libertarian and Republican in name only. Wherever her political loyalty might be, her performance as an elected officials has been unacceptable. She is doing more harm then good to Arizona and the Republican party. If she is this selfish she should not hold any public office.

For God and country,

Bob Haran,
American Conservative Republican