Ratings of Republican Legislators Published for Session
Howard Levine
July 2, 2009
GOPUSA

The Pachyderm Coalition, a conservative Republican political organization, published its latest ratings of Republican legislators after the end of the session. It is an excellent tool to see how effectively Republican legislators support Republican principles by their actions in the legislature. It is one of the broadest based evaluations done for legislators.

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Editor's Note -- This is an essential tool for any Republican. In addition, precinct committeemen who are members of the Pachyderm Coalition can request detailed voting information for their legislators for use at their district meetings.

Crump forms exploratory panel
by Alex Dalenberg
Jul. 2, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

State Rep. Sam Crump will test the waters for a run at Arizona attorney general.Crump, R-Anthem, took his first step toward becoming the state's chief legal officer last week, forming an exploratory committee to raise money and gauge support for a 2010 campaign.With Terry Goddard barred from re-election by term limits, Crump said he anticipates a wide open race."In politics, timing is everything," Crump said. "It's an open seat so . . . the timing seems right."As attorney general, Crump said he would increase the office's involvement in enforcing illegal-immigration laws, an issue he feels Goddard has neglected. He said he also would give special priority to protecting vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, from identity theft and fraud.

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Editor's Note -- Sam Crump is an outstanding public servant. My only concern about him running for attorney general is that he won't be in the legislature. I hope he can help recruit a good candidate.

E.V. districts rehiring laid-off teachers
Michelle Reese, Tribune
July 2, 2009 - 4:19PM
East Valley Tribune

Jones was one of 205 Mesa Unified School District teachers who received a “reduction-in-force” notice in April. The district — faced with declining enrollment and likely budget cuts from the state — had to notify teachers by April 15 if they would not have a contract for the upcoming school year.Thousands of Arizona teachers received similar notices from school districts in April. All of the East Valley districts who gave out notices, including Mesa Unified, have been calling back many of those teachers, offering them jobs for next school year.

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Editor's Note -- The situation is not as dire for teachers as gloom and doom education lobbyist were saying at the legislature. It's not necessarily great for teachers, but it's certainly not as bad as many private sector occupations in this weak economy.

State budget plan hits snag on tax issues
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
June 27, 2009 - 7:31PM
East Valley Tribune

Efforts to adopt a new spending plan for the budget year that begins Wednesday stalled as Republican legislative leaders found themselves Saturday without the votes to adopt a key element.Senate President Bob Burns, R-Peoria, said the hang-up is getting the support for a controversial plan to ask voters to increase the state sales tax by a penny, to 6.6 cents on every dollar spent on taxable items. That tax, which would take effect in January if approved in November, would raise up to $1 billion a year for the next three years.Burns acknowledged Saturday he probably can not get the necessary 16 votes to approve that out of the 18 Republicans in the Senate.Across the courtyard, Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, adjourned the House Appropriations Committee after adopting the spending cuts but without considering either the tax hike plan or a proposal to scrap the state's graduated individual income tax system and replace it with a flat tax.

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Editor's Note -- It's good news that Republican legislators are not rolling over for the governor on her tax increase proposal.

Boisterous education rally briefly shuts state House doors
by Mary Jo Pitzl
Jun. 27, 2009 11:55 AM
The Arizona Republic

Several hundred education supporters chanting "save our state" flooded the front of the House of Representatives this morning, prompting security to briefly lock the House doors.The rally was held as the House Appropriations Committee was set to begin debate on an $8.4 billion compromise budget plan.The plan calls for a 5 percent cut to education, totaling $220 million. However, those cuts would be erased if voters approve a temporary sales-tax increase this fall, according to a compromise struck between Gov. Jan Brewer and GOP legislative leaders.

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Editor's Note -- Can you imagine how school districts and the media would react if parents demonstrated against them in a similarly boisterous way for not doing their jobs at a reasonable price? It would an "unruly mob" instead of a "boisterous rally" for one thing. Plus, parents would have to be concerned about their children being singled out for harassment by teachers.

Stopgap plan aims to keep government running
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
June 27, 2009 - 4:35PM
East Valley Tribune

Key state lawmakers are crafting a plan to keep state government operating - at least for awhile - if a proposed budget deal falls apart. The proposal would adopt the Republican legislative plan, one that cuts state spending by more than $600 million this coming fiscal year.But Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, said it would be for no longer than a month. In fact, Pearce said if he gets his way, the extension would be for just a couple of weeks.And after that? Pearce, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, wants to start shutting down government, a little bit at a time.The move comes as GOP leaders struggled late Saturday to find the votes for an $8.4 billion budget deal they have negotiated with Gov. Jan Brewer.

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Editor's Note -- The governor should focus on ways to cut spending and improve government efficiency instead of ask for a tax increase.

Flat-tax proposal for state drawing flak
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media ServicesEast Valley Tribune

A flat-tax plan touted by backers as hurting no one actually could result in higher taxes for many Arizonans.HB2653 would impose a 2.8 percent state income tax. That would replace the current graduated system which has rates ranging from less than 2.6 percent to more than 4.5 percent.It also provides a single deduction of $10,000 for individuals - $20,000 for couples - to replace various state deductions.But the legislation, which would take effect in 2012, scraps existing laws which use an individual's federal adjusted gross income as the starting point for computing state income. Instead it uses the total gross income as a base.The difference? A lot.For example, contributions made by individuals to health savings accounts now come off what people earn, making it not subject to federal or state tax. Under this law, the state would tax that money.The same is true for contributions made to qualified retirement plans like 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts.

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Editor's Note -- Cutting the highest marginal tax rate is good and will help promote economic growth. Eliminating existing deduction is a back door approach to raising taxes. Reagan agreed to lower tax rates in exchange for fewer deductions. Then the rates were increased and people paid taxes on more of their income. Cutting or flattening tax rates is good, but increasing the income subject to income tax is bad. This needs more thought before the legislature passes it.

Affirmative action to go on 2010 ballot
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
June 22, 2009 - 6:28PM , updated: June 23, 2009 - 2:36PM
East Valley Tribune

Arizonans will decide next year if they want to outlaw affirmative action programs and any special programs or preferences for women and minorities.

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Editor's Note -- If passed by voters, this will promote true equality in our state.

Smoking, texting while driving bans shot down
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
June 22, 2009 - 6:18PM , updated: June 23, 2009 - 5:31PM
East Valley Tribune

The first-term lawmaker acknowledged after the votes that he didn't get the support of most of the members of his own Republican Party who questioned whether all the measures amounted to too much government intrusion. But Melvin said he doesn't share their views.[Al Melvin said,] "I just think it's the right thing to do," he said. "I don't understand the philosophical purity of people voting against it en masse. But that's the way it is."

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Editor's Note -- Al Melvin's lack of understanding shows he does not understand the philosophical concept of free people with a limited government. Melvin seems to be more comfortable than most Republican legislators coming up with rules for everyone else to follow based on his personal preferences without regard to personal freedom.

Useful Information from AZ State GOP
Arizona State Republican Party
Posted on GOPUSA July 16, 2008

This has plenty of useful information. The leaders for each country are listed, and candidates for all state offices - with links to web sites - are listed.

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Editor's Note -- This is a useful service provided by the state Party to Republican voters.