Thursday, May 21, 2009

NAPOLITANO SCOLDED FOR DOING HER JOB !

Every conservative voice on record jumped all over the Homeland Security Secretary for revealing the truth. That truth came out in July 2008 with a Federal Bureau of Investigation report “White Supremacist Recruitment of Military Personnel since 9/11.” Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Cherloff may or may not have released the information contained in that report to police departments all over the U.S. Napolitano wanted to make sure the police in Buckeye, Mesa, Tempe, and every other departments in Arizona and nationwide were alerted.

The Report reveals that military experience is found throughout the white supremacist extremist movement, and that these groups “have attempted to increase their recruitment of current and former U.S. military personnel." This is substantiated according to the Southern Poverty Law Center: “Many white supremacists over the years have pushed their followers to join the military and enter … the special forces…where you will learn the skills necessary to fight the coming race war.” The Center also reported that there are 19 groups of extremists active in Arizona ?AZ Republic, 4/25/09?; many are here in the Valley. Some of us can testify to that who have walked in the Martin Luther King, Jr. marches, with "Skinhead escorts". Fortunately so far only a small number of veterans are in hate groups: 58 in the National Alliance, 46 in select skinhead groups, 44 in the National Socialist Movement, 20 in the Ku Klux Klan, and fewer numbers in other groups. (see: 7 July 2008, F.B.I. Report, Counterterrorism Division; NY Times,4/18/09)

I believe police departments need to know about such FBI reports so they can take appropriate action if called for. Not everyone agrees. Randy Pullen, chairman of the Republican Party in Arizona criticized Napolitano, “She has little understanding of the security issues facing our country.…” Representative Michael Burgess, R-Texas, called for her to step down from the Cabinet. Rep. John Shadegg demanded Napolitano explain how the intelligence report appeared to classify conservatives as potential terrorists. Where were they when the FBI report came out under the Bush Administration? - Probably it was un-noticed, unread, or not distributed, another Bush administration secret?

The Rand Corporation on April 17, 2008 released a major research report on returning Iraq-Afghanistan veterans. Nearly 20% of military service members who have returned report "symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slightly more than half have sought treatment...." In the first analysis of its kind, researchers at Rand estimate that PTSD and depression among returning service members will cost the nation as much as $6.2 billion in the two years following deployment. "There is a major health crisis facing those men and women who have served our nation...," said researcher Terri Tanielian. "There will be long-term consequences for them and for the nation..Unfortunately, we [Rand] found there are many barriers preventing them from getting the high-quality treatment they need." [and deserve! - FS] The full report, titled "Invisible Wounds of War," is available at http://veterans.rand.org/.

REMEMBER April 19th, 1995? An honorably discharged Army veteran with ties to a right-wing paramilitary group caused the deaths of 168 people in the horrific Oklahoma City bombing. –

Source: FS - The Independent Voice

SENATOR KYL DOESN’T FORGET HIS FRIENDS !

Just to prove it, he has introduced a bill in the Senate to deeply cut the inheritance taxes for all you working stiffs who have to pay when a relative (those plumbers, teachers, carpenters, etc.) dies.

The existing federal estate tax levies a 45% on those deceased couples with property worth more than $7 million. That means in 2008 only 0.2 percent of all estates had to pay even a penny estate tax. Kyl is troubled by any tax. He wants to increase the rate level to $10 million, and reduce the top level from 45% to 35%. So if your estate is worth $15 million, only $5 million of it is taxed, and after deductions at only about 20%. N.Y. Times, 4/02/09

Kyl claims this is double taxation - WRONG ! Most of that wealth is in capital gains on stocks, real estate, bonds, etc. and, if unsold, the deceased never paid taxes on the gains. His proposal would cost the I.R.S. $250 billion in lost revenue over the next 10 years. If passed, it would also affect an equivalent amount lost to the Arizona Revenue Department. As if the Feds or the state would miss taxes never collected on estates. Kyl, your champion for the “average” Arizonan in the Senate.

Source: FS - The Independent Voice

Parking Lot Guns

The “guns-in-parking-lots” bill, HB 2474, prevents property owners, tenants, employers and businesses from prohibiting the storage or transport of a firearm in locked vehicles parked in a parking lot, parking garage or other designated parking area. The bill was sponsored by Fountain Hills (D8) Republican John Kavanagh and D30 Republican Frank Antenori. Kavanagh equated property owners’ right to prohibit guns on their own property to prohibiting African Americans on their property. “The owner of a private business can’t say I don’t like blacks; therefore, the Civil Rights Act does not apply in my business, no blacks can come in.” “I was surprised to hear this bill compared to the Civil Rights Act of 1965,” said Assistant House Democratic Leader Kyrsten Sinema. “It’s ludicrous.” “This bill violates private property rights of both homeowners and businesses,” she went on to say.

“Property owners should have the right to make decisions about how they will manage, control and protect that property.” House Democratic Leader David Lujan stated, “It would allow people to have incredibly easy access to a firearm immediately
outside of a work environment without the property owner’s consent.” “As House Democrats and Arizonans, we believe in the rights of gun ownership. We also believe in common sense.” The bill would allow weapons in cars at daycare centers and other areas where children are present even without their parents. The bill also offers no exemption for condominium or apartment complexes to keep weapons from coming on to their property. It allows guns in cars parked at a home without consent from the homeowner. The bill, which lacks common sense and violates property rights, passed Committee of the Whole on a voice vote May 7 with all Republican lawmakers voting “yes.”

Source: Rod - Independent Voice

Saturday, May 16, 2009

P.L.A.N. Update - Moratorium Misinformation‏

Moratorium is No Benefit to Homeowners or the State

In the last few weeks, the Legislature has considered cities' impact fees as a source of revenue to help save the state budget. Thanks to many of you, that idea was not a part of the FY 2009 budget fix that passed this week (more below). Now, the notion of an impact fee moratorium is cropping up. Advocates of this idea would like to get out of paying impact fees until the economy improves. This idea is short-sighted and detrimental to both the community and the home builders who believe they would benefit:

Growth costs money! New development requires new infrastructure, such as roads, sewer and water treatment facilities, police and fire stations. Impact fees help to pay these costs.

Impact fees create the direct economic link between those paying for and those receiving benefits. This link promotes economic efficiency. The obvious direct economic benefits include the infrastructure investment, such as new roads and new water and sewer extensions. Indirect benefits include predictability in the marketplace, knowing when and where infrastructure investment will occur, and that all developers are treated impartially.

A moratorium penalizes the thousands of homeowners who have already paid impact fees, many of whom are trying to sell their homes.

If the state mandates a moratorium, the impact fees may go away, but the costs for needed infrastructure remain. Who pays these costs? Without impact fees, existing businesses and current homeowners would have to pay for the developers' infrastructure needs.

Growth should pay for itself -- homeowners in established areas shouldn't have to pay for public works that benefit only new areas. You can help block this attempt to shift costs from builders to existing homeowners and businesses by calling or e-mailing your legislator today.

Governor Signs '09 Budget Shortfall Remedy

On Wednesday, state lawmakers passed two bills aimed at closing the shortfall for the FY 2009 budget. The bills suspended a $300 million payment to K-12 education, tapped into $250 million in federal stimulus dollars, and delayed a $100 million disbursement to the universities in order to close a $650 million gap in the current fiscal year. The House Appropriations Committee adopted both HB2028; supplemental reductions; appropriations; FY 2008-2009 and HB2029; school district balances; allocations making these budget adjustments. The monumental task of solving the deficit of at least $3 billion now lies ahead. Both bills were quickly transmitted to the Senate, which adopted them as written, then sent them on to Governor Brewer. She signed both bills into law on Thursday.

"Understanding Your State Legislature" Workshops Well Attended

Thank you to the more than 100 people taking time to attend one of the two workshops this month. Government Relations hosted the second "Understanding Your State Legislature" Workshop on Monday, May 11 at the Burton Barr Central Library. More than 66 residents attended the meeting. Thanks also go to Senator Debbie McCune-Davis and Representatives Cloves Campbell, Robert Lujan and John McComish who answered questions and presented a legislative perspective to becoming involved in the legislative process. Government Relations staff presented "Lobbying 101."

Our city's budget for next fiscal year (July 2009-June 2010) was adopted in February and includes difficult cuts that impact services in our community. Remember to SHOP PHOENIX and tell your legislators to protect city revenues!


Source: P.L.A.N.

phoenix political blog, phoenix politics

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

PULLEN: CAP & TRADE NOTHING BUT CAP AND TAX‏

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen today lauded Republican members of Arizona’s congressional delegation for their outspoken opposition to President Obama’s cap and trade proposal which may be included in legislation being drafted by House Democrats. Pullen urged Arizona’s congressional Democrats to follow their lead and send this bill back to the drawing board.

Cap-and-trade legislation, as promised by President Obama during last fall’s campaign, would allow the government to stack additional regulations and taxes upon businesses like power plants, factories and more. In addition, the government then auctions off, or trades permits to companies who will exceed the limits. Currently, House Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee are drafting legislation - opposed by Republicans and Democrats alike - with the input of left leaning environmental groups like the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund and Greenpeace.

“It is becoming clear that President Obama and House Democrats plan to implement another enormous tax on America’s taxpayers is losing support from both sides of the aisle,” said Chairman Pullen. “The truth is, the so-called ‘cap and trade plan’ is nothing more than a national energy tax on power producers which will be passed down to overburdened consumers to pay. Most alarming is that the hardest hit by this regressive tax will be the working poor who can least afford it.”

“People are weary of being taxed from the time they leave the house until the time they get home,” said the Chairman. “Democrats now want to tax us when we open the garage door, turn on the lights or start dinner. Honestly I’m surprised that they haven’t come up with a proposal to tax our taxes, no doubt, in the minds of Democrats this is an idea whose time has come. We need our Arizonan congressional Democrats to get in the game and do what’s right for their constituents.”


Source:

Matthew Roberts
Communications Director
Arizona Republican Party, AZ GOP

phoenix political blog, phoenix politics , arizona republican

Friday, May 8, 2009

Budget Bills Pass House Appropriations Committee‏

Budget Bills Make It To First Base - Not a Home Run

As expected, the House Appropriations Committee met this week and approved a preliminary budget proposal that attempts to close the projected $3 billion funding gap for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. The ten appropriations bills contain $670 million in spending cuts, $394 million in fund sweeps, and rely on an infusion of $989 million in federal stimulus funds.

On Monday, a PLAN ALERT was sent to you stating the City's concern with HB 2635; 2009-2010 budget reconciliation; revenues. The bill, among other things, opens the door to a "voluntary contribution" of $210 million from cities and towns across the state and transfer that money to the State’s general fund. In exchange for this gift, cities would be permitted to use impact fee balances (otherwise know as development fees) to backfill their general fund. A legal opinion released by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns declares this proposition unconstitutional.

Thank you to everyone who took time to contact legislators to express concerns!

"Understanding Your State Legislature" Workshops

The May 4 workshop hosted by Government Relations attracted more than 50 attendees. Sen. John Huppenthal (R-Chandler/Phoenix) presented his perspective on how to get involved with the legislative process and took questions from the audience. Staff then presented an overview of how a bill becomes a law and provided materials for everyone.

The May 11 workshop begins at 5 p.m. in the Pulliam Auditorium at the Burton Barr Central Library. Four guest legislators are scheduled to provide insight into the workings of the State Legislature. R.S.V.P now online or call Robert at 602-262-1833.

Our city's budget for next fiscal year (July 2009-June 2010) was adopted in February and includes difficult cuts that impact services in our community. Remember to SHOP PHOENIX and tell your legislators to protect city revenues!


Source: P.L.A.N.


phoenix politics, phoenix political blog

Monday, May 4, 2009

Taxpayer Town Hall meeting

Dear Valley Taxpayers and Tea Partiers,

Arizona has a chance to set a great example for America. Arizona has the worst budget deficit in the country, on a per-capita basis, because of the huge spending increases enacted by Gov. Janet Napolitano and the Legislature during the past six years. If Arizona can resolve this crisis without raising taxes, we will do the nation a great service. Arizona can serve as a counter-example to the dangerous national trend of tax-and-spend crisis management.

This Thursday night, May 7th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, the Arizona Chapter of Americans for Prosperity Foundation is sponsoring a Taxpayer Town Hall meeting at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library Auditorium at 3839 N. Drinkwater, in downtown Scottsdale.

View a map to the event
here.

The Appropriations Chairman of the Arizona House of Representatives, Rep. John Kavanagh (R-Scottsdale), will answer questions about the state’s budget deficit situation. Also speaking will be Goldwater Institute education policy expert Dr. Matthew Ladner. We have made room in the schedule for more than an hour of Q&A from the public. All legislators from Legislative Districts 8 and 11 have been invited to this nonpartisan event.

If you have not already done so, RSVP to
infoAZ@afphq.org, and let us know you’re coming. The room seats 250 people, so we need to know as soon as possible if we will need to make accommodations for more persons. There is no charge for this event.

It is very important for Tea Partiers and other Valley taxpayers to come to this event. The town hall meetings sponsored by other organizations tend to be dominated by the spending lobbies, whose members come in large numbers to beg legislators to raise taxes and spend more of your hard-earned money.

AFP Foundation-Arizona wants to send another big THANK YOU to the thousands of taxpayer activists who came to the April 15 Tea Party at the Arizona State Capitol. You took an important stand in the fight to save our country from the Big Taxers, Big Spenders, and Big Debtors who are trying to lead us down the road toward ever-bigger government.

Like you, we are fed up with tax increases, federal bailouts, mounting debt burdens on our grandchildren, and government takeovers of the private sector (including health care).


Source:

Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity Foundation

phoenix central news

Please Stop the Raid, Please Call These Legislators‏

Earlier today, the Arizona State House of Representatives announced that its Appropriations Committee will hear, tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., a bill that should alarm us all. HB 2635 will, among other things, “rebate” (code for “seize”) $210 million from cities and towns across the state and transfer that money to the State’s general fund. That’s how they want to balance their own budget. It is a fundamentally bad idea; it is illegal and unworkable. It would destroy any chance of a speedy economic recovery in our Valley and State.

Due to our good planning and stewardship, cities are able to sustain vital investments in public works that keep people employed in good paying jobs today and deliver infrastructure like parks, libraries, senior centers, police and fire stations that our children and grandchildren will enjoy for many years.

But Section 25 of this bill will seize those impact fees (otherwise known as development fees) that developers pay to cities in order to pay their fair share of needed facilities. If those funds are seized or transferred to the State, the money to build these projects will be gone.

Therefore, if these fees are taken today by the State, when recovery does come to the homebuilding and construction sectors, taxpayers will be stuck with the bill to build these needed projects, rather than making developers pay their fair share.

This raid, if carried out, will have devastating impacts on our community. I respectfully ask you to contact the members of the House Appropriations Committee and ask them not to do this.

Hon. John Kavanagh, Chairman 602-926-5170
Hon. Andy Biggs, Vice-Chairman 602-926-4371
Hon. Olivia Cajero Bedford 602-926-5835
Hon. Cloves Campbell, Jr. 602-926-3042
Hon. Steve Court 602-926-4467
Hon. Rich Crandall 602-926-3020
Hon. Matt Heinz 602-926-3424
Hon. Russell Jones 602-926-3002
Hon. Nancy McLain 602-926-5051
Hon. Rick Murphy 602-926-3255
Hon. David Schapira 602-926-3028
Hon. Kyrsten Sinema 602-926-5058
Hon. Vic Williams 602-926-5839

Source: P.L.A.N.


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