(Phoenix, State Capitol)—The Joint Legislative Committee on Redistricting has wrapped up its first day of hearings. The committee is comprised of Republicans and Democrats from the Senate and House. Committee members today learned about the process the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission took in drawing preliminary Congressional and

Legislative maps.

A large part of today’s four-hour meeting was devoted to public testimony. Committee members listened to citizens frustrated with the draft maps, with many focused on the issue of communities of interest.

“These folks made some good points. You’ve got a Congressional district proposed by the IRC that goes from Yuma, up through Yavapai County and then back down, wrapping into Fountain Hills. It’s hard to see how that is a community of interest,” says Senator Steve Pierce, co-chair of the committee.

This committee was formed to comply with the Arizona Constitution, which specifically authorizes the Legislature’s comment authority.

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have voiced concerns about the proposed maps from the IRC, but Democratic leadership abruptly chose to “boycott” today’s hearing, and their two Members were not present.

“I find that an odd decision,” says Senator Pierce. “We’ve heard complaints from both sides of the aisle on some of the questionable decisions made with the maps. Senate and House leadership lived up to their Constitutional duties and formed a bipartisan committee to look at the maps and hear from Arizonans. Then, just minutes before our first hearing, they run off.”

The Joint Legislative Committee on Redistricting will meet again on Monday, October 24 at 1 p.m. in House Hearing Room 4.

If you follow coverage of the economy in the U.S. and around the world, you know there is much hand-wringing that we could fall into another recession.Europe can’t seem to work its way out of a debt crisis, and here at home, the only response from the Obama Administration seems to be throwing more money at the problem.

Here in Arizona, we’ve handled things much differently. Republican leadership in the Legislature joined with the Governor in focusing on a balanced budget, with reasonable reductions to state agencies and tax cuts to reinvigorate the economy. While many states chose to raise taxes, and some have done little to reduce their deficits, we chose to live within our means, and spend only money that we have in our account.

Well, we are now seeing the results of those difficult decisions, and Arizona is making a strong economic comeback. This isn’t political spin. It’s based on numbers in monthly reports from non-partisan sources. For whatever reason, you don’t see these reports in the media, so I wanted to share them with you now.

Arizona is growing jobs faster than just about any state in the country. A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows only 20 states grew jobs in August. Arizona came in 2nd, with 15,400 new jobs. Not only that, the only reason Minnesota placed ahead of us was because of rehiring workers after a government shutdown. In reality, Arizona is number one in job growth in the U.S.

I see it firsthand, talking to the people who create jobs in southern Arizona. Many companies are looking for people to hire. Trucking, mining and financial service firms are hiring hundreds of new employees.

Moody’s Analytics, an economic consulting firm, likes the look of Arizona going forward. Its study released in late September predicts our state to grow jobs by 1.2%, one of the best numbers in America.

The Joint Legislative Budget Committee just released its fiscal summary for August, and revenues are 8.6% above the previous year. General Fund collections are $44.2 million above this year’s budget forecast. Unlike many states, Arizona is growing.

And the news is likely to get better in Arizona. The Arizona Competitiveness Package signed into law this spring puts large and small companies in an outstanding position to expand operations and hire workers. Our first priority is to help existing businesses who are already employing Arizonans. We will then do our best to attract companies to come here from other states and countries. Make no doubt about it: firms now know Arizona is “open for business”, and we are all going to benefit.

The past couple years have been difficult, and we have made some tough decisions on cuts in spending. Because we bit the bullet and didn’t delay, the days of large cuts are behind us. And as these encouraging economic numbers continue to come in, I am convinced we made the right call.

Legislators are already working on some exciting proposals for next session, including a new jobs bill and the Small Business Job Creation Act. The Republican legislature is committed to making Arizona a safe haven for our businesses and our people through small government, with lower taxes and fewer regulations. This legislature is pro-business. We know people need jobs for their lives, liberty and pursuit of happiness, as was intended by our nation’s founders.

Congresswoman and 2012 Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann came to the Arizona Capitol today, to discuss border security with Senate leaders and law enforcement. Rep. Bachmann wanted to hear personally how Arizona is bearing the brunt of the Federal Government’s inaction on enforcement. The Congresswoman also wanted to learn more about the border fence initiative, led by Senator Steve Smith.

The website: www.buildtheborderfence.com is set up to gather private donations for building a border fence.

Rep. Bachmann heard stories from border lawmakers, including Senator Gail Griffin, who has seen border smugglers moving through her land, ten miles from the border. Senator Sylvia Allen described how the border in a sense has moved north into Pinal County, 70-80 miles from the U.S. Mexico border.

Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever described his frustration over the disconnect between the Department of Justice and Homeland Security. Congressman Trent Franks shared his concerns over the connection between a lack of border security and national security. Rep. Bachmann agreed with Rep. Franks that it is a terrorism issue.

Rep. Bachmann talked about how it is not right for Arizona to be punished for what the Feds aren’t doing with the border. She also described a recent town hall in Iowa, where border security was top-of-mind for many participants, even though they live in the heartland of America, not along the border.

After the 45 minute meeting in the Senate, Rep. Bachmann walked over to the Old Capitol to meet with reporters and take questions about the meeting.

“As early as Friday, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission is expected to release a proposed map of legislative districts to be used for the next ten years. This comes just days after the commission chair rushed through a proposed congressional map, over the objection of other commissioners who had no opportunity to evaluate it. If the legislative map contains all of the Constitutional flaws of the congressional map, we must consider remedies quickly. Arizona deserves better than this clearly partisan mapping by the commission chair and the two Democratic appointees.

This commission has already failed in three key missions. It is anything but independent. It is producing dangerously partisan maps that blatantly disenfranchise Republicans and weave through the state, searching for any Democrat advantage. It is incompetent, running weeks behind schedule and working with a mapping firm that has faulty data and more questions than answers. And it is secretive, facing an Attorney General investigation over open meeting law violations and limiting public comment.

The Governor had it right yesterday when she called the congressional map “gerrymandering at its worst”. This gang of three on the commission is desperate to create districts that give Democrats their “dream maps”.

Arizonans need to speak out against this outrage, before it is too late. The IRC will be holding hearings open to the public throughout October. If their streaming video works, you can watch the hearings at www.azredistricting.org

I ask the citizens of the state to get involved. Don’t let them tear apart our communities! Look at the maps that come out for legislative races. Then, speak out.”

The organizers of the first statewide Grammar Bowl in the country announced Wednesday the bowl will return for a second year of competition. The egumpp Grammar Bowl is an academic contest for 8th and 9th graders in Arizona, testing their grammar skills and offering big prizes for competitors. Students register online and take 20 lessons to master their writing and oral communication skills. It the student scores 90% or better, he or she advances into a regional competition. The top 24 qualify for the finals in April at Grand Canyon University. The founder of egumpp, Bob Safran, is the force behind the Grammar Bowl. “This is a win for everyone. Students improve their grammar skills and win prizes. Teachers learn a new, effective way to help their students improve grammar skills. Arizona proves itself to be an innovative leader in improving the standard and quality of education throughout the state,” said Safran. The 2011 champion, Mercedes Larios, was on hand for the announcement. “This was a life-changing event. It improved so greatly my grammar skills,” said Mercedes, a 15 year old from the Arizona School for the Arts.

Senate Education Chair Rich Crandall of Mesa is a strong proponent of the Grammar Bowl. “Arizona is the only state in the nation to have a statewide Grammar Bowl. It was a big success last year and will be even bigger this year,” said Senator Crandall.

The announcement was made at the State Capitol. Senator Crandall was joined by State Schools Superintendent John Huppenthal.

Registration for students opens up October 3. To register, participants need to go to www.grammarbowl.com

The explosion in worldwide demand for minerals is good for Arizona’s mineral producers, including the state’s copper mines, which produce more copper than all the other 49 states combined and account for more than 60 percent of the nation’s total copper production. Arizona’s mineral mines have also made a positive contribution to our state and national economy.

According to a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, mineral mining in Arizona supported more than 62,000 jobs, contributed roughly $7.5 billion to the state’s GDP and generated $1.8 billion in taxes to local, state and federal governments in 2008. And that’s just Arizona. More than 1.1 million jobs are supported nationwide by mineral mining, and last year U.S. manufacturing used minerals to make products or provide services that added more than $2 trillion to the economy – approximately 14 percent of the nation’s GDP.

Impressive as they are, with an estimated $6.2 trillion in key mineral resources and more commodity minerals and metals than a ny other country, these numbers fall short of reflecting our true economic potential. We can do more to meet our domestic mineral needs and provide a reliable chain of supply to American manufacturers and technology providers. As emerging economies embrace new technologies and build infrastructure, the demand for minerals, especially copper, continues to increase here and abroad. But, because U.S. policies have stymied domestic mineral development, over the last 30 years we have become increasingly import-dependent, despite our vast reserves. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, in 1978 theUnitedStates was 100 percent import-dependent for seven minerals.

Today, we’re 100 percent dependent on 18 minerals and import billions of dollars’ worth of minerals, even ones we could produce here. This overreliance on imports, coupled with flat production throughout the years, puts our economy, national security and ability to Advertisement innovate at an increased risk of supply disruptions. Thankfully, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado understand the importance of mineral mining to Arizona, their home states and the nation. They each introduced legislation to better assess our mineral-supply needs and alleviate supply restrictions. Importantly, their proposals take a fresh look at the role inefficient permitting may play in exacerbating mineral-supply constraints. Recently, Lamborn’s bill passed the House Natural Resources Committee with unanimous, bipartisan approval.

A more efficient permitting process could enable us to better utilize our domestic resources and harness their full economic potential to create more American jobs and give a much-needed boost to our economy. Fundamentally, minerals provide the raw materials necessary to keep the economy moving – as a driver of jobs and economic development. As Congress considers solutions to address our nation’s mineral needs, it must remember that minerals are critical to the equation of achieving sustainable economic growth . We encourage members of our state’s congressional delegation to support legislation introduced by Murkowski and Lamborn. These sensible policies will help strengthen our nation’s mineral-supply chain, improve American competiveness and enhance our quality of life.

Senator Gray asked for opinion over concerns illegals would still earn in-state tuition.

(Phoenix, State Capitol)—-Arizona’s Attorney General has weighed in on the issue of illegal aliens qualifying for in-state tuition at state community colleges. Attorney General Tom Horne says Proposition 300 prohibits community colleges from classifying an illegal alien as an in-state student. The opinion also states the college boards are at risk of litigation and liability if they violate Proposition 300.

Senator Linda Gray and Senate President Russell Pearce called for an opinion by the Attorney General after an effort by Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board President Randolph Lumm to continue to allow illegal aliens to qualify for in-state tuition. State law clearly bars community colleges from granting illegals in-state tuition, and this AG opinion confirms that.

In June, the MCC Governing Board considered backing out of a March tuition agreement that finally put the Colleges in compliance with Proposition 300. The proposition passed by more than 70% ofArizonavoters in 2006, barring illegal immigrants from in-state tuition. After Senator Gray took action, board members voted 3-2 to keep tuition levels at the March agreement.

Attorney General’s complete opinion can be found here: http://www.azag.gov/opinions/2011/I11-007.pdf

Those on the frontlines know them as one of the most dangerous drugs, and one of the most misleading terms. Bath salts: they are no day at the spa. They are a new synthetic drug, destroying lives and ripping apart families across the country. Law enforcement and emergency room physicians see the effects of this drug every day. And the crisis is escalating quickly. The American Association of Poison Control Centers says it got a few hundred calls on bath salts last year. It may get 20 times that this year.

These bath salts have nothing to do with a bathtub. It’s just a cruel marketing term for a scary drug. They’re sold at your neighborhood convenience store, in cute packages with benign names. Their labels say “not for human consumption”, to skirt the law. There is no legitimate purpose for these substances, and people ARE consuming them. When ingested, they mimic the effects of some of the most dangerous illegal drugs. Users may experience hallucinations, paranoia, extreme agitation and become violent. Long-term effects are unknown, but there are reports from across the country of serious long-term impairment and even death.

We convened a meeting of law enforcement professionals in Flagstaff this July to address the bath salt epidemic in Arizona. It became clear to all of us how devastating the effects of these synthetic drugs can be. Reports are flooding in from hospitals across Arizona, that the use of “bath salts” is on the rise and the consequences are tragic.

The Federal Government is starting to reach a similar conclusion. Just this week the Drug Enforcement Agency enacted a temporary ban on the manufacture, sale and possession of these synthetic drugs. While the DEA’s temporary ban is a good start, it isn’t enough. We need to make sure our local law enforcement professionals have the power to stop the spread of these dangerous, devastating drugs in our communities. It makes sense to outlaw substances that mirror some of the most insidious drugs, with side effects so closely related to those of ecstasy and meth.

With incidents on the rise in Arizona, we must act quickly. When the Legislature reconvenes in January, we need to join the 33 states that have already made these synthetic drugs illegal. Law enforcement and the medical community see this crisis firsthand, and they are letting us know something must be done. We will not rest until we have banned these dangerous drugs in our great state.

Business group: Use state tax credits to spur venture capital investment Monday, Sept. 19 By Victoria Pelham Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Arizona can help small businesses expand and create jobs by following Utah’s lead and using tax credits to stimulate investment by venture capitalists, a group of business leaders and investors told lawmakers Monday.

“This is a great town to start a business in,” said John Kowalski, founder of a group calling itself the Arizona Growth Foundation. “We just have to make sure that we can continue that development and get them the funds they need to grow.”

For complete article, click here: http://tinyurl.com/3jxpas6

What Arizona Can Do to Help Create Jobs

WHAT: The Arizona Growth Foundation will release proposed legislation for the Arizona Fund of Funds, a plan that will expand the capital base in Arizona, helping create jobs for our state

WHO: Sen. Michele Reagan, Rep. Tom Forese, Jeremy Neilson, former managing Director of the Utah Fund of Funds, lenders and investors

WHEN: Monday, September 19, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Arizona Capitol Senate Caucus Room 1

Senate President Russell Pearce sits down with Arizona Capitol Television to talk about rising state revenues, a balanced budget and what they mean to Arizona’s economy.

A number of state legislators will be making the trip to Hereford this Saturday, for a public hearing on Southern Arizona Fires and Forest Management. The hearing will be hosted by District 25 Senator Gail Griffin.

Senator Griffin is a member of the Senate Ad Hoc Task Force on Forest Management. The Chair of that Task Force, Senator Sylvia Allen, is expected to be at the Hereford hearing. Other members of the Task Force are Senator Frank Antenori, Senator John Nelson, Senator Steve Pierce and Senator Steve Smith. House Members Representative David Stevens, Representative Peggy Judd and Representative David Gowan are all expected to attend.

The lawmakers and special guests will have the latest on the three major fires that burned in Southern Arizona. They will update residents on recent flooding made worse by the fires, and talk about potential policies that can help prevent these major fires in the future.

“The impacts of these fires on rural communities are immense. Not just the destruction of homes, businesses and property but also to people’s lives and livelihoods. The destruction and flooding that is occurring because of the fires have put extra stress on individuals and families. The beautiful views and landscapes have turned into moonscapes in places. The forage, habitats and animals are gone and may never return. We need to work together to find policies and solutions that work for the people in Southern Arizona,” says Sen. Griffin.

The meeting is this Saturday, September 17, at 10 a.m. at Valley View School, 6849 E. Highway 92 in Hereford.

Sunday night, the Capitol community came together to honor our heroes. It was the 10th anniversary of the attacks on America, and hundreds gathered to pay their respects to the first responders who gave their lives while helping others on September 11, 2001. This remembrance ceremony was held outside the Old Capitol. and threatening skies cleared just as the ceremony was beginning. State historian Marshall Trimble served as emcee, and sang “God Bless the U.S.A.” Phoenix Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted offered the invocation, and remarks were given by Phoenix Fire Department Chief Bob Khan, the Arizona Police Association’s Mark Spencer, Senate President Russell Pearce and Speaker of the House Andy Tobin. Two spotlights pointed to the skies, as a tribute to the twin towers of New York City

Another Life Victory!

Planned Parenthood Won’t Appeal Abortion Consent Act to State Supreme Court.

Arizona’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, announced today that they would not appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court the Court of Appeals ruling which upheld the 2009 Abortion Consent Act. This is yet another victory for those who care for women and preborn children. Lives will be spared now that these common sense health and safety standards will be going into effect. The new provisions include: The state will require a notarized parental signature before an abortion can be performed on a minor child. Women will be provided with full and accurate information by a doctor in person at least 24 hours before an abortion. Medical professionals cannot be forced to perform abortions if it contradicts their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs. Non-doctors will not be permitted by law to perform surgical abortions. Planned Parenthood said they will continue to challenge parts of the Arizona’s abortion clinic regulations as applied to the distribution of the dangerous and deadly abortion pill. Arizona’s women deserve better than Planned Parenthood’s “quantity over quality” standard of care for women considering abortion. Center for Arizona Policy remains committed to seeing all aspects of the Abortion Consent Act and Abortion Clinic Regulations fully enacted. For more information on the Abortion Consent Act visit CAP’s information page: http://bit.ly/qDCDpv

To read the decision from the Court of Appeals click here: http://bit.ly/r2m5QU

http://blog.azpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/AbortionLitigationFAQ.pdf http://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/89/opinionfiles/CV/CV090748.pdf

September 11, 2011

Arizona State Capitol

Phoenix, Arizona

6:30 p.m.

Opening Remarks

Marshall Trimble

Posting of the Colors

Phoenix Fire Department

Honor Guard

God Bless America

Marshall Trimble

Invocation

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted

Remarks

Chief Bob Khan, Phoenix Fire Department

Mark Spencer, Arizona Police Association & President, Phoenix Law Enforcement Association

Russell Pearce, President of the Arizona State Senate

Andy Tobin, Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives

Spotlights in remembrance of Sept. 11 attacks

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX (SEPTEMBER 6, 2011) – Arizona will honor the heroes of Sept. 11, 2001, at a remembrance ceremony this Sunday, the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the United States of America. The remembrance event will feature Historian Marshall Trimble, Phoenix Bishop Thomas Olmstead and representatives of local firefighters and police. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this opportunity to reflect together on the tragedy of Sept. 11 and honor those who protected us. As part of this remembrance, residents and businesses in downtown Phoenix are being asked to turn off their lights starting at 6:30 p.m. this Sunday in honor of those who were lost on Sept. 11.

9/11: Remembering Our American Heroes Details and Agenda to come

What: Remembrance ceremony for the 10th year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks

When: This Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011; 6:30 p.m.

Where: State Capitol Complex, 1700 W.Washington Phoenix,AZ 85007

For more information: Daniel Scarpinato, Director of Communications, Arizona House of Representatives 602-926-3233 dscarpin@azleg.gov Mike Philipsen, Communications Advisor,Arizona State Senate 602-926-3972 mphilipsen@azleg.gov

A new report from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee shows continued strong growth for the State of Arizona. General Fund revenues are up 8.4% from this time last year, and July collections are up $35.4 million from the budget forecast.

“The State is really starting to see an economic comeback. The Legislature started the session in January with a $1.2 billion deficit. Republican leadership made the tough decisions to trim spending, without gimmicks and more borrowing. We’re seeing the results of those smart decisions now,” says Senate President Russell Pearce.

As a result of those cuts made by Leadership, the $1.2 billion deficit was eliminated for the fiscal year, and Arizona is in the black with a surplus of about $30 million. With increased revenues and lowered spending, our focus now is getting Arizonans back to work and maintaining a balanced budget. Education and public safety will remain our top priorities.

“We made a promise to the taxpayers of Arizona that we would get Arizona’s fiscal house back in order. We’ve kept that promise, despite the criticism from the left about the leaner budget. The current numbers clearly indicate that we made the right budget decisions. We also passed the largest tax decrease in our State’s history in a Jobs Bill which I sponsored. Because of our fiscal discipline, businesses can start up and expand—growing jobs and putting Arizonans to work,” says President Pearce.

Though the economy is improving, caution is warranted. Arizona continues to carry a tremendous amount of debt incurred during previous years of out-of-control spending and reckless gimmicks. One of these gimmicks was selling the buildings at the State Capital in order to continue unjustified spending. The State no longer owns the buildings in which state legislators work and we have accumulated nearly $1 billion in building debt. “This is unconscionable,” says the Senate President.

“With increased revenues, our first job is to begin paying off debt. We must avoid pulling out the credit card for new programs that will siphon money away from responsibly eliminating our debt.” says President Pearce.

Sen. Steve Smith appeared Thursday night on Fox News to talk about the latest on the border fence project. He gave Greta an exclusive with word of a major donation by a large company.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1129274855001/arizona-accepting-donations-for-a-border-fence/

He’ll talk about some new developments with the border fence project. The show airs at 7 pm.

When Arizonans voted to create the Independent Redistricting Commission in 2000, they likely expected they would get fair and transparent redistricting of legislative and congressional districts. Seeing how the current IRC led by Colleen Mathis is spinning out of control, even the IRC’s most rabid supporters must be disappointed.

The wobbly performance of the IRC began when Ms. Mathis sided with the Democrats and refused to let the Republicans on the IRC choose their own attorney! It continued when Ms. Mathis and the two Democrats on the IRC chose Strategic Telemetry to draw the maps of the new districts. Strategic Telemetry’s stated purpose is to elect “progressive” candidates. It’s understandable that people question that such a partisan firm will be able to put politics aside and draw fair districts.

That controversial decision was set up by the incompetent Commissioner José Herrera and Ms. Mathis. Herrera admitted publicly that he fudged the scores deliberately high for Strategic Telemetry. The fact that Strategic Telemetry was the most expensive bidder should have disqualified ST immediately. Instead, ST was allowed to lower its bid. The new bid was a smokescreen, however, because the IRC had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for ST’s special software and office space, which competing bidders already had.

Failure to adhere to the normal public bidding process and being co-opted by the Democrats has accelerated the erratic behavior of Chairman Mathis. Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne is investigating allegations Mathis violated open meeting laws. Mathis and Herrera say they will not cooperate with the investigation. Instead, they have hired two attorneys with taxpayer money to defend them in this investigation.

Additionally, I have sent a statutory request for information to the IRC but have been ignored. Since the original request more than a month ago I have made two additional requests and still haven’t received the requested information. Between thumbing their noses at the Attorney General and stonewalling the requests for information from the Legislature, it has the feel of a blatant cover-up.

If Ms. Mathis is unwilling to act in an “independent and impartial fashion”, as required by the Arizona Constitution, she should be removed. The bidding process for Strategic Telemetry needs to be reviewed to see if state laws were broken. Mathis and Herrera need to come clean on whether they violated open meeting laws. Mathis needs to order her attorneys to respond immediately to my request for information.

Arizonans approved the IRC believing we would have a fair and transparent redistricting process.

Ms. Mathis and her Democratic cronies have proven to be obstructionist, unfair, and obstinate in their duties. It seems that Ms. Mathis and Commissioner Herrera have failed in their constitutional duties to uphold “public confidence in the integrity of the redistricting process.”

Therefore they should be removed in the manner that the voters insisted should be a safeguard to the process of redistricting.