Arizona will unveil its new statue tomorrow in a special installation ceremony at Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol to honor the late Senator Barry Goldwater’s place in our nation’s history. This is the story of how it happened, from the State Senator who made it happen:

“No individual has had a greater influence on Arizona’s first century than Senator Barry Goldwater. He was known across the country as Mr. Arizona. That is why it is so fitting that we honor his legacy to our great state by placing his likeness in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol, where he will stand among the greatest men and women in our nation’s history.

Statuary Hall was authorized by Congress in 1864 to allow each state to provide two statues of notable citizens for display at the U.S. Capitol. Arizona has been represented by John Campbell Greenway since 1930 and Father Eusebio Kino since 1965. The Greenway statue was sculpted by the renowned Gutzon Borglum, creator of Mt. Rushmore.

In the summer of 2007, during my first year in the Arizona legislature, I visited Washington, D.C. with my young family and we were able to take a tour of the U.S. Capitol through Congressman John Shadegg’s office. During the tour, we visited Statuary Hall, and while I was standing in front of the Greenway statue, I looked to my left and saw Daniel Webster from New Hampshire and looked to my right and saw Robert E. Lee from Virginia. I knew those two prominent figures in U.S. history, but I knew very little about John Greenway, other than the road and high school that bear his name in Phoenix. I wondered to myself, ‘wouldn’t it be more appropriate for Arizona to be represented by Mr. Arizona himself, Barry Goldwater?’ When I got back to Phoenix, I did a little research and learned that it was possible to add a new statue.

Congress had enacted legislation only a few years earlier in 2000 enabling states to request the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress approve the replacement of the statue the state has provided, if the request has been approved by the legislature and approved by the Governor.

Before the 2008 legislative session, I carefully drafted a bill that would enable Barry Goldwater to replace John Greenway in Statuary Hall. During my research, I had learned quite a few things about John Greenway, and developed a great deal of respect for him. I did not mean to dishonor or disrespect the legacy of John Greenway in anyway, but I thought that as Arizona was approaching its centennial, it was fitting that she be represented in Statuary Hall by someone who had a greater impact on the first 100 years of statehood. I gathered bipartisan support for the measure and it passed both the House and the Senate and was then signed by Governor Janet Napolitano.

Once approved, the project got off to a very slow start. There were many distractions, it was an election year and by the next legislative session, Governor Napolitano had resigned and Governor Brewer took over during one of the toughest economic recessions in state history. Still, gradually the pieces of the puzzle were put together as the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress approved the Goldwater placement in 2010 and a committee was established to select an artist and raise the money for the endeavor.

More than 20 artists asked to be considered for the prestigious commission. The committee narrowed that group to five and asked that they produce a small maquette as an example of their vision for the statue, along with a life-sized likeness of Senator Goldwater’s face. Ultimately Deborah Copenhaver Fellows from Sonoita, Arizona was selected as the artist.

We could not be more pleased with the finished product. Deborah Copenhaver Fellows has such an amazing talent and has painstakingly poured her soul into this work of art. She has captured Senator Goldwater’s spirit and presence in what I believe is one of the most lifelike and impressive statues in Statuary Hall.

The statues in the Hall rest on pedestals that are usually about three feet high. The statues can be up to 7 feet tall, for a total of 10 feet in height. One of the things I noticed when visiting Statuary Hall is that most of the faces of the statues were so high in the air and looking straight ahead. It was difficult to see the individuals’ faces. I suggested to Deborah before she started the project that it would be a good idea if Senator Goldwater’s head could be slightly tilted down, as if he were making eye contact with the person looking up at him. She loved that idea and has incorporated it into her work and it really looks impressive.

I am so grateful to all those who played a part in this process. It is amazing to me that a whimsical idea I had seven years ago as a new state legislator would take hold and would actually come to pass. There were so many who dedicated their time, energy and talents to pay this tribute to an important Arizona leader. The entire process was extremely challenging to get where we are today. No tax payer funds were used on the project, which is exactly how Senator Goldwater would have wanted it. It is great to have Mr. Arizona back where he belongs, representing Arizona in the U.S. Capitol.”

Senator Adam Driggs District 28

OPENING DAY CEREMONIES Fifty-Second Legislature – First Regular Session Monday, January 12, 2015 12:00 Noon

12:00 Noon - First Regular Session Convenes, Senate Chamber (Reserved seating in the Senate Gallery for Legislators’ Guests. Guests should be seated by 11:50 a.m.)

Call to Order The Honorable Olivia Cajero Bedford, Senator, District 3

Prayer Bishop Jim Buehner, Elliot Ward, Gilbert Arizona Stake, Church of Latter-day Saints

Presentation of the Colors Luke Air Force Base Honor Guard

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Daniel Biggs

Playing of the National Anthem Arizona School for the Arts Chamber Singers, Dana Bender, Conductor

Oath of Office Chief Justice Scott Bales, Arizona Supreme Court

Senate Business Election of the President of the Senate

Recess Arizona School for the Arts Chamber Singers and Chamber Orchestra A Gaelic Blessing-John Rutter

Remarks Adjutant General Michael T. McGuire

2:00 p.m. Joint Session, House Chamber (Reserved seating on the House Chamber Floor and in the Gallery for Legislators’ Guests.)

State of the State Address The Honorable Doug Ducey, Governor of Arizona

Senate Reconvenes upon Adjournment of the Joint Session, Senate Chamber (If necessary to complete Senate Business)

Senate Business

Senate President Andy Biggs today announced assignments to Senate committees for the 52nd Legislature. The legislative session begins January 12, 2015.

Committee on Natural Resources

Sen. Steve Pierce-Chair

Sen. Don Shooter-Vice Chair

Sen. Adam Driggs

Sen. David Farnsworth

Sen. Barbara McGuire

Sen. Robert Meza

Sen. Catherine Miranda

Committee on State Debt & Budget Reform

Sen. Jeff Dial-Chair

Sen. Debbie Lesko-Vice Chair

Sen. Ed Ableser

Sen. Lupe Contreras

Sen. John Kavanagh

Committee on Commerce & Workforce Development

Sen. Kimberly Yee-Chair

Sen. Steve Smith-Vice Chair

Sen. Olivia Cajero Bedford

Sen. Jeff Dial

Sen. David Farnsworth

Sen. Robert Meza

Sen. Catherine Miranda

Sen. Bob Worsley

Committee on Water & Energy

Sen. Gail Griffin-Chair

Sen. Sylvia Allen-Vice Chair

Sen. Carlyle Begay

Sen. David Bradley

Sen. Judy Burges

Sen. Debbie Lesko

Sen. Lynne Pancrazi

Committee on Rules

Pres. Andy Biggs-Chair

Sen. Steve Yarbrough-Vice Chair

Sen. Sylvia Allen

Sen. Olivia Cajero Bedford

Sen. Gail Griffin

Sen. Katie Hobbs

Sen. Martin Quezada

Committee on Federalism, Mandates & Fiscal Responsibility

Sen. Judy Burges-Chair

Sen. David Farnsworth-Vice Chair

Sen. Ed Ableser

Sen. Nancy Barto

Sen. David Bradley

Sen. Olivia Cajero Bedford

Sen. Steve Smith

Committee on Rural Affairs & Environment

Sen. Sylvia Allen-Chair

Sen. Gail Griffin-Vice Chair

Sen. Andrea Dalessandro

Sen. Barbara McGuire

Sen. Don Shooter

Committee on Transportation

Sen. Bob Worsley-Chair

Sen. Judy Burges-Vice Chair

Sen. Ed Ableser

Sen. Carlyle Begay

Sen. Jeff Dial

Sen. Catherine Miranda

Sen. Steve Pierce

Committee on Appropriations

Sen. Don Shooter-Chair

Sen. John Kavanagh-Vice Chair

Sen. Sylvia Allen

Sen. Olivia Cajero Bedford

Sen. Steve Farley

Sen. Katie Hobbs

Sen. Debbie Lesko

Sen. Kelli Ward

Committee on Public Safety, Military & Technology

Sen. Steve Smith-Chair

Sen. John Kavanagh-Vice Chair

Sen. Judy Burges

Sen. Lupe Contreras

Sen. Barbara McGuire

Sen. Kelli Ward

Committee on Finance

Sen. Debbie Lesko-Chair

Sen. Steve Yarbrough-Vice Chair

Sen. Steve Farley

Sen. Lynne Pancrazi

Sen. Kimberly Yee

Committee on Health & Human Services

Sen. Nancy Barto-Chair

Sen. Kelli Ward-Vice Chair

Sen. David Bradley

Sen. Katie Hobbs

Sen. Debbie Lesko

Sen. Lynne Pancrazi

Sen. Kimberly Yee

Committee on Government

Sen. John Kavanagh-Chair

Sen. Sylvia Allen-Vice Chair

Sen. Judy Burges

Sen. Lupe Contreras

Sen. Robert Meza

Sen. Martin Quezada

Sen. Steve Smith

Committee on Financial Institutions

Sen. David Farnsworth-Chair

Sen. Steve Yarbrough-Vice Chair

Sen. Andrea Dalessandro

Sen. Adam Driggs

Sen. Steve Farley

Sen. Gail Griffin

Sen. Catherine Miranda

Committee on Education

Sen. Kelli Ward-Chair

Sen. Kimberly Yee-Vice Chair

Sen. Sylvia Allen

Sen. Carlyle Begay

Sen. David Bradley

Sen. Jeff Dial

Sen. Steve Smith

Committee on Judiciary

Sen. Adam Driggs-Chair

Sen. Nancy Barto-Vice Chair

Sen. Lupe Contreras

Sen. Andrea Dalessandro

Sen. Steve Pierce

Sen. Martin Quezada

Sen. Bob Worsley

President Biggs also announced today that Sen. Sylvia Allen will serve as President pro tempore.

Senator Andy Biggs of Gilbert will remain as President of the Arizona State Senate, after a post-election organizational meeting by the Republican Majority.

This will be Biggs’ second term as President, after being elected to the post in January 2013. He will be joined on the leadership team by Majority Leader Steve Yarbrough and Majority Whip Gail Griffin.

President Biggs entered the State Legislature in 2003. Before serving as Senate President, he was Senate Majority Leader and Appropriations Chair.

Majority Leader Yarbrough also entered the Legislature in 2003. He is currently the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and Chair of the Ethics Committee. He lives in Chandler.

Majority Whip Griffin was sworn into the Senate in 2011, after serving in the House of Representatives. She is currently President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Senator Griffin is Chair of the Government and Environment Committee. She lives in Hereford.

New leadership will be effective at the start of the next term in January, the 52nd Legislature, First Regular Session.

Senate President Andy Biggs today announced Senate committees and the chairs overseeing them for the 52nd Legislature.

Senator Don Shooter will continue to chair the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The Health & Human Services Committee will remain chaired by Senator Nancy Barto and Senator Steve Pierce continues to chair the Committee on Natural Resources.

Senator Gail Griffin chairs the Committee on Energy. Senator Kelli Ward will now chair the Committee on Education. Senator Kimberly Yee will now run the Committee on Commerce & Workforce Development.

Senator Adam Driggs moves into the chair for the Judiciary Committee. The Transportation Committee will now be chaired by Senator Bob Worsley. Senator Judy Burges now chairs the Committee on Federalism, Mandates & Fiscal Responsibility, and Senator David Farnsworth heads the Committee on Financial Institutions.

The four Senators-elect moving over from the House of Representatives will chair committees: Sen.-elect John Kavanagh/Government Committee, Sen.-elect Debbie Lesko/Finance Committee, Sen.-elect Steve Smith/Public Safety, Military & Technology and Sen.-elect Jeff Dial/State Debt & Budget Reform. Sen.-elect Sylvia Allen returns to the Senate to chair the Committee on Rural Affairs & Environment.

President Biggs will serve as Rules Committee Chair.

Appropriations Sen. Don Shooter

Health & Human Services Sen. Nancy Barto

Natural Resources Sen. Steve Pierce

Energy Sen. Gail Griffin

Education Sen. Kelli Ward

Commerce & Workforce Development Sen. Kimberly Yee

Judiciary Sen. Adam Driggs

Transportation Sen. Bob Worsley

Federalism, Mandates & Fiscal Responsibility Sen. Judy Burges

Financial Institutions Sen. David Farnsworth

Government Sen.-elect John Kavanagh

Finance Sen.-elect Debbie Lesko

Public Safety, Military & Technology Sen.-elect Steve Smith

State Debt & Budget Reform Sen.-elect Jeff Dial

Rural Affairs & Environment Sen.-elect Sylvia Allen

Rules Pres. Andy Biggs

“This evening we learned of the sudden passing of our colleague and friend Senator Chester Crandell. The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office says Senator Crandell died while he was horseback riding near his home in Heber.

Chester was a wonderful man who was kind to all and had a deep passion for improving life in Arizona. As Vice-Chair of the Senate Education Committee, he was able to use his previous experience in the schools to make positive reforms. He was also one of the strongest voices for rural Arizona.

No one worked harder at the Senate than Chester. He was here early every morning, responding to the concerns of his constituents. He was a man of integrity and high character.

This is a devastating loss to our community. We all will miss his smile and his love for the job he did. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Alice and their family.”

Sen. Steve Pierce: Should we have done more to protect state land from wildfire? Yes. But we did what we could.

As chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, I was disappointed by The Arizona Republic’s characterization of the Legislature’s efforts to combat wildfire in the June 18 front-page story, “State opts to keep playing with fire.”

The Republic claims the Legislature should have done more than appropriate $1.4 million to the state forester for removal of vegetation on state trust land. It proceeds to make the same tired arguments about requiring property owners to clear brush from their property.

To read the rest of the piece, click here:

http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2014/06/26/arizona-wildfire-blame/11428751/

Legislative Committee approves District applications, shows continued commitment to school safety.

A joint committee at the State Legislature today approved funding for 118 school safety resource officers on campuses across Arizona. The School Safety Program Oversight Committee, co-chaired by Senate Education Committee Chair Kimberly Yee, agreed to spend nearly $12 million on the school safety program for the upcoming school year. School safety resource officers will be added on campuses from Yuma to Nogales, from Show Low to Bullhead City.

In addition to providing school safety resource officers, the School Safety Program requires law related education to equip students with knowledge and skills pertaining to law, school safety and effective citizenship.

Arizona voters approved Proposition 301 in 2000, which provides the bulk of funding for the School Safety Program. In 2013, the Legislature committed to additional funding for the program, including $3.6 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

“Today’s action is another sign of this Legislature’s focus on the importance of school safety. We must do all we can to make sure our students feel safe when they are being educated in our public schools,” said Co-chair Yee.

“The importance of law related education should not be ignored. School safety is more than just adding a safety officer on campus. Law related education reinforces to students the significance of a safe environment at their school. It also teaches students the basics of the law and prevention,” said Senator Yee.

Thirty two districts were awarded today, at 137 school sites. In addition to the 118 school safety resource officers, three juvenile probation officers were also added.

Calling it a “wholesale attack on rural Arizona,” State Senator Gail Griffin (R-Hereford) joined four Arizona Congressmen and a host of ranching, agriculture, and water experts in condemning the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently-announced expansion of the agency’s regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act at a Congressional field hearing at the State Capitol on Monday.

In prepared remarks, Senator Griffin strongly condemned the EPA’s proposed rule as “nothing less than an unlawful expansion of federal regulation over routine farming and ranching practices, as well as other common private land uses, such as home building.”

“For the first time in history, this rule would give federal regulators authority over irrigation ditches, storm water systems, roadside ditches, waters located within riparian and floodplain areas, and dry washes. All of these so-called ‘waters’—even if they don’t have water in them—could be subject to EPA regulations under this proposed rule.

“Under this rule, if approved, everyday activities like grazing cattle, plowing a field, applying fertilizer, managing weeds, building a home, or even simply planting a tree, could now require a permit from the federal government. What this means is that a regulator sitting behind a desk in San Francisco or Washington, D.C. could decide whether a farmer tilling his field in rural Arizona is a threat to the water quality of a dry river.

“It takes a special kind of arrogance to assert that a wash or irrigation ditch with no water flowing in it should be subject to the Clean Water Act; yet that is exactly what the EPA is proposing.”

Senator Griffin was not alone in condemning the EPA proposal. Arizona Congressmen Trent Franks, Paul Gosar, David Schweikert and Matt Salmon each expressed their strong opposition to what they called a massive expansion of federal regulatory authority that would have a devastating impact on Arizona’s economy.

“This rule is one of the largest expansions of federal power in our nation’s history,” Congressman Gosar explained. “The EPA’s shoddy economic analysis [of the rule] contains so many errors, omissions, and flawed assumptions that experts like [University of California, Berkeley Professor] David Sunding are calling it ‘virtually meaningless.’ In its rush to implement the President’s radical agenda, the EPA published this new rule without waiting for expert advice.”

“The vague terms used in this rule promise to subject everyday Americans to invasive, burdensome regulations that could very well crush them through lengthy court proceedings and exorbitant litigation costs,” Congressman Salmon said. “[T]he proposed rule could also prohibit ranchers and farmers from lawfully making necessary, on-the-spot decisions that are essential to the success of their herd or crops. For the first time ever, the EPA is defining ditches as tributaries, which would subject private land owners to a whole slew of complicated regulatory penalties.”

The Congressmen and Senator Griffin heard testimony from two panels of experts, including representatives of Arizona’s agriculture, home building, irrigation, and water industries.

Stefanie Smallhouse, a Cochise County rancher and First Vice President of the Arizona Farm Bureau, told the hearing that the rule would be devastating to Arizona’s agriculture industry. “The newly proposed EPA rule for the Waters of the U.S. would be devastating to my family’s farming operation, as well as hundreds of others in agriculture in Arizona…This proposed rule is an economic disaster, and a dream killer for my kids. There is no way a family farm such as ours would be able to withstand the hefty fines which would be enforced as a result of this rule.”

Robert Lynch, an attorney for Arizona irrigation and electrical districts, testified that the rule would have real impacts on everyday activities on private property. “The EPA and the Corps have driven a truck through Justice Kennedy’s opinion in Rapanos. According to them, everything is relevant, everything affects everything, and everything is jurisdictional… How many permits will the Central Arizona Project need? Will it have to treat the water before it stores it in Lake Pleasant? Before it releases it back into its system to deliver to cities, towns, industries and agriculture? And who will be able to afford it? Certainly not agriculture…

Mr. Lynch concluded, “This may be the biggest jurisdictional overreach that I have witnessed in 50 years of law practice. I hate to say it but the only people who come out ahead on this proposed rule are lawyers.”

Representatives from Arizona’s housing and real estate industries agreed that the rule would have a detrimental impact on the state’s housing market.

“This rule is a thinly veiled attempt to assert the federal government’s reach to any property with water,” said Nicole LaSlavic of the Arizona Association of Realtors.

Similarly, Spencer Kamps of the Central Arizona Homebuilders Association warned that the rule would slow Arizona’s housing recovery. “This is a blanket rule that would extend federal jurisdiction to ephemeral streams and dry washes. It would have a significant adverse impact on our industry and on the economy of the state.”

Senator Griffin concluded her remarks by calling on Congress to act. “It’s time for Congress to reign in the EPA and other federal agencies before it’s too late. Federal environmental regulations are killing rural America. Arizona’s economy—especially its natural resources industries—can only absorb so much.”

Arizona State Senate Highlights of the 51st Legislature Second Regular Session

(Unless otherwise noted, all bills were signed into law)

Appropriations

The Republican Legislative Majority continued its conservative, pragmatic approach to enacting a balanced FY 15 budget. By finalizing a budget that utilizes three-year revenue and spending forecasts, the Legislature and Governor have attempted to minimize the prospect of the feast or famine swings from prior years. An essential component of the FY 15 final budget package is the incorporation of the Financial Advisory Committee’s (FAC) revenue estimates and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee’s (JLBC) caseload/baseline estimates.

The State budget has General Fund spending $422 million above FY 14, for a total of $9.23 billion. The Republican Legislature continues to focus on the education and safety of Arizona’s children, with 72% of the new money going to K-12, higher education, and Child Protective Services.

K-12 – Total K-12 spending increased by $187.6 million

o Formula/Inflation $132.1 million

o District Charter Schools $ 24.5 million

o Student Success Funding $ 20.0 million

o JTEDs $ 2.0 million

o Testing Costs $ 8.0 million

o Student IT Certifications $ 1.0 million

Child Protective Services – Total CPS spending increased by $59.7 million

o 242 CPS Case Workers $ 15.3 million

o OCWI/Attorneys/Staff $ 3.3 million

o Family Services $ 16.1 million

o Transition/Automation $ 25.0 million

Governor Jan Brewer has signed SB 1225 into law. This bill, sponsored by Senator Nancy Barto of Phoenix, would require health care providers to tell women if they have dense breast tissue. This, according to Senator Barto, will allow women to make the most informed decision possible when screening for breast cancer, and likely save many lives.

According to the American College of Radiology, an estimated 50% of women have dense breast tissue. The American Cancer Society believes dense breast tissue may increase the risk of breast cancer. Dense breast tissue also makes it harder for doctors to see cancer on mammograms. On those mammograms, both dense breast tissue and masses or tumors look white. Consequently, normal dense breast tissue can hide masses or tumors. In this case, women with dense breast tissue have the option to seek additional tests, such as an ultrasound or MRI, to screen for breast cancer.

This shortcoming of mammogram screening was something Nancy Cappello was unaware of until 2004, when she was diagnosed with stage IIIC breast cancer, after a nearly a decade of normal mammogram results. For years her doctor had failed to tell her that her breasts were dense. After six surgeries, five months of chemotherapy, and 24 radiation treatments, Nancy beat her cancer. Nancy could have been spared the massive cost and suffering of beating her cancer if she had been made aware of her dense breast tissue and taken the appropriate screening tests. This, according to Senator Barto, is the genesis of SB 1225: to require healthcare providers to notify women of their breast density and prevent situations like that of Nancy Cappello from reoccurring.

Since beating her cancer, Nancy has become a legislative advocate for standardized dense breast tissue notification. After founding the nonprofit group Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc., Nancy and other advocates have been able to enact breast density legislation in 14 states and introduce legislation in another 10 states.

Here in Arizona, Dr. Nicole Saphier, a Scottsdale radiologist and breast health advocate, assisted Senator Barto with the legislation. “This legislation is a milestone for countless generations of women in Arizona, and will add to the ongoing ripple effect to involve all women,” said Dr. Saphier.

When asked what she hopes the outcome of this legislation will be, Dr. Saphier said she hopes that women in Arizona will have full disclosure regarding their breast health.

Senate Majority Leader McComish sits down with House Speaker Tobin for a discussion of what’s happening down at the State Capitol on Arizona Horizon.

CPS needs outside eyes to help develop reforms Our View: Andy Biggs' bill should win quick approval By Editorial board The Republic | azcentral.com Mon Feb 17, 2014 7:32 PM

CPS investigation uncovers massively broken system. Senate President Andy Biggs is pushing a bill to bring in outside experts to review Arizona’s child-welfare system. It’s a good idea that won unanimous approval from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee last week. Today, it should pass the Senate Appropriations Committee.

It makes sense to spend $250,000 on a fresh look at the long-troubled agency that is now called the Division of Child Safety and Family Services. National experts who specialize in this field can compare what Arizona is doing to best practices from around the country.

To succeed, they must be carefully chosen to be agenda-free, and their work should complement, not delay, what the state is doing.

Gov. Jan Brewer has a group drafting legislation to formalize her administrative move to split child welfare from the behemoth Department of Economic Security. There is also a legislative committee working on child welfare. What Biggs proposes does not duplicate or complicate those efforts.

Legislation to create a new agency can move ahead. It should be a flexible framework, and not lock in specific policies or procedures. The legislative committee should continue to provide oversight and expertise from an Arizona perspective.

A qualified group of outside experts has the advantage of being unencumbered by preconceptions or pet ideas about what needs to be done. It will not be beholden to the current failed system, the stakeholders or political players.

This kind of independent scrutiny and national expertise can help Arizona achieve meaningful reform.

PHOENIX — Less than 30 words described Republican State Sen. Gail Griffin’s view of what encapsulates good government and her responsibilities as an elected official.

The wording of the Second Section of Article 2 of the Arizona Constitution succinctly describes the powers of the state government and of the legislators, said Griffin, who is the Senate President pro tem.

Holding up a copy of the section’s text which reads: “All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights,” she said any action by the state government, especially legislators, which violates those words are constitutionally not allowed.

To read more of this profile of Senator Griffin, click here: http://www.willcoxrangenews.com/news/article_ece1c19c-9369-11e3-822c-0019bb2963f4.html

In addition to continuing rising costs of health care, another concern for patients in Arizona is the wildly different costs of the same procedure, depending on where you go for the procedure. Now, a new law is calling attention to these varying costs.

Beginning on January 1st, hospitals and healthcare providers in Arizona are now required to post the out-of-pocket costs for some of their most common procedures. As required by HB 2045, signed into law last June by Governor Brewer, healthcare providers must post the direct pay cost for their 25 most common services and hospitals are required to post the prices for their 50 most common services. Senator Nancy Barto (R-15) sponsored the amendment to the bill that put in place these requirements.

In a study done by the University of California San Francisco, healthcare costs vary widely between states and even between communities. For example, a patient could pay $21,000 to treat heart failure in Denver, Colorado or $9,000 for the same procedure in Jackson, Mississippi.

The HealthCare Incentives Improvement Institute gave Arizona an “F” rating for healthcare transparency. “Arizonans simply don’t know what they could be paying for a procedure if they are paying for it themselves or through a Health Savings Account. All they know is what their co-pay is,” says Senator Barto, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services.

In an attempt to fix this, Senator Barto followed the lead of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, which began posting their prices for services online five years ago. This, according to the New York Times, has led other healthcare providers in the area to post their prices, driving down costs.

Senator Barto’s goal is to lower the enormous cost of healthcare for Arizonans. “With more people having higher deductibles or not having insurance altogether, knowing how much an operation or procedures costs is incredibly important. How can we lower medical bills if patients are buying health care with no idea what it costs? Now that the bill has passed, people need to make sure that their healthcare providers are following the law and they are getting the true cost of their healthcare.”

Senator Yee recently took part in a nationally televised panel at the Republican National Committee Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. The Senator attended the conference so she could be honored as one of the five “rising stars” of the party and be given an opportunity to share her views on a national platform. The panel’s theme was how the GOP needs to reach out to women and minorities. Senator Yee urged the party to listen to the border states and “wrap our arms carefully, diligently around comprehensive immigration reform”.

Senator Yee also noted during the panel discussion that more Asian Americans should join the Republican Party, given that Asian Americans are “highly educated, higher wage earners, and for the most part own their own business” These characteristics, Senator Yee explains, resonate with our party.

To watch the full panel discussion, please visit C-SPAN’s website here: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/clip/4482298

Senator Bob Worsley joined Mark Curtis on Arizona Nightly News Wednesday night to discuss the bill he introduced to create a virtual border fence along Arizona’s Southern Border. The bill would appropriate $30 million to allow the state to monitor the Arizona-Mexican Border. To see the full interview, follow this link:

State senators propose $30 million bill for virtual border fence:

http://archive.azcentral.com/video/3097333686001

WASHINGTON – Today at the Republican National Committee (RNC) Winter Meeting in Washington, DC, Chairman Reince Priebus and Co-Chairman Sharon Day announced five new RNC Rising Stars, including Arizona State Senator Kimberly Yee.

The program spotlights and promotes Republican individuals who are new voices in the Party. They are prominently featured on GOP.comhttp://www.gop.com/rising-stars/ and given a national platform to share their unique perspectives.

Chairman Priebus and Co-Chair Day announced the next five Republicans to be named Rising Stars and joined them for a panel discussion. In addition to Senator Yee, the other four GOP Rising Stars are:

* Chelsi Henry, Cabinet Aide to the Chief Financial Officer of Florida

* Alison Howard, Conservative Activist

* Alex Smith, National Chair of the College Republican National Committee

* Monica Youngblood, New Mexico State Representative

“These new Rising Stars are an impressive group of leaders who have had a tremendous impact on our party and who I’m certain will play major roles in shaping our party’s future,” said Chairman Priebus. “I look forward to working with Chelsi, Alison, Alex, Kimberly, and Monica to share their stories—and to share our party’s message of freedom and opportunity.”

“We launched the Rising Stars Program to highlight the incredible talent in our party on a national platform and to a national audience. It’s also gives us the chance for us to learn from these individuals and their success as we work to grow our party.”

“I’m thrilled to see this all-women slate of Rising Stars,” said RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day. “Each is already an accomplished woman in her own right. With young leaders like these, I know our party’s future is bright.”

Senator Yee represents Arizona’s 20th Legislative District and is the first Asian American woman elected to serve in the Arizona legislature. She is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, and serves as a member of the Committees on Health and Human Services, Judiciary, and Elections.

She is the former chairman of her legislative district’s Republican Committee, and was elected as a national delegate at the Republican National Convention in 2008. Prior to elective office, she worked for State Treasurer Dean Martin and in the U.S. Department of Justice. She also served as a member of Governor Schwarzenegger’s cabinet and on the State Board of Education under California Governor Pete Wilson. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University.

Senator Yee lives in Phoenix with her husband and young son. They own a small business.

“Governor Brewer today released her proposed budget for FY 2015. The document puts down a framework for the state’s finances for the next year.

The Governor’s proposed budget is a step in the right direction and I anticipate a dialogue that will continue Arizona on its path to a stable economy and opportunities for prosperity in the coming years. I look forward to sitting down with the Governor and reconciling our budget analyses and developing a balanced budget.

Arizona’s economy is improving, but at a slow pace. Arizona continues to have a structural deficit, spending more money than we bring in. I am encouraged that the Governor shares my view that now is not the time to have a short-term view of the state’s financial situation.

The Governor shares many of the same priorities as leadership in the Legislature. The Legislature is aligned with Governor Brewer’s priorities for enhancing our K-12 education system. Keeping Arizona on a competitive global edge is what we all envision for every student in this state. Our legislative budget incorporates $700 million in K-12 funding alone over the next three years. This clearly demonstrates a similar commitment to education.

We also recognize the immediate need to change course on the current child welfare system. I applaud the Governor’s judicious approach in reforming the Child Protective Services division and directing resources as needed to affect immediate restructuring of the agency. We have an opportunity to work collaboratively on developing a system that meets the needs of families in crisis. Once we have discovered the root of the systemic problem, we can build a new foundation for helping this vulnerable population. The transparency the Executive has offered throughout this process is greatly appreciated.

Today marks the beginning of this year’s budget process. Over the next several weeks, I expect the Governor and leaders in the Legislature to have many productive budget talks. I am optimistic that we can move forward and produce a budget that will best serve the citizens of Arizona today and in the years to come.”

Statement from Senator Kimberly Yee (LD-20).

“By declining to take up the case of Horne v. Isaacson, the United States Supreme Court has put the health and safety of women and preborn children at risk.

I sponsored the Mother’s Health and Safety Act because there is overwhelming evidence that abortion after 20 weeks puts women in harm’s way. What’s more, by this age, preborn children can feel pain, and it is simply inhumane to subject them to an abortion.

Because the High Court decided not to take up this case, they allowed for a dangerous and radical decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to stand that overturned this law.

It is a fundamental responsibility of government to protect life. Today, we’ve fallen short of fulfilling our duty. There is no doubt however that today’s announcement will not be the last word on this critical issue.”