Monday, January 30, 2012
House Democrats introduce bills to create jobs, boost economy
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Democrats added multiple jobs bills to their 2012 plan Monday, including a lower tax burden for small businesses who hire Arizona workers and local preference for in-state bidders on state and local contracts.
“We’re focused on what matters — creating jobs,” said House Minority Leader Chad Campbell. “We should make government work for us so our tax dollars create jobs here, not in other states, or worse yet in China or India. The best way to do this is to work in a bipartisan way to get common-sense bills passed to move our economy in the right direction.”
House Democrats’ Jobs, Clean Energy & Economic Development bills include:
Creating a lower tax burden for small businesses that hire Arizona workers
HB 2705 - small business employment; tax rate (Campbell)
HB 2700 – property tax valuation; residential; business (Chabin)
Create local preference for in-state bidders on state and local contracts
HB 2392 – state contracts; preference; Arizona business (Saldate)
HB 2680 – procurement; Arizona bidder; preference (Campbell)
Ensure that state and local government contractors use American companies instead of foreign ones
HB 2510 – government procurement; American products (Campbell)
HB 2638 – state contracts; foreign headquarters (Gallego)
Require an automatic sunset on all current and future tax credits and loopholes
HB 2645 – sales tax exemptions; repeal; dates (Farley)
HB 2685 – income tax credits; repeal dates (Farley)
Construct solar panels on public school sites to create jobs, repair schools and create more efficiency and lower energy costs for schools
HB 2047 – solar school grant program (Farley)
Invest in infrastructure to immediately create jobs
HB 2298 – improvement districts; renewable energy (Campbell)
HB 2085 – energy conservation; public buildings (Ableser)
HB 2243 – commerce authority; solar grants (Gallego)
HB 2699 – department of administration; solar panels (Chabin)
Other related bills:
HB 2353 – Arizona twenty-first century initiative; priority (Ableser)
HB 2638 – employment discrimination; long term unemployed (Gallego)
HB 2456 – solar energy tax credit; amount (Alston)
HB 2225 – trust land; agricultural classifications; algaculture (Heinz)
HB 2226 – property tax; algaculture (Heinz)
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“We’re focused on what matters — creating jobs,” said House Minority Leader Chad Campbell. “We should make government work for us so our tax dollars create jobs here, not in other states, or worse yet in China or India. The best way to do this is to work in a bipartisan way to get common-sense bills passed to move our economy in the right direction.”
House Democrats’ Jobs, Clean Energy & Economic Development bills include:
Creating a lower tax burden for small businesses that hire Arizona workers
HB 2705 - small business employment; tax rate (Campbell)
HB 2700 – property tax valuation; residential; business (Chabin)
Create local preference for in-state bidders on state and local contracts
HB 2392 – state contracts; preference; Arizona business (Saldate)
HB 2680 – procurement; Arizona bidder; preference (Campbell)
Ensure that state and local government contractors use American companies instead of foreign ones
HB 2510 – government procurement; American products (Campbell)
HB 2638 – state contracts; foreign headquarters (Gallego)
Require an automatic sunset on all current and future tax credits and loopholes
HB 2645 – sales tax exemptions; repeal; dates (Farley)
HB 2685 – income tax credits; repeal dates (Farley)
Construct solar panels on public school sites to create jobs, repair schools and create more efficiency and lower energy costs for schools
HB 2047 – solar school grant program (Farley)
Invest in infrastructure to immediately create jobs
HB 2298 – improvement districts; renewable energy (Campbell)
HB 2085 – energy conservation; public buildings (Ableser)
HB 2243 – commerce authority; solar grants (Gallego)
HB 2699 – department of administration; solar panels (Chabin)
Other related bills:
HB 2353 – Arizona twenty-first century initiative; priority (Ableser)
HB 2638 – employment discrimination; long term unemployed (Gallego)
HB 2456 – solar energy tax credit; amount (Alston)
HB 2225 – trust land; agricultural classifications; algaculture (Heinz)
HB 2226 – property tax; algaculture (Heinz)
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Friday, January 27, 2012
Campbell: ‘Tobin’s latest anti-voter move a new low’
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Minority Leader Chad Campbell released the following statement today on Speaker Andy Tobin’s efforts to undermine the will of the voters and create maps that favor Tea Party and special interest control over Arizona:“All of Arizona’s voters should be outraged that self-serving politicians desperately continue to try to control an independent redistricting process so they can fulfill their own self interests of controlling the state with their rigid, extremist ideologies and making Arizona the laughing stock of the nation.
“Speaker Andy Tobin’s introduction of bills to put his own secretly concocted redistricting map on the ballot just to get his way is a legislative power grab that thwarts a voter-approved, independent process. It is the epitome of a self-serving politician who will do anything to desperately hold on to power and protect his own job — even if it means overthrowing the will of the voters and possibly the state constitution itself.
“We all know what is happening here — certain Tea Party extremists who control the state capitol didn’t get their way in the redistricting process. They now might have to go out and actually campaign in competitive, balanced districts. They don’t care about compromise or making government work for the people; all they care about is protecting their own jobs. Speaker Tobin’s bills underscore that once again.
“This is a pitiful display of partisan, self-serving politics at its worst. Voters have had enough. They created an Independent Redistricting Commission in the first place to prevent politicians from drawing self-serving maps. Speaker Tobin doesn’t seem to care.
“Even though the IRC’s citizen volunteers listened to public comment and created fair maps that still favor Republicans, Speaker Tobin and certain Tea Party lawmakers want their way or the highway. This is a waste of taxpayers’ time and millions of dollars, and it does nothing to stop the partisan bickering, create jobs, fix our economy or help our children get the education they deserve.
“The IRC’s map is our one shot at fixing this so we can get Arizona on the right track with the benefit of competition. That’s how America works, that’s how it was built. And that’s why I hope both Republican and Democratic lawmakers will join me in rejecting the Speaker’s obvious attempts at a self-serving power grab. Let the independent process work for the people of Arizona, not for self-serving politicians.”
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Seriously!? Arizona Legislative Moments of the Week
1st Place
2nd Place
Tea Party Sen. Don Shooter explained that he would not be taking any public comment during the Senate Appropriations Committee. Asked why no public comment, Shooter said, "I heard it last year."
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2012/01/23/20120123insider0124-budget-hearing-wont-comments.html
3rd Place
“The federal government, what I was talking about earlier, asking about our citizenship inside America is what perturbs me,” said Tea Party Rep. David Gowan in MAPS on Wednesday, discussing his support for HCM2005, which would urge the federal government to move checkpoints closer to the border, obviously missing the irony that SB1070, which he supports, creates these situations everyday.
Gowan makes this statement while explaining his vote in MAPS, 01:35:00, January 25, 2012.
http://azleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=9795
2nd Place
Tea Party Sen. Don Shooter explained that he would not be taking any public comment during the Senate Appropriations Committee. Asked why no public comment, Shooter said, "I heard it last year."
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2012/01/23/20120123insider0124-budget-hearing-wont-comments.html
3rd Place
“The federal government, what I was talking about earlier, asking about our citizenship inside America is what perturbs me,” said Tea Party Rep. David Gowan in MAPS on Wednesday, discussing his support for HCM2005, which would urge the federal government to move checkpoints closer to the border, obviously missing the irony that SB1070, which he supports, creates these situations everyday.
Gowan makes this statement while explaining his vote in MAPS, 01:35:00, January 25, 2012.
http://azleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=9795
Thursday, January 26, 2012
House Democrats release statement on Brewer’s presidential ‘greeting’
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Minority Leader Chad Campbell released the following statement on Gov. Jan Brewer’s treatment of the President’s visit to Arizona:
“Yesterday, the President of the United States came to visit our great state of Arizona to talk about creating new jobs and boosting the economy where middle-class families have suffered long enough during the recession.
“Instead of greeting our Commander in Chief with respect and welcoming him to our state, Gov. Jan Brewer chose to engage in political theater. She chose to put partisan bickering over civility and respect. This is an all-too-common occurrence at Arizona’s capitol. Disagreement is part of a democracy, but disrespect is not.
"As elected leaders, we have ample avenues and opportunities to deliver our messages and concerns to one another in an appropriate way. Demeaning one another in public is not the appropriate way. Ignoring standard protocols and good manners to engage in political theater is not the appropriate way.
“Like all Arizonans, we’re sick of partisan bickering. Instead of fighting each other, let’s work together to get things done. And let's remember that we all want the same thing: a stronger Arizona and a stronger America. Let's set an example that the rest of the country can follow.”
“Yesterday, the President of the United States came to visit our great state of Arizona to talk about creating new jobs and boosting the economy where middle-class families have suffered long enough during the recession.
“Instead of greeting our Commander in Chief with respect and welcoming him to our state, Gov. Jan Brewer chose to engage in political theater. She chose to put partisan bickering over civility and respect. This is an all-too-common occurrence at Arizona’s capitol. Disagreement is part of a democracy, but disrespect is not.
"As elected leaders, we have ample avenues and opportunities to deliver our messages and concerns to one another in an appropriate way. Demeaning one another in public is not the appropriate way. Ignoring standard protocols and good manners to engage in political theater is not the appropriate way.
“Like all Arizonans, we’re sick of partisan bickering. Instead of fighting each other, let’s work together to get things done. And let's remember that we all want the same thing: a stronger Arizona and a stronger America. Let's set an example that the rest of the country can follow.”
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Heinz bipartisan bill for more cancer screenings unanimously passes committee
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – A bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Heinz, D-Tucson (District 29), that would make it easier for women to screen and prevent breast and cervical cancer in Arizona passed committee on a unanimous vote today.
HB 2472 would recognize more health-care providers and services that administer screenings for breast and cervical cancer, rather than limiting recognition of these providers and services to programs under the Department of Health Services. A screening program would be recognized as long as it “operates consistently with Arizona Well Women Health Check guidelines.”
“This is an opportunity to show that Democrats and Republicans can work together, move past partisan bickering, and work toward results for Arizonans,” said Heinz who is sponsoring the bill with Rep. Kate Brophy McGee, a Republican. “This is a step forward in the fight against breast and cervical cancer so mothers, daughters, sisters and all women in Arizona can protect their health.”
Last year, inflammatory breast-cancer patient Bobbie Thayer was unable to enroll in MED, a program that was closed to new enrollees. Heinz helped Thayer get the treatment she needed, but recognized that preventative screenings could have helped Thayer fight breast cancer at an earlier stage as well as many other Arizona women like her.
Thayer testified in the Health and Human Services committee, where the bill passed on an 8-0 vote.
“I had no clue as to the cost of cancer today or imagined I would be the one diagnosed with such a catastrophic disease,” Thayer said. “I want to thank Rep. Heinz and his staff for working so diligently with my situation. I know of others who are not outspoken or do not have the ability or knowledge of where to turn for help.”
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HB 2472 would recognize more health-care providers and services that administer screenings for breast and cervical cancer, rather than limiting recognition of these providers and services to programs under the Department of Health Services. A screening program would be recognized as long as it “operates consistently with Arizona Well Women Health Check guidelines.”
“This is an opportunity to show that Democrats and Republicans can work together, move past partisan bickering, and work toward results for Arizonans,” said Heinz who is sponsoring the bill with Rep. Kate Brophy McGee, a Republican. “This is a step forward in the fight against breast and cervical cancer so mothers, daughters, sisters and all women in Arizona can protect their health.”
Last year, inflammatory breast-cancer patient Bobbie Thayer was unable to enroll in MED, a program that was closed to new enrollees. Heinz helped Thayer get the treatment she needed, but recognized that preventative screenings could have helped Thayer fight breast cancer at an earlier stage as well as many other Arizona women like her.
Thayer testified in the Health and Human Services committee, where the bill passed on an 8-0 vote.
“I had no clue as to the cost of cancer today or imagined I would be the one diagnosed with such a catastrophic disease,” Thayer said. “I want to thank Rep. Heinz and his staff for working so diligently with my situation. I know of others who are not outspoken or do not have the ability or knowledge of where to turn for help.”
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Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Two House Democrats to relay Arizona needs, values to President Obama
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Two House Democrats will meet with President Obama Wednesday to discuss the 2012 Democratic plan that stops the partisan bickering, focuses on creating jobs and draws the line at more cuts to education.
House Democratic Whip Anna Tovar and Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix (District 16), will relay Arizona’s needs for jobs and a stronger economy to the President before his speech in Chandler.
“This is a great opportunity to show the President that we’re committed in Arizona to end the partisan infighting and work to get things done,” Tovar said. “We hope the President can do the same in Washington. Middle-class families, Arizona’s economic engine, deserve our focus on good ideas to put people back to work and improve public schools so our kids can compete for the jobs of the future.”
Gallego said he will make sure the President knows what his constituents want to see from Washington.
“We want Washington to produce results, and I believe that can happen when we finally end the partisan bickering and move past the rigid ideologies and Tea Party extremism,” Gallego said. “It’s time to stop all of these divisive distractions and make Arizona stronger for our kids’ future through focusing on jobs.”
Both Tovar and Gallego will be available for interviews by contacting House Democratic Communication Director Sarah Muench at smuench@azleg.gov.
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House Democratic Whip Anna Tovar and Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix (District 16), will relay Arizona’s needs for jobs and a stronger economy to the President before his speech in Chandler.
“This is a great opportunity to show the President that we’re committed in Arizona to end the partisan infighting and work to get things done,” Tovar said. “We hope the President can do the same in Washington. Middle-class families, Arizona’s economic engine, deserve our focus on good ideas to put people back to work and improve public schools so our kids can compete for the jobs of the future.”
Gallego said he will make sure the President knows what his constituents want to see from Washington.
“We want Washington to produce results, and I believe that can happen when we finally end the partisan bickering and move past the rigid ideologies and Tea Party extremism,” Gallego said. “It’s time to stop all of these divisive distractions and make Arizona stronger for our kids’ future through focusing on jobs.”
Both Tovar and Gallego will be available for interviews by contacting House Democratic Communication Director Sarah Muench at smuench@azleg.gov.
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Monday, January 23, 2012
Gallego introduces bill to end hiring discrimination against long-term unemployed
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix (District 16), has introduced legislation that would prohibit hiring discrimination against unemployed workers.
HB 2660 would add “long-term unemployment status” to the list of prohibited discrimination in hiring. Long-term unemployment is defined as a person who has not been employed for at least 27 consecutive weeks.
“We’re focused on what matters — creating jobs,” Gallego said. “Middle-class families, Arizona’s economic engine, deserve our focus on good ideas to put people back to work. Right now, Arizonans who have been hurt by this recession are hurting even more due to their unemployment status. It’s a vicious cycle.”
Gallego noted that families who had been unemployed longer were at even more risk due to their unemployment insurance expiring, which makes it even more important to get them back in the work force without discrimination.
“It’s time to propose holding companies that receive tax credits accountable for creating jobs they promised and to make sure they do it without discriminating against an Arizonan who was unemployed for a longer period of time through no fault of their own,” Gallego said.
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HB 2660 would add “long-term unemployment status” to the list of prohibited discrimination in hiring. Long-term unemployment is defined as a person who has not been employed for at least 27 consecutive weeks.
“We’re focused on what matters — creating jobs,” Gallego said. “Middle-class families, Arizona’s economic engine, deserve our focus on good ideas to put people back to work. Right now, Arizonans who have been hurt by this recession are hurting even more due to their unemployment status. It’s a vicious cycle.”
Gallego noted that families who had been unemployed longer were at even more risk due to their unemployment insurance expiring, which makes it even more important to get them back in the work force without discrimination.
“It’s time to propose holding companies that receive tax credits accountable for creating jobs they promised and to make sure they do it without discriminating against an Arizonan who was unemployed for a longer period of time through no fault of their own,” Gallego said.
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