Favorable Bills Gaining in Arizona Legislature

By Cathi Herod, President, Center for Arizona Policy
March 19, 2010

PHOENIX – This week, the Arizona Legislature passed a budget without increasing casino-style gambling. The Center for Arizona Policy, Arizona’s leading advocate for families, continues to strongly advocate against any increase in gambling because it is not a smart bet for Arizona families or our economy.

Three bills on CAP's Legislative Agenda passed the House passed with wide bipartisan support:  HB 2699 regarding child prostitution and two school choice bills, HB 2664 and HB 2663. HB 2699 strengthens laws against those who engage in child prostitution. One more bill that CAP supports passed the House, HB 2297, which helps the City of Glendale prevent the efforts of the Tohono O'odham Nation to build a casino across the street from a high school. All four of these bills now move to the Senate.

Two other CAP-supported bills moved through Senate floor debate and are now ready for final votes:  SB 1309, protecting parents' rights, and SB 1304, requiring reporting on the number of abortions in our state. The House version of the abortion reporting bill, HB 2649, also passed floor debate and is ready for a final vote.

HB 2148, Marital Preference for Adoption, passed the Senate Public Safety and Human Services committee. Kay Ekstrom, founder of Christian Family Care Agency, provided excellent testimony about the importance of giving kids a chance for a mom and a dad based on her 50+ years of field experience.

Keep up on the status of all CAP-supported bills with our Legislative Action Center.

CAP-Sponsored Bills:

AboAbortion Reporting Requirements (SB 1304/HB 2649) Requires abortion providers to report abortion statistics to provide an overview of abortion in Arizona. Fact Sheet 

·    Prohibition on Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Coverage (SB 1305) Clarifies Arizona law prohibiting taxpayer funding of abortion to prohibit government entities from providing insurance coverage for abortion. Fact Sheet 

·    Human Egg Provider Protection Act (SB 1306/HB 2651) Protects women from being exploited for their eggs and ensures women are given full information before donating their eggs. Fact Sheet 

·    Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos Act (SB 1307/HB 2652) Prohibits researchers from intentionally destroying human embryos. Fact Sheet   

·    Marital Preference for Adoption (HB 2148) Gives children in foster care a chance to have a mom and a dad by ensuring that married couples are considered the first adoption as adoptive parents. Fact Sheet 

·    Scholarship Tax Credit Reform (HB 2664) Improves the individual tax credit program by providing for greater accountability and increased donation limit. Fact Sheet  

·     Scholarship Tax Credit Conformity - Corporate Tax Credit (HB 2663) Conforms reporting requirements in the corporate scholarship tax credit program to the new changes to the individual scholarship tax credit program. Fact Sheet 

·     Tax Credit Donations Deadline (HB 2496/SB 1274) Allows donations made to school tuition organizations and charitable organizations to relate back to previous tax year if the donations are made by the filing date of the person's return. Fact Sheet 

·     University Scholarship Equity (SB 1280) Requires state universities to publish the criteria used for awarding scholarships and notify students in a timely manner to assure fair and equitable access for students from traditional, charter, private, and home schools. Fact Sheet 

·     Parental Rights (SB 1309) Codifies the constitutional rights of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children. Fact Sheet 

·     Religious Freedom, Land Use (HB 2596) Ensures that religious institutions are protected from unreasonable land-use regulations. Fact Sheet  

·     Religious Freedom, Campaign Finance (HB 2490) Exempts a church or religious organization from registering as a political committee when speaking out in favor of or against a ballot measure. Fact Sheet  

·     Divorce Reform (SB 1199/HB 2650) Provides couples seeking divorce with adequate time and information to consider effects and alternatives of divorce. Fact Sheet 

·     Child Prostitution (HB 2699) - Removes a defense for predators who engage in prostitution with a minor. Fact Sheet  
 

Arizona Abortion Laws Threatened 

From Staff Reports and Reporting By Cathi Herrod, President, Center for Arizona Policy
Sept. 18, 2009

PHOENIX -- On Monday, abortion advocates filed two lawsuits seeking to block enforcement of Arizona's new abortion laws. Planned Parenthood filed their lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court, and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix. 

The coordinated, strategic attack by the abortion industry seeks to: 

• Get a definitive state court ruling that the Arizona Constitution provides a greater right to an abortion than the U.S. Constitution, thus effectively overturning the Legislature's right to reasonably regulate abortion.
• Get a court ruling that non-doctors, such as nurse practitioners, may legally and constitutionally perform surgical abortions. 
• Challenge right of conscience refusal of persons in medical and pharmacy positions to refuse to participate in any way in abortion. Arizona thus becomes the first state to have these rights challenged legally, though Planned Parenthood, the Obama Administration and others are challenging federal protections for rights of conscience.
• Remove parental consent and informed consent laws.

If the abortion industry crowd wins these lawsuits, it will be very difficult to protect a woman's need and right to get adequate information about the abortion procedure and to have a consultation with a doctor. Protecting parental rights, taking care of minors' medical needs, and preserving conscience rights for healthcare workers also will be greatly endangered. The abortion industry's push to have non-doctors perform surgical abortion with government approval has ramifications nationwide.

The Battle over School Choice

The Arizona House has formed a special committee to review the school choice tax credit programs. Speaker Kirk Adams -- a strong supporter of school choice -- said that "this committee will review the impact of these tax credits and make recommendations for their future use."

Those who oppose parental rights and who favor abortion on demand are strategically planning their attacks. School choice opponents are working to over-regulate -- and eliminate -- the scholarship tax credit programs that provide almost 30,000 students and their parents with meaningful educational options.

Duff Named President of United Families International

GILBERT-The Board of Directors of the international pro-family advocacy group United Families International (UFI) has appointed Michael N. Duff as president of the organization.  Duff will bring his extensive experience in government, politics, and family advocacy to bear in directing the international group. 

"Mike brings years of experience in domestic and international government relations to UFI," said Carol Soelberg, past UFI president. "His experience working in both bodies of the U.S. Congress, as an appointee in two presidential administrations, and as a government relations professional, will make UFI an even more effective voice for the family at the United Nations and around the world."

UFI is committed to protect the institutions of the family and marriage from the growing cultural and legal threats they face today.  The Arizona-based organization accomplishes this mission primarily through educating the public, policy makers, and the media about these underlying threats and the negative impacts they have on individuals, cultures, nations and the global community.  They also conduct legal research, help shape public opinion, and support policies and legislation that will strengthen the family and marriage.

Duff said, "The society we live in today is in turmoil, with constantly shifting values.  Radical voices advocate one thing or another in betrayal of time-tested standards of behavior.  The moorings of our society have been badly shaken. We look forward to working with all responsible citizens and government officials to promote measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society. The vast body of social science research clearly illustrates the impacts to our society of destabilized families.  No individual, community or nation is immune to these forces.  Each of us has a compelling interest in securing a stable future for all families."

Duff is from Blackfoot, Idaho and has been married to his wife Kandi for 26 years.  They are the parents of six children and grandparents of one.  They provide foster care to many children in need. Additionally, Duff has been serving as the president of United Families International's chapter in Idaho.
 

The Best Way to Protest Cap and Trade? Let the Air Out of the Balloon

Aug. 15, 2009

PHOENIX  -- An Arizona man has devised a clever way to protest the highly controversial Cap and Trade bill that threatens our economy and which would significantly raise the cost of living for Americans. He literally let the air out of the balloon in explaining his plan to The Arizona Conservative.

Tuesday's Wall Street Journal editorial page engaged in a bit of triumphalism. The editors showed that their 2003 predictions of where monetary policy was leading were better than those of Ben Bernanke. Bernanke's comments at a 2003 meeting of the Board of Governors make clear that lots of detailed knowledge can just as easily addle a brain as create clear thinking.
 

Methinks this might be the problem with the editorial page of the Arizona Republic as they opine on the economic devastation of budget cuts. Every dollar spent in the state budget is the most important dollar in the world to someone. But all the wailing over budget cuts tends to make one lose sight of the big picture.
 

The ability of enterprises to provide for economic opportunity and jobs is the big picture. Governor Brewer's advisors and the newspapers are convinced that cutting spending will be worse than raising taxes. But then the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco recently published an article summarizing research on economic multipliers. It turns out that a dollar of government spending results in 70 cents of job-creating activity after two years. A dollar in tax cuts results in $1.30 to $3 of job-creating activity after two years. Put another way, a $1 cut in spending cuts job-creating activity by 70 cents. A $1 increase in taxes cuts job-creating activity by as much as $3.
 

So now let us engage in some triumphalism of our own. We've said all along that tax increases will hurt more than help. Once again, the evidence is on our side.

 

Byron Schlomach, Ph.D, is director of economic policy at the Goldwater Institute.

 

PHOENIX – Gov. Jan Brewer today called for additional spending cuts to get ahead of the curve on the 2010 state budget shortfall, expected to reach $3 billion, courtesy of the failed Napolitano administration:

“I want to thank the members of the Arizona House and Senate for putting in substantial time and effort together with me to fill the increasing FY ’09 deficit hole. I have now signed both pieces of legislation. This latest update to the FY ’09 budget was not a simple exercise, as state revenues have continued to decline and very few weeks remain before the beginning of the new fiscal year. I am hopeful that, with a continued emphasis on negotiation and compromise, the legislature can reach consensus with my policy goals to approve an FY ’10 budget package promptly.

“The state deficit for FY ’10 now stands at more than $3 billion. As I have communicated clearly for many months, there is no question that additional spending reductions will be necessary to balance the FY ’10 budget and ensure that we are well positioned to deal with projected FY ’11 challenges. In total, my permanent spending reduction target is an accumulated total of $1 billion. This is not a small cut to government. It is the largest reduction in the size of state government in Arizona history.

“But let me repeat – spending reductions and federal stimulus dollars alone will not come close to fixing the FY ’10 budget or future budget deficits. New revenues of roughly $1 billion will be necessary, as federal stimulus funding will only cover approximately $1 billion of the FY ’10 deficit. And I will not approve an FY ’10 budget that does not take into account FY ’11 needs and requirements, just as I was unwilling to over-utilize federal stimulus funding to balance FY ’09 and leave our education system exposed to massive reductions in FY ’10.

“We are only a few months away before my agencies must begin preparations for FY ‘11. It would be fiscally irresponsible for the legislature to ignore the depths of the FY ’11 state deficit by promoting a budget plan for FY ‘10 that relies primarily on one-time measures.

“Now is the time for the legislature to build upon the momentum of this FY ’09 fix, and work with me on a balanced budget that is comprehensive, sustainable, addresses all points in my 5 point plan, and does not ignore the next budget process that is merely months away.”

Tom Jenney, Arizona director of Americans for Prosperity, warned that "Gov. Brewer is still stuck on the idea of raising taxes in order to solve the FY2010 budget deficit crisis, as shown in this statement released today. Also, Gov. Brewer’s spokespersons and surrogates are appearing at town halls, legislative district meetings, business club meetings and other venues around the state, arguing in favor of the tax-increase proposal."

Hiking taxes would be the kiss of "death" for the governor the the 2010 GOP primary.

PHOENIX -- Imagine taking your family to the Diamondbacks' baseball game June 27th -- and finding out once inside the stadium that it's "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender night."  Your young children ask you what each of these words mean, and that's the last thing you expected to encounter. After all, this was supposed to be an evening of "family entertainment."

For the first time in their history, the Arizona Diamondbacks have succumbed to the homosexual agenda, and you're invited to boycott the game. Unless you like to watch men kissing in public.

For each and every ticket you purchase that night, $5 will be donated to the radical, anti-family group Equality Arizona and other equally extreme groups. These groups want children in K-12 to be thoroughly indoctrinated in the homosexual agenda. They want your children to be confused about their sexuality. They want children to be raised without one of their parents -- male or female -- denying them full and healthy developmental needs. They want your children to expose themselves to unhealthy and high-risk activities.

Is this what you want? Is this what now passes for "family entertainment." If you don't agree, tell the Arizona Diamondbacks of your disapproval with "homosexual night."

PHOENIX -- When Gov. Jan Brewer took office in January, she issued an executive order suspending all administrative rulemaking. Many government programs like the Arizona Lottery require the executive branch to issue "rules" to implement the program. Because these rules can carry additional costs and burdens to state government, the Governor suspended rules in progress so her staff could evaluate the costs and benefits of any proposed rules. Well, one of the new administrative rules being proposed would have expanded the Arizona Lottery by adding a definition of "on-line lottery game." This new definition would have allowed video gaming also described as analogous to video poker. For now, at least, the Arizona Lottery proposed expansion under the Napolitano administration has been halted.

Maricopa County Trying to Block Own Attorney from Supervisor
Investigation

March 16, 2009