Arizona: Russell Pearce

by David Safier

Here's a photo of Vic Williams (R-LD26) hanging around with a few of his closest friends: Russell Pearce, J.D. Hayworth and Sheriff Joe Arpaio (Present but out of the shot, Andrew Thomas). That's Vic looking stern and resolute behind the big three.

The issue is immigration. With those folks sharing the microphone, you know the tone is harsh.

How harsh? The Republic, not known as a Republican-bashing publication or a bastion of liberalism, had this to say under the headline, "Pearce and crew fill leadership vacuum with bunk."

Because Congress has abdicated its responsibility to resolve illegal immigration, powers have stepped into their leadership vacuum.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Here is an abbreviated version of Rep. Steve Farley's latest Farley Report (edited for state legislative issues):

Here we are in October, and our deficit is now $1.5 billion and growing.

Constitutionally, the Legislature is supposed to have delivered a balanced budget on June 30, but no one seems to want to enforce that clause.

* * *

There is some talk of the Governor calling us into special session again next week (that's Special Session Number 4 for those of you keeping score at home), and perhaps another after that one's done. But the call has not yet gone out.

[Related story:

by David Safier
Headline: National Tea Party tour rolls into Flagstaff.

Over a thousand people showed up on Monday night to hear two bus-loads of conservative activists speak. The activists were part of the National Tea Party Express tour.

[snip]

There were several Arizona politicians that also addressed the crowd. Senator Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, echoed the crowds sentiments when he vowed to fight any health care reform bill that pays for abortions and sanctions "death panels"

"Not on my watch," the Mesa Republican shouted.

Pearce wanted to politically mobilize the crowd and encourage conservatives to organize for the 2010 elections.

"We are going to take back this country. And it starts here.

Arizona's budget deficit is now estimated at $3.4 billion.  During the worst budget crisis in state history, many of our Republican state legislators are attending an ALEC convention in Atlanta, Georgia listening to the likes of Zell Miller suggest that Rahm Emanuel put "Gorilla Glue" on President Obama's chair to prevent him from "gallivanting around" the globe.

The Arizona Education Network reports:

The list of our "representatives" who are reportedly bailed out of Arizona for a little Georgia hob-nobbing this week:  Representatives Cecil Ash, Ray Barnes, Nancy Barto, Sam Crump, John Kavanagh, Debbie Lesko, John McComish, Nancy McLain and Steve Yarbrough.

In addition to Senate President Robert Burns, Senators Pamela Gorman, Jack Harper, Barbara Leff, Al Melvin and Russell Pearce also on the list of ALEC conference attendees.