Arizona: #FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL

ARIZONA PORK REQUEST TOTAL: $17,725,317

The Congressional Pork Map is a project of the Center for Renewing America and the American Accountability Foundation to educate the American People about the size and scope of Congressional earmarks in their community. It is also a tool to allow citizens to use their unique knowledge of their communities to exercise oversight on their Members of Congress.
https://www.porkmap.com

Before we take a look at these spending requests, who is asking for what and discover their networks and agendas, let’s take a minute to review the United States Constitution:

Spending Clause

ARTICLE I, SECTION 8, CLAUSE 1

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States….

As a matter of original meaning, there is reason to doubt whether the federal spending power flows from this clause. On its face, the clause grants only the power to tax, and any inference of a spending power from the clause’s language about the “general Welfare” leaves unexplained where Congress obtains the power to spend borrowed money or the proceeds from land sales. It is more plausible to locate the federal spending power in the Necessary and Proper Clause, or perhaps even the Territories and Property Clauses of Article IV. Nonetheless, modern law has settled on the Taxation Clause as the source of federal spending authority, though a more accurate description would be to entitle the clause as “The General Welfare Clause.”
You can read more about discussions on this subject at Heritage Foundation’s GUIDE TO THE CONSTITUTION.

Now let us begin to review why these projects are worth considering as #PorkSpending. As you critically think through, perhaps even researching information for yourself regarding taxation, ask yourself about the character of the people requesting the money. Ask if these unrealistic burdens are being placed upon taxpayers in these redistribution of wealth schemes for personal reasons, like connections, pay offs, or part of a great reset in the culture of the organizations.

Who will get the money?
How will it be distributed?
What is the person or company track record?
How will the person or company benefit from these taxpayer dollars?
What is the profit margin for the person or business?
What does the requestor benefit from or gain from supporting these requests?
How does the requestor pay off supporters with these requests or how is the requestor connected to the beneficiaries of these requests?
How do these requests fit into the boundaries of the FEDERAL SPENDING CLAUSE and the examples given whereby these types of things were not approved of in the early days of our nation?

Salt River Project

6150 W. Thunderbird Rd., Glendale, AZ 85306-4001
Member Requesting: Greg Stanton
Amount: $1,125,000
Description: These funds, requested by Salt River Project, would support a feasibility study to evaluate the impact of sedimentation accumulation in the Verde River Basin and help identify new ways to restore water storage capacity. The accumulation of natural sedimentation in the Verde River Basin has significantly curtailed the water storage capacity of Horseshoe Reservoir – one of SRP’s seven federally owned reservoirs. SRP expects higher temperatures and less predictable precipitation on the Verde River

Learn more about Sediment and Suspended Sediment here. And then ask why over a million dollars for a feasibility study because this problem is nothing new and surely they can do it all for way less money.

32nd Street and Thomas Road Intersection Safety Improvements

200 West Washington Street, 12th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Member Requesting: Greg Stanton
Amount: $960,000
Description: These funds, requested by the City of Phoenix, would make critical safety improvement to this high-priority intersection, including traffic signal rebuild, crosswalk enhancements, street lighting and ADA upgrades. This intersection is ranked as the 39th most dangerous intersection in the region by the Maricopa Association of Governments.

This does appear to be an emotional appeal for money that is a LOCAL problem, not worthy of a #RedistributionOfWealth request. Why doesn’t the City of Phoenix pay for their own solution? It seems highly inappropriate to ask for federal funds when the City of Phoenix should be taking care of their own problems with their own tax and spend money confiscated from local taxpayers.

Or maybe the City of Phoenix can host their own #FundMe account to raise the money locally for a local solution? Here’s a list of the TOP 10 resources to get the City of Phoenix started: #FundYourself

Pork Man Stanton’s running total: $2,085,000.00

Growing BIPOC Micromanufacturing Entrepreneurs

31 East 5th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281
Member Requesting: Greg Stanton
Amount: $500,000
Description: These funds would support the City of Tempe’s efforts to lift up local entrepreneurs—with a focus on BIPOC entrepreneurs—and help them overcome the most significant obstacles to start-up manufacturing through grants to cover the cost of space, start-up raw materials and equipment necessary for micromanufacturing. The funds would also support Tempe’s effort to train and coach entrepreneurs.

Uh, this is not the federal responsibility, to fund and lift up entrepreneurs in Arizona. This is not the Federal Government’s job to support or pick winners and losers. And to use taxpayer money to create and train coaches? Uh NO! This is a horrible request and an abuse of working class taxpayers resources that ought be used for things like #DefendTheBorder.

Pork Man Stanton’s running total: $2,585,000.00

Downtown Small Business Revitalization and Rehabilitation Program

20 E. Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85201
Member Requesting: Greg Stanton
Amount: $300,000
Description: These funds would assist small businesses in downtown Mesa with façade improvements, including new or refurbished business signage, colonnade rehabilitation or removal, and small- to medium-sized façade design and construction projects. Downtown Mesa is a federally designated Opportunity Zone and locally designated Redevelopment Area.

Uh again, not worthy of Federal Taxpayer Dollars. This is a Mesa problem not a national problem and certainly not worthy of a redistribution of wealth request.

Pork Man Stanton’s running total: $2,885,000.00

Café Stapley

111 South Stapley Dr., Mesa, AZ 85204
Member Requesting: Greg Stanton
Amount: $600,000
Description: These funds would help renovate 5,500 square feet of existing space to build out Café (Children, Adolescents, and Families Empowered) Stapley to create a model apartment for high-risk and at-risk youth, ages 12 to 17, in Arizona communities to support teaching day-to-day skills and relationships. This model of care holds promise to reduce costs of health care related to emergency care, residential treatment and other societal costs realized in the justice system.

Notice the use of the language to make you feel emotionally attached to the Mesa Arizona problem. Ask yourself:

Is this a state funded civil religious order?
Is this state funded religious order to be more respected than the tenants taught in Judeo-Christian values?
How is this designed to replace family as the fundamental unit of society?
What does “holds promise” mean?
What will be paid back to the taxpayers if this civil religion does not meet measurements?
And more importantly, why is this not being funded out of Local Taxpayer dollars, where locals have vested interest in watching this program to hold it accountable?
By the way, how many generations of state funded programs does this program trace back through these “children”?
- In other words, how many people going back in their family lines have been recipients of state welfare assistance?
- Are these children of children and or parents who have received welfare assistance back how many generations?

Pork Man Stanton’s running total: #3,485,000.00

Equitable Pathways Program

1809 S. Dobson Rd., Ste. 214, Mesa, Arizona 85202
Member Requesting: Greg Stanton
Amount: $300,000
Description: These funds would support the Aliento Education Fund’s efforts to boost first-generation immigrant and Latino students through social-emotional programming. These programs include paid student fellowships and internships; building the capacity of educators, counselors and school leaders through professional development on college access and post-secondary pathways; and supporting collaboration with cross-sector partnerships such as school districts, community colleges, universities, businesses,

DANGER, DANGER! WARNING, WARNING! >>> BUZZ WORDS!!!

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL PROGRAMMING
EQUITABLE

This is a fright. This is exceptionally disturbing language because it is the terminology that is used to INDOCTRINATE individuals, not educate. So let’s take a closer look a the ALIENTO team, who’s who, and what exactly is their agenda that such a term as programming is used to define what they want to have happen with this $300,000.00 dollar request. And ask yourself: Why does Greg Stanton want to appear to support George Soros’ agenda to #ResetAmerica? Is he for or against state sponsored racism?

REYNA MONTOYA
FOUNDER + CEO + BOARD MEMBER
Reyna Montoya is a 2016 Soros Justice Fellow, a 2017 Echoing Green Fellow , a Forbes: 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur, and an ATHENA 2019 recipient by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce among many other awards.
Reyna was born in Tijuana, Mexico and migrated to Arizona in 2003 fleeing violence. She is a DACAmented social entrepreneur, community organizer, educator, and dancer. She is a 2016 Soros Justice Fellow, which enabled her to start Aliento. She is also a founding member of the first Teach For America DACA Advisory Board. Reyna holds bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Transborder Studies and a Dance minor from Arizona State University; she also holds an M.Ed in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University. She recently completed an executive education program from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She has engaged in local, statewide and national platforms to advance justice for immigrant communities. In 2013, she was the lead organizer, who prevented an immigration bus of undocumented immigrants from deportation in Phoenix, AZ for the first time in the nation’s history. In the same year, with the help of the community, she stopped her father’s deportation. She was also recognized as 2017 #NBCLatino20 and the Muhammad Ali Center as the 2018 Humanitarian Recipient for Spirituality. She hopes to share her talents and skills with the community to co-create healing spaces, political change, and leadership development of our immigrant youth and mixed-status families. In her volunteer time, she also serves as a member of the Leadership Council for ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation and is a Board Member at Chicanos Por la Causa (CPLC). She enjoys going on long walks, reading, and spending time with her two fur babies!

Marco’s Common Good: Where does it lead?

Some supporters of Rubio claim his speech as “remarkable.” Well, I guess they can claim that depending upon what their definition of is is in “remarkable.” And yet I find it highly irritating to hear claims of praise for it being remarkable when No. No. No. It was not remarkable.

It was meh. It sounded like someone reaching out to people who need emotional support through words of flowery feel goods, shared feelings of the pain, the suffering, all in the voice of a whiner so as to prove feelings matter and how Marco, a potential leader for the universe, is with us all in seeking governmental solutions for Common Good Capitalism.

Blah-bity-blah-bity-blah.

Marco’s quote from Robert F. Kennedy was interesting:

Senator Robert F. Kennedy noted that “if… we, as Americans, are bound together by a common concern for each other, then an urgent national priority is upon us.”
Because, he said, “even if we act to erase material poverty, there is another greater task; it is to confront the poverty of satisfaction – purpose and dignity – that afflicts us all.”

Yes. The poverty of satisfaction. I am wholly unstatisfied with the double speak that seems to pour through this remarkable speech. And my feelings have little changed since my initial reaction posted here.

If Marco means what he says:

My goal for this speech, but also in what I have tried to do in the Senate, is above all else about doing whatever it takes to keep our country from coming apart – whatever it takes so that this exceptional nation continues and endures instead of ending with us.

Then Marco and his crew need to seriously engage in a discussion to address valid criticisms of Marco’s seemingly self-serving speech. Otherwise, all of the remarkable Rubio talking points are merely an outreach to moderate leaning socialists while alienating his conservative base.

Perhaps Marco is in need of a new voting base for his next campaign?

Additional Reading:

Marco “Greeted Like A Rock Star”…
- Rubio delivered a well-received 30-minute speech, hitting key campaign issues including jobs, the “crushing national debt,” national security and immigration, even taking a dig at Republicans now serving in Washington. He said temporary tax cuts should become permanent, but spending cuts, including a ban on earmarks, also would be necessary to achieve a balanced budget. The economy continues to suffer, in part, because business owners who could add employees and expand are “afraid to because of uncertainty about the future,” Rubio said. “Small businesses are taking the brunt of it and we’re all paying the price.”
Rubio: Our National Security Depends on Sugar Subsidies
#HaveTheDiscussion: Free Markets & Capitalism

Absolute Reads:

Remarkable Rubio Posts from #TeamRubio

Back on the blog, Baby!

After a bit of a hiatus I am back, Baby! I feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Another move is done. Sierra Vista, Arizona is now home, with the mountains around me, the high plains desert beauty, the blue sky, the smiling sunshine beating down on my face. The wind is probably my favorite thing, well at least there is a gentle breeze most days. Even this year’s Monsoon season is fabulous. The thunder and lightening is spectacular.

With the changes that have been going on in my life and the next election cycle around the corner, it has been on my mind to get back into blogging. Thanks to one of my favorite organizations, the Conservative Parternship Institute (CPI), a request came my way to submit a fundraising email. It is posted below. I am thankful to Sean for inviting me to write my thoughts, serving as the catalyst needed to get back to the keyboard.

Imagine Your Name Here,

My name is Jody and like you, I am a Patriot and a member of the Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI).

As an Active Duty Air Force Spouse, I am a monthly donor to the Conservative Partnership Institute and I’d like to share with you why I donate and invite you to consider doing the same.

After working for many years to get and keep Conservatives in office, it has been disheartening to see so many men and women immediately forget their campaign promises. Even worse, too many have become part of the Swamp machine.

It is infuriating how the Washington Establishment uses every carrot and stick in the book to corrupt good men and women.

Like you, I am continually encouraged as I watch CPI’s mission unfold.

CPI’s mission is to support conservatives on Capitol Hill and help teach them how to become more effective in advancing our shared values. More importantly, CPI helps keep good people oriented toward and steeped in the foundational principles of good governance.

When Senator Jim DeMint was in Congress he saw first-hand exactly how the Establishment keeps conservative policy victories from being achieved.

He identified three key areas where the Establishment was hamstringing Conservatives:

1. Most Congressional staff were establishment stooges not conservative fighters.

2. Very few Members of Congress or their staff knew how to use Congressional rules to advance conservative policies.

3. Conservatives – by and large – were not unified in purpose.

I loved that CPI was created to address each of these specific obstacles and it’s exciting to know that Jim DeMint and his staff do the following to effect change:

1. Surround Members of Congress with conservative staff who are dedicated to the same principles as their boss.

2. Train Congressional staff and Congressmen in the tactical skills and parliamentary procedure necessary to advance our shared conservative values.

3. Unite the conservative movement by providing office and meeting space to over two dozen conservative organizations and Members of Congress. It is thrilling to see how they are literally bringing the conservative movement together under one roof.

Over the last two years CPI has proved to be one of the most effective and truly conservative organizations in Washington, D.C.

I love this quote from House Freedom Caucus Congressman Ken Buck, and it’s a key reason why I contribute monthly to CPI:

“CPI is the only organization providing weapon’s grade trainings on the tactics required to advance good conservative policy. My staff and I are more effective because of CPI’s trainings.”

(Your Name Here), by donating monthly, you and I ensure that CPI has the ability to provide these critical resources to our fighters in Congress.

Will you please join me in making a monthly donation to the Conservative Partnership Institute, even if it is only $5 a month? (And if you can give more, please do!)

Sincerely,

Jody Wardell
CPI Monthly Donor

Who will help me make Government Small Again?

Tonight Senator Mike Lee held a live event on his Facebook page that was also linked to his Senate page. As always, watching and listening to Mike is like sitting in Church. I feel so much better hearing him listen to questions, then answer people with clear, plain language so there is no misunderstanding as to where he stands on issues or about the principles he so heartedly defends.

His closing comments were absolutely fantastic. I wish those comments and the following was on YouTube so I could embed them. They are not yet available, but here is my transcription of a short video on his Twitter feed:

“In order to have economic growth we do need to adjust the size, the scope, the cost of the federal government. And when we look at so called tax pay-fors, we shouldn’t just be looking to raise taxes on anyone, we should, instead, be looking for ways to make government more effective, make government more efficient, make sure the government can do more with less.

Business all around America do this constantly as they have to adjust to market cycles, as they have to adjust to real world conditions.

Tragically, the government hasn’t held itself to that same standard. And as a result government has continued to grow, the cost of it has continued to expand and to do so at an unacceptably high rate….” ~ Senator Mike Lee, October 25, 2017

Please, go to Mike’s YouTube page. Get your information on Mike Lee from the original source, Mike Lee, so you can see how truly a Consistent Conservative he is.

It is NOT the Government’s money:

Watch Mike on today’s Senate Republican’s broadcast regarding the Parent Tax Penalty. The entire broadcast is great. Mike comes in around the 14 minute mark.

#MikeLeeForSenateMajorityLeader

271/365

Is Paul Ryan trying to look Presidential?

It seems like Paul Ryan is working very hard at running for a future presidential campaign. Everything is so well staged. Everything appears to be dignified. Most notably things seem to make him appear like a young Jack Kennedy. It seems like Ryan’s handlers are preparing him to look like a leader for a run for something bigger, in the near future.

If that is indeed the case then Paul Ryan needs to be well vetted on his true leadership capabilities and where he specifically stands on smaller government because frankly, for all of his yammering and staged personality, I find him sorely lacking in his performance claims.

What exactly, as a LEADER, has Paul Ryan done to cut taxes and spending and rein in the debt?
What exactly, as a LEADER, has Paul Ryan done to limit the size and scope of the federal government and return authority to states and to the American people?
What exactly, as a LEADER, has Paul Ryan done to get rid of Obamacare and promote health care solutions based on free enterprise, not government controls?
What exactly, as a LEADER, has Paul Ryan done to protect America from foreign threats, secure the border, and develop a robust, principled foreign policy that puts America first?
What exactly, as a LEADER, has Paul Ryan done to ensure that our judges and lawmakers uphold the Constitution of the United States, starting by halting executive overreach?

But first, let us flashback to November 17, 1998…when Paul Ryan set foot on the political path to Speaker of the House…and beyond? Take your time and really listen to the whole question and answer segment, especially after the section on his family.

Note: And remember when Paul Ryan said: “I want to say to the American people: We hear you. We will do right by you. And we will deliver.” (Begin at 4:19)

In case you missed it, watch and listen to Thomas Massie: At least McConnell got health care bill to a vote.

And thanks to Thomas Massie, that is why I keep asking those original questions of Mr. Speaker and why you should ask him too, especially now it appears he is walking the walk on that path to a presidential run.

#NoBailouts #FullRepeal #CutCapBalance

#MakeGovernmentSmallAgain

#RealTaxReform

In fairness I must point out Jim Geraghty’s piece in National Review: A Busy House but specifically quote him in paragraph three :

“In fact, the House keeps sending bills over to the Senate, month after month: 250 in all so far this year…. Quite of few of those bills are minor — …but a significant number would count as accomplishments worth boasting about on the campaign trail next year if they were signed into law.

Oh yeah, and #WeAreStillWaiting Mr. Speaker.

Continue reading “Is Paul Ryan trying to look Presidential?”

Revenue Neutral: A Liarspalooza

Revenue Neutral is not Congress cutting spending.

Revenue Neutral is not Congress capping spending..

Revenue Neutral will not Make Government Small Again.

Revenue Neutral is not about the Proper Role of Government

Revenue Neutral is not Tax Reform.

Revenue Neutral is about Control. It is about some in Congress wanting to maintain control of your hard earned money by redistributing it to their favorite projects and agendas and people. Instead of living on a budget or scrapping redundant or useless or wasteful or unconstitutional programs, ones that infringe upon unalienable rights, some in Congress want to keep spending your money without consequence, without conscience, and without just cause.

Seriously Republicans, get a grip on it and stand for something.

You said. We believed you. We Won.

Now go and win some more. Take Back America!

Full Repeal. No Bailouts. No Excuses. Cut, Cap, and Balance that stinkin’ budget already. Sheesh.