POLITICO MAFIOSO: AZ REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE for Tuesday March 8, 2011

Congressman Flake: We Need a More Equitable Transportation Bill

Federal Highway Trust Fund on an Unsustainable Fiscal Path

Washington, D.C. - Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today released the following statement regarding his vote against H.R. 662, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011.

“Simply put, this bill is a bad deal for donor states, like Arizona,” said Flake. “Under this bill, Arizona continues to get back only about 89.6-percent of the share it sends to DC in the form of the gas tax. We need a more equitable transportation bill so that donor states get back more of what they contribute to the Highway Trust Fund and other states don’t get back more than they contribute.”

“To make matters worse, this bill extends legislation that was so bloated that nearly $34.5 billion needed to be taken from the general fund because the Highway Trust Fund couldn’t cover the cost of the bill.”

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Changing the Culture in Washington, Step by Step

On Tuesday, the House passed a two-week, short term funding bill that includes $4 billion in spending cuts. The bill passed with a strong bipartisan majority: 335-91. Less than 24 hours later, the Senate took up the measure and it passed with similar ease: 91-9. Both votes provided a positive sign that both parties are open to cutting spending. The two-week extension—though not ideal—will give the Senate and the House time to agree upon a funding bill that will last through the remainder of the fiscal year. Any agreement must include significant spending cuts, period. Two weeks ago, the House sent the Senate a funding bill that included $100 billion in cuts. Now it’s the Senate’s turn to come up with their own long-term plan. If we’re serious about turning America’s fiscal situation around, getting people back to work and ensuring sustained economic growth, we have to continue making the tough choices required of us. The first step in that process is cutting spending.

To be clear, no one has ever said that the cuts we have to make are always going to be easy, but gone are the days when we can put a band-aid on a problem that requires major surgery. We can’t expect companies to invest in America if they’re concerned about us turning into the next Greece. To turn the corner, the White House and both chambers of Congress must send clear signals to job creators that we are doing everything possible to promote an atmosphere where job creation, investment and responsible risk taking can flourish. There’s no doubt that we live in politically polarizing times, but the immense economic challenges we face require that both parties work together.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this email. Many of you received last week’s e-newsletter because you had already subscribed. If you haven’t yet subscribed and would like to receive weekly updates on the work I’m doing in Washington on behalf of Arizona’s 3rd congressional district, please sign up by visiting my website: http://www.quayle.house.gov./ I also encourage you to follow me on my social media sites: my twitter handle is @benquayle and my facebook page is www.facebook.com/repbenquayle. If you want to contact me or my staff directly, we have offices in Washington and Phoenix. Our district office is located at 2400 E. Arizona Biltmore Circle, Suite 1290, Phoenix, Arizona, 85016. The phone number there is 602-263-5300. Our D.C. office is located at 1419 Longworth House Office Building, Washington D.C., 20515. The number there is 202-225-3361.

I look forward to staying in regular contact with you in this forum and others in the weeks and months ahead.

Sincerely,
Ben Quayle

REP. SCHWEIKERT PRAISES REPEAL OF 1099 PROVISION

Washington, D.C. – Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ) praised the passage of H.R. 4 the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act today in the House of Representatives. Rep. Schweikert is a cosponsor of this legislation:

“I am proud to say that today the House of Representatives, with large bipartisan support, took the first steps to unravel the 1099 provision, an anti-growth, bureaucracy mandated as a part of the ObamaCare legislation in the last Congress.

“This 1099 repeal gets rid of an unnecessary tax compliance that drowned businesses in paperwork and red tape. Employers should be concerned about creating jobs and growing their business, not trying to figure out which hoop the government wants them to jump through next.

“House Republicans are serious about our commitment to producing economic growth, repealing ObamaCare, and allowing the private sector to create jobs. Today’s repeal is truly a victory for American small business owners and entrepreneurs.”

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Congressman Paul Gosar Introduces H.R. 922, The Burn Area Prevention Act of 2011

Calls for Disaster Assistance for Victims of the Schultz Fire

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-01) has introduced H.R. 922, The Burn Area Prevention Act of 2011, legislation oriented towards protecting individuals whose property is directly affected by disasters on federal lands. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive the 30-day waiting period for flood insurance when private property faces a flood threat caused by wildfire.

H.R. 922 would also establish a multi-agency “Schultz Fire Flooding Area Task Force” to address the devastating flooding that occurred on July 20, 2010 as a result of the Schultz Pass Fire in Coconino National Forest. The task force is charged to evaluate the disaster and recommend an integrated long-term flood protection system, within sixty days of enactment. Furthermore, the task force would be responsible for finding funding, technical assistance, and construction of flood relief projects.

“It is absolutely vital that Congress address the Schultz Fire disaster and the tragedy that occurred,” said Gosar. “The federal government bears the responsibility for what happens on federal land. As a result of the Schultz Fire, thousands in my community were left unprotected from raging flood waters and had insufficient time to purchase flood insurance. I urge my colleagues in Congress to address this legislation and bring much needed relief to the families who still remain in danger of hazardous flooding year after year.”

“I appreciate Congressman Gosar’s efforts to assist with the Schultz Fire restoration. It is absolutely necessary that the federal government shoulder much of the financial burden for the welfare and safety of the families downstream of the catastrophic Schultz Fire,” said Chairman of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors Mandy Metzger. “Time is of the essence and the Congressman’s quick response to this matter is of extreme importance.”

“I would like to thank Congressman Gosar for introducing this important legislation,” said Coconino County Supervisor Liz Archuleta. “This issue is of critical importance to the approximately 8,000 residents of the area who have and will continue to experience devastating flooding because of the Schultz Fire, a fire which occurred on federal land. Congressman Gosar has clearly acknowledged the responsibility of the federal government and has recognized that the federal government must be part of the short and long-term solutions in the Schultz flood area.”

Dr. Paul Gosar is serving his first term in Congress as the Representative to Arizona’s First Congressional District. As a healthcare provider and small business owner, Gosar is focused on bringing jobs back to the district, reforming health care, reining in government spending and ensuring that his constituents are involved in the solution process. For more information, visit his website at www.gosar.house.gov.

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