By: Timothy Sandefur, The Goldwater Insitute

The Goldwater Institute scored a critical victory for a little girl in danger of being taken from the only family she has ever known. This victory before the Arizona Court of Appeals also boosts the Goldwater Institute’s ongoing federal challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act.

The little girl known as "A.D.” was born to a mother who used illegal drugs during her pregnancy. The state immediately placed “A.D.” with a loving foster family and eventually terminated the rights of the parents, a necessary step toward adoption. Two years later, her foster family is ready to adopt “A.D.” and give her a permanent home.

But “A.D.” has ties to an Arizona Indian tribe that presumed it knew better than the foster family, state case workers, and the courts. The tribe invoked the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and demanded that “A.D.” be removed from her family so she could be sent somewhere else.

The Act gives sweeping powers to Indian tribes to block adoption of Indian children by families who are not tribal members. Fortunately, in its decision, the Arizona Court of Appeals agreed with the Goldwater Institute that the tribe waited too long to intervene. So this 2-year-old girl will stay with her family.

This case highlights why the Goldwater Institute is litigating a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act. This law creates a separate and unequal legal system for children of Native American ancestry—a system that makes it harder to rescue at-risk kids from abusive homes and to find them the loving, permanent homes they need.

To learn more about our challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act, please click here.

By: Andy Biggs

“Andy has a plan to reform Washington and rein in the out-of-control federal government”

Gilbert - Today, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker announced his endorsement for Andy Biggs to replace retiring Congressman Matt Salmon in Arizona's Fifth Congressional District. Governor Walker, widely-acclaimed by conservatives across America for taking on special interests and winning, becomes the latest major conservative leader to endorse Biggs for Congress.

"Andy Biggs is a full-spectrum conservative with an accomplished record of putting taxpayers first and defending liberties from big government liberals at the state and federal levels," Governor Scott Walker said. "Andy has a plan to reform Washington and rein in the out-of-control federal government, and voters can trust his strong leadership to help get the job done."

"It is truly an honor to have the endorsement of Governor Scott Walker," Biggs said. "Throughout his life in public service, Governor Walker has proven himself to be the quintessential conservative leader. His tireless fights for Wisconsin's right to work, pro-life issues, and states' rights have set the highest possible standard for other states and conservative leaders to emulate. He has stood tall and strong for his values and principles - even when the costs for his positions have been detrimental to his political and personal image. Conservatives around the nation owe Governor Walker much gratitude for his unwavering commitments to standing for conservative principles. Governor Walker's conviction and perseverance is an example to me, and I look forward to standing with him for these conservative principles when I am elected to the U.S. House of Representatives."

By: Matt Salmon
Arizona Republic
August 7, 2016

It wasn't a hard decision to leave Congress. I missed my wife, my children and my grandchildren. No matter how hard I was able to fight for the futures of my loved ones in Washington, D.C., every time I came home I was reminded of how much I was leaving behind – and how much of their precious lives I was missing.

While I had to come home, I also knew I had to find a worthy replacement, one who would fight as hard as I had for my grandchildren's futures, and for the futures of all Arizona's children and grandchildren.

So, I made my one and only phone call – to Andy Biggs, the current president of the Arizona Senate. Andy is a man who has a strong record of standing for a smaller, transparent and more accountable government. Most importantly, I knew Andy recognized the importance of our constitutional government and the fight that would be necessary to save it.

Biggs needed a lot of convincing

As I suspected, Andy needed a lot of convincing to leave Arizona, brave the weekly round-trip flights to Washington, D.C., and fight the battles that few others in Washington, D.C. are willing or able to wage against the establishment and a liberal ideology that seeks to infiltrate and tear apart every remaining fabric that was instituted by our founding fathers. Andy has never wanted to go to Congress, and true to my deepest intuitions, he did not want to run.

But like the fights I waged in the U.S. House of Representatives, the battle to convince Andy Biggs to run for my seat in Congress was well worth the time and energy I spent to persuade him to enter the fray. After much prayer and conversation with his family, Andy Biggs decided to make a sacrifice and to run to represent the voters of Arizona's 5th Congressional District. And now that he is in, he is in it to win it.

Why do I have such supreme faith and confidence in Andy Biggs to replace me in Congress?

But he's a fighter, and that's what we need

For one, Andy Biggs is a fighter. He never backs down from any conflict that runs afoul of his values and principles. No matter how high the stakes nor how consequential the political retribution, Andy Biggs stands up for what he knows to be right and true.

Most people who run for Congress say they will fight for this, fight for that. However, when faced with the perks and glories of falling in line with the ruling establishment class, fighting is the last action that most of members of Congress actually want to do.

Mailers and television ads often sell voters a false impression of a wannabe fighter. It's important, though, to look at one's record and compare his or her votes and actions with the rhetoric on the campaign trail. No matter how you look at it, Andy Biggs' record matches his qualification to be a fighter for you and me in Washington, D.C.

Second, Andy Biggs is a strict constitutionalist, someone who believes in limited government, family values, increased border security, and a strong national defense. You'll never have to wonder how Andy Biggs will vote in the U.S. House of Representatives just as you knew where I always stood on the issues. In a country filled with fickle politicians, this knowledge brings tremendous peace and comfort to voters.

As we count down the days to the primary election, the mailboxes and airwaves will be full of political spin and attacks. It's important, though, to cut through the clutter and to determine who you can trust to represent you against the forces aligned against us in Washington, D.C. I trust Andy Biggs.

Statement by Councilman Sal DiCiccio, who opposed tax increase, says small businesses and seniors will be hit the hardest. The vote was the closest vote in city history and shows fiscal irresponsibility of the tax increase.

"This was nothing more than a money grab by Phoenix Politicians who refuse to practice basic fiscal responsibility and accountability."

Phoenix has the highest revenue in history and a $60 million budget surplus.

"Small businesses and seniors on fixed incomes will be hurt the most by this new tax."

Arizona Tax Research Association published a report opposing this tax and estimated the cost to the small business owners may jump approximately $630 more per year.

My best to you and your family,

Sal DiCiccio, Councilman

Phoenix District 6

By Sal DiCiccio

Why are you paying huge water bills and ever increasing taxes? Government waste.

This week alone Phoenix politicians voted again to give away your money:

• $10 million contract given to a private company just to let people know about recycling
• $1.5 million payout to Union Bosses as part of a backroom deal hidden from the public

The politicians who voted for this government waste: Mayor Stanton, council members Debra Stark (District 3), Kate Gallego (District 8), Daniel Valenzuela (District 5), Thelda Williams (District 1) and Laura Pastor (District 4). They have already started claiming to have a shortage of funds and will be voting on the 26% tax increase on July 1.

Those who voted to protect you and your money were: Councilmen Jim Waring (District 2), Michael Nowakowski (District 7) and I (District 6) by voting against that government waste.

As you can see by the way they blew through your hard earned tax dollars this week, they don’t really believe there is a shortage of money BECAUSE THERE ISN’T ONE. We have a record high surplus of cash. We have enough funds to pay our debt obligations and keep a reserve. This 26% tax is unnecessary and would punish you, the hard working taxpayer, by squeezing your family budget.

Oh, by the way, this week the Mayor and Council also voted to spend $300,000 of your money to fund a private downtown special interest group who previously pushed a huge tax increase on small business owners.

Remember how you were lied to about the food tax? The politicians are doing it again with the property tax increase.

Just like I helped repeal the food tax, I am just as committed to fighting this huge tax increase on you and your family. Your property tax payment doesn’t need to go up 26%.

By Restore The Constitution Coalition

Breitbart News Reported:

Libertarian icon and former candidate for President of the United States Ron Paul is endorsing Dr. Kelli Ward for U.S. Senate from Arizona in the Republican primary against five-term incumbent Sen. John McCain.

Dr. Paul says in a letter to fellow family practice physician Ward:

As a physician, you have seen first­hand how ObamaCare has reduced our liberties in just a few short years. During your time as state senator, you have fought to reduce the size of government and restore the liberties of Arizonans. We need to elect more people into the U.S. Senate to stand alongside my son, Rand Paul. Because of your dedication to smaller government and restoring more of our personal liberties, I am proud to endorse your campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Paul served several terms as the U.S. Representative from Texas. He served as a doctor in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1965 and with the U.S. Air National Guard from 1965 to 1968 as detailed on biography.com. Ward is a military wife. 

Dear Arizona Taxpayer,

Leftists and union bosses from California are currently collecting signatures for three bad propositions they want to put on Arizona's November ballot:
-An anti-free speech measure that would put your name and personal information onto a publicly-available government database if you donate to non-profit organizations. It would also give state bureaucrats the power to audit and investigate conservative organizations for the "crime" of supporting the causes and issues we believe in.
-A measure to increase the minimum wage to a job-killing $12 per hour and keep young people and low-skilled workers from climbing onto the bottom rungs of the career ladder, with a special exception for the union bosses (if companies agree to unionize, those companies would be exempt from a job-killing mandatory paid leave scheme).
-A measure to cap the pay of hospital CEOs, which is part of an effort to try to unionize hospital employees (so the same union system that ruined Detroit's economy would now run our hospitals).
Use THIS LINK to take action against these leftist ballot measures and share the petition with your friends and family!
For Liberty & Prosperity,
Tom Jenney
Americans for Prosperity Arizona

By Sal DiCiccio, Phoenix City Council District 6

Dear friends,

I wanted to pass along five reasons why I support Prop 123, the May 17 special election referendum to help fund Arizona’s public K-12 schools.
1) $3.5 billion – that’s BILLION – for schools without raising taxes!
2) We’re using the state land trust, which exists to support public schools!
3) The state land trust will still grow by more than $1 billion!
4) We’re working to help pay teachers what they deserve!
5) Schools will receive $230 million this fiscal year – and billions more to come!
As you can see, Prop 123, which is supported by Governor Doug Ducey and the state’s business and education communities, is a no-brainer. Please join me in voting “Yes” on Prop 123 on May 17!

By Sal DiCiccio
Phoenix City Council
District 6

Here is the real story behind the latest move to raise your property tax:

Phoenix politicians secretly knew they were going to raise your property tax. For the past several years they have been purposely draining the fund that pays for capital projects and used those monies for merit and longevity raises. Merit increases are pay raises and longevity increases are bonuses.

Politicians use fancy words to confuse the public that they are supposed to serve.

There were two big lies you've repeatedly been told. One, that employees took pay cuts. This is not true. Every year since the Great Recession they were given pay raises and bonuses. What they did was cut the increase in pay. Most government staff continued to receive higher compensation.

By Matt Salmon

For the past three years, I've enjoyed meeting so many of you, both in Washington and around the beautiful East Valley. Unfortunately, this great honor brings with it a heavy price tag. Spending so much time in Washington, D.C. means I get to spend very little of it back home with my beautiful wife Nancy and my beloved children and grandchildren.

Over these past three years, I've learned that's just too great a sacrifice to make, and so it's with a heavy heart that I must announce I will not be seeking reelection this November.

I wrote an opinion piece about this in the Arizona Republic this morning – I invite you to read it so you understand a little more about why I came to this difficult decision.

I look forward to spending my remaining months in office making sure your interests are represented and any problems you have are quickly dealt with.

It's been an absolute privilege to serve you. Nancy and I will forever be grateful for all your support.

Sincerely,
Matt Salmon

READ MY OP-ED
"Why I'm leaving Congress"