Pay Day Loans

Well, the fight is on to stop the ‘loan shark’ type practices of the payday loan industries.

There is bipartisan support to clean up this problem. Last year we saw a similar group come to us and ask for legislation condoning this type of loan practices and we send them home empty handed. We really should not encourage or allow any business to prey on the poor and underprivileged through ultra-high priced financing.

Chuck Gray

Opening Day – and it begins:

Well, so much for bi-partisanship in the Arizona House. Just when Democrat minority leader, Phil Lopes was singing the “Let’s all work together” song, he gets himself nominated as Speaker of the House along with Republican Speaker Jim Weiers. Quick thinking Bob Robson (Republican) moved for a roll call vote and the Lopes nomination was withdrawn. I guess someone did not want to go on record for that vote. We’re hoping it won’t be that rocky in the House from now on. If so it will be a long two years. Weiers was made Speaker of the House by acclamation.

Chuck Gray

Unanimous Supreme Court decision strikes down unconstitutional use of line-item veto power by Napolitano

This was released a few days ago but in case you missed this landmark Arizona case:

 

 

Arizona Legislature

1700 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2844

Senate President Ken Bennett (R-1) 602-926-5584
House Speaker Jim Weiers (R-10) 602-926-4173

News Release September 12, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Unanimous Supreme Court decision strikes down unconstitutional use of line-item veto power by Napolitano

(State Capitol, Phoenix) – In a victory for the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers, the Arizona Supreme Court today unanimously struck down Governor Napolitano’s abuse of her line item veto power.

In the 5-0 decision, the court found that Napolitano overstepped her authority. The decision undoes Napolitano’s unconstitutional line-item veto of a portion of the state employee pay raise bill.

The Arizona constitution is clear that the governor may accept or reject specific items which appropriate money, but is otherwise limited to signing or vetoing legislation in its entirety. Today’s ruling represents a rebuke of actions Governor Napolitano has engaged in to illegally expand the powers of the executive branch in Arizona.

President Bennett said, “Abusing the power of the office and overstepping her constitutional bounds has been the norm for this governor from day one. Finally having an opportunity for the court to rein her in is a great day for representative democracy in Arizona.”

“Common sense and the constitution won in this case,” House Speaker Weiers said. “The Supreme Court upheld the constitution and the people’s right to a representative government. The Legislature is not going to tolerate a power grab by the governor, no matter who sits in the Ninth Floor office.”

Senate Majority Leader Tim Bee (R-30) said, “Today Governor Napolitano has been reminded in no uncertain terms by the Supreme Court that she is currently the governor of our state, not the czar. Arizona belongs to the people of Arizona – no governor is free to ignore the constitution just because he or she wants to.”
###

For further information contact:
Nick Simonetta, Communications and Policy Advisor to the Majority
Arizona State Senate : Office: (602) 926-5418, e-mail: nsimonet@azleg.gov
OR Barrett Marson, Director of Communications Arizona House of Representatives

——————————————————-

Senator Gray

Don Goldwater asks supporters to help Republican Len Munsil beat Governor Napolitano.

Don Goldwater sent out the following email to his supporters:

“I just wanted to take a quick moment of your time to say “Thank You” for your generous support you have given me and my campaign these last 13 months. No campaign is about one man or woman but rather the ideals expressed by the supporters of the campaign and I hope I represented those ideals in a positive and productive way.

I will be heading back to my work in finance and real estate development with good memories of the people of Arizona that I had the great fortune to meet.

I will continue my work as District 16 Chairman and member of the State and Maricopa County Executive Guidence Committees. I believe that the most important work I can continue to do is to work to secure our borders and help Len beat Governor Napolitano.

This is not a time for reflection but rather a time for action. Low voter turn out will not help in the general election. I ask each of you to work hard to turn out the vote in November. I look forward to
working with each of you in the future.

God Bless you and God Bless Arizona.
Sincerely,

Don Goldwater”

For more info on Gubinatorial Candidate Len Munsil click HERE

- Senator Gray

U.S. Congressional Republican nominee Randy Graf Gets National Support

I recieved the following Press Release:

 

“(Tucson, AZ) Randy Graf, the Republican nominee to replace retiring Congressman Jim Kolbe in the 8th Congressional District of Arizona, will be returning today from a highly successful trip to Washington, D.C.  During his trip to Washington, Randy met with the entire Republican leadership of the United States House of Representatives, including Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert and the Honorable Thomas M. Reynolds who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

The NRCC is the official election wing of Republicans in the US House.  Randy also met with Ken Mehlman who chairs the Republican National Committee (RNC).  The House Leadership, the RNC, and the NRCC have all pledged their total support to Randy and have offered their resources to help keep Arizona CD8 in Republican hands.”

 

For more information on Randy Graf click HERE.

 

Senator Gray

Consumer Protections on Annuities Approved

On Monday, January 23, 2006 the committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance passed HB 2162. 

HB2162 requires an insurance producer or an insurer to have reasonable grounds for believing that the recommendation for the purchase of an annuity is suitable for the senior consumer based on the facts disclosed by the senior consumer. This provides certain protections for seniors when being advised to purchase annuities by a sales representative. 

The bill was amended in committee to extend the provisions of the bill to all consumers being advised in this way.