More HOBY Pictures...

HOBY Highschool Students at the Arizona Legislature

Yesterday I hosted a group of Arizona highschool students at the legislature, assisting them in some role-playing activities in order to familiarize them with the legislative process. I will blog more about the day in a later post but want to give you a glimps of the day through these pictures.

Lake Havasu Republican Forum

Don Bergen, former member of the City's blue ribbon panel on the zoning of Lake Havasu City's channel area, will be addressing the Republican Forum this Saturday at the Quality Inn.

The Forum meets the first Saturday of each month at 9:30 AM for coffee and invites those interested in issues specific to Lake Havasu City to attend the meeting which commences at 10:00 AM. No reservations are necessary. For further information call 928-680-0609.

A Dark Day Indeed

Yesterday I purchased my first pair of reading glasses. Ugh! At least these offerings from COSTCO have a bit of sparkle to them.

Partisan Candidate List

From the Secretary of State's website, this link will allow you to view a complete list of candidates for the Arizona Legislature along with how many signatures they filed and a telephone number for their campaign.

Again, by God's great grace and your valuable assistance, I filed 817 signatures, which Frank tells me, is more than I have ever filed! Thank you!!!!

BAMN - Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary

Take a look at the website of this organization BAMN (By Any Means Necessary) that has come to Arizona to fight for financial aid for illegals, affirmative action, and other dubious measures. Their website states they are trying to make California a Sanctuary State. Is Arizona next on their list? Let this be a wake-up call to motivate you into action to register and recruit Republican voters and Precinct Committeemen and women who will fight against these type shenanigans!

Final Passage Calendar for June 4,2008

HB2286 taxing jurisdiction; judgment; repayment

HB2371 critical infrastructure; pipelines; review

HB2633 children school activities; noninterference

HB2634 concealed weapons permit; felony convictions

Four bills on the calendar today...should finish voting on these about 15 minutes after we start, then we are off again until Monday. House Leadership is negotiating the budget with the Dems now. Rank and file Republicans could not be more dissatisfied with the lack of leadership. It is a sad state of affairs.

Price Rises to Secure Names for Ballot Petitions

Thought that I would provide another perspective on signature gathering by linking this story. Since the legislative sessions seem to get longer each year I wonder if we are going to see this type industry pop up in our district? I have considered hiring folks to assist in the signature gathering process though it has not come to that yet. I am hoping to succeed in getting the amount of signatures needed (450 minimum) with the help of family and friends. Let me know if you want to join Team Groe and be a part of this process.

2008 Groe Campaign Endorsements

As campaign season begins my 2008 endorsements are beginning to come in, though many will not be made until this legislative session has ended. Last week, though, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, "America's Toughest Sheriff" endorsed me, which is tremendously exciting. Also supporting my re-election are the following legislators. The list is not complete but I should have the support of the majority of my colleagues both in the House and Senate by the end of the week.

Representatives
Kirk Adams
Rich Crandall
Doug Clark
Judy Burges
Russell Pearce
Bob Stump
Andy Biggs
Eddie Farnsworth
Steve Yarbrough
John Kavanaugh
Andy Tobin
Rick Murphy

Senators
Ron Gould
Chuck Gray
Pamela Gorman
Jim Waring
Thayer Verschoor
Linda Gray
Karen Johnson
John Huppenthal
Robert Blendu
Jack Harper


NOTE: If you would like to add your name to this list, please use the comment section to do so. I will be updating the list as the season progresses.

Cap and Spend - WSJ.com

"As the Senate opens debate on its mammoth carbon regulation program this week, the phrase of the hour is 'cap and trade.' This sounds innocuous enough. But anyone who looks at the legislative details will quickly see that a better description is cap and spend. This is easily the largest income redistribution scheme since the income tax."

Read more of this article by clicking the title of this post. For more information about the proposed legislation and the "Cap and Trade" practice, see RepGroe's Reading Room for additional articles.

IT IS FINISHED

By God’s abundant grace & your selfless effort, I currently have over 800 names ~ well enough to put my name on the ballot! Frank & I will turn them over to the Secretary of State’s Office on Tuesday, before the Wednesday deadline. I wish you all could be there that day…what a glorious picture that would be!

Senator Gould & I are headed back to Phoenix; both the House & the Senate go to floor tomorrow at 11:00. We have few bills still under consideration (see my blog for a tomorrow’s list) but the main focus now at the Arizona Legislature is addressing the $2.2 Billion dollar shortfall. Your prayers on this are needed as we fight for sound fiscal stewardship of your hard-earned money. With only one month left we must forge a solution to address the crisis, if we do not, on July 1st government shuts down. Pray that lawmakers put policy over politics & that “having to be right” does not get in the way of doing what is right.

Whatever the outcome of the budget process, Frank & I are looking forward to the end of session & the opportunity to spend time with friends & supporters. We are so grateful to all who continue to show mercy, love, & forgiveness. Each of you have touched us in ways that will forever impact our lives & we strive to do the same to all that we meet. It is our hope that during this time away from Phoenix, our friendships will continue to blossom…it is hard to grow roots while moving about so much!

I have a kitchen of dishes calling so I must end this note but I want to mention that as campaign season gears up, so does the rumor mill. Please feel free to call me if you hear something that doesn’t sound right & encourage others to do the same. I welcome the opportunity to address the gossip mills instead of facing unrestrained speculation.

With many thanks,
Trish Groe

California Marriage Decision Shows Constitutional Amendments Are Only Protection from Activist Courts

"The California Supreme Court’s decision Thursday to grant same-sex couples a fundamental right to marriage disregards voters’ 61 percent decision in favor of marriage as one man and one woman, a domestic partnership law already granting same-sex couples the benefits and privileges of marriage, and centuries of tradition and precedent–corroborated more recently by social science–that have set the union of one man and one woman apart from all other household forms"

NOTE: Please email Senate President Tim Bee and respectfully urge him to bring the marriage amendment measure to the vote of the Senate. The proposal is dead in the water without his action. Senator Bee can be reached at TBee@azleg.gov