Our legislative session wrapped up this year on April 20, in exactly 100 days. This is the earliest adjournment in more than a decade. Despite the relative brevity, it was the most productive session in my seven years at the state Capitol.
First and foremost, for the first time in five years, we passed a truly balanced budget. The Legislature avoided any borrowing, rollovers or accounting gimmicks that had been implemented in previous budgets. While the cuts are painful, particularly in the areas of health care and education, it was necessary to get the state's financial house in order. We cannot support the habit of higher mandated expenditures relative to our state revenue.
Early in the session we passed the Arizona Competitiveness Package, commonly called the "Jobs Bill." The Competitiveness Packages makes Arizona a much more attractive place to do business, and levels the economic development playing field among our neighboring states.
It is an important, and necessary, step forward for economic development and job creation in Arizona. After months of study and negotiation, we also passed SB 1609, which created significant reforms for the state retirement systems. Other major reform bills reduced the potential for probate abuse and settled the ongoing debate between home builders and municipalities relating to impact fees.
On a personal basis, I am pleased to report that 10 of the 14 bills I sponsored were signed into law. Relative to the total legislation drafted, my bills had a success rate of almost three times compared to the legislative total of 1,350 bills filed and only 357 signed by the governor. I am proud that my bills had such a high success rate and I believe my time was productive and spent efficiently.
For more than two years, I have been working with the Goldwater Institute on a lawsuit to remove the "matching funds" portion of the Clean Elections Act based on its constitutionality.
Our long journey through the court system finally arrived at the United States Supreme Court the last week in March.
It was the thrill of a lifetime to sit in front of the Supreme Court and hear oral arguments for a case named McComish v. Bennett. The expectation as a ruling will be issued in June and the final decision will be made, solidifying the impact to the program.
While the Clean Elections Act, in theory, is a good start, I don't support the idea of financing political campaigns through taxpayer contributions and legal penalties.
I am proud to call District 20 home. It is an honor and a privilege for me to represent the citizens of District 20 in the state Legislature and I am always open to your comments and questions. Please feel free to contact me at (602) 926-5898 or at jmccomish@azleg.gov.
• John McComish, R-Ahwatukee Foothills, is a member of the Arizona State Senate. He was elected in 2010 and represents District 20, which includes Ahwatukee Foothills. He served on the Arizona House of Representatives in District 20 from 2005 to 2011. Reach him at (602) 926-5898 or jmccomish@azleg.gov.
Cerulean posted at 9:49 am on Sun, May 15, 2011.
Mr. McComish,
The people of the State of Arizona passed initiatives twice to keep public campaigns public. Yet you seem proud that you waste our tax dollars for your “thrill of a lifetime to sit in front of the Supreme Court” to hear your name spoken as if you had finally become someone. Maybe you thought it was a good gamble that would pay future dividends for wealthy, politically corrupt, McComish ambitious types.
The people of Arizona do not want elections bought by wealthy, self-serving thieves of the political system.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 10:09 am on Tue, May 17, 2011.
Folks, ask yourselves this question is........Ahwatukee Senator John McComish.......a ......R.I.NO." ......a.......Republican In Name Only...??????
How he can "pat himself on the back"...over and over and over in this political...."PUFF PIECE".......is beyond me. He sounds more like our ..."Commander in Chief"...you know the one I am talking about....our President who had to be..."plucked off the Golf Course at Andrew's Air Force Base"....to take that famous...."PHOTO-OP" in the Situation Room (he looks kind of green...like he wants to "blow some chunks" after watching Osama bin Laden getting "wasted" by Navy Seals...(notice the look on Hillary's face too...what a pair of losers...lol.). Anyway, I digress....let's go back to McComish taking all the credit (did he mention his staff ...one time...just one time ???).
Here are the Senate Bills that ........Ahwatukee Senator John McComish .."FAILED TO MENTION THAT HE....VETOED...ALONG WITH EVERY SINGLE .... ARIZONA DEMOCRAT SENATOR";
Senate Bills 1308 & 1309 = These Bills would have denied American Citizenship from the so-called "Anchor Babies" of Illegal Alien mothers from Mexico and Points South who come to America to deliver and claim Welfare, Social Services, Food Stamps, WIC, DES, Section-8 Housing and Free Child Care.
Senate Bill 1405 = This Bill would have required Hospitals to alert Immigration of a suspected Illegal Alien from Mexico or Points South who was seeking free medical care.
Senate Bill 1407 = This Bill would have required Arizona tax-payer funded Grammer Schools and High Schools to alert Immigration of a suspected Illegal Alien from Mexico and Points South who was trying to enroll in an Arizona School at the cost of $7,612.00 per year.
Senate Bill 1611 = This Bill would have "REQUIRED PROOF OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP" to obtain ....Arizona tax-payer funded "housing", Arizona Vehicle Registration, and admittance to Arizona Tax-Payer funded Colleges and Universities.
Ahwatukee Senator John McComish ..."VOTED ......NO....ON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE BILLS".............is Senator John McComish the person that you want to be representing you in the...........ARIZONA SENATE ???
Folks, if Senator John McComish...didn't feel that his...."VETOES"....of these Anti-Illegal Immigration Bills were ..."IMPORTANT"...enough to mention in his Column................what else is he........."NOT TELLING THE REPUBLICAN
VOTER..... ???????????