WASHINGTON — Republicans warned Tuesday that President Barack Obama's second-term agenda would bring more tax increases and escalate deficit spending, vowing that they would guard against Washington-centric policies and help middle-class families rebound from years of tepid economic growth.

Congressional Republicans should call Obama’s bluff and insist that any immigration reform be contingent upon our borders being 100 percent secure — permanently. If they get fooled again, as in 1986, they deserve it. Furthermore, as a penalty for being in the country illegally, there should be a period of time that the person should not be allowed to vote. Now this idea was stolen from a powerful, influential member of the media, but I would lower the limitation to 15 years. Republicans: propose this idea to the President and let’s see just how compassionate these democrats really are.

When will they stop asking Republicans like me about our party’s choice for vice president?

“Two of the new Gilbert School Board members ran on the platform that they were going to trim administrative costs and waste. The first thing they did was try to fire the superintendent. The next thing they did was to create three new paid administrative positions. Is there any hope for the next few years?”

September 4, 2004

If immigration reform is to be achieved -- and it is pretty clear that it must be -- the solution likely will not be a sweeping overhaul but a series of smaller, politically digestible steps.

“Paul Ryan told so many lies in his speech at the Republican National Convention, he’s going to make Richard Nixon eligible for Saint-hood. Mitt Romney cant tell the truth either. He’s telling Americans that they aren’t any better off than they were four years ago. Excuse me!? The American executives at AIG, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Exxon Mobil are much better off than they were four years ago thanks to President Obama, and the grueling hours put in by the GOP in congress. Who says they can’t work together?”

WASHINGTON — Conservatives seem more fired up than they've been in years, rallying against President Barack Obama. But energy alone won't herald a Republican revolution, and the excitement pulsing through the GOP base masks disputes and divisions the party faces ahead of critical midterm elections.

TASTE. Chandler’s Culinary Festival returns Oct. 6 with expanded local restaurant offerings and new evening hours.

During the weeks preceding the formal unveiling of the ludicrously named Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2103, S. 744, the Gang of Eight authors dominated the headlines with their empty promises.

WASHINGTON — Side by side, leading Democratic and Republican senators pledged Monday to propel far-reaching immigration legislation through the Senate by summer providing a possible path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people now in the U.S. illegally.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama had a simple message for Republicans in Congress: Do it my way.

America has almost 12 million illegal immigrants.

I’ve always known it: Readers quite often say it better than — well, the usual columnists. In an unusual move, I’ve dedicated this space to a letter written by Diana Smith, the mother of nine children, grandmother of seven children. Smith, a long time East Valley resident is doing what she can to awaken women to frightening games being played in the political arena. She warns women their emotions are manipulated, while their freedoms to choose for themselves are at high risk. Read on:

WASHINGTON – Mesa Mayor Scott Smith had a message Thursday for White House and congressional lawmakers he met with to talk about the looming “fiscal cliff” – make the hard choices, as mayors did with their budgets.

WASHINGTON — Uncompromising and politically emboldened, President Barack Obama urged a deeply divided Congress Tuesday night to embrace his plans to use government money to create jobs and strengthen the nation's middle class. He declared Republican ideas for reducing the deficit "even worse" than the unpalatable deals Washington had to stomach during his first term.

If you don’t like something or want to get something done, you don’t let little things like the Constitution get in your way.

If you don’t like something or want to get something done, you don’t let little things like the Constitution get in your way.

With the state’s tourism industry under seige in the wake of a new law aimed at illegal immigrants, Gov. Jan Brewer is moving to “reposition” Arizona’s brand and image.

With the state’s tourism industry under seige in the wake of a new law aimed at illegal immigrants, Gov. Jan Brewer is moving to “reposition” Arizona’s brand and image.