"As we saw last weekend when Russell Pearce was elected the GOP's shadow chairman, the Arizona Republican Party is doubling down on the same failed leadership that even Pearce's own conservative district has rejected. Given that, it should come as no surprise that Pearce is running for reelection."

"Arizona has shown time and again over the last year that it has moved past the ugly and divisive politics of Russell Pearce. Come November, Arizona will again show Pearce that his time is over."

A year ago, I had the great honor of being elected to lead Arizona’s Democrats. At the urging of many of our state leaders, I agreed to serve for at least a year because a Democratic Party that was flat on its back after the disastrous 2010 elections needed to be rebuilt to be ready to fight against political extremism and for Arizona’s mainstream.

In recent weeks, many of those same leaders have urged me to take on a new and different task. It is a bittersweet moment, but I have decided to step down as chair of the Arizona Democratic Party.

I do so with the knowledge that we have strong leaders ready to step into my place and the confidence that I am leaving the leadership of a party that has – by all of us working together – been transformed over the past year.

A year ago, we knew we had to go on the offense against a Republican leadership in Arizona that was taking us in a radically wrong direction. Whether it was Russell Pearce’s attempt to rewrite birthright citizenship, Tom Horne’s conflicted investigation of the Fiesta Bowl scandal, or Jan Brewer’s push to impeach the chair of the Independent Redistricting Commission, we spoke out boldly, worked hard – and beat them back.

We knew we had to build a big tent Democratic Party that brought in new voices and gave independents and fed-up Republicans a home. We did that by:

• Creating our new Arizona Democratic Business Council .
• Founding our New Leaders group of young professionals.
• Actively organizing thousands of Arizonans in the redistricting process to push for more competition and less gerrymandering in our elections.

Most of all, we knew we had to build a new, bottom-up Democratic Party that tapped the idealism and efforts of grassroots activists around the state. We have done that too:

• A new e-PC program to spread our Democratic message and ideas online.
• A 61 percent increase in the number of small dollar donors over 2010.
• A 488 percent increase in the membership of our DEM-AZ monthly giving club.
• A 52 percent increase in the membership of the Arizona Democratic Council.
• A network of new Party Affairs Liaisons all across the state.

All our hard work has made a big difference. Our Democratic Party now has wind in its sails. We helped elect Democratic mayors in both Phoenix and Tucson for the first time in 20 years. And the work of many ordinary citizens ended Russell Pearce’s extremist reign of error.

For the first time in a long time, we are getting used to using those face muscles that make us smile. But we realize that the real fights are coming up ahead in 2012. With redistricting we have the opportunity to pick up seats in our state legislature. We can send new strong leaders to Congress and help take back the majority from the Tea Party. For the first time in 24 years, our nominee for the United States Senate will win in November and help change the face that Arizona shows to the world. And there is no doubt that Arizona will be at the forefront of the fight to send President Barack Obama back to the White House for four more years.

We all have much work to do in the year ahead. I hope you’ll continue to invest your time, financial contributions, and energy into our Arizona Democratic Party. There is so much at stake and so much to do. I have been humbled and grateful for your support and faith in our party. I look forward to continuing to work with you in the years ahead to forge a stronger Arizona and America.

Thanks,
Andrei Cherny

"Arizona has moved past the divisive and corrosive politics of Russell Pearce -- but the Republican Party hasn't. The Republican Party's choice to make Pearce their shadow chairman couldn't be a clearer signal of where the leaders of the Arizona GOP want to steer their party."

"Pearce has consistently shown since November that he has not learned anything from the decisive recall that removed him from office. He will bring the same repulsive politics to his new job as shadow chairman of the Republican Party that we saw with his attempt to put a sham candidate on the ballot in hopes that he could avoid the voters who rejected him in his own conservative district."

Arizona Daily Star

The Telegraph

The Bakersfield California

The fact that Flake was exposed today as being a favorite of the Koch brothers and having accepted more than $12,000 in campaign contributions -- more than any other Arizona Republican -- from the Koch brothers shows you where his real priorities are focused, protecting the interests of billionaires over the middle class.

Take a look at the list below, which shows that Flake and other Arizona Republicans take a large share of the Koch brothers' political contributions.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Meet the 40 members of the Congressional Koch Caucus

"Mitt Romney likes to say he has 'lived in the economy.' But if that were true, he wouldn't be defending a tax code that is fundamentally unfair and refusing to release his tax returns."

"Romney recently disclosed that he pays a 15 percent tax rate – one far lower than the rate paid by most middle-class Arizonans – and we just learned that Romney has parked much of his money in investment accounts in the Cayman Islands. It's time for Romney to come clean and explain to middle-class voters in Arizona and throughout the country why he gets to pay a lower tax rate than any of the workers he has laid off."

"Every major presidential candidate in modern history has released their tax returns. Why does Mitt Romney think he can play by different rules?"

Read his latest comments in The Hill: "As soon as you indicate we are not going to shut the government down you have given away your leverage. When you say you will extend the payroll tax no matter what, you give away your leverage."

Got that? Jeff Flake wanted to steer the government towards a shut down and to block tax cuts for the middle class all so that the GOP could have more leverage.

Isn't this exactly the kind of thing we're all sick of?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

The Hill: House GOP leaders get heat from rank and file ahead of debt vote
By Erik Wasson - 01/16/12 05:00 AM ET

House Republicans want to embarrass President Obama with a vote on the debt ceiling this week, but they could get some heartburn courtesy of rank-and-file conservatives.

House Republicans on Wednesday will vote to disapprove a request by Obama to add $1.2 trillion to the $15.2 trillion debt. The vote affords an opportunity to highlight multiple trillion-dollar deficits under the president’s leadership.

Some conservatives members are angry, however, that the vote, like an earlier debt-ceiling increase in September, has no teeth, and plan to give leaders a piece of their mind upon returning Tuesday.

Under the terms of the August debt-ceiling deal, the debt will increase unless the Senate and Obama go along with the House disapproval, and that is never going to happen.

Conservative GOP members say the debt-ceiling vote is just a reminder of a failure in August to get on a path to a balanced budget and comes just after leaders botched a payroll tax fight with the White House.

The House GOP drew a line in the sand in December and refused to approve a two-month payroll tax cut extension. After voting down that measure, arguing that only a yearlong deal was acceptable, and sending rank-and-file members home, leaders eventually conceded the fight and passed the White House-backed bill by unanimous consent.

“The deal we cut in August: that’s a joke,” Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) said, adding it is just a fig leaf for some Republicans to say they are against more debt even though they essentially approved it in August.

“I do have some anger with my own leadership. … The Republican establishment was just as misleading about a default as the Democrats,” he said.

Mulvaney said a number of conservative members are frustrated and plan to express that to leaders this week.

“I know that I am not alone,” he said.

He said some members were so angry in December they wrote down their thoughts to remember them when Congress comes back this week.

“Every time we pushed, we gave up,” Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) said, giving a tough assessment to the budget battles of 2011.

He said Republicans who voted for the August deal should not vote against the debt-ceiling increase now and claim credit for being against it. The August debt deal got 174 GOP “yes” votes and 66 “no” votes.

Huelskamp said he planned to raise his points in a caucus meeting and wants leadership to avoid squandering future opportunities to squeeze the White House into cutting the budget.

“The opportunities are few and far between,” he said.

Huelskamp said the House budget resolution is the next chance to demand that spending be brought down below the August debt-ceiling deal level.

Mulvaney said he is not angry with GOP leaders for agreeing to the two-month payroll tax extension. He is angry that the rank and file were told to go to their districts to fight against a two-month extension only to have leaders change their minds and inform the caucus on a one-way conference call.

“It is sort of like you are a solider on the battlefield and you turn around and your generals were gone,” he said.

“I am not going to question their integrity, but given how it was done it would lead a reasonable person to conclude that this was the plan all along,” Mulvaney said.

Huelskamp said the way leadership handled rank and file in late December “breeds distrust.” He said the vote on the $1 trillion omnibus was rushed, too.

He said during recess his constituents told him there is a pox on both parties and that he believes it is “hard to convince them there has been much difference” between the two sides.

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said he will take to the House floor to express his dissatisfaction at the GOP for making concessions and that he shares the frustration of freshmen like Mulvaney and Huelskamp.

“I have had the same complaints all along. With the current-year budget … as soon as you indicate we are not going to shut the government down you have given away your leverage. When you say you will extend the payroll tax no matter what, you give away your leverage,” Flake said.

“I don’t think we have been in the strongest negotiation position.”

The timing of Kobach's endorsement couldn't have been worse for Flake, one of Romney's top early endorsers. Why? Because at the same time Romney was bragging about having Kobach's backing, Republicans in D.C. were rolling out their new Hispanic outreach program.

And here in Arizona, as the Republic pointed out: "Romney's announcement came shortly before state Reps. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix, and Anna Tovar, D-Tolleson, and other community leaders and activists were expected to gather in Phoenix to blast Romney for saying that as president he would veto the Dream Act..."

The coverage over the last 24 hours has been absolutely brutal. So we have to ask: Does Flake approve of Romney touting Kris Kobach's endorsement?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Arizona Republic: Kris Kobach, who helped write SB 1070, endorses Romney
"With his campaign trumpeting Kris Kobach’s endorsement, Mitt Romney’s descent into the dark clutches of radical nativism is complete," said Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, a national organization that supports comprehensive immigration reform.

Terry Greene Sterling: On Obama's to-do list: Write thank-you note to Kris Kobach and Mitt Romney
"Romney, who also said he’d veto the DREAM Act, is angling for extremist voters who tend to vote in primaries in the South. He likely figures once he gets the nomination he’ll take a more moderate stance to attract moderate voters in the general election."

NBC Latino: Mitt Romney Alienating Latinos, Group Says
"Kobach’s endorsement, and Romney’s embrace of it, drew criticism from immigration advocacy groups, who described it as proof of the GOP front-runner’s nativism."

NYT Editorial: Romney's hard line
"Mr. Romney has flipped and flopped all over on immigration, but in allying himself with Mr. Kobach he has lurched toward the extremist right. 'Kris has been a true leader on securing our borders and stopping the flow of illegal immigration into this country,' Mr. Romney said."

TPM: GOP muffs up Hispanic outreach effort pretty much immediately
"When it comes to Hispanic outreach, Republicans on Wednesday took two tiny steps forward and one giant step back. The RNC announced they were ramping up their outreach efforts to Hispanic voters and Mitt Romney released an advertisement in Florida in Spanish. But it’s hard to see either of those overshadowing Romney’s embrace of the architect of notorious Arizona and Alabama anti-immigration laws."

Univision: Romney endorsed by architect of controversial Ariz. immigration law
"The endorsement could pose a problem for Romney, who’s recently indicated he’s interested in attracting Latino voters who strongly oppose the Arizona and Alabama laws."

"Mitt Romney will say anything on immigration as he flip-flops his way through the Republican primary. After favoring comprehensive reform, Romney is now embracing a philosophy that is not only cruel and extreme, but dangerous -- positions that would make him the most extreme Republican nominee on immigration in decades."

"Illegal immigration is a serious problem, and Arizona Democrats favor strong measures enforcing the law, expecially those that would crack down on the criminal smuggling rings. But the approach to immigration favored by Mitt Romney and Kris Kobach has made us less safe and only benefits those trying to divide us."

"Arizona is ready to embrace a mainstream agenda of real immigration reform and border security, and we're tired of seeing Romney play politics with such an important issue."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Kris Kobach, who helped write SB 1070, endorses Romney

Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney on Wednesday announced the endorsement of Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state who is better known in Arizona and in Latino communities for the legal assistance he gave former state Sen. Russell Pearce in writing Senate Bill 1070, Arizona's controversial 2010 immigration law.

The Romney news release on Kobach's support touts his work on Arizona's and Alabama's immigration laws.

“I’m so proud to earn Kris’s support,” Romney in a written statement. “Kris has been a true leader on securing our borders and stopping the flow of illegal immigration into this country. We need more conservative leaders like Kris willing to stand up for the rule of law. With Kris on the team, I look forward to working with him to take forceful steps to curtail illegal immigration and to support states like South Carolina and Arizona that are stepping forward to address this problem.”

Romney's announcement came shortly before state Reps. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix, and Anna Tovar, D-Tolleson, and other community leaders and activists were expected to gather in Phoenix to blast Romney for saying that as president he would veto the Dream Act, legislation that would that would grant legal permanent residency to individuals brought to this country illegally as children if they are attending college or serving in the military.

It also came on the same day that the Republican National Committee is set to announce an expanded national Latino outreach effort.

“With his campaign trumpeting Kris Kobach’s endorsement, Mitt Romney’s descent into the dark clutches of radical nativism is complete," said Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, a national organization that supports comprehensive immigration reform. "In Kris Kobach’s America, kids who want to serve in the military and attend college are criminals, states should have the right to nullify federal immigration enforcement priorities, and undocumented immigrants who are hardworking and well-established, who take care of our kids, our elders, our food and our houses, are a plague to be banished. Romney’s embrace of this endorsement is nothing less than disgusting, and will not be forgotten by those who have felt the consequences of the Kobach approach to immigration first-hand.”

RHETORIC: “Arizona has been saved. And, you were a part of that great mission.”

REALITY: “Arizona has been named among the most poorly run states in the country by 24/7 Wall St. The financial website reviewed data on financial health, standard of living and government services for each state to determine how well each state is managed. Arizona came in 47th. Only Michigan (48th), Illinois (49th) and California (50th) ranked worse than Arizona.” [Phoenix Business Journal, 11/30/2011]

RHETORIC: “Now, an integral part of our recovery plan was the passage of Proposition 100 – the one-cent sales tax approved overwhelmingly by the voters for three years. The voters were promised it would be temporary. Many doubted that. Well, I gave my word to the voters.”

REALITY: Brewer argued that the new tax would prevent deep cuts to education. [Arizona Daily Star, 5/19/2010] But then made the cuts anyway. [Capitol Media Services, 1/14/11]

RHETORIC: “Today, Arizonans and Americans are saying to Washington, D.C.: We don't like an ever-expanding government threatening our personal liberties. We don't like government living beyond its means and trying to be everything to everyone.”

REALITY: The federal government gave Arizona more than $1 billion in stimulus funds. Of that, Brewer was able to spend $185 million how she wanted. [ABC15, 12/16/2010]

RHETORIC: “We had a plan – and, it was the right plan. How do I know? Because I stand here in front of you, and proudly say … Ladies and gentlemen, Arizona now has a balanced budget! Arizona now has a positive cash balance!”

REALITY: According to Republican Senate President Steve Pierce “We borrowed $1.5 billion two years ago and we have a billion dollars we owe the education rollover. We're in a deep hole. We're coming out of it but the biggest challenge is to keep from spending that money that we're ahead right now.” [ABC15, 1/9/2012]

RHETORIC: “That's my commitment to children for the next century -- quality teachers -- a safe environment -- a setting of parents' choosing – data driven decisions and the highest of standards.”

REALITY: Last year, Education Week ranked Arizona 42nd in its annual Quality Counts analysis. The rankings are based on financial resources, quality of teaching, student achievement and other key factors. [Education Week, 1/11/2011]

RHETORIC: “Our State Government is focused on the future.”

REALITY: Last year, Capitol Media Services reported: “Gov. Jan Brewer wants to cut state funding for universities by 20 percent and aid to community colleges by about half to deal with a $1.1 billion deficit this coming fiscal year. Brewer also proposed today eliminating free care for about 280,000 individuals now enrolled in the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, virtually all of them adults. There would be no reduction care for children, pregnant women, the aged, blind and disabled.” [Capitol Media Services, 1/14/11]

RHETORIC: “Too many Arizonans remain unemployed or underemployed. This economic downturn has been tough for them and their families. I haven’t forgotten about them. Together with all of you here, I intend to do everything in my power to help Arizonans prepare for our ever-changing economy.”

REALITY: In June, the Arizona Republic reported: “While the state's unemployment rate remains stubbornly stuck above 9 percent, the safety net for out-of-work Arizonans appears to be unraveling. Already, 15,000 of the long-term unemployed are losing their weekly unemployment-benefit payments.” [Arizona Republic, 6/15/2011]

"Once again, Governor Brewer talked about the right things, but as we’ve seen in the past there is a big gap between the rhetoric and the results of what she and the legislature actually deliver. Russell Pearce may be gone, but the Russell Pearce Republicans are clearly still running the show."

"It's time that the Republican-controlled state legislature join Democrats to pass a jobs package centered on helping entrepreneurs and small businesses, middle-class tax cuts especially focused on education and ethics reform to clean up the culture of corruption in state government revealed by the Fiesta Bowl scandal."

BREWER: Brewer says Arizona is expecting a significant budget surplus. She estimates a surplus of $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion for 2012-2013.

PIERCE: "It's already been spent," Pierce said. "We borrowed $1.5 billion two years ago and we have a billion dollars we owe the education rollover. We're in a deep hole. We're coming out of it but the biggest challenge is to keep from spending that money that we're ahead right now."

But it can't be both, so which is it? And if they disagree on simple math, how can they credibly put together a plan for jobs?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Arizona Legislature beginning 2012 session
Posted: 6:24 AM
By: Kimberly Cheng

PHOENIX - Republican Gov. Jan Brewer delivers her third State of the State address to the Arizona Legislature on Monday as lawmakers begin their 2012 regular session.

The House and Senate begin the session with proceedings in their separate proceedings at noon, followed by Brewer's address to a joint session of the Legislature in the House chamber at 2 p.m.

Brewer gave ABC15 a preview of her State of the State address during an annual luncheon Friday with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Brewer spoke about her four cornerstones of reform: improving Arizona's position and economic competitiveness; education reform; state government reform; and a renewed fight for state's rights.

The Governor says she will continue to focus on job growth, the economy, and education funding.

According to Brewer, state finances are in good health. For the first time since 2008, Arizona is not facing a budget deficit.

Brewer says Arizona is expecting a significant budget surplus. She estimates a surplus of $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion for 2012-2013.

This comes after cuts to state Medicaid programs and a temporary sales tax increase of one-percent.

"Arizona will produce positive fund balances even if the temporary one-percent sales tax expires at the end of 2013," Brewer said.

Brewer says she plans to build from this new baseline. Her goals for the next year include examining the needs of the State and its 120 agencies, one-by-one, to adjust allocations and allow strategic planning.

Brewer says she also plans to invest funding resources "to support teachers who achieve results."

The Senate's opening day formalities action includes the election of Prescott Republican Steve Pierce as Senate president.

Pierce, who also attended the luncheon, said the state is still in a deep hole, despite the budget surplus Brewer announced.

"It's already been spent," Pierce said. "We borrowed $1.5 billion two years ago and we have a billion dollars we owe the education rollover. We're in a deep hole. We're coming out of it but the biggest challenge is to keep from spending that money that we're ahead right now."

Majority Republicans chose Pierce to replace Russell Pearce, who lost a Nov. 8 recall election, resulting in his ouster from the Legislature.

Lawmakers hope to conclude the session by late April.

"It's been one year -- one gut-wrenching, unforgettable year -- and we've learned a few things. We've learned that joy can break through a thick wall of despair, whether from the healing speech of a president or a simple request for toast. We've learned that casting a vote in Congress can also be a breathtaking act of bravery. We've learned that pure determination, combined with love and support, can work miracles. And we've learned that lesson which so often must be relearned in life: we can never take for granted that our loved ones will be with us tomorrow. As this anniversary passes, we go forward into a new year, committed to remembering all that we have learned.

"Today, our thoughts and prayers are with those who died on January 8, 2011, and with the survivors and families who courageously press on in rebuilding their lives."

###

SATURDAY

BEYOND-TUCSON is a community-wide series of Tucson events from sun up to sun down on Saturday, Jan. 7, to commemorate the anniversary, celebrate the spirit of togetherness felt in the days and months afterward, and recommit to working together to build a stronger community every day. Event highlights include a health and wellness fair at Tucson Medical Center, a Festival of Democracy at Pima Community College, and an outing at the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead in Davidson Canyon. Coalition participants include family members of victims of Jan. 8, nonprofits supporting children and families; bicycling, hiking and running groups; environmental advocates; land-management agencies and public health providers. More: beyond-tucson.org

Phoenix Friends of Gabe Zimmerman are also participating in BEYOND, starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Environmental and Educational Building at the South Mountain Parking Lot at 10409 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. Participants will meet at the parking lot and have two hike options. There will be an easy one-mile hike on a paved trail, which is wheelchair accessible. The second hike is more challenging and will tackle the Holbert Trail, a 2.9 mile hike (5.8 mile total, up and back) up South Mountain. Participants are also encouraged to bring items that will be donated to St. Mary’s Food Bank. More: www.facebook.com/events/323323427699223/

STATE CAPITOL VIGIL: People in the greater Phoenix area are invited to attend a candlelight vigil on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 7. Please gather at the Capitol Lawn starting at 5 p.m., and bring your own candles. 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix.

SUNDAY

INTERFAITH SERVICE--We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe: This service begins at 1 p.m. Jan. 8 and will commemorate both the tragedy and the triumph of Jan. 8, 2011. The service will consist of prayer, music, reflections, dance. The service includes Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Baha'i and Sikh traditions of prayer. At St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave., Tucson.

REFLECTIONS--Honoring the lives of Jan. 8 shooting victims: From 3-4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8, at the University of Arizona's Centennial Hall, the Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding is hosting a series of speakers who will reflect on the lives of the six people who died, the survivors and the citizen heroes. Speakers include: <br>• Tucson native Sen. Mark Udall (for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords) <br>• Pat Maisch (for the survivors and citizen heroes). Maisch is considered one of the heroes of Jan. 8 <br>• Judge Raner Collins (for Chief Judge John Roll) Judge Collins is a member of the Arizona District Federal Court and served with Chief Judge Roll <br>• Dr. Lattie Coor (for Gabe Zimmerman). Dr. Coor is the former president of ASU and current Chairman/CEO of the Center for the Future of Arizona. This Center has created the annual Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards <br>• Rev. Dr. Andrew Ross (for Phyllis Schneck). Ross is the pastor at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Tucson. Phyllis Schneck was a member of this church. <br>• Serenity Hammrich and Jamie Stone (for Christina-Taylor Green). They were Christina's best friends in school. <br>• Ron Barber (for Dorwan Stoddard) Ron is Congresswoman Giffords' District Director. He and his family founded the Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding in the wake of the shootings. <br>• Brandon Nelson (for Dorothy Morris). Brandon is Dorothy and George Morris' oldest grandson. UA's, Centennial Hall. Tickets are free and can be picked up at the UA Centennial Hall's box office, 2020 E. University Blvd., Tucson; The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, 2250 E. Broadway, Tucson; and Pima Council on Aging 8467 E. Broadway, Tucson.More: fundforcivility.org/events/reflections-honoring-the-lives-of-the-january-8-shooting-victims/

REMEMBERING JAN. 8--Vigil to Honor Victims and Survivors: This vigil will be at 6:30 p.m. on the University of Arizona Mall and is hosted by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and The University of Arizona Medical Center. The emcee for the evening will be Ron Barber, survivor and founder of the Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding. The Tucson Symphony Orchestra will perform, and confirmed speakers include Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, Dr. Peter Rhee, Chief, Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Emergency Surgery at UA Medical Center, and Captain Mark Kelly, spouse of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Those attending are asked not to bring candles. Glow sticks will be provided at the vigil to all those in attendance.

For more details about the Jan. 8 vigil at the UA Mall and for a longer list of commemorative activities and events, go to www.rememberingjanuary8.org.

We've already seen that Romney is willing to say anything on immigration that he thinks will help get him elected -- having abandoned support for comprehensive reform. But hearing Romney say over the weekend that he would veto the DREAM Act is crossing a new line for him, even if he flip-flops on it later.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Mitt Romney says he would veto DREAM Act
January 01, 2012 | By James Oliphant

Reporting from Des Moines — Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney has pledged to veto the so-called DREAM Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants if they attend college or serve in the military.

Romney made the comments during a late campaign stop New Year’s Eve in northwestern Iowa.

“The answer is yes,” he said, when asked if he would veto the legislation if Congress passes it and he is in the White House.

Romney said, however, that he would support granting children of illegal immigrants some form of residency in exchange for military service. "I'm delighted with the idea that people who come to this country and wish to serve in the military can be given a path to become permanent residents of this country," he said, according to CNN.

Illegal immigration has been a pressing topic at campaign events across Iowa, with GOP candidates pledging to secure the border and resist any efforts to grant illegal immigrants any form of permanent residency.

But Latinos are viewed as a key to winning the general election by both parties—and Romney’s hostility to the DREAM Act promises to be exploited time and again by Democrats and President Obama’s reelection campaign.

Indeed, the Democratic National Committee quickly responded to Romney’s remarks.

“If there had been doubt in anyone’s mind—least of all, Hispanics in America, that Mitt Romney’s far-right views on immigration would make him the most extreme presidential nominee in recent memory, his statement [Saturday] that he would veto the DREAM Act if he were president is appalling,” said Juan Sepluveda, the DNC’s Senior Advisor for Hispanic Affairs. "This piece of legislation has been supported by members of both parties."

Republicans in the Senate in December 2010 blocked an effort by Democrats to push a version of the bill to the floor for a vote.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been savaged by his fellow GOP contenders and conservative critics for Texas’ decision to allow children of illegal immigrants to attend state colleges for the in-state tuition rate. At a campaign stop in Boone, Iowa Saturday, Perry defended the program yet again.

He said Texans overwhelming backed the idea, as being in the “best long-term interest of the state” and argued it was a choice between turning them into “tax-wasters” who would require government support or helping to make them skilled, productive residents.

But Romney slapped Perry over the issue again Saturday. "For those who come here illegally, the idea of giving them in-state tuition credits or other special benefits I find to be contrary to the idea of a nation of law," he said.

Jim Messina outlines Obama’s map strategy (VIDEO)
By Kyle Trygstad
Roll Call Staff
Dec. 29, 2011, 1:04 p.m.

President Barack Obama’s campaign manager Jim Messina broke down the president’s paths to victory next year in a new video tied to an end-of-year fundraising pitch.

In the video out today, Messina makes the point that the campaign’s financial strength will help determine in how many states the president can compete. He offered five of the 40 different paths to 270 electoral votes the campaign has identified, in a similar outline to what he presented to reporters earlier this month. The final path includes Arizona — the only state the campaign is targeting that it didn’t win in 2008.

“Our entire goal here is to put as many of these maps in play as possible,” Messina said as he went through the charts. “And at the end it’s just a financial decision. Do we have enough money to register the voters we need in Arizona? Can we start putting more neighborhood team organizers on the ground in North Carolina?”

“It’s all about whether or not we have the resources to do this,” he continued. “People have speculated this is a billion-dollar campaign. That’s bull[bleeped].”

The five paths all start with the baseline of states that Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) won in 2004, totaling 246 votes. The West Path would get Obama to 272 votes and includes winning Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Iowa; winning only Florida would total 275 votes; winning North Carolina and Virginia takes Obama to 274 votes; and winning Ohio and Iowa gets him to exactly 270.

The Expansion Path, totaling 272 votes, includes Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Iowa and Virginia.

“We ought to have new ways to 270 electoral votes,” Messina said. “That includes winning states that weren’t pathways in 2008. And one of the best examples of that is Arizona.”

Watch the video:

"Our gratitude runs deep for the brave men and women who sacrificed so much in the nine-year conflict in Iraq. As a Navy reserve officer, I had the blessing to serve alongside heroes -- those who went into battle and the families that supported them back home as well. These veterans deserve not only our thanks but our nation's unwavering support in the challenges they face upon returning home -- from medical care to job training. We thank President Obama for fulfilling his promise to finish this mission and bring the troops home. America can now move forward and continue the hard work of building a future of greater peace and prosperity for all."

###

"After watching a bipartisan 89-10 vote in the Senate to extend payroll tax cuts, Ben Quayle, David Schweikert, Trent Franks and Paul Gosar all voted to raise taxes on 2.9 million Arizonans. They don't seem to get the spirit of the season."

"Extending President Obama's payroll tax cuts would have provided needed relief to a middle class struggling to get out of one of the toughest economic downturns in generations. If Quayle, Schweikert, Franks and Gosar actually believed in protecting 'job creators' they wouldn't be threatening to raise taxes for 110,000 businesses in Arizona."

Originally, HHS projected that 1.24 million young adults would gain coverage in 2011 as a result of this part of the law. The actual numbers far exceed initial expectations. The CDC recently announced that 2.5 million young adults now have health coverage, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

In Arizona, that means an estimated 60,000 young Americans have access to health care because of the new law.

Before the Affordable Care Act, more young Americans lacked health insurance than any other age group – accounting for more than one in five of the uninsured. Going without insurance put the health and finances of millions of young people at risk.

Contrary to the myth that young people don’t need health insurance, one in six young adults has a chronic disease like cancer, diabetes or asthma. Studies show that nearly half of uninsured young adults reported problems paying their medical bills and others forwent regular care, like checkups or recommended screenings, due to cost.

President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act to put affordable, quality health insurance back within reach of all Americans. Thanks to the new law, young adults can now stay on their parents’ plan up to age 26.

Health care reform does more than just expand coverage. It also puts an end to insurance company abuses. Already, insurance companies cannot use a lifetime cap or cancel coverage when someone gets sick, and millions of Americans can get preventive care without copays or cost-sharing. And, soon, it will be illegal for insurance companies to refuse to cover someone with pre-existing conditions.