If more than two-thirds of the state House votes in favor of a bill that would rein in corruption in local police forces, you would anticipate that the proposed legislation at least would receive a hearing in the state Senate, wouldn’t you?

Not in the case of House Bill 2648, which would create a complex mechanism by which an out-of-control law enforcement agency could be decertified by the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board, and taken over by a law enforcement administrator appointed by a county board of supervisors.

Sponsored by Republican Representative Michelle Ugenti, the bill was meant to address problems with the Hildale-Colorado City Marshal’s Office, which patrols both Colorado City and Hildale on the Arizona-Utah border, a twin city notorious for its association with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The tiny police force of six men has been accused of protecting polygamists, preventing “plural wives” from leaving their husbands, and being an instrument of intimidation close to the FLDS cult.

Read the rest of the article here…

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2013/03/michelle_ugentis_anti-colorado.php

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A bill authored by Rep. Michelle Ugenti, R-Scottsdale, would require a Proposition 105 disclosure statement on ballots, publicity pamphlets and advertisements involving ballot propositions. (Cronkite News Service/Jessica Boehm)

Updated March 10, 2013Arizonans would make better-informed decisions about ballot propositions if presented with the fact that voter-approved measures are almost impossible to change later on, a state lawmaker says.

A bill authored by Michelle Ugenti, R-Scottsdale, would place disclaimers on ballots and official materials as well as campaign advertising explaining the impact of Proposition 105, also known as the Voter Protection Act.

Approved by voters in 1998, Proposition 105 prohibits the Legislature from reversing changes approved by voters. Changes that advance the purpose of a ballot measure are allowed but require a three-quarters vote of both houses.

The only way to overturn a ballot measure is another statewide vote.

Ugenti said she introduced HB 2007, which the House approved and forwarded to the Senate, to address confusion among voters about how difficult it is to change what voters approve.

“The intent here is to fully inform voters of the implications of their vote when it comes to approving these ballot initiatives because they can be very broad and far-reaching and have long-term ramifications,” Ugenti said when HB 2007 reached the Senate Elections Committee, which endorsed the measure March 5 on a party-line vote.

Click here to read the entire article…

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A bill giving counties power to take control of corrupt police departments and primarily aimed at the polygamist enclave of Colorado City passed the Arizona House by an overwhelming majority Thursday.

House Bill 2648, which still needs a Senate vote, would allow county supervisors to appoint a neutral, third-party administrator to take over a police department determined by the state’s law-enforcement advisory board to have systemic misconduct or mismanagement.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne has pushed for the measure as part of his attempts to reduce the power of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which controls the town government of Colorado City.

Rep. Michelle Ugenti, R-Scottsdale, primary sponsor of the bill, said she introduced the measure to “give the public an option when there’s been a violation of their trust and confidence from those who have taken an oath to serve and protect.”

Authorities in Arizona and Utah have struggled for decades to deal with underage marriages, fraud, banishment of young males and other FLDS practices.

Read the rest of the article on azcentral.com

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A state representative has a plan to force local public entities to vote on what the Legislature couldn’t last year: whether to stop the automatic deductions from public employees’ paychecks for union dues.

Rep. Michelle Ugenti, R-Scottsdale, entered what may be the new frontier on the battle against public employee unions. Her bill, HB2026, takes the fight against unions to the local level, where she hopes to force city and town councils, county boards of supervisors and fire districts to justify to the public why they allow public employees to automatically deduct union dues from their paychecks, or force them to outlaw the practice.

The bill would require those local government entities to hold a vote by their council or board on whether to continue or end the practice of allowing automatic deductions from paychecks before the end of 2013.

The bill would require those local government entities to hold a vote by their council or board on whether to continue or end the practice of allowing automatic deductions from paychecks before the end of 2013.

Entities that don’t take a vote before the deadline would automatically be prohibited from deducting dues – which Ugenti claimed would be permanent, thus enticing the entities to have a vote on the matter.

The bill appears to be silent on the permanence of such a failure to vote by the end of the year, and it also is unclear whether entities that do conduct a vote would be able to reconsider the matter at a later date, as Ugenti also claimed.

Ugenti said she doesn’t see it as a mandate on local governments to pick up a politically charged issue, but a chance for them to talk to constituents about the practice and explain their positions. But opponents of the bill say it is a chance to force local government leaders into going on the record on the hot-button issue of public employee unions.

“They’re going to have to take a formal position – that’s the point of the bill, to have the public conversation about, ‘Is it prudent to take out dues for private organizations?’” Ugenti said. “I just think they should address it, and I’m not telling them how to address it. I’m not mandating they vote a certain way.”

Ugenti noted that a handful of cities, including her home city Scottsdale, already outlaw the practice of allowing employee payroll deductions for union dues. The Phoenix City Council voted to allow the deductions back in 1975.

Click here to read the entire article on azcapitoltimes.com

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Rep. Michelle Ugenti figures the same thinking applies to measures placed on the Arizona ballot for voter approval every two years. So Ugenti is pitching legislation to require that every ballot measure contain a warning it cannot be repealed by the Legislature once approved, even if it turns out to be a mess.

Ugenti, a Republican, said voters are generally unaware of a 1998 constitutional amendment. It precludes lawmakers from rescinding or altering anything approved at the ballot.

The only exception is for an alternation that “furthers the purpose” of the original measure. And even that takes a three-fourths vote of both the House and Senate.

“A lot of people do not realize that the propositions that are passed on ballots cannot be changed,” she said, unless they meet both the vote and purpose requirements. And she said those hurdles to amending ballot measures are so significant that “you really can’t change them.”

Click here to read the entire article.

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I am writing to thank the residents of District 23 for the opportunity to represent them again in the Arizona House of Representatives. It is rewarding to know my efforts have reflected the desires of the district and I look forward to building on those successes.

During the last two years, I have worked tirelessly to address the issues affecting not only our district but our state. For the first time in three years, Arizona has a balanced budget, money in our rainy-day fund and we enacted the largest tax cuts in Arizona’s history. As a result of our efforts to revitalize the economy, Arizona went from being ranked 49th in the nation in job growth in 2010 to being ranked sixth this year and the unemployment rate has decreased from 10.2 percent in 2010 to 8.1 percent in October of this year. Last year, I helped prevent a diversion of Growing Smarter monies that could be used for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and assisted in securing additional money to promote our tourism industry.

For my participation and success in those efforts, I was appointed chairman of the Government Committee and chairman of an Appropriations subcommittee during my first term. Continuing in these positions will allow me to play a more prominent role in matters of local concern and I look forward to working with the city councils and others on their priorities.

While significant progress has been made, there is more to be done. As the economy and our budget begin to stabilize, we must make prudent investments that yield the greatest return and continue to pay down debt without returning to a fiscally unstable position. Based on projected revenue growth of six percent over the next three years compared to mandated spending, Arizona could face another budget shortfall by 2016.

Last session, I successfully sponsored election-reform legislation which consolidated the election dates of candidates only to the fall of even-numbered years in an effort to increase voter participation, reduce the cost of elections and provide consistency for voters. Next session, I will continue that effort by sponsoring further reforms to our election system, voting process and initiatives placed on the ballot. In addition to elections, I plan to again sponsor legislation to reform government regulations on businesses and to increase the public’s access to government through greater transparency.

During the upcoming session, I anticipate the Legislature will address a variety of issues facing Arizona. For example, continuing last year’s efforts with proposals to reform Child Protective Services. Also, Gov. Brewer’s Transaction Privilege Tax Task Force will release their recommendations and I am hopeful it will result in a more streamlined and efficient process for businesses that collect the tax. Finally, legislators may be asked to expand the level of coverage provided by AHCCCS (Arizona’s Medicaid system).

Again, I thank you for your support and the opportunity you have given me to serve all of the residents of District 23, and the great state of Arizona.

Rep. Michelle Ugenti represents Scottsdale and Fountain Hills and chairs the Government Committee and Appropriations subcommittee in the Legislature.

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As a result of a declining economy and the state not living within its means, I have had to make difficult decisions while balancing the needs of a variety of interests. I helped develop two consecutive balanced budgets that began to pay down debt and increased funding for education. I voted for two economic development packages that included the largest tax cut in Arizona’s history. These efforts are working and Arizona is on the path to recovery.
I will continue to be a strong advocate for my district as chairman of the House Government committee and a member of the Appropriations committee.

I have been faithful to the cause of a smaller and more efficient government. I look forward to another opportunity to serve the people of my district. It is an honor, a privilege, and a duty like no other.

Record of Success

• Turned a $1.5 Billion deficit into an $800 Million surplus
• Passed largest tax cuts in Arizona history to make us more competitive with neighboring states
• Restored $200 Million in education spending
• Passed an Arizona Jobs Bill that cut taxes and encouraged employers to start hiring again
• Replenished Arizona’s Rainy Day Fund with $450 Million
• Arizona improved from 49th in the nation in job creation to as high as 6th
• Working to block ObamaCare at the State level
• Protected our Preserve Land and Restored $7 Million to our Office of Tourism

 
Michelle is endorsed by:

• US Senator Jon Kyl
• Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Congressman David Schweikert
• State Representative John Kavanagh
• Sheriff Joe Arpaio
• Mayors Jim Lane & Linda Kavanagh
• State Treasurer Doug Ducey
• Attorney General Tom Horne
• Speaker of the House Andy Tobin
• County Attorney Bill Montgomery
• AZ Association of Realtors
• Arizona Police Association
• Home Builders Association of Central Arizona
• AZ Corp. Commissioner Brenda Burns

The post Why Voters Should Re-Elect Rep. Ugenti appeared first on Michelle Ugenti.

(Scottsdale, Arizona) – Today, United States Senator Jon Kyl announced his endorsement of Representative Michelle Ugenti in her re-election bid for the Arizona House of Representatives.

In expressing his support, Senator Kyl said “Michelle’s proven leadership is what is needed at the State Legislature. She worked successfully to put our state back in
fiscal order, cut taxes to spur economic development and has been effective representing her constituents. Arizona has benefited greatly from her service and I
encourage you to support her return to the State Capitol.”

“It is an honor to receive the endorsement of one of Arizona’s true leaders,” stated Representative Ugenti. “I am grateful for Senator Kyl’s support and kind words.”

Senator Kyl is the latest to join the list of endorsements for Michelle Ugenti including: Congressman David Schweikert, State Representative John Kavanagh, State Treasurer Doug Ducey, Attorney General Tom Horne, Speaker of the House Andy Tobin, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane, Fountain Hills Mayor Linda Kavanagh, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Arizona Association of Realtors, and the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona.

Download the PDF version here. 

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Please join us for a fundraising reception honoring:

Representative John Kavanagh, District 23, Representative Michelle Ugenti, District 23 & Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane

When: Thursday, August 9, 2012 from 5:00 pm — 6:30 pm

Where: At the home of Leslee and John Allen

5914 E Calle Del Norte

Phoenix, AZ 85018

RSVP to Jessie Armendt at jessie@azgovaffairs.com

or Gretchen Jacobs at jacobs@azgovaffairs.com

Paid for by Lane 4 Scottsdale 2012, Keep Kavanagh, and MichelleUgenti.com

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PHOENIX, Ariz. (July 19, 2012): Representative Michelle Ugenti (R-Scottsdale) has been named a 2012 Arizona Legislative Arts Hero by Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts, a statewide arts advocacy organization.

Representative Ugenti was chosen “for working on behalf of arts and cultural organizations and arts education programs and administrators across the state,” said Catherine “Rusty” Foley, executive director of Arizona Citizens/Action for the Arts.

Specifically, Representative Ugenti was instrumental in supporting the Arizona Commission on the Arts through its so-called “sunset review” process, a legally-mandated review that all state agencies must undergo at least once every 10 years. As a result, the Arizona Legislature overwhelming passed HB 2265 in the recent legislative session which reauthorized the Commission on the Arts for the full 10 years allowed under law. Governor Jan Brewer later signed the legislation into law.

The Commission also has sustained severe cuts in its funding over the last three years, Foley said. This year, however, legislators also restored a partial sweep of funds from the Arizona Arts Trust, thereby increasing funding for the Arts Commission by about $115,000. That means that the Commission will have more money available to support local arts organizations in cities and towns across Arizona.

“We appreciate the support of Representative Ugenti because it demonstrates that she believes in the critical contribution that arts and culture make to the local economies and livability of our Arizona communities,” Foley said.
For more information, visit www.azcitizensforthearts.org).

Download the PDF version here

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