Raul Grijalva

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The eight members of the Arizona delegation to the U.S. House - split evenly between Democrats and Republicans - spoke with one voice Monday in opposing the bailout bill before Congress, which was defeated on a vote of 205-228.

Unity is a rare occurence when it comes to the votes of House members from Arizona, but on Monday, the fiscally conservative streak that runs throughout the whole of Arizona politics was evident, as all eight members voted down the bill.

DENVER -- U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson) addressed the Arizona delegates to the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, calling on Democrats in the home state of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Phoenix) to draw attention to McCain's record in the Senate.

"It is our responsibility, everyone in this room, to remind the American people that John McCain has a record in the state of Arizona, and we don't want to see that record repeated" on a national scale, said Grijalva.

"Let's look at the backdrop of Arizona," Grijalva said, urging the room's Democratic politicos to point to McCain's votes on health care, education and the environment to hinder his presidential campaign.

"He pretends to be an environmentalist, where in his own back yard he's not taking care of the necessities to maintain our natural resources," he said.

Ann Kirkpatrick has picked up another endorsement in her AZ-1 Democratic Primary campaign to succeed Rick Renzi.  Kirkpatrick’s campaign is confirming they have received the endorsement of Congressman Harry Mitchell to go along with Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords and Governor Janet Napolitano.  Kirkpatrick faces Mary Kim Titla and Howard Shanker in the September primary.  Shanker has received the endorsement of Congressman Raul Grijalva.    

The continuing allegations of ethics violations against U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) may have consequences for Democratic politicians across the country, including in Arizona. Today, in their third such attack, the National Republican Congressional Committee is calling on 1st Congressional District candidate Ann Kirkpatrick to return campaign contributions she received from Rangel. The NRCC had previously called for U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) to do the same.

“Ann Kirkpatrick is not a voice for change, she is status-quo politician willing to get elected to Congress any way she can,” said NRCC Spokesman Ken Spain in a press release. “If Kirkpatrick wants to separate herself from a corrupt politician and an unpopular Democrat Majority in Congress, she will return the campaign checks she took from Rep. Charlie Rangel.”

By a vote of 293-129 the U.S. Congress today passed the hotly debated FISA bill.  Two of Arizona’s congressional delegation voted against the bill while the other six voted in favor of the measure.  Ed Pastor (AZ-4) and Raul Grijalva (AZ-7) were the two voting against the measure.

Susan Bitter Smith, U.S. House candidate in AZ-5, has worked to set up meetings between telecommunications executives and three Democratic Arizona members of the U.S. House, while campaigning to replace one of them.

Bitter Smith, who is executive director of the lobbying organization Arizona-New Mexico Cable Communications Association, lobbied her would-be opponent and two other members of the Arizona delegation. She requested meetings between executives at Cox Cable and U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe), Ed Pastor (D-Phoenix) and Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson). Bitter Smith is running for the Republican nomination in the 5th District, and will face Mitchell in the general election if she gets the nod.

Mitchell's office confirmed the meeting, but said it was only between Mitchell staff and the Cox executives. Mitchell spokesman Robbie Sherwood described the meeting as "positive," but said no specific legislation was discussed. Sherwood wouldn't comment on whether Mitchell's campaign thought it was appropriate for Bitter Smith to be currying favor on behalf of her clients with the member of Congress she hopes to defeat.

Howard ShankerFirst Congressional District Democratic candidate Howard Shanker delivered the keynote address before the Navajo Nation EPA Conference, affirming his support among the tribes of the Navajo. However, this key demographic in CD1 is no guarantor of success, especially in light of fundraising totals last quarter.

"Before an audience of attendees that included representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," ran the memo put out by the campaign, "the Navajo Environmental Protection Agency, council members, and a number of concerned citizens, Shanker discussed the issues of radiation contamination, and the importance of protecting sacred sites for future generations.

Congressmen Jeff Flake and Raul Grijalva, who face no or little opposition this year have filed their FEC reports over the weekend. Flake raised $58,742 during the first quarter of 2008 and finished with $974,536 cash on hand. Grijalva raised $91,312 in the same time perio <

Mitchell-Giffords

The Arizona Republican Party is going after the two freshman Democrats in the delegation, Reps. Gabby Giffords (D-8) and Harry Mitchell (D-5) over the poor marks they received in the annual National Taxpayers Union's report card.

“Being a former school teacher, it shouldn’t be difficult for Congressman Mitchell to understand a 'D' is simply unacceptable,” said Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen. “Representative Giffords’s score of 9 percent is shameful. We have seen these two follow, in lockstep, the lead of Nancy Pelosi by voting to increase government spending, increase taxes on Arizona’s working families and failing to bring meaningful reform to the earmark process."