Trent Franks

U.S. Reps. Trent Franks (R-Glendale) and John Shadegg (R-Phoenix), after voting against the auto industry bailout bill Wednesday night, have come out Thursday with alternative legislation to the bailout path favored by the treasury department and most congressional Democrats.

Franks put out a statement Thursday afternoon endorsing a bill by U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) that would put the funds earmarked for bailing out industries and financial firms and instead use it toward a two-month tax holiday.

At the rally for Sen. John McCain Monday night, where Arizona's senior senator addressed a home town crowd for the final time before the results of Tuesday's election become known, the message was clear: Polls aren't always right, so get out and vote.

Mike Broomhead, the KFYI talk radio host who served as emcee, set the tone early.

"Let us dispel one stupid rumor right away... that this was a toss-up state," said Broomhead, speaking of recent polls showing a very tight race between McCain and Sen. Barack Obama in Arizona. "Ladies and gentlemen, who owns Arizona?" Broomhead asked.

The crowd responded: "John McCain!"

When Sen. John McCain arrived at the Yavapai Courthouse very early Tuesday morning to rally supporters in advance of election day, he was joined by several Senate colleagues there to help the senator from Arizona essentially wrap up his historic presidential bid.

Alongside U.S. Reps. Jeff Flake (R-Mesa), Trent Franks (R-Glendale) and John Shadegg (R-Phoenix), McCain was also joined by U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), and one of his closest friends in the Senate, Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.).

To get the crowd going, country rocker Hank Williams, Jr. played, changing the lyrics of some of his best-known songs to suit the occasion, either by imploring people to vote for John McCain or implicating the Democrats for the economic downturn.

PRESCOTT -- Republican Congressional candidate Sydney Hay got a couple of plugs for her campaign in front of thousands of people who gathered in the center of Prescott to see Sen. John McCain speak Monday night.

Mike Broomhead, the KFYI talk show host who served as emcee for McCain's final campaign stop in Arizona, pointed out the 1st Congressional District candidate, who was in the VIP section of the crowd.

Chants of "Sydney! Sydney!" rose up from the roughly 4,000 assembled.

Later, U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Glendale) also touted Hay's effort against Democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick.

Franks asked the crowd to vote for Hay, to whom he referred as "Sarah Palin from the Southwest."

Half of the congressional delegation from Arizona changed their vote today from Monday's vote.

John Shadegg, Ed Pastor, Harry Mitchell and Gabrielle Giffords voted yes, while Rick Renzi, Trent Franks, Jeff Flake and Raul Grijalva maintained a no.

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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.

U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Glendale) gave Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) high praise Friday after Arizona Sen. John McCain (R-Phoenix) put her on the Republican presidential ticket.

“I am elated with Senator McCain’s selection of Governor Sarah Palin for Vice President.” Franks said. “Governor Palin brings a vibrant spirit, uncompromising principles, a deeply rooted value of family and children, and a record of fearless determination in reforming the broken systems of government that will help to bring exactly the kind of change to Washington that the American people need and have every right to expect."

Congressmen Jeff Flake, Trent Franks and John Shadegg sent a letter to the Maricopa County Republican Committee asking they remove J.T. Ready from his position as Precinct Committeeman.  Today the county has responded saying as of September 3rd Ready will cease to be a PC, but reading the letter you get the impression there is great tension between the County and the Congressmen.  The County also took issue with Shadegg earlier this month when he endorsed Democrat turned Republican Tony Bouie.  Below is the MCRC response to the Congressmen.

The Arizona AFL-CIO has unveiled its endorsements in this year's U.S. House primaries, though only one of the candidates is actually engaged in a primary, and one primary was bypassed altogether.

All candidates who received endorsements were Democrats, and included the four Democratic members of the Arizona House delegation, though none faces a primary. Other recipients were Bob Lord, who is taking on U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) in the 3rd Congressional District; John Thrasher, a Democrat who is running for the second time against U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Glendale) in the 2nd Congressional District; and Ann Kirkpatrick, the front-runner in the 1st Congressional District Democratic pack.

"These candidates share our vision of what is important to Arizona’s working families," said Rebekah Friend, the Arizona AFL-CIO's executive director. "It is crucial for the future of Arizona that we elect those who are going to step up to the plate and fight for the issues that will move Arizona forward. We’re convinced that these candidates will do just that."