House

The widely-circulated memo put out by Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) addressing the Republican Party's weaknesses this election cycle has stirred controversy and speculation. It also has a direct bearing on the congressional races in Arizona that may prove to be some of the most closely-watched in the nation.

Whatever Davis's missive says about the turmoil within the National Republican Congressional Committee - and the possibility that he is angling to lead it - it has also yielded two radically different interpretations from both of Arizona's parties. It remains in the hands of the voters to determine which view will prove correct.

Sen. John McCain's involvement in a land deal between the federal government and a company whose principals have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for him is the subject of a USA Today report out this morning. Yet McCain wasn't the only Arizona politician who supported the deal, according to a McCain spokesman, nor was he the only one who received financial backing from the company in question.

According to the story, McCain was instrumental in securing the acquisition of several hundred acres surrounding Luke Air Force Base from SunCor in 2003. SunCor's parent company, Pinnacle West, and its executives are major contributors to McCain, and the story indicates that McCain relaxed his "no pork" stance by appropriating the funds for the land purchase.

What the USA Today article failed to mention, according to a McCain spokesman, is that the deal was supported by the entirety of Arizona's congressional delegation - many of whom also count Pinnacle West and its officers among their top contributors.

This week's Arizona Winners & Losers are now posted.

Though passed by the U.S. House today, the Webb-Mitchell Post-9/11 GI Bill, introduced in the House by Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-5), fell short of the 288 votes necessary to secure the override of veto by Pres. George W. Bush.

Bush has threatened to veto the bill, which seeks to bolster educational benefits for returning veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, if it comes to his desk.

Though the bill bears his name, Mitchell rose on the floor of the House today to express serious concerns about provisions the Democratic leadership has put in it, specifically the addition of a surtax of .05 percent that would affect the richest Americans.

CD5 Republican candidate Laura Knaperek today announced former Arizona House Majority Leaders Ernie Baird, Lori Daniels and Steve Tully have all endorsed her primary campaign today. Knaperek us seeking the nomination for the right to take on Harry Mitchell.

After quitting the CD3 race today, independent Annie Loyd is not planning to throw her support behind either Democrat Bob Lord or Republican U.S. Rep. John Shadegg. Rather, she said, she will devote herself fully to combating what she sees as wrongheaded immigration enforcement practices in the Greater Phoenix area.

The former candidate explained to PolitickerAZ.com why she got out of the race and how she plans to participate in the remaining months of the contest.

Annie LoydAnnie Loyd, independent for Congress in CD3, is running no longer.

Loyd had been incredibly visible for a candidate without party affiliation, and leaves the race with numerous questions, such as whether she will throw her support behind either Democrat Bob Lord or, less likely, Rep. John Shadegg.

She said she sees a need to address the immigration question immediately, and feels running for office to be contrary to her more community-based goals, but left unsaid whether any specific catalyst prompted her to leave the race.

Today Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski endorsed Bob Lord, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House seat in CD3.

Nowakowski, who represents Phoenix's 7th District, which includes downtown, has been expected to endorse Lord for weeks now. He is the second member of the Phoenix City Council to do so, after Dist. 6 councilman Greg Stanton endorsed him in February. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon is also backing Lord.

PHOENIX — Bob Lord for Congress announced a new endorsement Tuesday.

Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski, a strong Phoenix advocate for public safety and law enforcement said he supports Bob Lord for Congress and his campaign for change in Washington.

The price of oil, which is almost certain to be among the top issues in the 2008 election, is the issue of the day in the CD8 congressional race, which is almost cetain to be among the top contests in the country.

State Senate President Tim Bee (R-Tucson) went after U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-8) over climing gasoline and food prices and plummeting consumer confidence, claiming she is part of a Congress that has ignored or bungled the serious issues of the day. Meanwhile the Giffords camp hit back, portraying Bee's charges as "mindless criticism."