Thread: Vote gives Arizona more clout in Congress

Vote gives Arizona more clout in Congress

State's delegation gains influence on both sides of aisle

Erin Kelly - Nov. 7, 2010 12:00 AM
Republic Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - The midterm elections will likely boost Arizona's clout in Congress, giving the state's new delegation greater power in crafting legislation and deciding how billions of federal taxpayer dollars will be spent.

Among the results, Arizona lawmakers say, could be increased highway funds for the state, more money for border security and even the passage of legislation to allow the construction of a huge, controversial new copper mine near Superior.

The growing influence of the state begins in the U.S. House. A new Republican majority among Arizona's House delegation ensures that Arizona's voice will be heard by the GOP House leaders who take control in January. At the same time, the three Arizona Democrats expected to return to the House have enough seniority to claim good committee assignments and can work with the Democratic White House to ensure Arizona's interests are kept in mind.

In the Senate, Republican gains will increase the influence of Arizona GOP Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl in the next Congress, as Democratic leaders are forced to reach out to Republicans to pass bills.

The shift will not necessarily mean an increase in earmarked dollars flowing to Arizona, given the GOP's calls for tighter spending and the fiscal conservatism of the state's Republican delegation. But greater say in how, and how much, money is spent and what policies gain traction seems certain.

Gains in House
Mirroring the national trend, Arizona voters gave Republicans a majority in the state's U.S. House delegation by replacing two incumbent Democrats with Republicans. Five of Arizona's eight House members will now be Republicans.

"It's always better to be in the majority party, especially in the House, where the minority is weaker than it is in the Senate," said Patrick Kenney, director of the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University. "(Presumptive new House Speaker) John Boehner is going to look to these freshman Republicans for help to pass his agenda."

Arizona voters elected three new Republicans - David Schweikert, who will replace Democratic Rep. Harry Mitchell; Paul Gosar, who will replace Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick; and Ben Quayle, who will take the seat of retiring Republican Rep. John Shadegg.

At the same time, the delegation's two senior House Republicans, Reps. Jeff Flake and Trent Franks, are likely to become chairmen of congressional subcommittees.

Flake, who was just re-elected to a sixth term, has enough seniority to earn him a subcommittee chairmanship on the Foreign Affairs Committee or the Oversight and Government Reform Committee or possibly the Natural Resources Committee.

The Natural Resources Committee could have the most direct impact on Arizona because the panel deals with mining, national monuments, and other land-use issues that affect the state. But any leadership position for Flake will increase his clout.

One thing that might alter the scenario is if Flake wins his bid for a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Members who get that coveted assignment must cut back on their service on other panels.

Franks will probably end up as subcommittee chairman on the Armed Services Committee or the Judiciary Committee, allowing him to focus on his high-priority issues of national defense and constitutional rights.

The three new freshmen Republicans are unlikely to get plum committee assignments, but GOP leaders will want to help them benefit their districts in order to keep a Republican majority in the 2012 election.

"No doubt about it, I think we will have significantly more clout," said Franks, who won re-election to a fifth term. "It gives us the ability on an issue of significance to Arizona to come to the leadership as a bloc."

Possible changes
Among the changes that Flake anticipates: The proposed Resolution Copper mine near Superior is now likely to pass in the new Congress after being held up for the past two years by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., who has served as chairman of the public lands subcommittee of the Natural Resources Committee.

Grijalva opposed the project, saying it would damage the environment and threaten sacred tribal lands. But Flake and other supporters, including McCain, Kyl and Kirkpatrick, say it is an environmentally sound project that would bring thousands of jobs to the region.

Although Grijalva could remain as a ranking Democrat on that subcommittee, he will no longer be able to block the project, Flake said.

Arizona also is likely to get a bigger, more equitable share of federal highway funds now that GOP leaders are pledging to put a moratorium on earmarks, Flake said. If members of Congress can no longer count on earmarks for transportation, they are likely to fight harder to change the overall highway funding formula to make sure states such as Arizona get their fair share. In the past, Arizona has sent more money in federal gas taxes to Washington than it has gotten back in highway funds.

Although Democrats beat back efforts by the GOP to take control of the Senate, McCain and Kyl, who serves as Republican whip and will work closely with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will have more influence now that the Democratic majority is smaller, analysts said.

Republicans gained six seats in the Senate in Tuesday's election to raise their total from 41 to 47 seats. The number of Democrats fell from 59 to 53. Although the Alaska Senate race has not yet been called, it is expected to remain in Republican hands.

"To pass legislation in the Senate, the Democrats are going to have to have more Republican support than they did before the election," said Barbara Norrander, a political-science professor at the University of Arizona.

McCain and Kyl both have pushed for increased border-security funding beyond that provided by the Obama administration. They and their new allies in the House will continue to press for such funds in the new Congress.

McCain also could reprise the role he has played in past Congresses as a key player in negotiations to compromise on immigration reform and climate-change legislation. However, McCain was perceived as shifting to the political right to win his primary fight this year against former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, so it's unclear if McCain will return to being a centrist in the new Congress, Norrander said.

Democrats' clout
Despite the Republican gains, Arizona voters also will benefit from returning some Democrats to Congress, analysts said.

The Democrats will be important in working with the Obama administration to get help for the state from the executive-branch agencies, Kenney said.

It was an appeal from Arizona's congressional Democrats, for example, that helped persuade President Barack Obama to send 1,200 National Guard troops to the Southwest border this year.

The administration also has enormous power over environmental decisions that affect the state and has used that power to halt uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, a move pushed by Grijalva.

"I think the Democrats who are left can still appeal to the administration, which is going to do what it can to help them because it doesn't want to lose any more Democrats in Arizona two years from now," Kenney said.

Arizona voters re-elected three House Democrats: Rep. Ed Pastor, the senior Democrat who easily won an 11th term, and Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Grijalva, both of whom narrowly escaped defeat.

Grijalva and Giffords will likely be the ranking, or senior, Democrats on House subcommittees. Giffords is chairwoman of the space and aeronautics subcommittee of the Science and Technology Committee.

Pastor is expected to remain on the powerful House Appropriations Committee and continue to use his position to bring money to the state. Although the Republican-led earmark moratorium will make that more difficult, Pastor can still steer funds to the state by supporting spending in areas, such as solar power, that would benefit Arizona.

"They might find different ways to do it, but I think they'll still be sending money to their districts," Kenney said.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/ ... z14cQUUTZp

Among the results, Arizona lawmakers say, could be increased highway funds for the state, more money for border security and even the passage of legislation to allow the construction of a huge, controversial new copper mine near Superior.

This would create a point of contention for some of the people here on ALIPAC. The people in Nogales, Arizona want better roads to Phoenix. Those in Phoenix wish better roads to Las Vegas. Whether they wish to transport patients to hospitals or just visit and maybe even gamble in Nevada they consider it a perogative as Americans. Improving roads across Arizona make it more viable for factories to operate in Nogales, Sonora. There are active posters who would object strenuously to improved American logistics if it facilitates the option of international trade with Mexico.

Originally Posted by AmericanTreeFarmer

Among the results, Arizona lawmakers say, could be increased highway funds for the state, more money for border security and even the passage of legislation to allow the construction of a huge, controversial new copper mine near Superior.

This would create a point of contention for some of the people here on ALIPAC. The people in Nogales, Arizona want better roads to Phoenix. Those in Phoenix wish better roads to Las Vegas. Whether they wish to transport patients to hospitals or just visit and maybe even gamble in Nevada they consider it a perogative as Americans. Improving roads across Arizona make it more viable for factories to operate in Nogales, Sonora. There are active posters who would object strenuously to improved American logistics if it facilitates the option of international trade with Mexico.

It's not improved American logistics that anyone here on ALILPAC objects to, it's not even international trade with Mexico that anyone here at ALIPAC objects to, it's the free trade treason policies with Mexico and other countries that have cost American jobs and bankrupted our country twith enormous trade deficits that most people here at ALIPAC objects to.

Totally agree judy