Promises Made... Promises Kept

 Russell's vigilance in the defense of our Constitutional liberties, freedom and the rule of law.

 Senator Pearce for LD25, Mesa:

• SB1070 Author:  "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhood Act" Removes all Sanctuary Policies in Arizona and allows law enforcement to enforce our laws. "We are a nation of laws. We must have the courage - the fortitude - to enforce, with compassion but without apology, those laws that protect the integrity of our borders and the rights of our lawful citizens." - Senator Russell Pearce   Result:  30 year low in crime, declining prison population, violent crime dropped 3 times the national average, home invasions down, homicides in Phoenix dropped from 240 in 2009 to about 90 in 2010 according the Arizona Police Association representing 10,000 police officers and 23 agencies.

• 2009 legislator of the year
• #1 legislator by Americans for Prosperity (Hero of the taxpayer)
• Russell Pearce "proved to be the strongest ally…against government encroachment on liberty” by the Goldwater Institute  
• #1 legislator by the Pachyderm's Coalition, a Reagan Republican Coalition
• "Hero of the Taxpayer" by the American Tax Reform Association

• Votes 100% pro life
• A+ NRA
• NFIB endorsed (National Federation of Small Businesses) 100% voting record in support of small business
• Golden Apple Award by parents for quality education
• As President of the Arizona Senate produced a Constitutionally balanced budget (first in years) during the worse recession in our life time.
• Taking Arizona from 49^th in the nation in this recession to #6 in job creation and economic recovery
• Award of the inaugural “Hero of the Family” by the Arizona Family Project

Chairman Senate Appropriations Committee; "I am the gate keeper not the gift giver, this money comes from labor of Dads and Moms who have a right to keep the fruits of their labor"

The nation’s most outspoken advocates for stopping the illegal invasion, securing our borders & enforcing our laws

Author/Sponsor of some Arizona’s Historic legislation

• Wrote Proposition 200, in ’04; Citizen’s Initiative known as Protect Arizona NOW (Arizona's Citizens and Taxpayers Protection Act), to require: 
  1. Proof of citizenship to register to vote
  2. Photo I.D. When voting
  3. Proof of eligibility for any public benefits

• Authored HB2779: Arizona’s Fair and Legal Employment Act; the toughest worksite enforcement bill in the nation to protect jobs for legal citizens of Arizona  (upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2011 by a 5 to 3 decision
• ’06 Constitutional Amendment; no bond for illegal aliens who commits a serious crime (passed by 78% of voters) 
• ’06 No punitive damage awards to illegal aliens who sues an American (passed by 75% of voters) 
• ’06 English the Official Language of Arizona (passed by 72% of voters)
• ’06 Proposition 300, (No to the Dream Act)  No taxpayer dollars for illegal aliens for higher ed and no day care (passed by 75% of voters)
• TABOR, Arizona's Taxpayers Bill of Rights 
• Arizona’s Marriage Amendment (Prop. 102)
• SB1108: Freedom to Carry Act which allows law abiding citizens their Constitutional right to carry, open or concealed 
• SCR1031: Constitutional Amendment to eliminate Affirmative Action (All government discrimination) to be on the November 2010 ballot 

• Authored the Arizona’s Auto Theft Authority without using taxpayers dollars (result 47% reduction in auto theft in Arizona)
• Wrote Arizona’s AFIS (Arizona’s Fingerprint Identification System), resulting the use of latent fingerprints obtained at crime scenes and identification of suspects booked into jail under false names.  Thousands of suspects captured as a result. 
• GIITEM (Gang, Immigration, Intelligence, Team, Enforcement, Mission), over 200 officers dedicated to gang and illegal immigration and border enforcement. 

Russell’s continued commitment to:

• Respect and protect life of the unborn (voted 100%)      

• Protect private property rights (stopping the abuse of government in the use of eminent domain)
• Protect 2nd Amendment rights (A+ by the NRA and top ranked by the Arizona Citizens Defense League 
• Lower taxes (largest tax relief package in state history)
• Reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses & from organized labor
• Proposition 114 (to be on the ballot in 2012), protect victims of violent crime from being sued by the suspect

Chief Deputy; Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office:

• Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office 23 years, fourth largest Sheriff’s Office in the nation
• Created "Tent City”, houses over a 1,000 inmates, saved taxpayers millions of dollars in construction costs 
• Critically wounded in the line of duty by gang members (shot in chest and loss of a finger)
• Awarded the Medal of Valor which is the highest award given in law enforcement for exceptional bravery
• Nominated Deputy of the Year 5 times & young law enforcement officer of the year by the JC’s

• Started the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Youth Assistance Foundation to create positive interaction between youth and law enforcement

Director of Arizona’s Motor Vehicle Division:

• Eliminating more than 3 million annual transactions
• Reduced wait times from two hours to 20 minutes
• Saved over $10 million annually in admin costs
• Created “Service Arizona” to renew vehicle registrations and other transactions 24/7 from your home computer, saving you the taxpayers time and money

University of Phoenix Outstanding Alumni, 1997

Judge: North Mesa Justice of the Peace

Pro Tem Judge:  For Maricopa County Courts

Director: Governor’s Office of Highway Safety

Director of the State’s Motor Vehicle Division

Chief Deputy of Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

State Representative, Arizona state legislator

State SenatorRussell Served on the following Committees:

Chairman of Senate Appropriations

Chairman of Joint Legislative Budget Committee

Chairman of Joint Committee on Capital Review

Judiciary Committee

President of Arizona State Senate

Finance Committee

More about Russell

Born & Raised in Mesa, 5th Generation Arizonan

Married to LuAnne for 35 years, 5 children & 13 grandchildren

Honorable Discharge from Army National Guard

Mission for LDS Church for two years in Eastern States Mission

Pop Warner & Little League Coach

Boy Scout Leader

Special Olympics

Mesa Senior Member Board

Christian; Active in Church

www.russellpearce.com

Small Business Alliance Written Questionnaire State government candidates

1.    Every state has many ways to attract new businesses.  What will you do to help Arizona attract its share?

As President of the Arizona Senate, I helped move Arizona from 49th to top 6 in the nation in job growth and economic recovery.  I pushed through the largest tax relief package in state history.  I pushed to eliminate the personal business property tax on business that hinders business investment encouraged Sen. Biggs this last session to push an SCR to put it on the ballot for elimination.  I believe to grow business you must create an environment conducive to productivity and that is through lower taxes and reduced regulation.  I believe we must grow private sector jobs, not government jobs. 

2.    Improvements in the economy will bring enhanced tax revenues.  As budget revenues increase, what will you do with the money?

First of all we have more government than we can afford.  I would reduce tax burden where appropriate and possible.  I would have an aggressive debt reduction program and make sure we continue to maintain a balanced budget.  I certainly would not allow it to be used to grow government and bring us back into reckless spending policies that threaten the viability of our fiscal future. 

3.    Many Arizonans need to get back to work.  How should government help?

By allowing the free market to work.  Get government out of the way. As Ronald Reagan said, "In these bad times, government is not the solution, government is the problem."  Create an environment that is conducive to productivity, that means lower taxes and reduced regulation and the streamlining of necessary regulation. Reduce or eliminate entitlement programs, especially the millions of dollars in fraud, i.e. AHCCESS, welfare, etc.

4.    What should the Arizona Legislature do to encourage innovation in small businesses?

Privatize all government operations that make sense.  Government should not be in competition with the private sector. Reduce of eliminated entitlement programs.  Where regulation is appropriate, it must be streamlined.  Eliminate government red tape where possible.  I use my experience at MVD to illustrate this.  I eliminated over 3 million annual transactions, reduced wait times from over 3 hours (average) to 20 minutes statewide, cut the administrative cost of MVD by over $10 million annually. I privatized 1/3 of MVD operations.  I implemented "Service Arizona" that allowed our citizens to have access to MVD services 24/7 from their home for renewal purposes (over 2 million users a year). 

5.    What laws or regulations impact small business the most?  Explain why. 

The Personal Business Property Tax for one. It hinders investment in business that hinders growth.  DEQ/EPA the huge burden from the environmental community, the cost is in billions. The hundreds of millions it cost business to operate or even open its doors due to government regulation.  Regulation is a stealth tax on consumers as the trillion dollars in regulatory cost is and must be passed on to consumers.    

6.    Proposition 100 is set to expire 2013.  How do you recommend we transition into a post-Proposition 100 world?

Reduce government spending as I have done.  We have cut government employees by 15% at the state level.  Reduce or eliminate entitlement programs.  Live within our means.  Cut taxes and burdensome regulation which help will grow the economy by putting Americans to work, allow private sector jobs to grow.  Prop. 100 was promised to be a temporary tax and we must force the spenders to live within their means.  We do not need to increase revenue, we need to streamline government and reduce government waste, cut the size of government, roll back government socialist programs the encourage folks to go to government for help.  We have a huge bloated welfare state, we have spent and grown government to the point of bankruptcy and we have ignored the principles of personal responsibility.   

Videos

Question 1: What is your experience with Small Business?

Question 2: Talk about 2 or 3 of your most passionate tax issues.

Question 3: Health care is a concern for many in small business.  How can state government help?

Question 4: What is your primary responsibility as a State Representative, and how does this impact small business?

Question 5: The State pension plan is a defined benefit program, the private sector is predominately defined contribution such as a 401K.  How do you think the state retirement should be structured and why?

Question 6: In your opinion, what is the number 1 concern of small business today?