AFP-Arizona’s 2011-2012
“Feet to the Fire”
Taxpayer Town Hall Series

We must hold our elected officials accountable!The Arizona chapter of Americans for Prosperity thanks all of the Arizona taxpayers, tea partiers, and other concerned citizens who participated in our 2011 “Feet to the Fire” Taxpayer Town Hall series. A list of the 2011 events, with links to media coverage, is posted at bottom. A description of the upcoming 2012 Bankruptcy Bomb town hall series is also posted below.

Links for past Town Hall participants:

*For a copy of our Bankruptcy Bomb powerpoint, for charts and other links, or to schedule a town hall in your area in 2012, contact AFP-Arizona director Tom Jenney at tjenney@afphq.org

*To contact grassroots coordinator Judy Hoelscher, write to judy@shadowlakes.com

*For more information on health care policy reform, and about Gov. Jan Brewer's continued attempts to set up an ObamaCare insurance exchange in Arizona, contact Goldwater Institute economist Byron Schlomach at bschlomach@goldwaterinstitute.org

*For more information on Arizona education policy and school choice, contact Goldwater Institute education researcher Jonathan Butcher at jbutcher@goldwaterinstitute.org

*To contact activist and author Alan Korwin, write to alan@gunlaws.com

Bankruptcy Bomb Town Hall, December 3, 2011

America's Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb

In 2012, the main topic of our town halls will be America’s Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb, a theme we have borrowed from the title of an important new book by entitlements policy analyst Peter Ferrara. We will spend the first hour of each fiscal policy town hall talking about federal tax and budget issues, and the second hour talking about state and local tax and budget issues.

This is the Biggest Fiscal Issue Facing Our Country.

Take our quick poll and tell us how you think America should solve its unfunded liability crisis.

If America does not get a grip on its finances soon, the next generation will have to pay close to $150 trillion in additional taxes over the next 75 years just to balance the nation’s books. On average, that’s close to $30,000 a year in extra taxes for 50 working years for every child in the US currently under the age of 18. If America does not get government spending under control, those economy-crushing taxes will have to be paid one way or another: either through actual tax levies or through massive currency devaluations and debt defaults of the kind that plague Third World nations.

The only realistic long-term plan in Congress is Rep. Paul Ryan’s Road Map for America’s Future. The Road Map is a long-term proposal to stabilize federal spending at a sustainable level, keep our promises to Social Security and Medicare recipients who are too old to escape those systems, and allow younger Americans to escape from dependence on government retirement and health care subsidies. In many ways, the Road Map is an agenda for the promotion of freedom, but on the fiscal front, its objective is to create the economic growth and the budget surpluses necessary to pay down our debt and to fund the long-term transition away from inherently bankrupt systems of government-centered retirement and health care.

AFP-Arizona does not agree 100 percent with all of the elements of the Road Map plan. But we do believe that the Road Map must be the starting point for serious bipartisan and multi-generational discussions about the fiscal future of this country. Our Taxpayer Town Hall series is designed to begin that discussion in earnest. We welcome the participation of our federal and state elected officials, but our invitation carries with it a stern warning: We expect them to keep this country from going bankrupt, and we will hold their Feet to the Fire!

Citizens asking tough questions of elected officials

More Information about Our Town Halls

Invitation to Elected Officials and Candidates

AFP-Arizona welcomes federal, state and local officials and candidates to participate. We will recognize elected officials and candidates, and encourage town hall attendees to ask them questions. But we advise officials and candidates to remember that this is a Feet to the Fire town hall, and be prepared to answer some tough questions. At this link, we have posted a few of those questions: http://tinyurl.com/hardquest

Preparing for AFP-Arizona’s Taxpayer Town Halls

No advance preparation is necessary, but we recommend that taxpayers, tea partiers, and other concerned citizens obtain copies of America’s Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb, an important new book by policy analyst Peter Ferrara:

http://broadsidebooks.net/book/americas-ticking-bankruptcy-bomb/peter-ferrara/

A short summary of the long-term Road Map for America’s Future plan is provided here:

http://americansforprosperity.org/files/AFPRyanRoadmap.pdf
To prepare for the discussion of state and local policy, we recommend that participants read Chapter 8 (on “Failed States”) in the Ferrara book.

CIVILITY AND SECURITY NOTICE

AFP-Arizona’s Taxpayer Town Halls are private meetings. By entering our meeting spaces, participants agree to act in a civil manner. Civil discourse involves vigorous debate, but not disruptive behavior. AFP-Arizona is hiring off-duty police to provide security at some events, and disruptive persons will be escorted out of our meeting spaces. (We regret having to post this notice, given the routinely peaceful and respectful behavior of Arizona’s taxpayer activists, tea partiers, and other good citizens. Recent disturbances by labor union activists and leftist agitators have necessitated the implementation of this policy.)

A LIST OF 2012 AFP-ARIZONA “FEET TO THE FIRE” TAXPAYER TOWN HALLS WILL BE POSTED HERE SOON

2011 Events

(CD and LD numbers as of August 2011)

June 6, 2011
Prescott -- Prescott Adult Center

Day/Time of Town Hall: Monday, 11:30 am to 2:00 pm (lunch included)
Legislators Attending: Cong. Paul Gosar, Rep. Judy Burges
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney, Director, AFP-Arizona
Political Districts: CD 1, LDs 1 & 4
Registration & Directions: (Past event)
Video from this event: Western Free Press

August 25, 2011
Payson -- Tiny’s Restaurant

Day/Time of Town Hall: Thursday, 5:00 to 8:00 pm (dinner 5 - 6 pm not included)
Legislators Attending: Sen. Sylvia Allen, Reps. Brenda Barton & Chester Crandell, John Fillmore
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney, Director, AFP-Arizona
Political Districts: CD 1, LD 5
Registration & Directions: (past event)

August 26, 2011
Pinetop/Show Low -- New Living Church (Lakeside)

Day/Time of Town Hall: Friday, 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Legislators Attending: Sen. Sylvia Allen & Reps. Brenda Barton & Chester Crandell, John Fillmore
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney, Director, AFP-Arizona
Political Districts: CD 1, LD 5
Registration & Directions: (Past event)

August 27, 2011
Safford -- Manor House Convention Center

Day/Time of Town Hall: Saturday, 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Legislators Attending: Rep. Brenda Barton, John Fillmore
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney, Director, AFP-Arizona
Political Districts: CD 1, LD 5
Registration & Directions: (Past event)
News story about this event: Eastern AZ Courier

August 28, 2011
Douglas -- Gadsden Hotel

Day/Time of Town Hall: Sunday, Aug 28, 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Legislators Attending: Sen. Gail Griffin, Reps. David Gowan and David Stevens
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney, Director, AFP-Arizona
Political Districts: CD 8, LD 25
Registration & Directions: (Past event)

September 2, 2011
Sedona -- Sedona Elks Lodge

Day/Time of Town Hall: Friday, Sept 2, 6:30 to 8:30 pm;
Legislators Attending: Cong. Paul Gosar
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney, Director, AFP-Arizona
Political Districts: CD 1, LD 1
Registration & Directions: (Past event)

September 3, 2011
Flagstaff -- Woodlands Radisson

Day/Time of Town Hall: Saturday, Sept 3, 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Legislators Attending: Cong. Paul Gosar
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney, Director, AFP-Arizona
Political Districts: CD 1, LDs 1 & 2
Registration & Directions: (Past event)
News story about this event: Northern AZ News

Sept 9, 2011
Sierra Vista -- Windemere Hotel

Day/Time of Town Hall: Friday, Sept 9, 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Legislators Attending: Sen. Gail Griffin, Rep. Peggy Judd
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney, Director, AFP-Arizona
Political Districts: CD 8, LDs 25 & 30
Registration & Directions: (Past event)

Oct 20, 2011
SW Valley -- Wigwam Resort
Litchfield/Avondale/Goodyear

Day/Time of Town Hall: Thursday, October 20, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Legislators Attending: TBA
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney - AFP-Arizona, Byron Schlomach - Goldwater Institute
Political Districts: CD 2, LD 12
Registration & Directions: (Past event)
News story about this event: Arizona Republic

Oct 21, 2011
Chandler/Ahwatukee -- Boys & Girls Club of Chandler

Day/Time of Town Hall: Friday, October 21, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Legislators Attending: Former state senator Chuck Gray
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney - AFP-Arizona, Jonathan Butcher - Goldwater Institute
Political Districts: CD 6, LDs 20 & 21
Registration & Directions: (Past event)

November 10, 2011
Apache Junction -- The Court House (575 N. Idaho Rd)

Day/Time of Town Hall: Thursday, Nov 10, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney - AFP-Arizona
Political Districts: CD 6, LDs 22 and 23
Registration & Directions: (Past event)

December 3, 2011
NW Tucson -- Donaldson Elementary

Co-Host: Smart Girl Politics
Day/Time of Town Hall: Saturday, Dec. 3, 9:30 to 11:30 am
Tentative Location: Donaldson Elementary (off of La Cholla, just south of Ina)
Legislators Attending: Senator Frank Antenori, Representative Vic Williams
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney - AFP-Arizona
Political Districts: CD 8, LDs 26 and 30 (old map)
Registration & Directions: (past event)
SGP contact: Karen Schutte with Smart Girl Politics in Tucson, sgpkaren@gmail.com or 520-877-3230

December 9, 2011
Lake Havasu City -- Golden Corral

Day/Time of Town Hall: Friday, Dec. 9, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Location: Golden Corral, 1550 S. Palo Verde
Legislators Attending: Senator Ron Gould
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney - AFP-Arizona, Dr. Byron Schlomach - Goldwater Institute economist, Alan Korwin, Author
Political Districts: CD 2, LD 3 (old map)
Registration & Directions: (past event)

December 10, 2011
Bullhead City -- El Palacio

Day/Time of Town Hall: Saturday, Dec. 10, Noon to 2:30 pm
Location: El Palacio Mexican Restaurant
Legislators Attending: Senator Ron Gould
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney - AFP-Arizona, Dr. Byron Schlomach - Goldwater Institute economist, Alan Korwin, Author
Political Districts: CD 2, LD 3 (old map)
Registration & Directions: (past event)

December 10, 2011
Kingman -- Dambar Steak House

Day/Time of Town Hall: Saturday, Dec. 10, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Location: Dambar Steak House
Legislators Attending: Senator Ron Gould
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney - AFP-Arizona, Dr. Byron Schlomach - Goldwater Institute economist, Alan Korwin, Author
Political Districts: CD 2, LD 3 (old map)
Registration & Directions: (past event)

December 16, 2011
Quartzsite -- Senior Center

Day/Time of Town Hall: Friday, Dec. 16, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Location: Casa Del Sol Community Center, 400 W. Main St.
Legislators Attending: TBA
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney - AFP-Arizona, Alan Korwin, Author
Political Districts: CD 2, LD 3 (old map)
Registration & Directions: (past event)

December 17, 2011
Yuma -- Hilton Garden Inn

Day/Time of Town Hall: Saturday, Dec. 17, 9:30 to 11:30 am
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 310 N. Madison
Legislators Attending: TBA
Policy Speakers: Tom Jenney - AFP-Arizona, Alan Korwin, Author
Political Districts: CD 7, LD 24 (old map)
Registration & Directions: (past event)
Media coverage: Yuma Sun write-up