So what to do if and when Romney finally sews this up? The temptation is always there to drop out of the political process. But if conservatives are interested in advancing their cause from beneath Romney’s banner — as they will likely have to — they must think beyond the presidential race and to the elections that will provide context to its result for the next four years.

The institution in greatest need of conservative influence right now is the U.S. Senate, the place where House conservatives’ ideas for limiting government and expanding the economy have been going to die for the last 13 months. This year’s Senate contests offer many opportunities to push the party and the nation to the right, and conservatives should pay attention.

The 2010 Senate election campaign had its share of conservative flops — think especially of Christine O’Donnell in Delaware and Sharron Angle in Nevada. But it also brought in a contingent of active, stalwart freshmen who have shown independence in their first year of service.

Mike Lee of Utah, Marco Rubio of Florida, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania have added their conservative voices to those of longer-serving colleagues like Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Jeff Sessions of Alabama.

But they remain outnumbered. The challenge in 2012 will be to build up this group. And the opportunities are certainly there.

In Arizona, the iconoclastic and libertarian-leaning Rep. Jeff Flake appears to have consolidated establishment GOP support for his open-seat Senate bid.

In April 2004, I was surprised to run into Flake in Allentown, Pa. — he was there supporting then-Rep. Toomey in his first bid against liberal Republican Sen. Arlen Specter.

It was one of many lonely fights in which history would later vindicate Flake. He made few friends in the House with his mid-2000s crusade against his colleagues’ earmarks, but he eventually won that battle — and the grudging respect of House leadership.

Read the full article here.

The Washington Examiner: Conservatives can build an un-bossable Senate is a post from: Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate | JeffFlake.com

Congressman Jeff Flake was in Prescott yesterday afternoon for a Town Hall meeting. Over one hundred people packed the Founder’s Suite at the Library to hear Flake and ask him questions.

Most of the discussion was about the budget and his stand on what he terms “corrupting” earmarks, an issue that 60 Minutes took note of about 6 years ago. Although his stand was frowned upon by the current leadership at the time, eventually his position was recognized for its merit.

Read full article here.

PrescottNews.com: Congressman Jeff Flake Comes to Prescott is a post from: Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate | JeffFlake.com

SIERRA VISTA — Using an old cliché, Jeff Flake said it will be definitely hard to fill retiring GOP U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl’s “huge shoes.”

But the Arizona Sixth Congressional District Republican U.S. congressman has decided to try to walk in Kyl’s shoes.

But first, Flake has to win the GOP nomination by overcoming Arizona businessman W Cardon in the party primary later this year.

And then he will have to face a Democrat in the November election, which has two candidates running for their party’s nomination — former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona and former head of the state Democratic party Don Bivens.

Appearing before slightly more than 50 people at the Sierra Vista Public Library Friday afternoon, Flake, a six-term congressman, touted his Quixotic tilting at the earmark mill in Washington, D.C., noting he was punished by his own party until finally the House of Representatives came to their senses and established some rules on the earmarking process.

If elected, he would become a major helpmate to Arizona’s senior senator Republican John McCain, who also has a long history of combatting congressional financial handouts, commonly called earmarks.

Laughing, Flake said he also participated in earmarking, but it involved cattle on a family ranch.

Additionally, the fifth generation Arizonan noted his rural roots means he understands the needs of the less populated areas of the state, not just the more urban areas.

The departure of Kyl requires having a financial conservative fill the position, Flake said.

“We can’t avoid to have a void in the Senate,” he candidate said.

GOP control needed

Ensuring a Republican, meaning him, is elected will be one step in helping the GOP take over the U.S. Senate this year as Flake noted 23 of the 33 senatorial seats up for election are held by Democrats.

With the Republicans in charge of the Senate and the House, and as Flake strongly hinted, taking the White House as well, means conservative principals will lead the nation to economic prosperity.

Under the Democrats, “we spend too much and we tax and regulate too much,” the candidate said.

Returning to his earlier tilt at the windmills issue, earmarks, Flake said billions of dollars have been given for many unnecessary things by people of both parties.

Earmarks, which now have tighter controls, were seen by members of Congress as a way “to help get them re-elected,” Flake said.

And congressional members had clever ways of hiding earmarks by putting innocuous titles to them or using budgetary procedures to hide them as part of the process, Flake said.

And, members of both parties engaged in the actions, he added.

“It’s a bipartisan problem,” the Republican primary candidate said, adding while currently there are constraints on earmarks Congress can change the rules, as they have done many times in the past, and the problem can reappear.
The object is to have people — like him — in Congress to ensure there is no backsliding, Flake said.

Read full article here.

Sierra Vista Herald: Flake says he’s ready to fill Kyl’s ‘huge shoes’ is a post from: Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate | JeffFlake.com

PHOENIX — Arizona Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, a candidate for the United States Senate, today announced a key addition to his campaign team. Andrew Wilder will serve as Communications Director for the campaign and will lead the effort to communicate Flake’s message to Arizona voters in the U.S. Senate race.

Wilder currently serves as Communications Director for U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, the Senate Republican Whip. He has served with Senator Kyl for nearly 13 years handling media relations from his Capitol Hill and Phoenix offices.

“I welcome Andrew to the campaign team,” said Flake. “He is well-known as a skilled communicator who brings a wealth of experience with media in Arizona and on Capitol Hill that will be helpful to this campaign.”

“For 100 years, Arizona has had a tradition of electing great U.S. Senators, and Jon Kyl is undoubtedly one of best,” Wilder said. “From fighting for taxpayers to keep more of what they earn to protecting the state’s wonderful natural resources, his leadership in the Senate will be missed. But nobody is better prepared than Jeff Flake to continue that tradition of great leadership for Arizona as it begins the next 100 years. I am truly honored to join his campaign.”

Prior to working for Senator Kyl, Wilder worked in Phoenix at KTAR news/talk radio, KFYI news/talk radio, and as an aide to U.S. Senator John McCain in Tucson.

Wilder is a proud third-generation Arizonan and Wildcat. He lives in Phoenix with his wife, Rebecca.

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FLAKE NAMES ANDREW WILDER TO CAMPAIGN TEAM is a post from: Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate | JeffFlake.com

Members of Congress can, of course, extend any holiday wishes they desire on a personal basis: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Blessed Kwanzaa or even, with a nod to George Costanza, Happy Festivus. Members of Congress just can’t use taxpayer dollars to send these season’s greetings if extending such greetings “is the primary purpose of the communication.”

This is a good thing. Do you really need to pay for Congressman X’s awkward family photo featuring a dozen grandchildren and the family dog in matching sweaters with the U.S. Capitol photoshopped into the background?

While we’re on the subject of taxpayer-funded salutations, you may be interested to know that Congress is moving beyond the standard campaign-esque glossy mailers. Elected officials have begun touting their feats of strength on the right-hand column of your Facebook page and Google searches—and you’re paying for it!

Since members seeking to pay for these Internet advertisements with taxpayer-funded office budgets are required to file such advertisements with the House Franking Office, my staff and I examined a few of them. What we found may surprise you—or, given Congress’s 9% approval rating, perhaps not.

“Congressman X is Fighting the Madness,” screams one Facebook ad, “Fighting Plans to End Medicare, Government Shutdown, Giveaways to Big Oil.” “Rep. X is working to lower gas prices by increasing American energy production. Find out more and like my page today!” says another. “Congressman X is Committed to Creating Jobs, Driving Down Spending and Shrinking the Size of the Federal Government.” Well, apparently not all spending.

Each click on these ads costs taxpayers additional money, as each click-through drives up a member’s ad bill.

Members of Congress can also use taxpayer funds to make sure their name pops up when someone does a Google search. As a general example, clicking on the member’s name that was primed to pop up with a Google search for the phrase “raising debt ceiling” would cost taxpayers approximately $4.70 per click. Ouch.

Read full article here.

Jeff Flake Op-Ed: And a Happy Festivus From Congress Too is a post from: Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate | JeffFlake.com

A year ago, Americans were told that a temporary reduction in payroll taxes would jump-start economic growth, improve the economy and put people back to work. This was misguided from the beginning. To begin with, temporary tax reductions don’t improve economic conditions. And make no mistake, this temporary reduction was always sold as a 12-month tax holiday. When short-term tax cuts expire, taxes go back up and the net result is effectively a non-stimulus. Don’t just take my word for it. Economic growth has been hovering between an anemic 1 and 2 percent.

How the payroll-tax holiday is “paid for” is another example in the art of congressional budgeting. Senate Democrats favored raising taxes on high-income earners as a spending offset. But they couldn’t get 60 votes in the Senate to pass it (thank goodness). House Republicans, on the other hand, opted for subterfuge, telling Americans that budget cuts will pay for a new payroll-tax holiday. Non-binding budget cuts that is, spread out over 10 years. That’s right, Congress is proposing to pay for one year’s worth of non-stimulative tax cuts with 10 years’ worth of budget cuts. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for budget cuts. But budget cuts that kick in years from now aren’t really budget cuts. We’ve been down that road before.

Because payroll taxes fund the Social Security Trust Fund, another short-term tax holiday exacerbates the insolvency of the fund. It is pretty remarkable to see Democrats, self-proclaimed protectors of Social Security, so forcefully embrace blowing a huge hole in the Trust Fund, and Republicans, fierce critics of deficit spending (at least rhetorically), so willing to resort to gimmicks to mask larger deficits.More than anything, the economy needs serious tax and regulatory reform, reform that would result in a permanent reduction in marginal rates for all income earners brought about by removing credits, deductions, loopholes and tax expenditures (like that envisioned by the Simpson-Bowles Commission). Ideally, capital-gains taxes would be eliminated for everyone, but at a minimum, the tax rates cannot increase.

America’s corporate-tax rate, currently the second-highest in the world, should immediately be reduced to 25 percent. Permanent reforms like these would unleash a torrent of economic activity and move the economy and unemployment rate in positive directions. Another round of a nickel-and-dime “now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t” tax holiday is misguided.Jeff Flake is the U.S. representative for Congressional District 6, which includes parts of Mesa and Chandler and all of Gilbert, Queen Creek and Apache Junction.

Read full article here.

Jeff Flake Op-Ed: Payroll-tax gimmicks hinder serious reform is a post from: Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate | JeffFlake.com

Jeff Flake Names County Chairmen in Every Arizona County
Solid Foundation Needed for Successful Campaign

Phoenix, Arizona – Arizona Republican Rep. Jeff Flake, a candidate for U.S. Senate, today named campaign chairmen for each of Arizona’s fifteen counties.

“It takes a solid foundation for a statewide campaign to be successful,” said Flake. “A strong grassroots organization is vital to our campaign, so I’m pleased to be able to name campaign chairmen for each county in Arizona. These chairmen will oversee essential functions of the campaign in their respective county, such as the recruitment of volunteers, voter registration, and get out the vote efforts.”

“Jeff Flake has a background and record that allows him to address the federal concerns of both rural and metro Arizona,” said Bob Fannin, Flake for Senate’s Maricopa County Chairman. “For Congress to have hope of getting our government back onto solid fiscal footing, we need Jeff Flake in the Senate.”

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Jeff Flake Names County Chairmen in Every Arizona County is a post from: Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate | JeffFlake.com

Franks and Flake received 97 percent scores from the conservative Heritage Action for America group via a new tally of recent congressional votes. Heritage Action is a sister organization of the conservative Heritage Foundation.
The Arizona Republicans took conservative stances on tax, health care, environmental, social and spending issues. The only blemish for each, according to the conservative group, was that Flake and Franks voted for the debt limit deal this summer.

Flake and Franks tied with U.S. Reps. Tom Graves, R-Ga., and Jeffrey Duncan, R-S.C., as the most conservative members of the House.

U.S. Sens. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. and Mike Lee, R-Utah, were the most right-wing voting members of the U.S. Senate and Congress as a whole, grabbing 99 percent scores.

Read full article here.

Phoenix Business Journal: Flake, Franks rank as two most conservative House members is a post from: Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate | JeffFlake.com

Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl’s record defending Israel on all fronts has been impeccable, and his impending departure reminds us how important it is for his replacement to continue the good work the senator has done. In addition to the importance of a strong Israel for U.S. security interests, I will admit that this issue is personal for me: I met my wife at an AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) conference and we have three young girls fluent in Hebrew.

From my personal conversations with him on Israel to his record in Congress, there is no doubt in my mind that Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Arizona Congressional District 6), who is running to replace Kyl in 2012, is the best person to take up this gauntlet and advance Israel’s interests, and consequently our own, in the U.S. Senate. During his six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Flake’s support for Israel has been unwavering.

Israel often finds itself the subject of vicious attacks from leaders and institutions around the globe. These instances happen more than they should, but when they do, Flake has stood up to defend Israel. For example, after Syrian President Bashir Assad used his speech at a 2001 Arab summit to lash out at Israel, newly sworn-in Rep. Flake successfully offered an amendment to a State Department authorization bill to condemn the remarks and reaffirm Congress’ support of Israel.

Since then, Flake has consistently stood to defend Israel from baseless, vitriolic attacks. In 2009, for example, he voted in favor of legislation to address the “Goldstone Report,” and just this year he voted to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Flake vociferously opposed the Palestinians’ dangerous gambit for statehood at the United Nations, taking to the House floor to recognize, rightfully, that any U.N. recognition of a Palestinian state would imperil the eventual establishment of a real state while at the same time increasing tension and unrest among the Israeli and the Palestinian people. He took pre-emptive steps against such recognition by signing onto a measure that would, among other things, withhold U.S. contributions from any U.N. entity that recognizes a Palestinian state.

Read the full article here.

Jewish News: Jeff Flake is pro-Israel, right man to succeed Kyl is a post from: Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate | JeffFlake.com

I would be the last one to suggest that Show Low is becoming the Greece of the White Mountains, but there are some disturbing similarities developing.

Granted Show Low city officials seem to be exceptional at attracting business to town, but the underlying motivation for that seems to be driving up tax revenues for the town. In some cases they’re just spending these revenues in areas better served by private industry.

Take City4 television, for instance.

Disclaimer: For the unaware, White Mountain Publishing Co., which combines print, web and web-broadcast is a multimedia company. There are other media companies on the mountain, all of whom the city seems to have gone into competition with.

In the six years ending with fiscal year 2012, Show Low will have spent around $1.16 million of taxpayer money on operating City4. That’s not counting the $366,000 they spent on the City4 studios in the new library. The figure for when City4 was across the street in what is now city office buildings (the old Frontier Communications building) extrapolates to the relative bargain price of $95,200. That’s over $1.6 million in the past few years.

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White Mountain Independent: Show Low’s not Greece… but, disturbing similarities developing is a post from: Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate | JeffFlake.com