Arizona Dems Split on ‘Back to Work’ Budget Vote

On Wednesday, March 20, 2013, the US House of Representatives voted on a series of amendments to the Republican Majority Budget, penned by Rep. Paul Ryan.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) amendment, dubbed the Back to Work Budget, was one of yesterday’s votes. It lost 84 to 327, with no Republicans voting for it (not surprising) and 102 Democrats voting against it.

How did Arizona’s Democratic Party representatives vote on an amemdment spearheaded by one of their own– Rep. Raul Grijalva? Not so good. Grijalva and Rep. Ed Pastor voted for the Back to Work Budget— which would create jobs, reduce the debt, and protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Representatives Ann Kirkpatirck, Ron Barber, and Kirsten Sinema voted against the Back to Work Budget– despite letters and phone calls by members of the Arizona Chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA). Nationally, PDA hand delivered letters to 100 Congressional representatives and made 1000 phone calls.

Frankly, I’m not surprised by Blue Dogs Kirkpatrick and Barber, but I am surprised and disappointed by Sinema. The three of them can expect to hear more from PDA.

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This entry was posted on March 21, 2013 by Pamela Powers in Ann Kirkpatrick, Arizona, Capitalism, Congress, Democratic Party, economy, fiscal responsibility, healthcare, jobs, Keith Ellison, Kyrsten Sinema, national debt, Politics, Progressive Democrats of America, Raul Grijalva, Republican Party, Trickle Down Economics, Tucson and tagged #Back2Work, Ann Kirkpatirck, Arizona, Back to Work Budget, budget cuts, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Kirsten Sinema, Paul Ryan, Raul Grijalva, Ron Barber.

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ERA house women

Desconocido (unknown)

Desconocido (unknown)

Protesting cuts to education

Protesting cuts to education

ACA public option

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PDA Tucson Coordinator Jim Hannley speaks against both the crowd management ordinance and the urban camping ban at the City Council meeting.

Pamela Powers Hannley

I have a background in research. Help me build Tucson’s tech industry and grow our own local businesses.

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Ironically, I posted this blog post on the anniversary of this election on June 19. 1970ish.

Ironically, I posted this blog post on the anniversary of this election on June 19. 1970ish.

Protesting migrant deaths in the Arizona desert.

Protesting migrant deaths in the Arizona desert.

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley

Congressman Ron Barber and Pamela Powers Hannley at Cyclovia

Congressman Ron Barber and Pamela Powers Hannley at Cyclovia

It was truly a honor to meet Nevada State Senator Patricia Spearman (center) in October and to confer with her regarding our efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Arizona. Spearman led the successful Nevada efforts to ratify the ERA in 2017. Here we are with activist and NOW leader Dainne Post after the ERA workshop at the We the People Conference in Phoenix. There are a lot of Arizona women who are ready to make history in 2018. Watch my blog here and my Facebook page here for ERA updates.

It was truly a honor to meet Nevada State Senator Patricia Spearman (center) in October and to confer with her regarding our efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Arizona. Spearman led the successful Nevada efforts to ratify the ERA in 2017. Here we are with activist and NOW leader Dainne Post after the ERA workshop at the We the People Conference in Phoenix. There are a lot of Arizona women who are ready to make history in 2018. Watch my blog here and my Facebook page here for ERA updates.

UA Tech Park

Arizonans for New Economy co-directors Jim Hannley and Pamela Powers Hannley with UA Tech Park VP Bruce Wright.

Phoenix anti-hate rally

Rev. Ron Phares and Pamela Powers Hannley

Jim and I were part of a contingent of Unitarian Universalists who came up from Tucson. Here I am with Rev. Ron Phares from the Mountain Vista UU Church in my district. (Jim is photobombing us.)

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Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley with Red For Ed

John Nichols

John Nichols of ‘The Nation’ addressed progressives and unionists at a Tucson event.

Protesters hand deliver symbolic big check from corporate American to McCain.

Protesters hand deliver symbolic big check from corporate American to McCain.

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The Oberlin Rescuers outside of the Cuyahoga County Jail.

Occupy encampment in Armory Park-- before it was cleared out in the middle of the night by Tucson Police.

Occupy encampment in Armory Park– before it was cleared out in the middle of the night by Tucson Police.

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Local First Arizona

The Living Economy event was very informative; we had a great time hob-nobbing. My husband Jim is a small business owner and a member of Local First Arizona. I have owned two small businesses in the past– Powers/Queen Associates and Wind Dancer Design. We support Local First Arizona and buying/investing locally. We believe that supporting local small businesses with low-interest loans through a public/private partnership between a public bank and community banks and credit unions is the sustainable route to improving our local economy. Trickle down economics doesn’t work; it’s time for new ideas.

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley

A homeless man sleeps in the shadow of corporate America.

A homeless man sleeps in the shadow of corporate America.

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Pamela Powers Hannley on Labor Day

Despite the sweltering heat, Jim and I had a great time at the Labor Day Picnic. We collected a lot of Clean Elections $5 donations and signatures. Here I am with LD9 chair Michael Dues.

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There have been many lively debates in the Arizona House in 2018. This team of House Democrats fought for consumer protections and fought against risky financial deals in a “regulatory sandbox.” (Pictured are Reps. Mitzi Epstein, Kelli Butler, Athena Salman, Pamela Powers Hannley, Ken Clark and Isela Blanc.)

PDA members, including Advisory Board Chair Mimi Kennedy, protested food stamp cuts in front of Congressman Henry Waxman's office.

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In the 1980s, the Tucson Weekly called Tucson the "Baked Apple".

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Safe Park, downtown Tucson

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Protesting anti-woman laws at the Arizona state capitol.

Protesting anti-woman laws at the Arizona state capitol.

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We often hear that corporations need migrant workers because Americans “don’t want to do these jobs.” When I hear this statement, I picture farm workers picking vegetables. Recently, I toured two dairies and an animal feed packing plant in Pinal County. The photo above from the Zinke Dairy shows a giant cow milking carousel. Nine migrant workers milk 4000 cows three times a day at this dairy. Legislators watched the two men pictured here– working at a brisk pace– bend over and pick up, lift, and attach large electronic suction cups to the cows as they ride the carousel around the giant facility. This level of automation is the wave of the future for industrial jobs.

We often hear that corporations need migrant workers because Americans “don’t want to do these jobs.” When I hear this statement, I picture farm workers picking vegetables. Recently, I toured two dairies and an animal feed packing plant in Pinal County. The photo above from the Zinke Dairy shows a giant cow milking carousel. Nine migrant workers milk 4000 cows three times a day at this dairy. Legislators watched the two men pictured here– working at a brisk pace– bend over and pick up, lift, and attach large electronic suction cups to the cows as they ride the carousel around the giant facility. This level of automation is the wave of the future for industrial jobs.

Jobs with Justice marching with Occupy Tucson in support of postal workers.

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Thanks for the poverty

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley with members of the Tucson Chapter of NOW on opening day at the Arizona Legislature, 2018.

Tucson education rally

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Pamela Powers Hannley

Pamela Powers Hannley, Progressive Democrat for Arizona House, LD9

Martin Luther King, Jr. march.

Martin Luther King, Jr. march.

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Giving the LD9 update at the June meeting. What a great crowd!

Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales and I were interviewed by NBC at the Phoenix rally.

Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales and I were interviewed by NBC at the Phoenix rally.

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Visiting with PALF chairman Fred Yamashita at the 2016 Labor Day Picnic.

Visiting with PALF chairman Fred Yamashita at the 2016 Labor Day Picnic.

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#RedForEd teachers and supporters in the Arizona House Gallery, 2018.

The Tucson Progressive: Pamela J. Powers

I stand on the side of Love. I believe in kindness to all creatures on Earth and the inherent self-worth of all individuals–not just people who agree with me or look like me.

Widespread economic and social injustice prompted me to become a candidate for the Arizona House, representing Legislative District 9 in the 2016 election.

My platform focused on economic reforms to grow Arizona’s economy, establish a state-based public bank, fix our infrastructure, fully fund public education, grow local small businesses and community banks, and put people back to work at good-paying jobs.

In the Arizona House, I was a strong voice for fiscal responsibility a moratorium on corporate tax breaks until the schools were fully funded, increased cash assistance to the poor, expansion of maternal healthcare benefits, equal rights, choice, unions, education at all levels and protecting our water supply.

After three terms, I retired from the Arizona Legislature in January 2023 but will continue to blog and produce my podcast “A View from the Left Side.”

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