The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has obtained a draft of the remarks Andy Tobin is slated to deliver tomorrow for the Republican Weekly Address. Andy Tobin’s record of failure as Speaker of the Arizona State House is one that can be easily replicated by Republicans from coast to coast.
“It’s a true testament to the Republican Party that they are putting Andy Tobin front and center to deliver their weekly address and not letting his record of failure get in their way,” said Tyrone Gayle of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “If Republicans want to tout Andy Tobin’s record of being a puppet of special interests, abusing taxpayer dollars, and taking Arizona backward, we welcome that conversation.”
TRANSCRIPT:
Hello, I’m Andy Tobin from Arizona, and I’m honored to be the voice for national Republicans as we once again put the country’s economy in jeopardy as we tick closer to a shutdown. I thought the last one was ‘appropriate,’ so this is a dream come true.
I never thought I would be here, so I want to first thank the people who made it possible: the Koch brothers, John Boehner and the billionaire special interests who bailed out my flailing campaign.
As the speaker of the Arizona House, I know a little bit about creating uncertainty for businesses, shifting the burden to the middle class and telling those kindergartners to educate themselves if they’re going to get ahead.
In other words, I would fit right in with Washington Republicans. And I could even teach them a thing or two about how I do business in Arizona.
There are a lot of my fellow Republicans who want to eliminate the Department of Education – but I can top that! I led the effort to pass budgets that slashed education funds by a billion dollars, and took our state to the bottom in per-pupil spending.
When it comes to putting an out-of-touch ideology ahead of solutions, I put House Republicans to shame. I rammed through SB1062–legislation that would have let businesses discriminate against gays and lesbians, and I didn’t let the threat of losing the Super Bowl and hurting our $19 billion tourism industry stand in my way.
But that’s not all.
Washington Republicans have nothing on me when it comes to taking lobbyists’ gifts. I was rewarded with more money from lobbyists in 2011 and 2012 than any other member of the Arizona state legislature.
And when I earned myself free perks from the 2011 Fiesta Bowl, I refused to let the good-government haters bring me down and instead redefined ‘pay to play politics.’
I told voters that I’d reform my state’s disclosure laws, but never followed through – sound familiar, John Boehner?
Again, I thank John Boehner, the Koch brothers and all the billionaires who bailed out my campaign, and I promise to join with House Republicans in blocking progress, holding back the middle class and giving huge tax breaks the very wealthiest among us.
Thanks for listening. And may God bless the Koch brothers.
BACKGROUND:
Tobin Called Republican-Passed CR That Led to Shutdown “Very Appropriate.” On October 6, 2013, Tobin said that he supported the Republican-passed continuing resolution demanding changes to the Affordable Care Act. “Tobin told The Arizona Republic, ‘I don’t think (Republicans are) being extreme on this issue,’ by demanding changes to the Affordable Care Act in exchange for approving temporary government funding, despite the president’s promised veto. ‘For the Republican majority to have offered this (continuing resolution) was very appropriate.’” [Arizona Republic, 10/06/13]
Tobin Voted for and Strongly Defended Bill Protecting Businesses that Deny Service Based Solely on Religious Belief. In February 2014, Tobin voted for a bill that protects Arizona businesses from lawsuits after denying services based on religious belief. Opponents of the bill argued that the legislation would lead to businesses discriminating against people, such as homosexuals, based solely on the business owner’s religious belief. “The bill’s intent is to protect the business community’s freedom of expression under the First Amendment,” Tobin said. The bill passed 33-27 and was later vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer. [SB 1062, 2/20/14; ABC 15, 2/22/14]
Headline: Arizona business leaders plead for veto of SB 1062 [Phoenix Business Journal, 2/24/14]
Tobin Supported AZ State Budgets from FY 2010 to 2012. In June 2009, Tobin voted in favor of the state’s fiscal year 2010 budget plan. The bill passed 33 to 26 with one not voting. In March 2010, Tobin voted in favor of House Bill 2001, the general appropriations bill for fiscal years 2010 and 2011. The bill passed 34 to 25. In April 2011, Tobin voted in favor of the state’s fiscal year 2012 budget plan. The bill passed 40 to 19 with one not voting. [HB2643, 49thLegislature 1st Regular Session, 6/30/09; HB2001, 49th Legislature 7th Special Session, 3/11/10; SB1612, 50th Legislature 1st Regular Session, 4/01/11]
Arizona Education Association: Arizona’s Budgets from FY 2010 to FY 2012 Cut Over $1.77 Billion in Education Funds. In 2011, the Arizona Education Association reported that state budgets from FY 2010 to FY 2012 cut $1.77 billion in education funds. [Arizona Education Association, July 2011]
Arizona Supreme Court Found AZ Education Budget Cuts Impermissible. “Arizona public schools will get $317 million in new funding next year, after a judge Friday did the math on a state Supreme Court decision that found the state shorted the public-school system for four years during the recession. The total tab could be $2.9 billion.” [Arizona Republic, 7/11/14]
Phoenix New Times: Arizona’s Per Pupil Spending Estimated to Be the Lowest in the Country. According to the Phoenix New Times, “Arizona spends the fewest dollars per student on education than any other state in the country, according to an estimate. […] For the 2012-13 school year, the National Education Association ranks Arizona last in per-pupil spending. The NEA also ranked Arizona last in its report released last year, for the 2011-12 school year.” [Phoenix New Times, 3/26/14]
Top Recipient of Lobbyist Dollars in State Legislature. From 2011-2012, House Speaker Tobin topped the list of recipients of lobbying dollars records that reported a beneficiary. In those years, Tobin received $4,295 in 45 transactions. In the first quarter of 2013, Tobin again was the top recipient of the most lobbying dollars. Of lobbying dollars reported with a recipient, $2,844.24 was spent on Tobin. [Arizona Capitol Times, 4/22/13; Arizona Capitol Times, 5/20/13]
Tobin: Gifts from Lobbyists “Good Clean Fun.” From Arizona 3TV: “It’s been several years since the Fiesta Bowl scandal exposed a seedy situation at the State Capitol. Lawmakers were taking free gifts from lobbyists. But 3TV’s political editor Dennis Welch says that Arizona lawmakers are still lining up for freebies. […] Most of the legislators came from a pre-game party at Legends Sports Bar and Grill, where lawmakers, their friends and family members received free booze, free food and free tickets. All of it was reportedly paid for by lobbyists with the Dorn Policy Group. ‘I think that this is good clean fun,’ said Speaker of the House Andy Tobin.” [AZ Family, 3TV, 5/06/13]
Tobin was Investigated for Taking $1,300 in Travel and Tickets from Fiesta Bowl Lobbyists. In 2011, Tobin was among 31 Arizona elected officials investigated for accepting lavish perks from the Fiesta Bowl. Tobin accepted $1,300 in airfare, hotel, meals, and tickets to the 2009 Bowl Championship game. Arizona Republic:“[I]n December 2009… bowl employees said they were reimbursed for making campaign contributions, which is illegal. Despite an initial cover-up, the bowl launched an internal investigation that confirmed the scheme. Its probe also uncovered questionable business and lobbying practices. Several bowl executives, including former CEO John Junker, have since pleaded guilty to criminal charges. And in the wake of the bowl’s own probe, 14 sitting lawmakers were investigated for taking gifts from Fiesta Bowl lobbyists, which is prohibited by state statutes under certain circumstances.” [Arizona Republic, 5/12/12; Tobin Arizona PFD, filed 1/27/10]
Tobin has Failed to Fulfill his Promise of More Disclosure. In April 2014, nearly five years after the Fiesta Bowl incident, the Arizona Republic, reported that Tobin failed to fulfill his promise of fixing Arizona’s disclosure laws. Arizona Republic: “Tobin dismissed their conclusions as unrealistic, but he said he would push for more frequent and more expansive disclosure. That legislation never materialized.” [Arizona Republic,4/09/14]