Sun, Jul 05, 2009

Arizona / West

New ads boost Napolitano agenda

By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.17.2006
PHOENIX — A new organization that won't disclose its donors is running a media campaign supporting Gov. Janet Napolitano's legislative agenda.
Phoenix radio ads that began airing Thursday urge support for pay raises for teachers and tax credits for businesses to offer health insurance to workers.
The ads also disparage "reckless tax cuts that would undermine our financial stability and hamper our ability to retain and attract businesses."
All three items echo positions of the Democratic governor.
The new campaign by the organization called Project for Arizona's Future is just the beginning. The group plans to spend "upwards of $3 million" this year to influence public policy, said Tom Ziemba, its executive director.
Ziemba would not say who is providing that money. He said that will not be disclosed until November, when the nonprofit organization is required to file its reports with the Internal Revenue Service — right after the election its campaign could indirectly influence.
The group is set up as a non-profit corporation under a section of U.S. tax laws that prohibits it from endorsing candidates. But it is allowed under the specific IRS section to engage in political activities as long as its primary purpose is to promote social welfare.
Last month Napolitano proposed a $30,000 minimum starting salary for public school teachers and raises for those already above that. She also wants tax credits for small businesses that offer health insurance to workers.
And Napolitano specifically rejected the $250 million in across-the-board cuts in income and property taxes sought by Republicans, favoring instead a $100 million program of smaller, targeted tax reductions.
Despite that, Ziemba said the campaign is not designed to help Napolitano, who is seeking re-election this year.
Ziemba, who has been in Arizona a year, has done public relations for Democrats, including the 2004 presidential campaign of John Edwards.
Ziemba described the organization, formed in November, as bipartisan.
However, its advisory board members said they have not yet met nor did they craft the agenda or approve the new radio ads.
The board Ziemba put together includes some Republicans but not people who back the GOP legislative agenda.
For example, Maggie Cathey, a former vice mayor of Gilbert, said she voted for Napolitano. Cathey, who described herself as a "conservative Republican," said she is "frustrated with some of the ultra-right people in the Republican Party."
That's also the view of John Graham, president of Sunbelt Holdings, a company involved in real estate investment, management and development. He, too, said he voted for Napolitano and is against the tax cuts proposed by the GOP leadership.