Being a state legislator is a challenging and rewarding job.   I enjoy meeting people that live in my district and showing constituents what I do.  I have given tours to “Red Hat” ladies and business officials.   If you are interested in learning more or want to get more involved, give me a call.  I’d love to hear from you.

That is why I have brought together all the major energy producers in Arizona, solar representatives, staff from the Governor’s office and Corporation Commission, and several other legislators to discuss the long-range plan for energy in Arizona.  I want to ensure that Arizona has enough low-cost energy and water for our future needs.   I’m excited about our discussions so far and see good things coming from the group.

In an endeavor to learn as much as I can about the subject, I’ve recently attended a meeting with U.S. Senator Jon Kyl and water experts to discuss the necessity of considering water usage when determining energy sources for our future.  Some forms of energy generation take more water than others and we need to ensure that our limited water supply is wisely used.

As part of my learning experience, I recently toured Palo Verde Nuclear Plant which employees 3,000, the SRP water shed, a Tessera solar dish facility in Peoria, Solon-a solar panel manufacturing plant in Tucson, looked at a PV Solar system at Davis-Monthan AFB, and will be touring Central Arizona Project’s water delivery system, and both a natural gas and coal generating facility.

It’s important that Arizona continues to produce inexpensive base-load energy that is available at all times of the day.  Right now most of that base-load energy is produced with nuclear, coal, and natural gas. If the present federal administration continues its mandates to make coal too expensive to compete, our state must be prepared.  Right now the EPA’s threat to the Navajo coal generating plant may not only increase utility prices, but increase our water rates, since its electricity is used to move water into the valley.

When analyzing energy sources we must also look at the cost.  Right now nuclear and hydro-electric energy cost the least to produce. Next is coal, then natural gas.  Solar costs 15-17 times more than nuclear, but the hope is that competition and technology will reduce the cost.

If you would like to tour Palo Verde Nuclear Plant or talk more about energy issues, please contact me at 602-926-5413.

Energy and Water are vitally important to our state.  Let’s work together to ensure Arizona’s prosperous future.

The pictures really irritated me, especially since I’m a co-sponsor of the legislation. What irritates me even more are the Arizona elected officials who encourage others to boycott our own state.

On Memorial Day I gave a speech at Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale. I felt it was important to remind people that the only reason that we can protest and attend rallies is because our U.S. Service men and women fight and die everyday to protect the constitutional freedoms our founding fathers fought hard to create.

I did not serve in the military. My father and uncles did. For those of you who did serve in the military, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. But for all of you that didn’t, like me, we can help protect America too. We can get involved in our community. We can attend local political meetings and meet the people on the ballot. We can go to rallies. We can attend events and we can fight for the freedoms that have made this nation great.

I know some of you are already involved. I probably saw you at the large pro-SB1070 rally, at a political meeting, or volunteering in the schools. For those who want to get more involved, please contact me at 602-926-5413 or DLesko@azleg.gov

Our U.S. Service men and women died to protect our freedoms. The least we can do is get involved and fight for what we believe in.

Please get involved and stand up for what you believe in, before it is too late. Together, we can make a difference.

That is why I am proud to have co-sponsored and voted yes on Senate Bill 1070, the legislation recently signed by our Governor that provides law enforcement with another tool to fight illegal immigration.  This bill is a positive step toward protecting the rights and resources of U.S. Citizens.

As you have seen on the local and national news, not everyone agrees with my stance.  While legislators, like myself, are voting on laws inside, protesters are beating on drums and yelling on loud speakers, police are trying to keep the peace, sharp shooters are on the roof, and the media is all too happy to show the world.

No one ever said my job would be easy.  Doing the right thing rarely is.

Although critics argue that this legislation is unconstitutional, I disagree.  In fact, the bill was written with the help of Kris Kobach, former counsel to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Harvard, Oxford, and Yale graduate.

According to Kobach, “The bill basically makes it a penalty under state law to do what is already a crime under federal law.”  Further, the bill contains language that specifically says state and local law-enforcement officers “may not solely consider race, color or national origin” in implementing the law “except to the extent permitted by the United States or Arizona Constitution.”

Rest assured that I am working hard for the residents in our district and state.  One of my favorite parts of the job is meeting and helping constituents.  Please feel free to contact me about this issue or any others.  I’d love to hear from you.

Together, we can make a difference.

Did you know that in 2010 alone utility customers will pay over $120 million in tariffs added to their utility bills caused by unreasonable mandates imposed by the Corporation Commission?

WHAT MY BILL DOES:

1.  Gives the legislature authority over setting renewable energy policy.  The legislature can set a statewide energy policy that is good for AZ and for utility customers.  This will streamline our state’s energy policy by keeping it within one body, as opposed to two entities with separate agendas and will make sure that the citizens have more say in setting energy policy since they can contact their elected representatives.  Currently,  it only takes 3 members of the Corporation Commission to set energy policy that affects citizens all over the state.

2.  Adds nuclear and hydro-electric to the mix of clean energy sources that can be used to reach a 15% clean energy goal.

WHY I’M INTRODUCING THE BILL:

1.  The renewable energy mandates imposed on the utility companies by the Corporation Commission are costing utility customers MILLIONS of extra dollars every year.  To give you an example:
·    APS and Tucson Electric  will charge their customers over $120 Million this year to pay for the mandates.
·    Sun City Recreation Centers paid over $52,000 in these extra tariffs in 2009 alone.
·     In these economic times, it is not right to ask hard-working Arizonans, Senior Citizens, and businesses to shoulder these extra costs

2.    The AZ Constitution gives the Corp. Commission authority over rate-making only.  The legislature has authority over setting policy, not the Corporation Commission.

3.  The Corporation Commission mandates LIMIT clean energy sources that can be used to satisfy their mandates to wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass.  Although these are good options that will continue to be pursued, AZ needs a diverse mix of energy sources that can produce base load (not intermittent) energy and not force more expensive and less-reliable energy onto consumers.  After all, solar energy costs between .13-.16 per Kwh, whereas nuclear costs .02 cents.

HISTORY:
1.  In 2006, the Corp. Commission mandated that all electric utilities (except SRP since they are a govt entity) get 15% of their energy from wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass by 2025 (each year up to 2025 they have to reach a certain %)
2.  In addition, the Corp. Commission mandated that of that 15%, 30% has to come from distributed energy (example:  solar panels on the roof) by 2012.
3.  In addition, the Corp. Commission mandated that of that 30% of distributed energy, half has to come from commercial and half from residential.
4.  Penalties can be imposed by the Corporation Commission.
5.  The Corporation Commission mandated that the utilities charge all the utility customers a tariff on their bills to pay for incentives and compliance costs to meet the mandates.  THIS TARIFF AMOUNTS TO MILLIONS IN COSTS TO UTILITY CUSTOMERS EACH YEAR.  (For example:  APS charged their customers $81 million over and above their energy usage this year.  Tucson Electric charged $40 Million)
5.  To date, the utilities have not been able to reach the distributed energy portion of the mandates because it relies on individual homeowners being able to afford expensive solar panels.
6.  In order to meet the mandates, the utilities have to give huge incentives to customers to install solar panels on their roof.  One of the lobbyists has $54,000 solar panels on his roof.  After federal, state, and utility rebates and credits, he paid $14,000 out of pocket.  That means the taxpayers and other ratepayers subsidized his solar panels 74%.

ANSWER TO CONCERNS:

1.    Some of the solar companies will say they are opposed to my bill even though I have reached out to them and offered compromises to address their concerns.  Let’s face it…they have a good deal going on:  The Corporation Commission mandates force the utility companies to buy electricity from them no matter what the cost or the reliability of the electricity….of course they like the current deal.  Unfortunately, the tariffs that pay for the subsidies going to them are being forced upon hard-working Arizonans and businesses, many of which can not even afford to buy solar panels themselves, but have to pay for someone else’s.

2.    I believe the solar company concerns are over-dramatic.  I have spoken to all the utility companies including APS and SRP.  They have all said they will continue to pursue solar and other alternative energy sources no matter if my bill passes or not.  The momentum for solar is already moving ahead and the support for it is evident by the various solar tax incentives the legislature has already passed.  The legislature is not going to put the solar companies out of business. In fact, I believe the legislature is a much friendlier environment for enacting a state wide energy policy.

3.    The Corporation Commission is threatened by my bill because it takes away some of their authority.  I have spoken to several of the Corporation Commissioners and share many of their visions for energy in our state.  However, I believe it is clear that the legislature, not the Corporation Commission, has authority over setting policy in this state and that the Corporation Commission over-stepped their constitutional authority.

My bill is a first step in the process of setting up a statewide comprehensive energy policy in our state that is not only diverse, but also affordable to our citizens.

It’s frustrating to me and it should be frustrating to you to know that we could have balanced the budget back on June 30th if at least one Democratic legislator would have voted yes.  Instead, not one single Democratic legislator voted for the budget package that included both modest spending reductions and a chance for an increase in revenues, something the Democrats claim they want.

Democratic legislators say they want to work with Republicans, but I just don’t see any proof of it yet.   They say they would vote for a budget fix that includes both revenue enhancements (tax increases) and spending cuts.  Yet when they had the chance to do so on June 30th, not one of them did.

Since none of the Democrats will help, Republicans have been forced to get the required number of votes from within their own ranks.  Many of us have had to make very difficult decisions and compromises.  Quite frankly, there are things in the budget bill that I simply don’t like.  But I realize that the future of our State is more important than my personal beliefs.

The Democrats latest proposal is to raise taxes permanently by over $2 Billion per year.  They want to raise property taxes another $730 Million/year and expand sales tax to services, so you’d even have to pay sales tax when you visited your doctor or hairdresser.  They know the Republicans are opposed to this, they know they don’t have the votes to pass it, and I would hope they know the public can’t afford it, but it gives them the opportunity to claim they have an alternative plan.

I, like many of my fellow Republican legislators, have been making hard decisions because we know the future of our State is at stake.  I sincerely hope that my Democratic friends will soon join in the cause.

I was honored to speak at the Glendale Veteran’s Day Event at Westgate City Center on Saturday, November 7th. Pictured to the right in an Uncle Sam outfit is WWII veteran Ray Mills. Ray and his wife, Betty, now continue their service to our country by volunteering with Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge. They partner with teachers and teach students about the principles on which our country was founded. Ray was recently inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. Pictured to the left is Al Morton. Al served two tours in the Vietnam War and received a Purple Heart. Al continues to serve our country by helping other veterans and serving as Vice Commander of the Sandy Coor VFW Post 1433 in Glendale.

Sun City’s Veteran’s Day celebration at Sunland Memorial Cemetery on November 11th was indeed a great tribute to our Veterans. Many veterans from all branches of the military, plus women who served as “Rosie the Riveters” in WWII, joined in the event. I was very impressed.

Later in the day, I was again honored to speak at a Veteran’s Day/Tea Party event at the State Capitol. I shared a personal story of my father’s service in WWII and asked participants to continue to fight for the freedoms that our Veterans fought so hard to defend.

One of the main reasons I ran for legislature is because I am concerned about the future of our nation and I want to make a difference. Please join me in making a difference. Together we can protect the principles that have made this nation great.

One of the most important duties this year has been balancing our state budget. The legislature balanced the 2009 budget in January and then, in June, balanced the 2010 budget twice-both times without a tax increase. We continue to work with the Governor to reach a compromise budget that she will sign. On July 31st House and Senate leadership reached a budget agreement with the Governor that was approved by the House, and as of July 31st was one vote short in the Senate. We will resume negotiations this week.

One of my next goals is to form a task force comprised of republican and democrat legislators, citizens, and state employees to work on a way to limit state welfare and health assistance to only those people who really need help and to only legal U.S. citizens. If you have suggestions or know of specific violations, please contact me at: 602-926-5413 or DLesko@azleg.gov I certainly could use your help.

I also want to continue to meet and update people throughout our legislative district.
If you’d like me to attend your event or come down to the Capitol to meet with me or get a tour, please contact me. Again, my number is 602-926-5413, my email is DLesko@azleg.gov and my website is: www.DebbieLesko.com

I really enjoy my job. At times it’s very challenging, but it sure is rewarding. I want to thank all of you again for giving me this opportunity. Working together I truly believe we can make a difference!