US Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who seldom appears in local news sources, just reported his actions for 2021.
In one year, Kelly:
- Helped to shape and negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure bill
- Led the Senate passage of investments to boost domestic microchip manufacturing
- Negotiated a deal to lower the cost of prescription drugs.
Hear it in his own words in this four-minute video:
Kelly’s First Year By the Numbers
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| Visting Every Arizona County
Senator Kelly’s recent visit to Parker in La Paz County means he’s now been to all 15 Arizona counties during his first year in office. His first stop during his visit was Arizona Western College, where he met with the leadership of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. He then visited a community senior center to talk about lowering prescription drug costs before meeting with La Paz County leaders to discuss the region’s water challenges.
Kelly made the final stop of his visit at Parker Dam. The bipartisan infrastructure law provides big upgrades for western water infrastructure, which will repair aging dams like the one in Parker and support Arizona’s Drought Contingency Plan. The Senator has also kept his commitment to serving with transparency by posting his official schedule online. You can see for yourself where he’s visited and how he’s been focusing his time and efforts working for Arizona. |
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| Bringing Major Infrastructure Upgrades to Arizona
As Senator Kelly traveled the state this year, he heard often from Arizonans about the need for major infrastructure upgrades such as stronger water systems, better roads, modernized ports of entry, and expanded high-speed internet access. The bipartisan infrastructure law is now bringing these long-overdue upgrades to Arizona communities.
Kelly often says, “this bill is a big win for Arizona.” He was a member of the bipartisan group of senators who shaped and negotiated the final deal. Six of Kelly’s bills, covering everything from improving how we fight wildfires to making rural roads safer, were signed into law as part of the legislation. Read his local op-eds on the impact of these infrastructure upgrades in The Daily Independent, Arizona Daily Sun, Yuma Sun, Kingman Daily Miner, Nogales International, and Pinal Central. |
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| Strengthening National Security
Kelly joined the Senate Armed Services Committee shortly after entering the Senate. Since then, he’s focused on strengthening national security and Arizona’s role in it. He also chairs the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee. As Chair, he’s helped lead the committee’s work on how we maintain a competitive advantage over adversaries like China. Last week, Senator Kelly voted to pass the annual defense bill that he shaped in his role on the Armed Services Committee, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes a number of Arizona defense priorities. Kelly successfully protected the A-10 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, authorized key infrastructure upgrades at Davis-Monthan and Luke Air Force Bases, Fort Huachuca, and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The bill also included his Brandon Act to reduce military suicides, and secured key investments in research and technology to outcompete adversaries. Improving veterans’ care has also been an important priority for Kelly. In September, he spoke to the American Legion about his bipartisan legislation to increase transparency and accountability at the VA.
Back in June, Senator Kelly led the passage of $52 billion in funding through the Senate to increase domestic manufacturing of microchips, which are in everything from cars to phones to the most advanced fighter jets. This will be a huge boost for Arizona’s economy and bring lots of high-paying jobs to Arizona while addressing the supply chain challenges and lowering costs for Arizona families. In addition, it’s also a national security imperative that is going to reduce US dependence on other countries for this critical technology. |
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| Helping Arizona Get Through The Pandemic
When Senator Kelly took office in December 2020, the vaccines were just becoming available. Senator Kelly helped pass the American Rescue Plan back in March, which put shots in arms and direct relief into the pockets of Arizonans.
Tres Leches Café in Phoenix is one of the Arizona small businesses that received much-needed federal relief. Kelly’s office helped the café secure a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA), which allowed the business to keep its doors open and employees on the payroll. Senator Kelly also championed the SBA Community Navigator Program included in the American Rescue Plan, which will ensure small businesses in rural and tribal communities can access the support they need. Read more about how Senator Kelly helped Tres Leches Café remain open for business. Arizonans who are in need of assistance or who want to share their thoughts with Kelly’s team can reach out at kelly.senate.gov or follow Senator Kelly on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. |
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Thanks for reminding me, I forot that other “did nothing” phrase in my original post, which is “voted for.” Not that voting for a bill is not important because it is the primary task of a legislator. But you cannot use the title “Got Done” for Kelly because voting on a bill is not really getting anything done. It’s helping pass what the doers and shakers got done. Big difference.
Kelly voted for the American Rescue Plan – here’s what it does for Arizona:
• $4.3 billion in state fiscal relief
• $3 billion in local fiscal relief
• More than $2.6 billion in relief for K-12 schools
• Economic impact payments of up to $1,400 per person (above the $600 per person provided in
December) for more than 4.4 million adults and 2 million children. This is 87% of all adults in the
state and 88% of all children in the state.
• Additional relief of up to $1,600 per child through the Child Tax Credit to the families of
1.5 million children, lifting 112,000 children out of poverty
• Additional relief of up to nearly $1,000 through the Earned Income Tax Credit to 381,000
childless workers, including many in frontline jobs
• Marketplace health insurance premiums that are $1,320 lower per month for
a 60-year old couple earning $75,000 per year
Can Kavanaugh point to anything similar that he did?
No.
“Helped,” “passed,” “negotiated,” “led,” “cosponsored, “traveled,” and “being briefed” all add up to the fact that he appears to have accomplished NOTHING. Not an easy task when you are a member of the majority party, which also controls the presidency.
Although I could be wrong. I noticed that there were 21 bipartisan bills and amendments that he introduced. So how many were bills that he wrote as the prime sponsor versus amendments that he tacked on to somebody else’s bill? More importantly, how many of those amendments and bills became law? I suspect none of them but I’ll give Senator Kelly the benefit of the doubt or should I say Larry Bodine the benefit of the doubt because he is the one who offered this puff piece.
In my experience, puff pieces that attempt to cover up doing nothing in the end get exposed and fail. However, if they are going to be aired anyway, this blog is a good place to publish them because there are so many true believers here who really don’t care about the truth and are happy to stay willfully blind. As usual, I suspect I will be personally attacked and the fact that Senator Kelly has done nothing will not even be addressed.
Public Service Announcement
John Kavanagh has been documented trolling this website, making up stories, spreading misinformation, and lying.
He has been making threats to commenters on this site as well.
The good news is that him not being the sharpest knife in the drawer means his threats are somewhat dull.
Like his comments.
His yapping about “truth” is disingenuous.
Fun fact! He’s been getting government checks his entire life, so his “conservative” cred is lacking, to say the least.
Please take a moment and donate to RAICES in his honor. RAICES provides low cost or free legal services to immigrants.
raicestexas dot org.
Remember to donate “In honor of Arizona State Rep John Kavanagh”.
Because he clearly needs the attention.
Threats? Please cite some.
Hi John the Troll Clown, or whatever it was.
Attentive readers of this blog and the comments are noticing that I and others have repeatedly called you a liar and you do not defend yourself.
An unusual bit of self-awareness I would not expect from someone with your history here.
And good on you for not denying what has been documented here many times.
Attentive readers of this blog and the comments will recall the many times you angrily demanded my identity, and how most recently on November 24, 2021 at 4:47 pm, you said if you knew my name there would be repercussions.
Lordy, how I hope there are tapes. Or rather a trail of blog comments!
Can you imagine how much money you’re raising for immigrants, John? There are thousands of readers of this blog, and if even just a few hundred give 10 or 20 dollars to raicestexas, you’re helping raise thousands.
Maybe even some monthly giving signups!
Go to raicestexas dot org, for anyone wanting to do some good. They provide free and low cost legal help to immigrants.
Please donate in honor of Arizona State Rep John Kavanagh, because clearly, he craves the attention.
Gonna’ go answer the other dumb question you posted today and then enjoy the rest of the evening.
Thanks again for spreading the word about raicestexas.
He ran on gun legislation and has done NOTHING. He has to look at his brained damaged wife everyday due to gun violence. Nary a peep about ongoing gun massacres, shootings at schools and increasing daily gun violence in AZ. Nothing. Why is that? How much has he been collecting from lobbyists? . And he joined the xenophobic rhetoric about “immigrants” and “securing our border” BS when there are 26 hate groups in AZ who pose a serious national domestic terror threat. NO he is no hero. ,