It seems like every Republican candidate boasts about their perfect record when it comes to cutting wasteful spending and being a fiscal conservative. But some candidates have voting records that support their claims and some do not.
Kirk Adams is one of those candidates whose rhetoric does not match his record.
In March 2011, the Arizona House of Representatives, led by then-Speaker of the House Kirk Adams, passed HB 2718, a $5 million "earmark" to Sheriff Paul Babeu and the Pinal County Sheriff's Department. HB 2718 was intended to send "emergency" funds to Pinal County for "border security operations" and "public safety equipment," despite the fact that Pinal County does not border Mexico.
Using an enormous amount of his political clout, Sheriff Babeu leaned hard on Kirk Adams to co-sponsor and lead the passing of this wasteful earmark through the legislature. Adams, only a couple months away from announcing his campaign for Congress, was happy to oblige Sheriff Babeu in hopes that it would earn him Babeu's once-highly influential endorsement for his congressional campaign.
In a press release sent from his Speaker's office on February 23, 2011, Kirk Adams defended HB 2718, stating:
"Sheriff Babeu has stepped up to the plate and is fighting to protect Arizonans - in Pinal County and beyond," said House Speaker Kirk Adams, sponsor of the legislation. "Years of neglect and denial have allowed Pinal County to become the top corridor into our state and country for illegal activity. Sheriff Babeu's important and courageous work will help keep America and Arizona safe."
Babeu, eager to receive the additional funding from the state, went on to spend nearly $1 million to purchase a patrol helicopter for his Sheriff's office. Since then, Pinal county officials have determined they do not have the necessary funds to consistently purchase the gas needed to operate the helicopter. Now, the Pinal County Sheriff's office is in possession of a taxpayer-paid helicopter that can't be used for "border security" or "public safety."
At a time when Arizona faced a budget crisis like never seen before and Arizona families struggled to make ends meet, Kirk Adams chose to flush millions of taxpayer dollars down the drain.
Arizona voters need to look past the rhetoric of Republican candidates who claim to be fiscally conservative. Our country can't afford more politicians in Congress who talk tough about cutting wasteful spending but continue to vote for more of it. Now more than ever, we must entrust our country's future with candidates who possess a proven fiscal record to back up their campaign rhetoric.
In the end, the tough talk from Kirk Adams about cutting wasteful spending and being fiscally responsible reminds me of that earmarked helicopter: it just doesn't fly. | 
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