NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday January 14, 2008

Countdown: When will Tim Bee announce bid for Congress?

According to an Arizona constitutional expert, today – the opening day of the Legislature – marks the first day that Senator Tim Bee could announce he is running for Congress without having to give up his seat in the Legislature.

According to a story in the Arizona Capitol Times, “the source said Bee, to be safe, could declare he is running for Congress on Jan 14, when the Legislature convenes, but not before.” (http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/story.cfm?id=6313)

Instead, Senate President Tim Bee continues to use his position to raise money from state lobbyists for his congressional campaign. These lobbyists have distinct state interests and Bee is in an extremely powerful position to support or oppose these interests in the coming months. Soliciting federal contributions from them hangs them over a pretty big barrel.

“It’s pretty clear that Bee has been holding onto his seat so he can leverage it to fill his coffers with contributions from lobbyists who need to get their bills passed,” said Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party. “Voters need to know who he’s working for: them, or Tim Bee?”

Several of Bee’s campaign contributors have major business that the Legislature will consider this session. Contributors’ clients include: beer companies, HMOs, tow truck companies, developers, Wal-Mart and private prisons.

Not only does Bee continue to fundraise, he has also rejected the idea of following the Ethics in Government Act, which would require him to file a financial disclosure statement. His attorneys rejected the idea in a letter last year.

In addition, Bee has been skirting Arizona’s Resign-to-Run law, which voters passed to ensure their elected officials would represent them while in office, not look to their next position. For several months he has said he was “exploring” for Congress, even while he filed with the FEC as a federal candidate, spoke about federal policies and raised more than $130,000.

“This is exactly why voters passed the Resign-to-Run law in the first place,” Bittner said. “They want their elected officials to serve the people. It’s what they were elected to do.”