Nancy Barto

Nancy Barto

Barto, Nancy (Republican)

Phone: (602) 569-4742

Email: NancyBarto@cox.net

3631 E. Rockwood Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85050

Age: 51. (7/22/58, Chicago, IL).

Arizona since: 1962.

Occupation: Legislator; homemaker.

Marital: Married 31 years (Joe).

Children: 3 and 2 grandchildren.

Religious preference: Christian. Education: ASU and ASU West: studied vocal performance and elementary education; Arcadia High School.

Political experience: District chairman; family policy advocate; AZ House since (appointed to House in 2006, replacing David Burnell Smith).

Memberships have included: Board of Interdisciplinary Health Policy Institute at NAU; Maricopa County Justice Commission for the Seriously Mentally Ill.

Interests: Hiking and music.

Issues:

Political influence: My Dad. His example of activism and involvement in issues throughout his life — continuing even now, into his 90’s — has been profound in my life.

Budget recommendations: 1) Reducing government regulations on businesses would help in two ways — government wouldn’t spend as many resources on “violators” and more businesses would choose to do business here. 2) Reform in the prison system. We have to get control of the recidivism that costs the state and society in numerous ways. 3) Reducing corporate income tax rates is the key to growing the economy and increased revenues.

Other concerns: Reforming behavioral health and family issues including reducing the number of foster children in state care to zero. We must do a better job of partnering with the community to ensure all children have a permanent home.

Fiscal philosophy: State and federal tax policy must start with the “less is more” philosophy. The lower the taxes on income, the more income people will be free to make, creating jobs and investing and reinvesting in their communities. As a result, revenues will be more than plenteous if government will return to performing the basic functions it was designed for rather than attempting to provide for every citizens’ needs. As we’re seeing in the E.U. – eventually, government runs out of other peoples’ money.

Background & experience: In many ways I represent your average Arizona citizen: I’m a mother of three grown children who has been actively involved and interested in the community we’ve lived in for over 40 years. People can identify with my concerns about the degrading culture, the quality of education we’re providing, the cost of health care and high taxes. There are a lot of common sense moms and dads and business people that depend on average citizens like me to make common sense laws to reform out of control government.

Prop. 100 sales tax: It was right for the Legislature to refer the tax to the people to vote on. It gives people a real choice about how government should deal with this severe economy. By passing the tax, and I’ve heard from many Republicans in my district who favor the temporary tax, they’re saying we don’t want to see drastic cuts to our largest budget line item (over 60 percent): education. We want to see cuts to education minimized. I voted for the temporary tax because it will minimize the cuts to education somewhat. Make no mistake; we will have to continue cutting all areas to balance the budget going forward. With a third of our budget off limits because of voter mandates and federal mandates, our budget cuts will continue to affect critical services despite long term reform efforts.

Pro-life/pro-choice: I am pro-life. Women and society have suffered as a result of the abortion-on-demand policies in America. Many women suffer from untold psychological stress following an abortion and are often trapped in substance abuse and depression for years to come — men, too. But as recent polls confirm, more and more Americans are coming back to the realization that life in the womb is precious and should be protected. The long term ramifications of not protecting human life at its earliest stages puts us all at risk at some point in our lives as we’re allowing someone to decide whose life is “worthy” of protection and whose is not, be it the elderly, those with genetic markers for disease or the disabled One last thing: It is a critical time for people with energy and vision to serve in state government because there is so much reforming to do. In the next few years, I believe the states will play a vital role in helping our country re-establish sound fiscal and cultural policies — especially by challenging the most intrusive federal mandates that threaten states’ rights. We’re seeing it with the health care debate. I am proud to have led Arizona to the forefront of this movement by sponsoring the Arizona Healthcare Freedom Act last year. It has been a real privilege for me to represent the citizens of District 7 and be their voice on this issue. I appreciate the faith they have placed in me and the opportunity to stand for their values, and hope to continue doing so in the AZ Senate.

Campaign Finance: private.