AZCentral takes a parting look at the tenure of outgoing Rep. Rick Renzi, including:
Over the last three years, Renzi’s effectiveness as a legislator declined dramatically, according to Congress.org, a public-service Web site that said Renzi’s power ranking among fellow congressmen plunged from 84th in 2005 to 435th, or least influential in the House, during 2008.

Arizona Capitol Times:

Among Arizona’s 10-member congressional delegation, Sen. John McCain and U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi — both for different reasons — missed the most votes in the 110th Congress, according to a report by Congressional Quarterly.
Renzi, who has spent much of his time with attorneys fighting various felony charges of corruption, voted 83 percent of [...]

AzCentral:
A lawyer for U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi on Friday accused the Justice Department of leaking information on an investigation of the Arizona congressman so he would talk about it on a wiretapped cell phone.
Renzi attorney Reid Weingarten told Magistrate Bernardo Velasco in Tucson that the leaks to media amount to misconduct. A prosecutor [...]

AZCentral:
The legal staff for the U.S. House of Representatives has challenged the constitutionality of the Justice Department’s prosecution of retiring U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi, effectively aligning with Renzi’s defense.
The House counsel, in a friend-of-the-court brief, said federal prosecutors and the FBI repeatedly violated the Constitution’s speech or debate clause, which grants members of Congress protections [...]

Nothing.
GovExec.com declares CD1 one of eight open seats that GOP is in danger of losing.

As is commonly known by now, Rick Renzi is not going to run in 2008. CD1 will be an open seat.
I’m taking a break from the site… as fun as Congress watching is, I can’t do it every day anymore. Trust that I am not getting disinterested or lazy, or have become complacent with a [...]

From related news in Kansas:
Earlier this week, famous political progrnosticator, Charlie Cook, released his quarterly House ratings, forecasting that both Nancy Boyda and Dennis Moore would likely face competitive races.
Nancy Boyda, despite the fact that she back-tracked on her ‘independent campaign’ promises and accepted national Democratic money, was designated as a ‘lean Democrat seat,’ the [...]

HR 3222, Defense appropriations for FY08, passed 395 – 13 with everyone in Arizona voting Yea.

S 1927, the Protect America Act, which would “expand the government’s abilities to eavesdrop without warrants on foreign suspects whose communications pass through the United States“, passed 227 – 183.
Yea: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Mitchell, Flake
Nay: Pastor, Grijalva, Giffords

H [...]

Republicans and Democrats alike in the House — and especially in Arizona — voted down a Big Pharm supported amendment to keep a ban on importing cheaper medications. Everyone gets a gold star.
Voted Aye: Nobody
Voted No: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Pastor, Mitchell, Flake, Grijalva, Giffords
In the Senate, Jon Kyl opposes lifting the ban.

You’ve seen some of these bills before — they’re being voted on with Senate amendments. There’s a lot of legislation getting crammed through this week before Congress takes a break until after Labor Day. So.
H R 1495, the Water Resources Development Act, passed its Conference Report 381 – 40. Renzi and the Democrats voted to [...]

From the Business Journal:
The head of Republican national congressional election efforts hopes the GOP can retain embattled Flagstaff Congressman Rick Renzi’s seat despite the incumbent’s legal troubles, as well as mount strong bids to regain two Arizona seats that jumped to the Democrats in 2006
National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., pointed to Congress’ [...]

The Snowflake Volunteer Fire Department will be receiving $53,599 in federal funds, while the Eloy Fire District will be receiving $39,520, Rick Renzi announced on his website.

The House passed the conference report to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission… here was the final vote on the bill on Friday:
Yea: Franks, Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
Nay: Renzi, Shadegg, Flake

The House voted 281-142 to increase funds to states that have to deal with incarcerating illegal immigrants. The approved amount of $405 million was a $164 million increase over current levels, but seems far short of previous levels set for the program, which the Administration has tried unsuccessfully to end…

H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act, passed the House 231 – 191.
Aye: Pastor, Grijalva, Giffords
No: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Mitchell, Flake
Jeff Flake called the bill “bloated” and said that “the prospects of this Congress enacting any kind of meaningful reform of any important issue are dim.” His amendment with Ron Kind of Wisconsin [...]

H CON RES 187, Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the dumping of industrial waste into the Great Lakes, passed the House 387 – 26 – 2.
Voted Yea: Renzi, Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
Voted Nay: Franks, Shadegg, Flake

H R 2929, To limit the use of funds to establish any military installation or base for the purpose [...]

Not to be forgotten in the wake of a rival’s well-covered entrance, Mary Kim Titla gets profiled in the Eastern Arizona Courier:
“I believe I can do better as a leader in Arizona’s First Congressional District. My platform will focus on children. If children are struggling or suffering in some way, our communities, state and nation [...]

CQ has a piece on the CD1 race, now that Ann Kirkpatrick has announced. This was interesting:
Renzi so far appears to be keeping his plans mainly to himself. “We probably know as much as you do right now. Rick Renzi’s still a congressman, he hasn’t let us know what his intentions are,” said Brett Mecum, [...]

From a statement:
State Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Flagstaff), a lifelong resident of Arizona’s first Congressional District, today announced her candidacy for the 1st Congressional District.
“I am excited to bring Arizona’s tradition of success to Washington. We need to restore integrity and dedicated representation to the people of the First District,” said Kirkpatrick. “Corruption and dishonesty have [...]

Before he was a United States Representative, Rick Renzi had a stint as a bodyguard for Jerry Jeff Walker, the Jimmy Buffet of Texas, reports Roll Call…