Obama in AZ, but Tucson? Diplomacy in Turkey

Antalya, Turkey

TUCSON -- Welcome President Barack Obama & family to Arizona and the Grand Canyon. Next time please visit the 1M+ people in western Dem stronghold of Pima County and Tucson, AZ's best city.

Merhaba. We're soon on long-planned diplomatic trip for Arizona political leaders to Turkey, an important US ally & rising global power. We will listen, share and learn.

This international relations trip is at no cost to taxpayers, and I have the support of my House leadership to go. As a part-time citizen legislator, I am frustrated there seems to nothing more I can do right now for a fair budget. House Democrats and I have been working hard on the budget since January and we have a decent plan on the table, but stubborn Gov. Jan Brewer and majority leadership in the legislature will not negotiate with us, and I cannot make them. The lack of cooperation or leadership from Brewer and legislative Republicans hurts Arizona.

Visit here and RepPatterson on twitter for updates and views from Turkey.