The week ahead...

...As with last week, the week in Congress will be uneventful - they're still in recess.

...In the AZ Lege, things are still fairly quiet in the "official actions" department, at least until the budget logjam breaks up.

- In the House, the only committee agenda that has been posted is for Monday's meeting of the House Rules Committee (1:00 p.m., HHR4). That agenda looks to be mundane, but that is subject to change. The Committee of the Whole agendas (COW) (here and here) look a little more interesting - the nativists have a couple of their measures up for consideration.

HB2331 is a proposal from Rep. Tom Boone to bar "sanctuary city" policies. Specifically it "prohibits cities, towns, and county boards of supervisors from enacting ordinances or resolutions or adopting policies which limit or prohibit the lawful enforcement of United States immigration laws." (from the fact sheet associated with the bill). HB2331 was passed by the Judiciary Committee on March 3 on a party-line vote (Reps supporting, Dems opposing).

HCR2024 is even more "special." Among other things, it demands that -

"all compulsory federal legislation that directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed."

Wonder why the Republicans want the ability to accept federal funds without having to expend them in the way intended by the feds (you know, for things like education, human services, and infrastructure)?

That's a rhetorical question, folks.

- Over in the Senate, the committee meetings mostly have to do with executive appointments. There is no floor schedule posted as yet.

...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will be holding an "informal" meeting on Monday at 10:00 a.m. and a "formal" meeting on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. The highlight there looks to be Monday's budget-balancing fund transfers. That's an issue that has resulted in litigation (aka - a lawsuit) from some of the agencies that have seen their funds swept up. It's probably no coincidence that an executive session is also on the same agenda.

...The Arizona Corporation Commission has a securities meeting on Monday at 10:00 a.m. Not sure how significant the short agenda is, but something tells me that unless you are part of, or a customer of, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Highline Estates LLC, or Trademark Capital Management LLC, this meeting won't be too interesting.

However, if you *are* in one of those groups, the meeting could be *very* interesting, if not exactly fun.

Those organizations all are part of agenda items that have "cease and desist" and "restitution" in them. :)

...The Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project, the Maricopa Integrated Health System Board of Directors and the Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District are not meeting this week.

...The Scottsdale City Council isn't meeting this week. However, it is possible that one or more members of the Council will show up for the McDowell Road/South Scottsdale Economic Summit on Saturday, April 18 (9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., Granite Reef Senior Center).

The agenda is here; the sign-up/RSVP page is here.

While the "public is invited" it looks as if the city is more interested in the viewpoints of the Chamber of Commerce (and the Goldwater Institute!) than in those of actual residents of south Scottsdale.

While those organizations are well-represented on the various panels, there are no panelists there to specifically address the needs and ideas of the residents of the area.

You know, *residents.* The people who are the driving force of almost any local economy, and the people who will be most affected by any scheme hatched at the summit.

Anybody remember when the City declared that south Scottsdale was “economically blighted” (or somesuch B.S.) to facilitate the use of eminent domain to take property from folks and give it to developers in the name of “redevelopment”?

Don't be shocked if something just as monumentally stupid and contemptuous comes out of this.

...On Thursday, the City of Phoenix and Valley Metro (aka - metro Phoenix public transit) is holding a public hearing on proposed capital projects to be funded by federal stimulus money. (5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Public Transit Department, 302 N. 1st Ave., 4th floor, Phoenix, Arizona. )


...Of course, the political highlight of the week should be the Republicans' version of a budget town hall at the Civic Center Branch of the Scottsdale Library on Thursday, April 16 at 5:45 p.m.
Expect a good turnout, as a number of people who have been adversely affected by the goings-on down at the lege (aka - laid-off teachers) plan to attend.

Contact Eric Kurland for more details at erickurland6[at]aol.com.

...Thursday looks to be the busiest day of the week. In addition to the two previously mentioned events, from 6:30 p.m until 8:30 p.m. Legislative Democrats will be holding a budget hearing of their own at Mesa Community College (Library and High Technology Center (Building 11), Room #145 - 1833 W. Southern Ave, Mesa ) and over at the Love of Christ Lutheran Church (1525 N. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ) there will be a town hall meeting on healthcare reform from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

While both the Dem hearing and the healthcare forum are highly worthy events (as is the Valley Metro hearing), I'm going to be at the Scottsdale Library - it's closer to home, and has the potential to be high comedy. (Republicans trying to spin the mess that they've made of the state? The Daily Show should do a remote broadcast that night :)) )

Later!!