The coming week...

As usual, all info gathered from the websites of the relevant political bodies and subject to change without notice...

...The U.S. House's agenda has a few controversial issues -

- The latest privileged resolution from AZ's Jeff Flake (R-CD6) that calls for a House ethics committee investigation into ties between campaign contributions by the clients of the lobbying firm PMA Group, and earmarks that benefitted those clients. It'll fail, again, but this is one of the few issues where a Republican has taken the lead that actually has bipartisan appeal - no one likes corruption, and if there is some fire behind the cloud of smoke in the air around PMA, it needs to be dealt with.

- H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. Expect some serious angst over this one from the Republicans - it helps public schools, it authorizes $7 billion in expenditures, and it strongly encourages the use of U.S.-made iron, steel, and manufactured good. This one is scheduled for a hearing in front of the House Rules Committee on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. (EDT).

- Consideration of an FY2009 supplemental appropriations act. While money bills are always controversial (and this one has $90 billion+ attached to it), this bill also shuts down the prison at Guantanamo Bay. This one will draw lots of posturing and screaming from Republicans. And probably at least a little posturing from certain Democrats.


...In the AZ lege...

- Tuesday's House COW calendar thus far contains only one measure that looks to generate a significant amount of controversy - HB2610, which, if passed, would reduce corporations' exposure in product liability cases. Also on the agenda: HCR2023, a concurrent resolution relating to greenhouse gases. Proposed by Republican Rep. Lucy Mason, it supports the idea that any reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases should be done in a business-friendly manner.

Both HB2610 and HCR2023 will pass - HB2610 along a party line vote (if a roll call or division vote takes place during the COW session) while HCR2023 will garner support from the Democratic side of the aisle, while certain Republican members of the "global warming is a hoax" caucus will vote against the measure.

- In House committee action, the only committee scheduled to meet (thus far, anyway) is House Rules on Monday at 1 p.m. (HHR4).

- In Senate Committee action, there are only two committees scheduled to meet - Natural Resources (Monday, 1:30 p.m., SHR109) and Healthcare (Wednesday, 9 a.m., SHR1). Both are meeting for presentations or executive appointments.

Of real interest this week is the possibility that something substantive will break regarding the state budget. A slim possibility perhaps, but one worth keeping an eye out for.


...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. No agenda posted as yet.


...The Arizona Corporation Commission had a securities and safety meeting scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m., but that one has been cancelled and rescheduled for Wednesday, May 20.


...The Citizens Clean Election Commission is scheduled to meet on Friday at 11 a.m. No agenda has been posted online as yet, but it is expected to include the conclusion to the Quelland saga. State Rep. Doug Quelland is facing possible sanctions from the CCEC over some campaign finance violations.

...The Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board, the Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System, the Directors of the Central Arizona Project and the Arizona Board of Regents aren't scheduled to meet this week.


...The Tempe City Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. Most of the agenda is standard (aka - "mundane, but necessary"). One item concerns the issuance of up to $24.5 million worth of bonds to finance some water/wastewater capital projects. There are also a couple of items related to zoning (historic overlay districts and designation of historic buildings) that could generate some talk, but since I don't know Tempe that well, I have no insight on those items.


...The Scottsdale City Council has a quiet week planned. All they have scheduled is an executive session meeting for Tuesday at 3 p.m. The only item on the agenda for that meeting has to do with the search for someone to fill the City Auditor's position.


...Oh, and on Wednesday at 7 p.m., some community activist will give the commencement speech at Arizona State University.

:)