The coming week...

As usual, all info gathered from the websites of the relevent political bodies/agencies (except where noted) and subject to change without notice.


...Over in the U.S. House of Representatives, they have Monday off (except for a pro forma session at 4 p.m. EDT), The agenda for the rest of the week includes -

- H.R. 3548, Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009, heard under suspension of the rules (2/3 majority required for passage);

- As-yet-unnumbered, "To provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958" under suspension of the rules;

- As-yet-unnumbered, "Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act" under suspension of the rules;

- As-yet-unnumbered, "Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2009" under suspension of the rules;

- H.R. 324, "Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Act". This one is a bill sponsored by AZ's Raul Grijalva (D-CD7) that was heard under suspension of the rules a couple of weeks ago. It gained majority support at that time, but enough Republicans voted against it that it didn't gain the 2/3 support to pass under suspension. This time it will be heard "under a rule," meaning that a simple majority will be required for passage.

- As-yet-unnumbered, "Making Continuing Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2010, and for other purposes." Heard under a rule.

Yippee, a budget CR. Apparently the Democratic leadership in Congress hasn't learned any lessons from 8 years of Republican mismanagement. Just pass a budget already.

...Over in the Senate, they'll continue consideration of Interior appropriations (aka - the budget). On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee will consider Max Baucus' health insurer lobbyist-written "reform" of health insurance in the U.S.

In other committee business, on Tuesday, a subcommittee of Senate Judiciary will hold a hearing on "Comprehensive Immigration Reform: How the Current Immigration Law Negatively Impacts America's Agricultural Industry and Food Security." Nativists should bring their own bedsheets and crosses (Reminder: Senate galleries are a "no burn" zone, so you folks should keep your kerosene in your trailers.)

Full list of committee hearings here.

...The Arizona Legislature still hasn't balanced the budget and still isn't in session, but there *is* some activity at the Capitol this week.

- On Monday at 10 a.m., the Bipartisan Task Force on the Private School Tuition Tax Credits program will hold its first meeting in HHR3.

- The Joint Legislative Budget Committee is meeting on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. in HHR4. Agenda here.

- The Joint Committee on Capital Review is meeting on Tuesday at 1 p.m. in SHR109. Agenda here.

...The Arizona Corporation Commission will hold regularly scheduled open meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday. The agenda is here. The highlight looks to be item #20, "Application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) for the Vail to Valencia 115 kV to138 kV Transmission Line Upgrade Project..."

Complete hearing schedule here.

...The Arizona Board of Regents will be meeting on Thursday and Friday at NAU. Agenda here. Executive session agenda here. That one includes discussion of a project to privatize some University housing at NAU. Committee and other meeting schedule here.

...The Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System have two meetings scheduled this week. On Monday, they'll hold a Special meeting at noon. The agenda is vague at this point, with what looks to be a motion to recess into executive session and a legislative report later.

On Wednesday at 1 p.m., they'll meet in a regularly scheduled open meeting. Agenda here.

...On Tuesday, the Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District will meet. An executive session is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and a regular meeting is scheduled for 6:30. Agenda here. The agenda looks to be pretty non-controversial thus far, but there may be some fireworks over the revelation earlier this month that Board President Colleen Clark was arrested for DUI earlier this summer.

...The Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project will be holding a "strategic planning retreat" in Tucson on Thursday. The schedule of events includes a meeting of the Strategic Plan Task Force to discuss the strategic planning retreat process.

...The Scottsdale City Council has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday. Items include a another shot across the bow discussion of the job performance of the City Manager and the possible appointment of an interim City Attorney, Clifford Mattice. Mayor Jim Lane originally wanted to give the interim appointment to one William Sims, but a majority of the Council balked at having only one candidate to consider (August 25, 2009)

Not scheduled to meet this week: Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (though a short-notice Executive Session wouldn't exactly be unheard-of with this bunch) and the Tempe City Council.

Later...