1:05 - They win. They've outlasted me. I am out of here. If the state shuts down, don't call me in the morning...
1:03 - HB2222, special license plates, passes.
1:02 - Yahoo! Mail down.
1:00 - HB2207, behavior, analysts. Passes.
12:58 - HB2157, Wildlife, aquatic invasive species. Passes.
12:58 - HB2156, Fire insurance premium tax, report. Passes.
12:56 - HB2049, performance management software. Fails.
12:55 - HB2001, State monuments, repair funds, purposes. Passes.
12:52 - HB2419, Appraisal guidelines, state lands. Passes.
12:50 - McCune-Davis brings up time; Burns says that we are "still in the session day" of June 30. "Real world" time vs. "Senate" time.
12:49 - COW ends.
12:47 - COW for SB1307. Passes COW.
12:46 - Now Rich Crandall is with Pearce.
12:45 - Carl Seel or Laurin Hendrix is sitting with Jack Harper (I can't tell them apart, and that's not a shot at either one. They really do look alike.)
12:41 - John Kavanagh is hanging with his ideological soulmate, Russell Pearce
12:39 - Meg Burton Cahill roundly criticizing Gould (and the Reps) for their conduct and disparagement of Democrats and their motives.
12:38 - Gould calls on Dems to stop being "dilatory" by trying to have input or even enough info to understand the bills that they are voting on.
12:36 - Linda Lopez advised that since it is after midnight (even if the clocks have been turned off), that Burns is in violation of the court order from last week about transmitting budget bills before the end of the fiscal year.
12:35 - End of COW.
12:33 - HB2327, PSPRS omnibus, passes COW after some Gorman floor amendments. No questions allowed; apparently the Senate Republican Whip doesn't like Democrats trying to understand the effects of the language that they are voting on.
12:28 - HB2325, EORP omnibus amendments; passes COW
12:27 - COW, Leff as chair.
12:26 - Gray calls the question. Motion passes.
12:23 - Defeating Hale amendment to protect the use of Impact Aid to reservation school districts
12:20 - Hale bringing up tea parties in support of returning tax revenue generated on reservations to the reservations. DO NOT MENTION TEA PARTIES TO THIS CROWD!! That's like Viagra to the wingers!
12:18 - Call the cops! There is illegal gambling going on in front of the lege! Jerry Weiers and some of his friends are pitching quarters! Closest to the wall win! Oh, the humanity!
12:11 - Defeating Hale amendment to restore Commission on Indian Affairs
12:09 - Steve Pierce tried to silence Meg Burton Cahill. It didn't work.
12:07 - Anybody have a sausage-making video? It's got to be better than this...
12:05 - Defeating Burton-Cahill amendment to help teachers
12:03 - Ed Ableser and David Schapira among the House members who have walked across the quad, Patterson and Deschene here, too.
12:00 - Defeating Rios amendment to restore soft capital reduction to K-12.
12:00 - midnight, and no budget.
11:56 - Defeating Aboud amendment to add $2 million to DES for aging services
11:52 - Defeating Rios amendment to increase DES funding for children's services
11:50 - Defeating Aboud amendment to restore DHS $ for hunger programs.
11:48 - Defeating another Democratic amendment...this is going *very* fast...
11:47 - Pushing toward midnight...
11:45 - Defeating a Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidCare Parents.
11:44 - Defeating a Landrum Taylor amendment to restore the Indian Affairs Commission.
11:42 - Harper getting snippy over Garcia spending more time with the Governor than him.
11:39 - Doing the bills. Dems offering floor amendments with roll call vote.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Senate COWIng budget bills...aka the Washington and 19 Railroad
11:38 - COW rises.
11:36 - Lopez amendment to require school districts to offer contracts by April 15. Defeated.
11:34 - Burton Cahill amendment to restore statutory provisions to keep school districts from arbitrarily reducing a teacher's salary, and to give preference to laid off teachers during rehiring time. Defeated.
11:32 - Rios amendment to protect paid days for association activities. Defeated.
11:31 - Jumped the gun again. Lopez expressed her support. Defeated anyway.
11:29 - Rios amendment to restore $175 million soft capital reduction foisted off on school districts. Defeated.
11:27 - Hale amendment to protect school districts on military and Indian reservations. Defeated.
11:27 - SB1480, K-12 Ed
11:26 - SB1477, Higher Ed, no Dem amendments
11:25 - Wow! I have influence! Sen. Burton Cahill used the "political Katrina" line!! Whoo hooo!
11:23 - SB1476, Environment, no Dem amendments. Burton Cahill asking Burns about park closures and the fact that while there is funding for the parks, there is no authorization to use the funds.
11:20 - SB1475, Criminal Justice. No Dem amendments.
11:19 - SB1474, State properties. No Dem amendments offered.
11:18 - McCune-Davis amendment relating to science foundation funding. Defeated. The gallery is packed.
11:18 - Burton-Cahill amendment to protect cities and towns and the lege's ban on development fees. Defeated.
11:16 - Aboud amendment relating to development fees and a uniform development fee commission. Her amendment would put folks from different parties on it. Defeated.
11:16 - SB1473, General Government
11:14 - Hale amendment defeated.
11:13 - Got premature with my post of the 11:11 item. Paula Aboud is expressing her support.
11:11 - Hale amendment to return some reservation-generated tax revenues to the reservations. Defeated.
11:10 - Garcia amendment regarding secondary assessment rates and commercial property assessments. Defeated.
11:08 - Garcia amendment to expand the sales tax base and lower the rate. Defeated.
11:07 - Garcia amendment to allow the return of the state equalization tax. Defeated.
11:06 - SB1472, General Revenues.
11:06 - Lopes amendment to protect child care providers from state fee hikes. Defeated.
11:05 - Aguirre amendment to help counties. Defeated.
11:03 - Aboud amendment to grandfather in current recipients of domestic partner benefits. Defeated.
11:02 - Aboud amendment relating to the removal of domestic partner benefits from state employees. Defeated.
11:01 - Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidsCare Parents. Defeated.
11:00 - SB1471, Budget trailer - Health and Welfare
11:00 - 10 Democratic amendments offered, 10 Democratic amendments killed.
10:56 - Waring is ready for his next career as conductor. I don't think even Mussolini had the trains running this efficiently.
10:53 - Defeating Burton-Cahill and Garcia amendments.
10:51 - railroading past (defeating) Aguirre and Hale amendments. No debate going on tonight. How appropriate for this farce.
10:50 - Doing amendments to SB1470, general approps. Defeating Aboud amendments
11:36 - Lopez amendment to require school districts to offer contracts by April 15. Defeated.
11:34 - Burton Cahill amendment to restore statutory provisions to keep school districts from arbitrarily reducing a teacher's salary, and to give preference to laid off teachers during rehiring time. Defeated.
11:32 - Rios amendment to protect paid days for association activities. Defeated.
11:31 - Jumped the gun again. Lopez expressed her support. Defeated anyway.
11:29 - Rios amendment to restore $175 million soft capital reduction foisted off on school districts. Defeated.
11:27 - Hale amendment to protect school districts on military and Indian reservations. Defeated.
11:27 - SB1480, K-12 Ed
11:26 - SB1477, Higher Ed, no Dem amendments
11:25 - Wow! I have influence! Sen. Burton Cahill used the "political Katrina" line!! Whoo hooo!
11:23 - SB1476, Environment, no Dem amendments. Burton Cahill asking Burns about park closures and the fact that while there is funding for the parks, there is no authorization to use the funds.
11:20 - SB1475, Criminal Justice. No Dem amendments.
11:19 - SB1474, State properties. No Dem amendments offered.
11:18 - McCune-Davis amendment relating to science foundation funding. Defeated. The gallery is packed.
11:18 - Burton-Cahill amendment to protect cities and towns and the lege's ban on development fees. Defeated.
11:16 - Aboud amendment relating to development fees and a uniform development fee commission. Her amendment would put folks from different parties on it. Defeated.
11:16 - SB1473, General Government
11:14 - Hale amendment defeated.
11:13 - Got premature with my post of the 11:11 item. Paula Aboud is expressing her support.
11:11 - Hale amendment to return some reservation-generated tax revenues to the reservations. Defeated.
11:10 - Garcia amendment regarding secondary assessment rates and commercial property assessments. Defeated.
11:08 - Garcia amendment to expand the sales tax base and lower the rate. Defeated.
11:07 - Garcia amendment to allow the return of the state equalization tax. Defeated.
11:06 - SB1472, General Revenues.
11:06 - Lopes amendment to protect child care providers from state fee hikes. Defeated.
11:05 - Aguirre amendment to help counties. Defeated.
11:03 - Aboud amendment to grandfather in current recipients of domestic partner benefits. Defeated.
11:02 - Aboud amendment relating to the removal of domestic partner benefits from state employees. Defeated.
11:01 - Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidsCare Parents. Defeated.
11:00 - SB1471, Budget trailer - Health and Welfare
11:00 - 10 Democratic amendments offered, 10 Democratic amendments killed.
10:56 - Waring is ready for his next career as conductor. I don't think even Mussolini had the trains running this efficiently.
10:53 - Defeating Burton-Cahill and Garcia amendments.
10:51 - railroading past (defeating) Aguirre and Hale amendments. No debate going on tonight. How appropriate for this farce.
10:50 - Doing amendments to SB1470, general approps. Defeating Aboud amendments
Less than 2 hours to Political Katrina
It looks like no tax bills will be heard in the Senate, flat or sales, so maybe they'll pass an unbalanced budget.
No Senate activity right now, but the House is still in COW.
No Senate activity right now, but the House is still in COW.
Tedski will be live-blogging the House session,
...so I will stick with the Senate side of the quad.
His website, Rum, Romanism, Rebellion is here.
More to come...
His website, Rum, Romanism, Rebellion is here.
More to come...
Deal in the works?
Deal-making is certainly going on...
In the Senate Republican caucus meeting that's currently in progress, former House Speaker Jim Weiers came in and pulled Senate President Bob Burns out of the room...which is interesting on all sorts of levels...
No budget bills mentioned so far, as of 8:19 p.m.
As of 8:25, the Republicans recessed their caucus (recess *caucus*????)...going over to the Democratic caucus...
In the Senate Republican caucus meeting that's currently in progress, former House Speaker Jim Weiers came in and pulled Senate President Bob Burns out of the room...which is interesting on all sorts of levels...
No budget bills mentioned so far, as of 8:19 p.m.
As of 8:25, the Republicans recessed their caucus (recess *caucus*????)...going over to the Democratic caucus...
Movement in the Senate
Senate Rules scheduled to meet upon adjournment of the Floor Session, with both caucuses scheduled to meet immediately after Rules.
Now they're just milling about, mostly Reps, though some Dems...
Now they're just milling about, mostly Reps, though some Dems...
Tweets from the floor
I've been remiss in my coverage of the budget kerfluffle (I have always wanted to use that word in a post :) )...
Certain members of the lege, including two from my own LD17, have been providing updates, commentary, and insights via Twitter.
From Rep. David Schapira's Twitter page (going back to Saturday) -
They're serving dinner at 6. I wonder if they'll serve dinner tomorrow for laid-off state employees. 7 hours and counting...about 2 hours ago from web
I might need some new ammo on a budget vote tonight. Read my last vote explanation (http://bit.ly/182BJN) and post some ideas of your own.about 3 hours ago from web
The word is the Gov might give up on the sales tax and sign the Republican budget that decimates education and public services. 8.5 hrs leftabout 4 hours ago from web
11 hours to shutdown...agencies are making preparations for tomorrow. It's sad how legislative leadership and the gov have failed the state.about 6 hours ago from web
Sales Tax bill dead in Senate. What's next? Will they bring Dems to the table to preserve our state's future. By "future" I mean tomorrow.about 9 hours ago from web
House Appropriations Committee now delayed indefinitely...14 hours to government shutdown.about 10 hours ago from TwitterFon
27 hours to government shutdown and still no signs of negotiation. We just adjourned for the day with no progress. Wow...about 22 hours ago from web
We are less than 30 hours from government shutdown and there's still no movement on the budget...and no bipartisan negotiation.6:09 PM Jun 29th from web
Check out My Education Budget Vote Explanation / Michael Jackson Tribute http://bit.ly/182BJN .4:52 PM Jun 27th from web
The Appropriations Committee just cut $250M in Education Revenue...in the midst of a budget crisis...crazy!2:40 PM Jun 27th from web
The Appropriations Committee just decided to balance our state budget on the backs of students, teachers, the poor and vulnerable Arizonans.1:25 PM Jun 27th from web
Among the many problems with this budget, the State will no longer fund any regulation of the Pay-Day Lending industry.12:28 PM Jun 27th from web
300 people, who had no obligation to do so, took time out of their Saturday morning to come down to the capitol and have their voices heard.12:19 PM Jun 27th from web
This budget fails to repay schools for the $300M the state borrowed...WOW! That might as well be a $300M cut.11:47 AM Jun 27th from web
Approps will be starting in a few minutes.11:27 AM Jun 27th from web
State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (not a D17 rep, but still pretty cool) -
8 hours to government shutdown. Gov made no headway in her quest to peel off Ds. This budget doesn't reflect our values and priorities!about 3 hours ago from txt
President Burns, Speaker Adams and Gov Brewer are calling Democrats into the Speaker's office and asking them to vote for the budget. HAHAabout 5 hours ago from web
Let your voice be heard http://bit.ly/w5Hi9about 8 hours ago from twitterfeed
Senate Rules committee killed the Governor's sales tax proposal this morning. Budget deal is completely derailed...about 8 hours ago from web
Join Arizonans for Health Reform on FB to stay updated about health reform events, forums, meetings in Arizona.about 12 hours ago from web
@lezzymom SB 1403 - spurs economic development for solar energy in Arizona. That was a good idea, and it was bi-partisan. It passed!about 12 hours ago from web in reply to lezzymom
Flat tax might pass today. It's a REALLY BAD IDEA. http://bit.ly/3bHzNabout 12 hours ago from web
Rumor is Senate Rs have votes to pass budget - in exchange for TABOR. Makes a bad deal even worse! Meanwhile, more gun bills today. NICE.about 13 hours ago from web
less than 24 hours to government shutdown. Do the Rs have the votes? Guess we'll see soon....about 18 hours ago from web
Republicans agree on worst budget deal in Arizona history http://bit.ly/E7Oz712:38 PM Jun 29th from twitterfeed
To share your voice on federal health care reform and find out about events, please join my Facebook group: http://bit.ly/RzbvM12:21 PM Jun 29th from Tweetie
It's Monday and the Rs budget deal has broken down. What now?8:41 AM Jun 29th from web
Can't wait to start meetings and forums around the state for health reform! July, where are you?4:28 PM Jun 28th from txt
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Arizona - take note.7:31 AM Jun 28th from web
Wonder what the next several days will bring. Rs don't have the votes to pass their budget & Gov is trying to peel off Dems - to no avail.4:48 PM Jun 27th from web
Chair just announced we're stopping after budget brbs. That means we're not hearing the flat tax or sales tax bills. Do they have the votes?4:42 PM Jun 27th from web
Education budget bill cuts over $220 million from K-12 educ. Plus, really bad policy things stuffed in here - this will hurt our schools!3:54 PM Jun 27th from web
@MrFurlough add'l revenue subtracted from K-12. The cut to universities is 40 million.3:42 PM Jun 27th from web in reply to MrFurlough
ok then - House Approps members approved a bill that now allows them to privatize death row. For real.3:16 PM Jun 27th from web
Wow, this bill is a GREAT deal for developers - not a good deal for local governments. So much for local control....2:53 PM Jun 27th from web
House Rs passed 250 million cut of education funding source (education equalization tax). We're in a fiscal crisis! Kids need this money!1:34 PM Jun 27th from web
first budget bill passes... Gov said June 16th that she wouldn't agree to Republicans' cuts to K-12 education. She agreed to them after all12:54 PM Jun 27th from web
Spent 3 hours briefing the budget this morning - it's even worse than we thought last night!12:16 PM Jun 27th from web
Certain members of the lege, including two from my own LD17, have been providing updates, commentary, and insights via Twitter.
From Rep. David Schapira's Twitter page (going back to Saturday) -
They're serving dinner at 6. I wonder if they'll serve dinner tomorrow for laid-off state employees. 7 hours and counting...about 2 hours ago from web
I might need some new ammo on a budget vote tonight. Read my last vote explanation (http://bit.ly/182BJN) and post some ideas of your own.about 3 hours ago from web
The word is the Gov might give up on the sales tax and sign the Republican budget that decimates education and public services. 8.5 hrs leftabout 4 hours ago from web
11 hours to shutdown...agencies are making preparations for tomorrow. It's sad how legislative leadership and the gov have failed the state.about 6 hours ago from web
Sales Tax bill dead in Senate. What's next? Will they bring Dems to the table to preserve our state's future. By "future" I mean tomorrow.about 9 hours ago from web
House Appropriations Committee now delayed indefinitely...14 hours to government shutdown.about 10 hours ago from TwitterFon
27 hours to government shutdown and still no signs of negotiation. We just adjourned for the day with no progress. Wow...about 22 hours ago from web
We are less than 30 hours from government shutdown and there's still no movement on the budget...and no bipartisan negotiation.6:09 PM Jun 29th from web
Check out My Education Budget Vote Explanation / Michael Jackson Tribute http://bit.ly/182BJN .4:52 PM Jun 27th from web
The Appropriations Committee just cut $250M in Education Revenue...in the midst of a budget crisis...crazy!2:40 PM Jun 27th from web
The Appropriations Committee just decided to balance our state budget on the backs of students, teachers, the poor and vulnerable Arizonans.1:25 PM Jun 27th from web
Among the many problems with this budget, the State will no longer fund any regulation of the Pay-Day Lending industry.12:28 PM Jun 27th from web
300 people, who had no obligation to do so, took time out of their Saturday morning to come down to the capitol and have their voices heard.12:19 PM Jun 27th from web
This budget fails to repay schools for the $300M the state borrowed...WOW! That might as well be a $300M cut.11:47 AM Jun 27th from web
Approps will be starting in a few minutes.11:27 AM Jun 27th from web
State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (not a D17 rep, but still pretty cool) -
8 hours to government shutdown. Gov made no headway in her quest to peel off Ds. This budget doesn't reflect our values and priorities!about 3 hours ago from txt
President Burns, Speaker Adams and Gov Brewer are calling Democrats into the Speaker's office and asking them to vote for the budget. HAHAabout 5 hours ago from web
Let your voice be heard http://bit.ly/w5Hi9about 8 hours ago from twitterfeed
Senate Rules committee killed the Governor's sales tax proposal this morning. Budget deal is completely derailed...about 8 hours ago from web
Join Arizonans for Health Reform on FB to stay updated about health reform events, forums, meetings in Arizona.about 12 hours ago from web
@lezzymom SB 1403 - spurs economic development for solar energy in Arizona. That was a good idea, and it was bi-partisan. It passed!about 12 hours ago from web in reply to lezzymom
Flat tax might pass today. It's a REALLY BAD IDEA. http://bit.ly/3bHzNabout 12 hours ago from web
Rumor is Senate Rs have votes to pass budget - in exchange for TABOR. Makes a bad deal even worse! Meanwhile, more gun bills today. NICE.about 13 hours ago from web
less than 24 hours to government shutdown. Do the Rs have the votes? Guess we'll see soon....about 18 hours ago from web
Republicans agree on worst budget deal in Arizona history http://bit.ly/E7Oz712:38 PM Jun 29th from twitterfeed
To share your voice on federal health care reform and find out about events, please join my Facebook group: http://bit.ly/RzbvM12:21 PM Jun 29th from Tweetie
It's Monday and the Rs budget deal has broken down. What now?8:41 AM Jun 29th from web
Can't wait to start meetings and forums around the state for health reform! July, where are you?4:28 PM Jun 28th from txt
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Arizona - take note.7:31 AM Jun 28th from web
Wonder what the next several days will bring. Rs don't have the votes to pass their budget & Gov is trying to peel off Dems - to no avail.4:48 PM Jun 27th from web
Chair just announced we're stopping after budget brbs. That means we're not hearing the flat tax or sales tax bills. Do they have the votes?4:42 PM Jun 27th from web
Education budget bill cuts over $220 million from K-12 educ. Plus, really bad policy things stuffed in here - this will hurt our schools!3:54 PM Jun 27th from web
@MrFurlough add'l revenue subtracted from K-12. The cut to universities is 40 million.3:42 PM Jun 27th from web in reply to MrFurlough
ok then - House Approps members approved a bill that now allows them to privatize death row. For real.3:16 PM Jun 27th from web
Wow, this bill is a GREAT deal for developers - not a good deal for local governments. So much for local control....2:53 PM Jun 27th from web
House Rs passed 250 million cut of education funding source (education equalization tax). We're in a fiscal crisis! Kids need this money!1:34 PM Jun 27th from web
first budget bill passes... Gov said June 16th that she wouldn't agree to Republicans' cuts to K-12 education. She agreed to them after all12:54 PM Jun 27th from web
Spent 3 hours briefing the budget this morning - it's even worse than we thought last night!12:16 PM Jun 27th from web
Latest rumor...
With the usual caveats about rumors (double strength caveats prescribed during the waning days of a lege session like this one)...
Anyway, talk in the Capitol quad was that after dinner, both chambers were going to vote on the budget bills, minus the referral of the sales tax hike, and send them to the Governor.
Stay tuned to see what ever-more creative ways that the Republicans can find to knock over their own tea cart this week...
Anyway, talk in the Capitol quad was that after dinner, both chambers were going to vote on the budget bills, minus the referral of the sales tax hike, and send them to the Governor.
Stay tuned to see what ever-more creative ways that the Republicans can find to knock over their own tea cart this week...
At Last, Our Long Nightmare Is Over...
...Coleman conceded; Al Franken is now the junior U.S. Senator from Minnesota.
What? You thought that maybe a budget deal had been reached, or maybe the Republican caucus admitted to itself that it is utterly unqualified to govern and resigned en masse? :))
We should be so lucky...
What? You thought that maybe a budget deal had been reached, or maybe the Republican caucus admitted to itself that it is utterly unqualified to govern and resigned en masse? :))
We should be so lucky...
Short House Rules Meeting
The meeting lasted less than two minutes. It was held to propel SB1157, Arizona Department of Environment Quality continuation, and SB1161, having to do with public safety personnel, retirement, and reemployment.
It was blissfully absent of both surprises and testiness, two things that are evidently in great supply at 1700 West Washington in Phoenix.
Maybe we should start a mail-order/internet business on those to help relieve the budget shortfall. :))
I'll hang here until 8 or so, but if it doesn't look like much progress is going to happen, I'll take off and watch this stuff from home.
Until I go to sleep, which should be around 10 minutes after I start watching it.
It was blissfully absent of both surprises and testiness, two things that are evidently in great supply at 1700 West Washington in Phoenix.
Maybe we should start a mail-order/internet business on those to help relieve the budget shortfall. :))
I'll hang here until 8 or so, but if it doesn't look like much progress is going to happen, I'll take off and watch this stuff from home.
Until I go to sleep, which should be around 10 minutes after I start watching it.
Ableser gives up a bill to get it passed
A more complete explanation of what happened at the end of the House floor session, courtesy a press release from the House Dems -
Now the House is in recess, and taking dinner at 6. Don't know when this session is going to get done.
Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe (District 17), has signed on his support today for a bill sponsored by Sen. Jim Waring, R-Phoenix, to allow deployed military members to cancel or suspend their gym memberships, a bill identical to Ableser’s original bill.
Both Ableser and Waring's bills allow active duty members of the military to cancel or suspend a health club contract within 90 days after receiving notice they were being deployed outside of Arizona . Ableser introduced similar legislation the previous two years.
“It’s not about who sponsored what and when at a time when our troops are protecting our freedom,” Ableser said. “We have a sacred duty to support our best and bravest in these times of sacrifice.”
Nearly 600,000 veterans live in Arizona and Ableser originally drafted the bill after one of them, a former House page and constituent, was deployed to Iraq and realized her health club was going to continue to charge her monthly until her contract with the club expired. (See story)
In order to get one of the bills passed before the June 30 deadline, the decision was made to substitute Waring’s Senate Bill 1407 for Ableser’s House Bill 2290 because there was not enough time for both the bills to travel through the House and Senate.
“Our Arizona military servicemen and women risk their lives and pay the ultimate price,” Ableser said. “The least we could do is make sure they aren’t paying even more at home while they are out fighting for us.”
Now the House is in recess, and taking dinner at 6. Don't know when this session is going to get done.
House in session...live blogging
4:51 - HB2290 referred to engrossing. House Rules to meet. House recessing.
4:49 - HB2290 is Ed Ableser's bill to give relief to deployed military members from long-term health club contracts. Bill amended. COW ends.
4:48 - Into COW to amend HB2290.
4;46 - SCR1026, Anti-EFCA resolution, House passes 35 - 24, party line vote.
4:43 - SB1466, under reconsideration. Council on efficient government (aka "the outsource everything" bill), Bill fails again. Yea!
4:42 - SB1459, Cold Case register, victim report, House passes unanimously.
4:37 - SB1320, ADOT omnibus, House passes, Lesko, Burges, Chad Campbell, Murphy, Boone, Sinema, Hendrix, Biggs, Patterson, Farley, Antenori, Stevens, Montenegro, Ash, Crump, Deschene and Seel opposing. Interesting combo there. (I missed a couple of names, check the record of the vote once it is posted online for a complete list.)
4:34 - SB1262, Workers Comp omnibus, House passes unanimously.
4:31 - SB1113, Jack Harper's and Russell Pearce's (and the NRA's) guns in restaurants and bars, House passes 40 - 19, Ugh.
4:30 - HB2603, Amendments, Clean Elections, needs 2/3 to enact emergency clause, House passes, Patterson sole opposition.
4:27 - HB2199, Corporations and LLC omnibus, House passes unanimously.
4:26 - HB2118, ASRS, LTD amendments, House passes unanimously.
4:23 - HB2031, relating to schools: contractors, fingerprint clearance, House passes unanimously. Not budget related.
4:22 - Gavelled in, but nothing happening as Adams confers with some folks...
4:19 - Gavelled into order, lots of teachers in the gallery.
4:49 - HB2290 is Ed Ableser's bill to give relief to deployed military members from long-term health club contracts. Bill amended. COW ends.
4:48 - Into COW to amend HB2290.
4;46 - SCR1026, Anti-EFCA resolution, House passes 35 - 24, party line vote.
4:43 - SB1466, under reconsideration. Council on efficient government (aka "the outsource everything" bill), Bill fails again. Yea!
4:42 - SB1459, Cold Case register, victim report, House passes unanimously.
4:37 - SB1320, ADOT omnibus, House passes, Lesko, Burges, Chad Campbell, Murphy, Boone, Sinema, Hendrix, Biggs, Patterson, Farley, Antenori, Stevens, Montenegro, Ash, Crump, Deschene and Seel opposing. Interesting combo there. (I missed a couple of names, check the record of the vote once it is posted online for a complete list.)
4:34 - SB1262, Workers Comp omnibus, House passes unanimously.
4:31 - SB1113, Jack Harper's and Russell Pearce's (and the NRA's) guns in restaurants and bars, House passes 40 - 19, Ugh.
4:30 - HB2603, Amendments, Clean Elections, needs 2/3 to enact emergency clause, House passes, Patterson sole opposition.
4:27 - HB2199, Corporations and LLC omnibus, House passes unanimously.
4:26 - HB2118, ASRS, LTD amendments, House passes unanimously.
4:23 - HB2031, relating to schools: contractors, fingerprint clearance, House passes unanimously. Not budget related.
4:22 - Gavelled in, but nothing happening as Adams confers with some folks...
4:19 - Gavelled into order, lots of teachers in the gallery.
Well, something's happening in the House...
Not sure if it is budget-related, though.
Both parties just held brief caucus meetings (so brief that most observers couldn't get to them before the meetings were finished).
In addition, a number of Representatives are making their way back to the House floor, and the 10 minute bell just sounded.
BTW - I had a truly brilliant* idea while my mind was wandering, waiting for the lege to get its act together -
I think that if the lege doesn't pass a budget, all state flags should be lowered to half-mast until the budget is done. In addition, the AZ flag flying over the Capitol should be flown upside down. An upside down flag used to be nearly-universally used to signal that a ship was in distress, and people from all across the political spectrum agree that the ship of state in Arizona is foundering badly.
*brilliant = "sounded like a wonderfully wiseass idea to me." :)
Both parties just held brief caucus meetings (so brief that most observers couldn't get to them before the meetings were finished).
In addition, a number of Representatives are making their way back to the House floor, and the 10 minute bell just sounded.
BTW - I had a truly brilliant* idea while my mind was wandering, waiting for the lege to get its act together -
I think that if the lege doesn't pass a budget, all state flags should be lowered to half-mast until the budget is done. In addition, the AZ flag flying over the Capitol should be flown upside down. An upside down flag used to be nearly-universally used to signal that a ship was in distress, and people from all across the political spectrum agree that the ship of state in Arizona is foundering badly.
*brilliant = "sounded like a wonderfully wiseass idea to me." :)
Holding pattern
Had a dentist's appointment today, and rushed down to the lege afterward.
Turns out, there was no need to rush.
Nothing is happening right now.
Over in the Senate earlier today, Senate Rules heard all of the bills that were railroaded through Senate Education last night, and passed all of them.
Except for the one referring a hike in the sales tax to the voters.
Oopsie.
According to one source, the Governor is in the Speaker's office with the Senate President and together they are calling in the Democrats one-by-one to try to browbeat them into supporting the budget.
That approach doesn't seem to be working too well.
The Senate floor session is in recess, as is the House. Members of the House are milling about on the floor while the backroom deal-making/arm-twisting continues.
There are a number of lobbyists and Capitol watchers in the House gallery, and a while ago, they were doing the wave.
It was actually pretty funny, and easily the most entertaining thing I've seen down here.
Anyway, I plan on hanging here for a while, and checking in with a few of the folks that I know.
More updates when there is something to update.
8 1/2 hours to a shutdown...
Turns out, there was no need to rush.
Nothing is happening right now.
Over in the Senate earlier today, Senate Rules heard all of the bills that were railroaded through Senate Education last night, and passed all of them.
Except for the one referring a hike in the sales tax to the voters.
Oopsie.
According to one source, the Governor is in the Speaker's office with the Senate President and together they are calling in the Democrats one-by-one to try to browbeat them into supporting the budget.
That approach doesn't seem to be working too well.
The Senate floor session is in recess, as is the House. Members of the House are milling about on the floor while the backroom deal-making/arm-twisting continues.
There are a number of lobbyists and Capitol watchers in the House gallery, and a while ago, they were doing the wave.
It was actually pretty funny, and easily the most entertaining thing I've seen down here.
Anyway, I plan on hanging here for a while, and checking in with a few of the folks that I know.
More updates when there is something to update.
8 1/2 hours to a shutdown...
Monday, June 29, 2009
A day-long civics lesson...
This is going to be a short post, because I need to decompress. And unlike the people who work at the lege tonight, I get to do just that.
In spite of the vast quantity of nothing effective that seemed to dominate today's activities, today was a learning experience.
During one of the lulls in the inaction today, I met and had the opportunity to speak with Tim Schmaltz, CEO of PAFCO. PAFCO, Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition, is a "non-partisan alliance of social services, health, community service agencies, advocacy groups, citizen advocacy, and faith-based associations."
He has a vast knowledge of the accomplishing things at the AZ lege, and in legislative/political bodies in general. He made the point that in practical politics, someone like a committee chair or the leadership of a body should never bring a bill forward unless they know exactly what the vote will be. He was stunned at the fact that Russell Pearce brought the budget bills forward without knowing that they would pass.
I wondered if in fact Pearce knew *exactly* how the vote was going to turn out before bringing the meeting to order.
Apparently, cynicism is contagious, because that made him wonder too.
I've criticized Russell Pearce many times in the past, and have made it clear that I don't think he is particularly intelligent. However, he is a skilled tactician when it comes to practical politics. He knows how and when to throw an elbow, and I believe that's exactly what he did today.
There are still more chapters to come to pass in this story.
The Governor's office has extended some backchannel feelers to some Democratic senators, but they aren't actually willing to make concessions, or even negotiate with the Democrats. If they don't get at least 6 Dems on board, nothing that resembles this budget is going to pass the Senate. There just aren't enough Republicans on board.
I reminded the person who told me of that of the *deal* a couple of years ago that Pete Rios and another Democratic representative made with then-speaker Jim Weiers. It was the sort of deal where they sold their souls to the devil (Weiers) but where the devil didn't pay the freight (the concessions they got came at the cost of programs that Weiers wanted to cut anyway.)
In other words, any deals made with the Governor had better be *good* deals, not just creating a different sort of bad.
Tomorrow, I have an appointment at the dentist. I may go down to the lege to see how things are going, but maybe not. Depends on developments and how I feel.
Either way, I recommend viewing the proceedings on AZ Capitol Television or on the lege's website. This stuff will affect our home for years, if not generations.
In spite of the vast quantity of nothing effective that seemed to dominate today's activities, today was a learning experience.
During one of the lulls in the inaction today, I met and had the opportunity to speak with Tim Schmaltz, CEO of PAFCO. PAFCO, Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition, is a "non-partisan alliance of social services, health, community service agencies, advocacy groups, citizen advocacy, and faith-based associations."
He has a vast knowledge of the accomplishing things at the AZ lege, and in legislative/political bodies in general. He made the point that in practical politics, someone like a committee chair or the leadership of a body should never bring a bill forward unless they know exactly what the vote will be. He was stunned at the fact that Russell Pearce brought the budget bills forward without knowing that they would pass.
I wondered if in fact Pearce knew *exactly* how the vote was going to turn out before bringing the meeting to order.
Apparently, cynicism is contagious, because that made him wonder too.
I've criticized Russell Pearce many times in the past, and have made it clear that I don't think he is particularly intelligent. However, he is a skilled tactician when it comes to practical politics. He knows how and when to throw an elbow, and I believe that's exactly what he did today.
There are still more chapters to come to pass in this story.
The Governor's office has extended some backchannel feelers to some Democratic senators, but they aren't actually willing to make concessions, or even negotiate with the Democrats. If they don't get at least 6 Dems on board, nothing that resembles this budget is going to pass the Senate. There just aren't enough Republicans on board.
I reminded the person who told me of that of the *deal* a couple of years ago that Pete Rios and another Democratic representative made with then-speaker Jim Weiers. It was the sort of deal where they sold their souls to the devil (Weiers) but where the devil didn't pay the freight (the concessions they got came at the cost of programs that Weiers wanted to cut anyway.)
In other words, any deals made with the Governor had better be *good* deals, not just creating a different sort of bad.
Tomorrow, I have an appointment at the dentist. I may go down to the lege to see how things are going, but maybe not. Depends on developments and how I feel.
Either way, I recommend viewing the proceedings on AZ Capitol Television or on the lege's website. This stuff will affect our home for years, if not generations.
Live blogging Senate Education
7:57 - SB1475 passes on a party line vote. And I am out of here. Good night everyone.
7:56 - Lopez reminds Huppenthal that almost no Democratic bills have moved.
7:51 - SB1475, criminal justice. Includes sale of prisons to private operators.
7:46 - SB1474. Landrum Taylor calls this year's budget process "extremely disappointing." Lopez actually votes "aye" on this one. Huppenthal criticizes Dems for "stabbing him in the back" on another bill. Bill passes.
Things are getting testy, in a "the kids are getting tired" sort of way.
7:43 - SB1473 passes. Party line vote again.
Aboud criticizes Reps for short notice on the budget.
Huppenthal criticizes the Dems for not signing on to the Republican budget.
7:41 - still talking about the details of SB1473
7:38 - SB1473, among other things, affecting development fees.
7:35 - SB1471 vote. Bill passes on a party line vote. Pattern set. Expect the rest of these bills to go the same way.
7:33 - Aboud amendment moved. It would modify some definitions and grandfather in already enrolled domestic partners in state employee insurance coverage. Trying to fix Matt Heinz' mistake in House Approps on Saturday. Amendment fails on a voice vote.
7:30 - SB1471 continuing. Childcare providers worried about new fee provisions in the bill.
7:25 - SB1471, health and welfare.
7:21 - SB1470, feeder bill, up for a vote. Gray is here. Bill passes on a party line vote. Gray, Huppenthal, Paton, Allen - Yes; Landrum Taylor, Lopez, Aboud - No.
Huppenthal started talking about protecting small business. Yes folks, he's running statewide next year.
7:16 - Aboud is here.
7:15 - Gray's "stuff" here, but no Gray, yet.
7:13 - Meeting starts. Linda Gray and Paula Aboud not present. No Gray could make passage of the Rep budget "compromise" problematical.
6:57 - The Committee is not going to start right at 7, but it looks like it will be commencing soon enough for me to stay.
7:56 - Lopez reminds Huppenthal that almost no Democratic bills have moved.
7:51 - SB1475, criminal justice. Includes sale of prisons to private operators.
7:46 - SB1474. Landrum Taylor calls this year's budget process "extremely disappointing." Lopez actually votes "aye" on this one. Huppenthal criticizes Dems for "stabbing him in the back" on another bill. Bill passes.
Things are getting testy, in a "the kids are getting tired" sort of way.
7:43 - SB1473 passes. Party line vote again.
Aboud criticizes Reps for short notice on the budget.
Huppenthal criticizes the Dems for not signing on to the Republican budget.
7:41 - still talking about the details of SB1473
7:38 - SB1473, among other things, affecting development fees.
7:35 - SB1471 vote. Bill passes on a party line vote. Pattern set. Expect the rest of these bills to go the same way.
7:33 - Aboud amendment moved. It would modify some definitions and grandfather in already enrolled domestic partners in state employee insurance coverage. Trying to fix Matt Heinz' mistake in House Approps on Saturday. Amendment fails on a voice vote.
7:30 - SB1471 continuing. Childcare providers worried about new fee provisions in the bill.
7:25 - SB1471, health and welfare.
7:21 - SB1470, feeder bill, up for a vote. Gray is here. Bill passes on a party line vote. Gray, Huppenthal, Paton, Allen - Yes; Landrum Taylor, Lopez, Aboud - No.
Huppenthal started talking about protecting small business. Yes folks, he's running statewide next year.
7:16 - Aboud is here.
7:15 - Gray's "stuff" here, but no Gray, yet.
7:13 - Meeting starts. Linda Gray and Paula Aboud not present. No Gray could make passage of the Rep budget "compromise" problematical.
6:57 - The Committee is not going to start right at 7, but it looks like it will be commencing soon enough for me to stay.
Clarifications while waiting for Senate Education meeting to start
In case I didn't make it clear previously (and I didn't, hence the need for this post), the activity during the Senate floor session was final passage, and the activity during the House floor session was only Committee-of-the-Whole, not final passage.
BTW - I will stay for the Ed committee hearing, unless it doesn't start on time. If this is another exercise in "there's real world time, and then there's Senate time," I'm out of here.
They've had over five months to get this stuff worked out.
Enough already.
BTW - I will stay for the Ed committee hearing, unless it doesn't start on time. If this is another exercise in "there's real world time, and then there's Senate time," I'm out of here.
They've had over five months to get this stuff worked out.
Enough already.
Live blogging the Senate floor session #2
6:09 - It looks like Education will be meeting tonight at 7 p.m. And the House will be coming back after dinner, so this looks like a day where I should have brought a cot with me.
6:07 - Burns assigns budget bills to Education Committee.
6:05 - Landrum Taylor talks about constituent concerns about the effects of the looming shutdown. Also laments lack of bipartisanship, and calls this one of the "stranger sessions" that she has ever seen.
6:04 - Waring urges "no more bills until the budget is passed."
6:02 - Leff blames Napolitano, but calls on Rep caucus to support Brewer.
6:02 - Jack Harper calls Napolitano's promotion to a Presidential cabinet post a "miracle." Urges Governor to sign current budget.
6:01 - Aboud's turn. Calls out Republicans for their failed leadership and focus on assessing blame for last year instead of dealing with this year.
6:00 - Rios brings up the fact that the Reps have controlled the lege for decades, and that the Reps are still looking to reduce revenues with tax breaks for Big Business. Gould walks away for a minute. Returns.
5:58 - Meg Burton Cahill rebuts Gould by bringing up the Republican mantra of "tax cuts for special interests."
5:55 - Gould stands up to blame Democrats and Janet Napolitano for the budget mess.
5:53 - Aboud criticizing Reps for not forwarding previously approved budget bills. Also notes that the bills of the compromise are now assigned to Education Committee.
5:47 - SB1395, common school districts, grade nine. Fails again.
5:47 - Gorman moved to reconsider SB1395.
5:46 - Gorman moved to reconsider SB1022, political signs, tampering.
5:44 - Rios criticizing the Reps for pushing the budget to the last possible moment and for not including Democrats in this, and that the Democrats could have taken care of this weeks ago.
5:43 - Vote to reconsider passes.
5:40 - This is a cluster***k. They are now reconsidering the vote on SB1464.
5:38 - McCune-Davis raises point of order about Burns' failure to order that passed bills be transmitted to the Governor. Burns says that the rules don't require that phrasing.
5:32 - SB1464, state budget reports, financial condition. Passes, apparently, though Burns is holding the vote open. Even though there is absolutely no opposition to it, so he isn't trying to gather votes for/against it. Not sure what is going on.
5:28 - SB1395, common school districts, grade nine. Fails.
5:27 - SB1386 - Charter school renewal periods. Passes.
5:26 - SB1289, Vehicle accident reports. Needs 2/3 to enact emergency clause. Gets it.
5:25 - SB1246, CPS information. Passes unanimously.
5:23 - SB1196, education omnibus. Aboud wonders why the budget isn't under consideration. Bill passes.
5:20 - SB1168, guns in parked cars. Passes. Ugh.
5:16 - SB1146, expenditure limitation, penalty waiver, Pima (as in "town of"). Passes 16-11
5:14 - SB1104, assisted living managers; nursing. Passes, wingers opposing.
5:13 - SB1022, relating to political signs and tampering, fails, bipartisan opposition.
6:07 - Burns assigns budget bills to Education Committee.
6:05 - Landrum Taylor talks about constituent concerns about the effects of the looming shutdown. Also laments lack of bipartisanship, and calls this one of the "stranger sessions" that she has ever seen.
6:04 - Waring urges "no more bills until the budget is passed."
6:02 - Leff blames Napolitano, but calls on Rep caucus to support Brewer.
6:02 - Jack Harper calls Napolitano's promotion to a Presidential cabinet post a "miracle." Urges Governor to sign current budget.
6:01 - Aboud's turn. Calls out Republicans for their failed leadership and focus on assessing blame for last year instead of dealing with this year.
6:00 - Rios brings up the fact that the Reps have controlled the lege for decades, and that the Reps are still looking to reduce revenues with tax breaks for Big Business. Gould walks away for a minute. Returns.
5:58 - Meg Burton Cahill rebuts Gould by bringing up the Republican mantra of "tax cuts for special interests."
5:55 - Gould stands up to blame Democrats and Janet Napolitano for the budget mess.
5:53 - Aboud criticizing Reps for not forwarding previously approved budget bills. Also notes that the bills of the compromise are now assigned to Education Committee.
5:47 - SB1395, common school districts, grade nine. Fails again.
5:47 - Gorman moved to reconsider SB1395.
5:46 - Gorman moved to reconsider SB1022, political signs, tampering.
5:44 - Rios criticizing the Reps for pushing the budget to the last possible moment and for not including Democrats in this, and that the Democrats could have taken care of this weeks ago.
5:43 - Vote to reconsider passes.
5:40 - This is a cluster***k. They are now reconsidering the vote on SB1464.
5:38 - McCune-Davis raises point of order about Burns' failure to order that passed bills be transmitted to the Governor. Burns says that the rules don't require that phrasing.
5:32 - SB1464, state budget reports, financial condition. Passes, apparently, though Burns is holding the vote open. Even though there is absolutely no opposition to it, so he isn't trying to gather votes for/against it. Not sure what is going on.
5:28 - SB1395, common school districts, grade nine. Fails.
5:27 - SB1386 - Charter school renewal periods. Passes.
5:26 - SB1289, Vehicle accident reports. Needs 2/3 to enact emergency clause. Gets it.
5:25 - SB1246, CPS information. Passes unanimously.
5:23 - SB1196, education omnibus. Aboud wonders why the budget isn't under consideration. Bill passes.
5:20 - SB1168, guns in parked cars. Passes. Ugh.
5:16 - SB1146, expenditure limitation, penalty waiver, Pima (as in "town of"). Passes 16-11
5:14 - SB1104, assisted living managers; nursing. Passes, wingers opposing.
5:13 - SB1022, relating to political signs and tampering, fails, bipartisan opposition.
Live blogging the House floor session
Not sure when it is scheduled to start, but a number of reps are trickling into the chamber. And the 5 (or 10, I'm not sure which) bell just sounded.
Other updates:
House Approps will *not* meet today. This has been confirmed by a member of the committee.
A couple of heavy hitters from the Governor's office were spotted over in the Senate building heading upstairs to a destination unknown. That doesn't seem to have helped - the same source that confirmed the delay in the House Approps meeting also stated that his best guess was that they were going to need a continuing resolution, probably passed tomorrow, to avoid a government shutdown over the 4th of July holiday weekend.
__________________________________________________________________
5:03 - Update from a loyal (and active!) reader - the Senate is about to go back into session. Heading over there....
5:01 - SB1459, passes
5:01 SB1449, passes
5:00 SB1326, passes
4:59 - SB1282, passes.
4:58 - SB1281, passes.
4:58 - SB1254, passes. this is going too fast.
4:58 - SB1253, Felony murder, drive by shooting. Passes.
4:57 - SB1243, Defensive display of firearm. Passes.
4:57 - SB1103, Nursing education. Passes.
4:56 - SB1100 - continuation of the Biomedical Research Commission. Passes.
4:55 - SB1047, child safety. Biggs opposes. Passes anyway.
4:50 - COW bills assigned to committees. Enter 2nd COW session. Rep. Boone takes chair.
4:49 - SB1175, performance of abortion, non-physician. Passes. End of COW.
4:48 - SB1123 passes.
4:42 - Lopes still excoriating Antenori's amendment. It still passes.
4:37 - Lopes still grilling Antenori.
4:33 - SB1123, nonpartisan elections in Tucson. Antenori wants to amend it to make sure people understand that this is targeted statewide, not at Tucson. Phil Lopes is calling him out on that. Lopes has a point - the only city affected by this bill, notwithstanding Antenori's amendment, is Tucson.
4:33 - SB1115, animal fighting. Passes.
4:30 - SB1113, Guns in bars and restaurants. Passes. Ugh.
4:29 - SB1106, Domestic violence, child custody. Passes.
4:25 - SB1091, more election laws stuff and BRB stuff. Amended by Tobin on the floor. Seel opposes bill because it requires petition signers to fill out too much info, and that will discourage voters from signing multiple petitions. Passes.
4:25 - SB1088, relating to domestic violence and dating relationships. Passes.
4:24 - SB1074, Amendments to election law passes.
4:22 - SB1059, relating to organized retail theft. Passes COW.
4:22 - SB1015, dispersing unlawful assemblies. Passes.
4:20 - SB1011, relating to sex offenders and probation monitoring. Passes.
4:18 - Gavelled into session. Going into COW session. Warde Nichols taking the chair.
4:16 - Floor session still hasn't started, but security seems to be ramped up a little from the what I have seen during visits earlier in the year.
Other updates:
House Approps will *not* meet today. This has been confirmed by a member of the committee.
A couple of heavy hitters from the Governor's office were spotted over in the Senate building heading upstairs to a destination unknown. That doesn't seem to have helped - the same source that confirmed the delay in the House Approps meeting also stated that his best guess was that they were going to need a continuing resolution, probably passed tomorrow, to avoid a government shutdown over the 4th of July holiday weekend.
__________________________________________________________________
5:03 - Update from a loyal (and active!) reader - the Senate is about to go back into session. Heading over there....
5:01 - SB1459, passes
5:01 SB1449, passes
5:00 SB1326, passes
4:59 - SB1282, passes.
4:58 - SB1281, passes.
4:58 - SB1254, passes. this is going too fast.
4:58 - SB1253, Felony murder, drive by shooting. Passes.
4:57 - SB1243, Defensive display of firearm. Passes.
4:57 - SB1103, Nursing education. Passes.
4:56 - SB1100 - continuation of the Biomedical Research Commission. Passes.
4:55 - SB1047, child safety. Biggs opposes. Passes anyway.
4:50 - COW bills assigned to committees. Enter 2nd COW session. Rep. Boone takes chair.
4:49 - SB1175, performance of abortion, non-physician. Passes. End of COW.
4:48 - SB1123 passes.
4:42 - Lopes still excoriating Antenori's amendment. It still passes.
4:37 - Lopes still grilling Antenori.
4:33 - SB1123, nonpartisan elections in Tucson. Antenori wants to amend it to make sure people understand that this is targeted statewide, not at Tucson. Phil Lopes is calling him out on that. Lopes has a point - the only city affected by this bill, notwithstanding Antenori's amendment, is Tucson.
4:33 - SB1115, animal fighting. Passes.
4:30 - SB1113, Guns in bars and restaurants. Passes. Ugh.
4:29 - SB1106, Domestic violence, child custody. Passes.
4:25 - SB1091, more election laws stuff and BRB stuff. Amended by Tobin on the floor. Seel opposes bill because it requires petition signers to fill out too much info, and that will discourage voters from signing multiple petitions. Passes.
4:25 - SB1088, relating to domestic violence and dating relationships. Passes.
4:24 - SB1074, Amendments to election law passes.
4:22 - SB1059, relating to organized retail theft. Passes COW.
4:22 - SB1015, dispersing unlawful assemblies. Passes.
4:20 - SB1011, relating to sex offenders and probation monitoring. Passes.
4:18 - Gavelled into session. Going into COW session. Warde Nichols taking the chair.
4:16 - Floor session still hasn't started, but security seems to be ramped up a little from the what I have seen during visits earlier in the year.
Notes from the meeting of the Senate Democratic Caucus...
...They're concerned that some very bad bills are going to slip through in the mad crush that is coming.
...As of 10 minutes ago (roughly 2:40 p.m.), nobody, including the Rep leadership in the Senate, had any clue as to when any part of the budget would move forward.
...A number of senators brought up some of the preparations that various state agencies are making for a shut down (warning campers that they might have to evacuate state parks if a budget doesn't pass and the parks have to close down for the 4th of July weekend, CPS letting folks know that a call to CPS may not be an option in the event of a situation and to be ready to call the police. Apparently, under the Republicans' emergency plan, Child Protective Services isn't a necessary function.
...They (the Dems) are planning for a long couple of days. As should we all. I probably won't be here tomorrow due to a dentist's appointment, and given today's activities ( and lack thereof), I'm thinking that will be a better use of my time.
...As of 10 minutes ago (roughly 2:40 p.m.), nobody, including the Rep leadership in the Senate, had any clue as to when any part of the budget would move forward.
...A number of senators brought up some of the preparations that various state agencies are making for a shut down (warning campers that they might have to evacuate state parks if a budget doesn't pass and the parks have to close down for the 4th of July weekend, CPS letting folks know that a call to CPS may not be an option in the event of a situation and to be ready to call the police. Apparently, under the Republicans' emergency plan, Child Protective Services isn't a necessary function.
...They (the Dems) are planning for a long couple of days. As should we all. I probably won't be here tomorrow due to a dentist's appointment, and given today's activities ( and lack thereof), I'm thinking that will be a better use of my time.
Live blogging the Senate floor session...
1:48 - Gould demands a roll call vote on the last. Moved that the COW record show that HB2572 failed. Carolyn Allen actually supports this because of lack of support for tax for education. Failed 8 - 17. HB2572 still proceeding.
1:44 - Still HB2572. Pearce opposing. He objects to helping Tucson. Calls it a "plunder" of the taxpayers, giving money to sports teams. Apparently, he likes giving taxpayer money only to non-sports corporations. Passes 18 - 7. COW session ends.
1:41 - HB2572, sports authority districts (aka - spring training in Tucson bill). Gould opposing, objects to even sending this to the voters. Jorge Luis Garcia supporting, because it *is* a referral to the voters.
1:39 - After 1st read and assignment of bills to committee (all to Rules), going into COW to amend bills; Waring is the chair of the COW session.
1:30 - Harper calls for standing firm on the original budget. Again (he did it twice during Senate Appropriations).
1:29 - A Democrat, Landrum-Taylor, introduced a teacher.
1:28 - Other Republican senators shamelessly doing the same.
1:27 - Gorman introducing some of the teachers that she wants to put out of work.
1:25 - Gould is ranting about socialized medicine in Canada.
1:21 - session gavelled into order, prayer and pledge of allegiance. Taking attendance. 26 present, 2 absent, 2 excused.
1:14 - Senators gathering, but no meeting yet. Press gaggle around Pearce on the floor. Gould and Sylvia Allen talking in the middle of the floor, as are Burns and Leff. Huppenthal on the phone.
1:00 The session was supposed to start at 1, but it hasn't. Not shocking that, as "Senate time" means "the scheduled time, give or take four hours." However, there is some pre-session setup activity going on, so it should be 15 minutes or so.
1:44 - Still HB2572. Pearce opposing. He objects to helping Tucson. Calls it a "plunder" of the taxpayers, giving money to sports teams. Apparently, he likes giving taxpayer money only to non-sports corporations. Passes 18 - 7. COW session ends.
1:41 - HB2572, sports authority districts (aka - spring training in Tucson bill). Gould opposing, objects to even sending this to the voters. Jorge Luis Garcia supporting, because it *is* a referral to the voters.
1:39 - After 1st read and assignment of bills to committee (all to Rules), going into COW to amend bills; Waring is the chair of the COW session.
1:30 - Harper calls for standing firm on the original budget. Again (he did it twice during Senate Appropriations).
1:29 - A Democrat, Landrum-Taylor, introduced a teacher.
1:28 - Other Republican senators shamelessly doing the same.
1:27 - Gorman introducing some of the teachers that she wants to put out of work.
1:25 - Gould is ranting about socialized medicine in Canada.
1:21 - session gavelled into order, prayer and pledge of allegiance. Taking attendance. 26 present, 2 absent, 2 excused.
1:14 - Senators gathering, but no meeting yet. Press gaggle around Pearce on the floor. Gould and Sylvia Allen talking in the middle of the floor, as are Burns and Leff. Huppenthal on the phone.
1:00 The session was supposed to start at 1, but it hasn't. Not shocking that, as "Senate time" means "the scheduled time, give or take four hours." However, there is some pre-session setup activity going on, so it should be 15 minutes or so.
More than just the budget going on today...
In spite of all of the attention paid to the budget mess, we should remember that there have been other forms of ugly going on down here all year.
Today, a number of protesters marched on the Capitol to protest Tom Horne's nativist ban on TUSD's ethnic studies classes.
Today, a number of protesters marched on the Capitol to protest Tom Horne's nativist ban on TUSD's ethnic studies classes.
Live blogging Senate Approps
12:47 - Up in the Senate gallery now, waiting for the floor session. Talk downstairs was that most of the Reps, including many of those on Approps, went out to lunch with some lobbyists. The Dems were meeting in their caucus room, though that has broken up somewhat (saw Amanda Aguirre, Albert Hale, and Paula Aboud in the halls/elevator).
House Approps has been delayed until after the House floor session. They seem to be having many of the same problems over there that they are having here - the nihilist branch of the extremist wing of the GOP caucus is standing together (so far) in opposition to anything resembling a compromise.
12:07 - Aboud stated that the earlier absence of the Dems was not a "statement", they were just working on something and no one had told them that the meeting was finally starting.
12:03 - Paula Aboud thinks that they (meaning the Rep leadership) could go to the floor and reassign these bills to another committee, as it doesn't seem that this Republican-run committee will pass the Republican-written budget.
11:59 - Now I'm updating my Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball teams. Translation - nothing happening. I'll give it another few minutes, maybe to 12:15, before looking for something a little more active. Word around the room is that House Approps is in session to consider the tax bills.
11:45 - LD17 State Rep Ed Ableser popped in and earned some laughs when he announced that he had been appointed chair of Senate Approps. If only...
11:38 - While waiting for the Reps to dislodge their craniums from their rectal orifices (could be a looong wait for that :) ), the votes on the feeder bill -
Opposed - Harper, Gould, Steve Pierce, and Aboud.
Supported - Russell Pearce, Melvin, Gorman, Sylvia Allen
Not voting - Hale, Rios, Aguirre
11:33 - Still in recess, and nary a game of kickball in sight. Some serious arm-twisting going on right now. The Reps do not have enough support in their caucus to pass this without Democratic support, and they would rather shut down the state completely than allow the Dems to have any input.
11:27 - The Keystone Cops have recessed again (h/t to Tedski for the Keystone Cops reference).
11:25 - Harper reiterates that if he votes with the Democrats on stuff today, he's not voting with the Democrats but against changing the previously passed budget.
11:22 - Meeting back in session. Steve Pierce moved to reconsider SB1470. Hale, Rios, and Aguirre are here now.
11:15 - SB1470 fails 4 - 4, 3 not voting. And the Republican circular firing squad continues. Meeting recessed.
11:14 - Aboud here.
11:13 - SB1470 is amended to the new bill, Gould opposing.
11:11 - Gould is here. Still no Dems.
11:09 - Pearce is rambling on about overspending, overtaxed, and tea parties.
11:08 - Harper expresses the thought that the original Senate budget was the best one, partially because the Home Builders Association liked it.
11:07 - House Approps chair John Kavanagh is in the room, overseeing the proceedings.
11:04 - First up - SB1470, the feed bill. Changes SB1188. Howie Fischer of Capitol Media had to turn on a mike so that everyone could here the presentation. Pearce forgot to hit the switch.
11:03 - Gorman is here. Meeting started. No Dems.
11:01 - Steve Pierce is here, but so far no Dems (except for Aguirre's brief appearance), Pam Gorman, or Ron Gould.
10:57 - no meeting yet, but more and more staffers. BTW - as many staffers as there are here, there may be more media folks in the room (including some who actually get paid for this stuff! :) )
Sylvia Allen opines that everybody is going to be back here in August, no matter which budget is passed. I may never agree with her on anything else, but on this? Yup.
10:49 - Pearce is finally here. Still no quorum as only Harper and Melvin are in the room with him.
10:39 - More staffers present, but there aren't any Senators in the meeting room right now.
10:25 - reformatted post; no changes yet. This is getting boring.
10:23 - Amanda Aguirre has taken her seat and is talking to Al Melvin. They're the only two Senators in the room right now.
10:09 - Melvin and Harper stepped back out; Sylvia Allen holding an impromptu press conference...until she stepped out.
Meeting getting closer though - legislative staff has put out printed copies of the strikers to be considered and their associated fact sheets.
10:02 - Sylvia Allen and Al Melvin just came in. Meeting not started yet.
10:00 - the only senator who has show up so far is Jack Harper, and he just walked in and is setting up his laptop.
House Approps has been delayed until after the House floor session. They seem to be having many of the same problems over there that they are having here - the nihilist branch of the extremist wing of the GOP caucus is standing together (so far) in opposition to anything resembling a compromise.
12:07 - Aboud stated that the earlier absence of the Dems was not a "statement", they were just working on something and no one had told them that the meeting was finally starting.
12:03 - Paula Aboud thinks that they (meaning the Rep leadership) could go to the floor and reassign these bills to another committee, as it doesn't seem that this Republican-run committee will pass the Republican-written budget.
11:59 - Now I'm updating my Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball teams. Translation - nothing happening. I'll give it another few minutes, maybe to 12:15, before looking for something a little more active. Word around the room is that House Approps is in session to consider the tax bills.
11:45 - LD17 State Rep Ed Ableser popped in and earned some laughs when he announced that he had been appointed chair of Senate Approps. If only...
11:38 - While waiting for the Reps to dislodge their craniums from their rectal orifices (could be a looong wait for that :) ), the votes on the feeder bill -
Opposed - Harper, Gould, Steve Pierce, and Aboud.
Supported - Russell Pearce, Melvin, Gorman, Sylvia Allen
Not voting - Hale, Rios, Aguirre
11:33 - Still in recess, and nary a game of kickball in sight. Some serious arm-twisting going on right now. The Reps do not have enough support in their caucus to pass this without Democratic support, and they would rather shut down the state completely than allow the Dems to have any input.
11:27 - The Keystone Cops have recessed again (h/t to Tedski for the Keystone Cops reference).
11:25 - Harper reiterates that if he votes with the Democrats on stuff today, he's not voting with the Democrats but against changing the previously passed budget.
11:22 - Meeting back in session. Steve Pierce moved to reconsider SB1470. Hale, Rios, and Aguirre are here now.
11:15 - SB1470 fails 4 - 4, 3 not voting. And the Republican circular firing squad continues. Meeting recessed.
11:14 - Aboud here.
11:13 - SB1470 is amended to the new bill, Gould opposing.
11:11 - Gould is here. Still no Dems.
11:09 - Pearce is rambling on about overspending, overtaxed, and tea parties.
11:08 - Harper expresses the thought that the original Senate budget was the best one, partially because the Home Builders Association liked it.
11:07 - House Approps chair John Kavanagh is in the room, overseeing the proceedings.
11:04 - First up - SB1470, the feed bill. Changes SB1188. Howie Fischer of Capitol Media had to turn on a mike so that everyone could here the presentation. Pearce forgot to hit the switch.
11:03 - Gorman is here. Meeting started. No Dems.
11:01 - Steve Pierce is here, but so far no Dems (except for Aguirre's brief appearance), Pam Gorman, or Ron Gould.
10:57 - no meeting yet, but more and more staffers. BTW - as many staffers as there are here, there may be more media folks in the room (including some who actually get paid for this stuff! :) )
Sylvia Allen opines that everybody is going to be back here in August, no matter which budget is passed. I may never agree with her on anything else, but on this? Yup.
10:49 - Pearce is finally here. Still no quorum as only Harper and Melvin are in the room with him.
10:39 - More staffers present, but there aren't any Senators in the meeting room right now.
10:25 - reformatted post; no changes yet. This is getting boring.
10:23 - Amanda Aguirre has taken her seat and is talking to Al Melvin. They're the only two Senators in the room right now.
10:09 - Melvin and Harper stepped back out; Sylvia Allen holding an impromptu press conference...until she stepped out.
Meeting getting closer though - legislative staff has put out printed copies of the strikers to be considered and their associated fact sheets.
10:02 - Sylvia Allen and Al Melvin just came in. Meeting not started yet.
10:00 - the only senator who has show up so far is Jack Harper, and he just walked in and is setting up his laptop.
Sen Approps agenda reposted
The new agenda still lists the meeting start time as 9:30 a.m., but the talk in SHR109 is that the meeting will start at 10.
Posting will be rather free form today as I try to cover as much as possible...
Posting will be rather free form today as I try to cover as much as possible...
Interesting...
New development in the budget saga (not sure if it qualifies as high drama or low comedy, but this mess deserves its own TV show...maybe Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park???) -
When I checked the lege's Senate committee agendas page, I noticed that the agenda for today's Senate Appropriations meeting has been pulled.
The Education Committee agenda for consideration of the tax packages still exists, so I'm not sure if this means that the Republicans' budget deal is dead, or just being reworked.
Heading down to the lege; will look into this when I get there.
Note: this could all be fixed by the time I get there. Expect a lot of fluidity in these situations for the next couple of days.
When I checked the lege's Senate committee agendas page, I noticed that the agenda for today's Senate Appropriations meeting has been pulled.
The Education Committee agenda for consideration of the tax packages still exists, so I'm not sure if this means that the Republicans' budget deal is dead, or just being reworked.
Heading down to the lege; will look into this when I get there.
Note: this could all be fixed by the time I get there. Expect a lot of fluidity in these situations for the next couple of days.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The coming week...
Back to a consolidated post of the weekly schedules of political bodies relevent to AZ and to the Scottsdale/Tempe area...
...Due to the holiday this week (Independence Day on Saturday, legal holiday on Friday), most political bodies aren't in session or have a light schedule. However, "most" doesn't mean "all."
...The chambers of the U.S. Congress are in recess until Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7.
...The AZ legislature is going nuts this week. While most of the attention will be focused on the budget, there will also be a mad rush to railroad through final passage of as many bills as possible, including some really ugly ones.
Monday and Tuesday should be *long* days at the lege, especially if it looks like the Rep caucus is going to get its act together long enough to pass some sort of budget. Floor sessions that drag on into the wee hours are likely.
There hasn't been much posted in the way of floor schedules as yet, and to be honest, anything that is posted this week will be out of date five minutes after it goes up. However, that is the usual situation in the AZ lege whenever it approaches sine die.
It's just a little worse during sessions as crazy and dysfunctional as this one.
Floor calendars will be posted here.
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has a "special" meeting planned for Monday morning at 10. The agenda is fairly short, mostly financial and employment matters, with the now-standard executive session at the tail end of the meeting.
...The Scottsdale City Council is going to have a busy week with meetings on Wednesday and Thursday as it tries to clear up some business before its summer break (next meeting: August 24).
Wednesday's regular agenda actually looks to be pretty light, except for some Council "housekeeping" measures added to the agenda by Councilman Wayne Ecton.
The fireworks should be at an executive session scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m. The highlight of that agenda?
Yes, based on the wording of that item, they'll be asking the City Attorney for advice on firing...the City Attorney.
Oh to be a fly on the wall... :)
Thursday's meeting has a longer consent agenda, loaded with liquor license applications, but it also has some regular agenda items that are likely to generate controversy. They'll be discussing noise issues, budget adjustments to the FY2009/2010 budget, a possible survey of Scottsdale residents regarding light rail.
Predictions on those matters - it's Scottsdale, so the only noise allowed is the ka-ching of cash registers; the Council is comprised entirely of Republicans, so any budget cuts that leave any semblance of public services intact are cuts that aren't deep enough; and there's no need for a survey to tell the Council what it already knows best - Scottsdale doesn't need light rail or any modern version of mass transit. The horse and buggy was good enough when the city was first settled, and its modern cousin, the overpriced and overloaded luxury SUV, is good enough today.
...The Arizona Corporation Commission, Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project, Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District, Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System, and Tempe City Council are not scheduled to meet this week.
Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on matters at the lege...
...Due to the holiday this week (Independence Day on Saturday, legal holiday on Friday), most political bodies aren't in session or have a light schedule. However, "most" doesn't mean "all."
...The chambers of the U.S. Congress are in recess until Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7.
...The AZ legislature is going nuts this week. While most of the attention will be focused on the budget, there will also be a mad rush to railroad through final passage of as many bills as possible, including some really ugly ones.
Monday and Tuesday should be *long* days at the lege, especially if it looks like the Rep caucus is going to get its act together long enough to pass some sort of budget. Floor sessions that drag on into the wee hours are likely.
There hasn't been much posted in the way of floor schedules as yet, and to be honest, anything that is posted this week will be out of date five minutes after it goes up. However, that is the usual situation in the AZ lege whenever it approaches sine die.
It's just a little worse during sessions as crazy and dysfunctional as this one.
Floor calendars will be posted here.
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has a "special" meeting planned for Monday morning at 10. The agenda is fairly short, mostly financial and employment matters, with the now-standard executive session at the tail end of the meeting.
...The Scottsdale City Council is going to have a busy week with meetings on Wednesday and Thursday as it tries to clear up some business before its summer break (next meeting: August 24).
Wednesday's regular agenda actually looks to be pretty light, except for some Council "housekeeping" measures added to the agenda by Councilman Wayne Ecton.
The fireworks should be at an executive session scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m. The highlight of that agenda?
Discuss and consider employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, salaries, disciplining or resignation of the City Attorney; and discuss or consult with the Cityattorney(s) for legal advice regarding same. A.R.S. § 38-431.03 (A) (1) and (3).
Yes, based on the wording of that item, they'll be asking the City Attorney for advice on firing...the City Attorney.
Oh to be a fly on the wall... :)
Thursday's meeting has a longer consent agenda, loaded with liquor license applications, but it also has some regular agenda items that are likely to generate controversy. They'll be discussing noise issues, budget adjustments to the FY2009/2010 budget, a possible survey of Scottsdale residents regarding light rail.
Predictions on those matters - it's Scottsdale, so the only noise allowed is the ka-ching of cash registers; the Council is comprised entirely of Republicans, so any budget cuts that leave any semblance of public services intact are cuts that aren't deep enough; and there's no need for a survey to tell the Council what it already knows best - Scottsdale doesn't need light rail or any modern version of mass transit. The horse and buggy was good enough when the city was first settled, and its modern cousin, the overpriced and overloaded luxury SUV, is good enough today.
...The Arizona Corporation Commission, Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project, Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District, Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System, and Tempe City Council are not scheduled to meet this week.
Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on matters at the lege...
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Republicans working to derail Republican budget deal
At Saturday's meeting of the House Appropriations Committee, scheduled to hear the budget "compromise" between the Republican Governor and the Republican leadership in the legislature, the budget bills passed, but the bills related to the tax policy changes (impose a flat income tax, referendum on a sales tax hike) were skipped by committee chairman John Kavanagh (R-LD8).
Apparently, they are having absolutely no problems lining up Republican members in support of the proposed deep cuts to education, human services, and infrastructure. However, support for a tax hike, or even simply referring a tax hike to the voters, has proven much harder to come by.
It seems that enough of the Republican rank-and-file (and leadership??) in the lege are balking that there aren't enough votes to pass the entire compromise package through either chamber, making it likely that they may have to seek Democratic support for this travesty.
And speaking as a Democratic PC and State Committee member, they'd better not get any without some *serious* improvements to the package.
House Appropriations will meet on Monday at 11 a.m. in HHR1 to consider the three tax-related bills.
Over in the Senate, the Senate Appropriations Committee will meet on Monday at 9:30 a.m. in SHR1 to consider the Senate's versions of the bills that House Approps considered on Saturday.
Interestingly, the Senate Education Committee will meet in SHR109, upon adjournment of Senate Approps, to consider the three tax-related measures.
The difference between the committees?
Senate Appropriations is chaired by uber-winger Russell Pearce, and he is aided and abetted by fellow Kool-Aid drinkers Pam Gorman, Al Melvin, Jack Harper, and Ron Gould.
Senate Education is chaired by John Huppenthal, and he is accompanied by Linda Gray and Jonathan Paton. While none of those three qualifies as "moderate" by any real world standard, by the somewhat skewed standard set by the Republican caucus of the AZ lege, they are somewhat more pliable than their colleagues on Approps.
Both committees have one Rep member in common - Sylvia Allen of LD5.
This is only a guess, but since she is just as hardcore as any of her Approps colleagues (she wouldn't have been put there otherwise), Senate leadership is probably hoping that they can coax or scare one of the three Democrats on the committee (Paula Aboud, Linda Lopez, Leah Landrum Taylor) to support the bills long enough to get them past the committee stage.
As for floor consideration, only the House has any sort of a floor schedule posted so far (four COW calendars, here, here, here, and here). None of them lists any of the budget bills. So far.
More reading on the budget shenanigans/goings-on:
Gila Courier with news of a possible compromise on the compromise (no details yet)
Dave Wells at Make Democracy Work on why a flat tax is a bad idea
Tedski at R-Cubed with a pithy evaluation of the budget "compromise"
Blog For Arizona coverage of Saturday's March4Schools rally at the Capitol
Apparently, they are having absolutely no problems lining up Republican members in support of the proposed deep cuts to education, human services, and infrastructure. However, support for a tax hike, or even simply referring a tax hike to the voters, has proven much harder to come by.
It seems that enough of the Republican rank-and-file (and leadership??) in the lege are balking that there aren't enough votes to pass the entire compromise package through either chamber, making it likely that they may have to seek Democratic support for this travesty.
And speaking as a Democratic PC and State Committee member, they'd better not get any without some *serious* improvements to the package.
House Appropriations will meet on Monday at 11 a.m. in HHR1 to consider the three tax-related bills.
Over in the Senate, the Senate Appropriations Committee will meet on Monday at 9:30 a.m. in SHR1 to consider the Senate's versions of the bills that House Approps considered on Saturday.
Interestingly, the Senate Education Committee will meet in SHR109, upon adjournment of Senate Approps, to consider the three tax-related measures.
The difference between the committees?
Senate Appropriations is chaired by uber-winger Russell Pearce, and he is aided and abetted by fellow Kool-Aid drinkers Pam Gorman, Al Melvin, Jack Harper, and Ron Gould.
Senate Education is chaired by John Huppenthal, and he is accompanied by Linda Gray and Jonathan Paton. While none of those three qualifies as "moderate" by any real world standard, by the somewhat skewed standard set by the Republican caucus of the AZ lege, they are somewhat more pliable than their colleagues on Approps.
Both committees have one Rep member in common - Sylvia Allen of LD5.
This is only a guess, but since she is just as hardcore as any of her Approps colleagues (she wouldn't have been put there otherwise), Senate leadership is probably hoping that they can coax or scare one of the three Democrats on the committee (Paula Aboud, Linda Lopez, Leah Landrum Taylor) to support the bills long enough to get them past the committee stage.
As for floor consideration, only the House has any sort of a floor schedule posted so far (four COW calendars, here, here, here, and here). None of them lists any of the budget bills. So far.
More reading on the budget shenanigans/goings-on:
Gila Courier with news of a possible compromise on the compromise (no details yet)
Dave Wells at Make Democracy Work on why a flat tax is a bad idea
Tedski at R-Cubed with a pithy evaluation of the budget "compromise"
Blog For Arizona coverage of Saturday's March4Schools rally at the Capitol
Friday, June 26, 2009
State budget time - House Approps meeting on Saturday
Well, I had intended to write a post about Michael Jackson's passing, one that was profound, perceptive, and highly critical of the MSM's wall-to-wall coverage of it (bottom line: his death *is* news, but it's hardly the *only* news this week). However, Jan Brewer, Kirk Adams, and Bob Burns have conspired to use Michael Jackson's death as cover for imposing the worst budget in AZ history.
The "cut and slash" Republicans have compromised with the "slash and burn" Republicans (they really didn't have all that far to go - they already had "slash" as common ground) but I'm not sure that "compromise " is the right word here.
Is it really a compromise when it's really just the worst of both worlds?
I don't have time tonight to go through each bill of the "compromise" proposal, but some of the highlights include (from an AZCentral.com article) -
So, to sum up, in exchange for cuts to education and human services that are marginally less severe than those originally proposed by the legislature, the lege wants to enact tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations (flat tax, equalization tax repeal), a gift to deep-pocketed (and generous with the campaign contributions) developers and builders (ban on impact fees), and a chance to impose a tax increase that disproportionately affects poor and working-class families (referendum on a sales tax hike).
Niiiiiice.
House Appropriations is scheduled to meet Saturday at 9 a.m. in HHR1 to consider the budget. The agenda includes 12 bills, all with budget-related strike everything amendments.
Note: "Trailer" refers to the fact that the bills are not complete budget bills; they only modify the previously passed Senate budget bills that the legislature's leaders have thus far refused to send to the governor. Enactment of these bills is conditioned upon enactment of the original lege budget.
The proposed strikers are here -
HB2643, general appropriations; 2009-2010; trailer
HB2644, budget reconciliation; general revenues; trailer
HB2645, budget reconciliation; general government; trailer
HB2646, state properties; trailer
HB2647, budget reconciliation; criminal justice; trailer
HB2648, budget reconciliation; k-12 education; trailer
HB2649, budget reconciliation; higher education; trailer
HB2650, budget reconciliation; health; welfare; trailer
HB2651, budget reconciliation; environment; trailer
HB2652, statewide special election; sales tax
HB2653, flat tax; individual income
HCR2037, temporary transaction privilege tax
I'm going to try to attend the March4Schools Rally tomorrow morning, but given the short notice, I may not be able to rearrange my work schedule.
I still strongly urge everyone who cares about Arizona and its future to attend, and to let the legislature hear about your concerns about the damage their budget will do to the state and its future.
Note2: Thus far, no House floor or Senate schedules have been posted. Check here for updates.
The "cut and slash" Republicans have compromised with the "slash and burn" Republicans (they really didn't have all that far to go - they already had "slash" as common ground) but I'm not sure that "compromise " is the right word here.
Is it really a compromise when it's really just the worst of both worlds?
I don't have time tonight to go through each bill of the "compromise" proposal, but some of the highlights include (from an AZCentral.com article) -
• Referral to the November 2009 ballot of a temporary, 1-cent-per-dollar increase in the state sales tax.
• Implementation of a flat state-income tax at a rate of 2.8 percent, beginning in 2012. Currently, the state's income tax rates range from 2.59 percent for the lowest income bracket to 4.54 percent for individuals earning more than $150,000. An individual's first $10,000 would be tax-exempt, allowing the lowest-income Arizonans to pay nothing.
• Permanent repeal of the state equalization property tax. It has been suspended for three years, but generates about $250 million for state coffers when in effect.
{snip}
• A prohibition on benefits for the domestic partners of state employees. The legislative proposal also had the ban, but the new proposal includes a grandfather clause to allow domestic partners already under the state health plan to remain covered.
• A two-year freeze on the ability of cities to increase impact fees on new development. The freeze replaces a three-year moratorium initially sought by lawmakers.
• A revocation by the state of about $22 million in cities' share of vehicle-registration fees. That's about half the $45 million that cities would have lost under the legislative budget proposal.
So, to sum up, in exchange for cuts to education and human services that are marginally less severe than those originally proposed by the legislature, the lege wants to enact tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations (flat tax, equalization tax repeal), a gift to deep-pocketed (and generous with the campaign contributions) developers and builders (ban on impact fees), and a chance to impose a tax increase that disproportionately affects poor and working-class families (referendum on a sales tax hike).
Niiiiiice.
House Appropriations is scheduled to meet Saturday at 9 a.m. in HHR1 to consider the budget. The agenda includes 12 bills, all with budget-related strike everything amendments.
Note: "Trailer" refers to the fact that the bills are not complete budget bills; they only modify the previously passed Senate budget bills that the legislature's leaders have thus far refused to send to the governor. Enactment of these bills is conditioned upon enactment of the original lege budget.
The proposed strikers are here -
HB2643, general appropriations; 2009-2010; trailer
HB2644, budget reconciliation; general revenues; trailer
HB2645, budget reconciliation; general government; trailer
HB2646, state properties; trailer
HB2647, budget reconciliation; criminal justice; trailer
HB2648, budget reconciliation; k-12 education; trailer
HB2649, budget reconciliation; higher education; trailer
HB2650, budget reconciliation; health; welfare; trailer
HB2651, budget reconciliation; environment; trailer
HB2652, statewide special election; sales tax
HB2653, flat tax; individual income
HCR2037, temporary transaction privilege tax
I'm going to try to attend the March4Schools Rally tomorrow morning, but given the short notice, I may not be able to rearrange my work schedule.
I still strongly urge everyone who cares about Arizona and its future to attend, and to let the legislature hear about your concerns about the damage their budget will do to the state and its future.
Note2: Thus far, no House floor or Senate schedules have been posted. Check here for updates.
March4Schools protest against proposed budget plan
From the March4Schools.org website -
In case this isn't clear enough, a budget deal has been reach, and it is ugly. More details later.
URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Late last night the governor and Republican leadership struck a budget deal that will devastate Arizona and its public schools if passed by the legislature. Apparently support for the budget is a razor thin margin. It is not to late to defeat this budget and you can help.
Tomorrow, Saturday June 27, hundreds of parents, teachers, and community leaders will protest a backroom budget deal crafted by Republican leaders in the Arizona legislature and Governor Brewer. Reports from the capitol indicate the budget bills that include massive cuts to public education and other vital health and human services will be heard in House Appropriations tomorrow morning.
PLEASE ATTEND THIS CITIZEN PROTEST
Arizona State Capitol Mall
1700 W. Jefferson
June 27, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Taxpayers Protesting Cuts to Public Education and Vital Services
Organized by AEA, Parent Groups, ABC, Republican Educators
Click here for directions to the Capitol
Rsvp to doug.kilgore@arizonaea.org.
Fill up you car with family, friends, and colleagues.
Meet at Capitol Mall between House & Senate at 8:45 a.m
Water and sign making materials will be provided.
In case this isn't clear enough, a budget deal has been reach, and it is ugly. More details later.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
More games legislators play
From AZCentral.com -
The agenda for the meeting of the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee was a full one, just the perfect time and place to indoctrinate a new member of the committee.
Really.
I'm certain the fact that seven of the 16 bills on the agenda had Russell Pearce's name attached to them, and that one of those was the NRA-sponsored SB1270, legalizing the possession of a concealed weapon without a permit, played a huge part in Adams' (a fellow Mesa-based winger) rush to railroad through the bills.
It seems that every day I believe that we've finally seems the bottom of the depths of depravity and deception of the Republicans in the legislature.
And it seems that the following day, the Republicans do something to prove that they always have even deeper reserves of depravity to mine.
It's six days before the end of the fiscal year.
It's 109 degrees outside.
And inside the statehouse, tempers are flaring.
On Wednesday, Democrats walked out of a committee hearing, leaving it without a quorum to conduct business on its last meeting day of the year.
That led House Speaker Kirk Adams to appoint a Republican to fill out the committee and give it the needed votes to pass a bevy of bills, including a controversial measure that would do away with the requirement for concealed-weapon permits.
The agenda for the meeting of the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee was a full one, just the perfect time and place to indoctrinate a new member of the committee.
Really.
I'm certain the fact that seven of the 16 bills on the agenda had Russell Pearce's name attached to them, and that one of those was the NRA-sponsored SB1270, legalizing the possession of a concealed weapon without a permit, played a huge part in Adams' (a fellow Mesa-based winger) rush to railroad through the bills.
It seems that every day I believe that we've finally seems the bottom of the depths of depravity and deception of the Republicans in the legislature.
And it seems that the following day, the Republicans do something to prove that they always have even deeper reserves of depravity to mine.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Russell Pearce - learning lessons from the protests in Iran
Unfortunately, the lessons were the wrong ones.
From AZCentral.com -
Where people the world over see the protests and demonstrations in Iran, see an angry people speaking out against a stolen election, and are proud to see folks standing up and being heard against totalitarianism, Russell Pearce only sees security forces being used to suppress public input.
Kudos to Democratic Senators Paula Aboud, Amanda Aguirre, Albert Hale, and Rebecca Rios for refusing to lend their presence and credibility to Pearce's highhanded mistreatment and contempt for the public.
From AZCentral.com -
Members of the faith community speaking against an anti-illegal immigration bill Tuesday left after Sen. Russell Pearce called on security to remove them, prompting the committee's four Democrats to walk out of the session.
House Bill 2280, sponsored by Pearce, R-Mesa, would require local and state officials to enforce federal immigration laws, thus making any sanctuary laws illegal.
When Pearce said the committee would not hear any public input, members of the Valley Interfaith Project stood up to voice their opposition, quoting a verse in the Bible that begins, "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him."
Where people the world over see the protests and demonstrations in Iran, see an angry people speaking out against a stolen election, and are proud to see folks standing up and being heard against totalitarianism, Russell Pearce only sees security forces being used to suppress public input.
Kudos to Democratic Senators Paula Aboud, Amanda Aguirre, Albert Hale, and Rebecca Rios for refusing to lend their presence and credibility to Pearce's highhanded mistreatment and contempt for the public.
Judges aren't the only ones sitting this one out
Besides today's ruling from the AZ Supreme Court saying that the lege should send the governor the budget bills that they've passed, but refusing to actually order the lege to do so, a number of other officials in the state are avoiding the dogfight on west Washington like the governor and legislature have leprosy.
The Governor has released a list of supporters of her budget. While that list is a long one, filled with names from all over the state, those names all have one thing in common.
None of them, even the elected officials, can be said to have much of a future in elected politics.
There are a number of chamber of commerce/business types, as well as mayors and city/town council members, but few of those names are recognizable outside of their bailiwicks.
That's not meant to be an insult to any of those luminaries, but when the biggest names on the list are folks like Mayors Elaine Scruggs (Glendale), Bob Walkup (Tucson), Mark Nexsen (Lake Havasu) and Doug Von Gausig (Clarkdale), it makes people wonder where the "big" names are.
Neither Walkup nor Scruggs, fairly well-respected in their areas, has shown interest in higher office. As for Nexsen, Von Guasig and most of the others on the Governor's list, well, Lake Havasu, Clarkdale and the hinterlands of the state aren't necessarily the best locales from which to launch a bid for statewide or federal office.
So where are the (relatively) young up and comers?
Why are they so silent?
Since I'm not exactly a close personal friend with any such local officials (most of them are Republicans, not the sort of folks I tend to hang out with :) ), I can only speculate.
That speculation?
Politics. (Yeah, that's hardly a surprising insight in a political blog :) )
Actually, practical politics.
For instance, some folks have speculated about the absence of any support from the Mayor or City Council of Mesa.
The simple fact is that the most influential politicians in Mesa aren't the Mayor or on the City Council. They're in the lege, and in the persons of Russell Pearce, Kirk Adams, and Chuck Gray, are leading the quest to shut down the state government. The municipal officials in Mesa may be uncomfortable with the actions and goals of the legislature and their potential impact on the city, but it's difficult for any elected official to buck a machine.
Other folks have questioned the absence of Hugh Hallman and the Tempe City Council from the Governor's list.
That one is even simpler - a majority of the members of the Tempe City Council are Democrats and have no desire to pick sides in what has become a Republican civil war. In addition, Republican Mayor Hugh Hallman wants Jan Brewer's job; he's not going to public support anything she does between now and next year's elections.
The Governor has released a list of supporters of her budget. While that list is a long one, filled with names from all over the state, those names all have one thing in common.
None of them, even the elected officials, can be said to have much of a future in elected politics.
There are a number of chamber of commerce/business types, as well as mayors and city/town council members, but few of those names are recognizable outside of their bailiwicks.
That's not meant to be an insult to any of those luminaries, but when the biggest names on the list are folks like Mayors Elaine Scruggs (Glendale), Bob Walkup (Tucson), Mark Nexsen (Lake Havasu) and Doug Von Gausig (Clarkdale), it makes people wonder where the "big" names are.
Neither Walkup nor Scruggs, fairly well-respected in their areas, has shown interest in higher office. As for Nexsen, Von Guasig and most of the others on the Governor's list, well, Lake Havasu, Clarkdale and the hinterlands of the state aren't necessarily the best locales from which to launch a bid for statewide or federal office.
So where are the (relatively) young up and comers?
Why are they so silent?
Since I'm not exactly a close personal friend with any such local officials (most of them are Republicans, not the sort of folks I tend to hang out with :) ), I can only speculate.
That speculation?
Politics. (Yeah, that's hardly a surprising insight in a political blog :) )
Actually, practical politics.
For instance, some folks have speculated about the absence of any support from the Mayor or City Council of Mesa.
The simple fact is that the most influential politicians in Mesa aren't the Mayor or on the City Council. They're in the lege, and in the persons of Russell Pearce, Kirk Adams, and Chuck Gray, are leading the quest to shut down the state government. The municipal officials in Mesa may be uncomfortable with the actions and goals of the legislature and their potential impact on the city, but it's difficult for any elected official to buck a machine.
Other folks have questioned the absence of Hugh Hallman and the Tempe City Council from the Governor's list.
That one is even simpler - a majority of the members of the Tempe City Council are Democrats and have no desire to pick sides in what has become a Republican civil war. In addition, Republican Mayor Hugh Hallman wants Jan Brewer's job; he's not going to public support anything she does between now and next year's elections.
One week left to a shutdown...do we have a plan B?
...Let's see - the only budget that the lege has even considered is their own draconian one, they've refused to send even that to the governor for her signature/veto, and the AZ Supreme Court has taken one look at the mess that the other two branches of state government have created and fled screaming into the deep desert, hoping to hide until the dust* storm passes.
*In this context, "dust" is a euphemism for "bovine-based solid biological waste matter," a phrase that is itself a euphemism. :)
So, in the event that the Republican caucus of the lege and their governor (their edict is that no Democrats are allowed to participate in this exercise) choose to keep their rectums firmly lodged in their rectums, what can we do to break the logjam down on west Washington?
Turns out there is an option available to us in the AZ Constitution and Arizona Revised Statutes.
From Article 8, Part 1, Section 1 of the AZ Constitution -
From Article 8, Part 1, Section 2 -
From ARS Title 19, Section 209 -
The bottom line is that these folks were elected to office to run the state, not to run it into the ground.
*In this context, "dust" is a euphemism for "bovine-based solid biological waste matter," a phrase that is itself a euphemism. :)
So, in the event that the Republican caucus of the lege and their governor (their edict is that no Democrats are allowed to participate in this exercise) choose to keep their rectums firmly lodged in their rectums, what can we do to break the logjam down on west Washington?
Turns out there is an option available to us in the AZ Constitution and Arizona Revised Statutes.
From Article 8, Part 1, Section 1 of the AZ Constitution -
Every public officer in the state of Arizona, holding an elective office, either by election or appointment, is subject to recall from such office by the qualified electors of the electoral district from which candidates are elected to such office. Such electoral district may include the whole state. Such number of said electors as shall equal twenty-five per centum of the number of votes cast at the last preceding general election for all of the candidates for the office held by such officer, may by petition, which shall be known as a recall petition, demand his recall.
From Article 8, Part 1, Section 2 -
Every recall petition must contain a general statement, in not more than two hundred words, of the grounds of such demand, and must be filed in the office in which petitions for nominations to the office held by the incumbent are required to be filed. The signatures to such recall petition need not all be on one sheet of paper, but each signer must add to his signature the date of his signing said petition, and his place of residence, giving his street and number, if any, should he reside in a town or city. One of the signers of each sheet of such petition, or the person circulating such sheet, must make and subscribe an oath on said sheet, that the signatures thereon are genuine.
From ARS Title 19, Section 209 -
A. If the officer against whom a petition is filed does not resign within five days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and other legal holidays, after the filing as determined pursuant to section 19-208.03, the order calling a special recall election shall be issued within fifteen days and shall be ordered to be held on the next following consolidated election date pursuant to section 16-204 that is ninety days or more after the order calling the election..There are other relevant sections, especially in ARS Title 19, but you get the hint.
B. A recall election shall be called:
1. If for a state office, including a member of the legislature, by the governor.
2. If for a county officer, or judge or other officer of the superior court in a county, by the board of supervisors of that county.
3. If for a city or town officer, by the legislative body of the city or town.
4. If for a member of a school district governing board, by the county school superintendent of the county in which the school district is located.
C. If a recall petition is against an officer who is directed by this section to call the election it shall be called:
1. If for a state office, by the secretary of state.
2. If for a county office, by the clerk of the superior court.
3. If for a city or town office, by the city or town clerk
The bottom line is that these folks were elected to office to run the state, not to run it into the ground.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Harper making up for lost time
Jack Harper (R-Surprise!) may have started slow this year, but now he is delivering his usual pearls of nuttiness on a regular basis.
From AZCentral.com -
Ummm...Senator Harper? The bill was *not* about regulating behavior that has the potential to harm only the participant. The bill was about regulating behavior that has been shown to endanger non-participants.
"Individual liberty" doesn't protect activities that can injure and even kill others. If it did, then the victims of drunk drivers would be the ones going to jail (perhaps for daring to splatter their blood on the cars of their killers?).
If somebody wants to bungee jump off of a 100-foot tower with a 101-foot bungee cord, that's their problem; if somebody wants to do the same over some innocent bystanders, that's society's, and the legislature's, problem to deal with.
Of course, if you can see the big picture, today's defeat of the texting ban can be combined with the "guns in cars" bill (a measure that Harper also supports) to make a perfect "people need to take responsibility for their own lives" measure.
Logically, given the rationales expressed for both bills, the laws of AZ should be changed to allow drivers to shoot other drivers who are texting while driving.
I mean, it only makes sense - drivers who are texting are endangering those around them, and if those other, armed, drivers are expected to take personal responsibility for activities that they themselves aren't engaged in, they should be able to do what they need to do in order to protect themselves.
Call it "Road Rage as public policy."
From AZCentral.com -
The Senate today narrowly rejected a bill that would have banned text messaging while driving.
The bill would have carried a $50 fine for sending or reading text messages while driving, and a $200 fine if the driver had been involved in an accident while texting. It failed by a 14-15 vote.
{snip}
Others saw it as a personal rights issue, according to Sen. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, who voted against the bill.
“We believe in individual liberty and personal responsibility, and we're not going to dictate every aspect of people's lives," Harper said. “People need to take responsibility for their own lives.”
Ummm...Senator Harper? The bill was *not* about regulating behavior that has the potential to harm only the participant. The bill was about regulating behavior that has been shown to endanger non-participants.
"Individual liberty" doesn't protect activities that can injure and even kill others. If it did, then the victims of drunk drivers would be the ones going to jail (perhaps for daring to splatter their blood on the cars of their killers?).
If somebody wants to bungee jump off of a 100-foot tower with a 101-foot bungee cord, that's their problem; if somebody wants to do the same over some innocent bystanders, that's society's, and the legislature's, problem to deal with.
Of course, if you can see the big picture, today's defeat of the texting ban can be combined with the "guns in cars" bill (a measure that Harper also supports) to make a perfect "people need to take responsibility for their own lives" measure.
Logically, given the rationales expressed for both bills, the laws of AZ should be changed to allow drivers to shoot other drivers who are texting while driving.
I mean, it only makes sense - drivers who are texting are endangering those around them, and if those other, armed, drivers are expected to take personal responsibility for activities that they themselves aren't engaged in, they should be able to do what they need to do in order to protect themselves.
Call it "Road Rage as public policy."
I can't make this stuff up...
When I heard about this, I just couldn't believe it.
Not that I couldn't believe that someone said it, or that the person who said it was a Republican official.
What I couldn't believe is that she isn't an Arizona Republican, perhaps even chair of one of the Appropriations Committees or even a candidate for Governor here.
From StLToday -
And the piece de resistance in all of this?
I can't make this stuff up.
Nobody can.
Thanks for the heads-up on this to Keith Olbermann. Rep. Davis was named his "Worst Person In The World" today, and you've got to be pretty bad to knock Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly out of contention for that honor.
Note: a brief examination of the bills sponsored/cosponsored by Rep. Davis show that she would fit in well with the Arizona Chapter Of The Flat Earth Society (aka - the AZ lege's Republican caucus - HB46, restricting a woman's right to choose under the guise of "informed consent"; HB47, subsidizing home schoolers; HB814, abolishing state income and estate taxes in favor of a broad sales tax; HB1158, outlawing the female breast other than for the feeding of babies (OK, it outlaws *exposing* the female breast. I think this one was aimed at strippers); HJR37, an anti-EFCA proposal; HB417, establishing a tax credit for donations to scholarship granting organizations (surprisingly, this one isn't called "Yarbrough's Law"), and HB170, Missouri's version of the "guns in cars" bill that is winding its way through the AZ lege.
In fact, if I didn't know that I was looking at the website of the *Missouri* legislature, her list of bills sponsored could easily be mistaken for that of any of a couple of dozen AZ legislators.
I'd bet that she is a member of ALEC, but since they're rather secretive about which legislators are active members of the organization...
Later...
Not that I couldn't believe that someone said it, or that the person who said it was a Republican official.
What I couldn't believe is that she isn't an Arizona Republican, perhaps even chair of one of the Appropriations Committees or even a candidate for Governor here.
From StLToday -
State Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O'Fallon, is staking out a strong position on child hunger: She's for it.
"Hunger can be a positive motivator," she notes in the latest edition of her newsletter.
More precisely, Ms. Davis is against summer feeding programs for poor kids. They are an excuse "to create an expansion of a government program," she says.
{snip}
"Tip: If you work for McDonald's, they will feed you for free during your break."
And the piece de resistance in all of this?
Ms. Davis chairs the House Special Standing Committee on Children and Families.
I can't make this stuff up.
Nobody can.
Thanks for the heads-up on this to Keith Olbermann. Rep. Davis was named his "Worst Person In The World" today, and you've got to be pretty bad to knock Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly out of contention for that honor.
Note: a brief examination of the bills sponsored/cosponsored by Rep. Davis show that she would fit in well with the Arizona Chapter Of The Flat Earth Society (aka - the AZ lege's Republican caucus - HB46, restricting a woman's right to choose under the guise of "informed consent"; HB47, subsidizing home schoolers; HB814, abolishing state income and estate taxes in favor of a broad sales tax; HB1158, outlawing the female breast other than for the feeding of babies (OK, it outlaws *exposing* the female breast. I think this one was aimed at strippers); HJR37, an anti-EFCA proposal; HB417, establishing a tax credit for donations to scholarship granting organizations (surprisingly, this one isn't called "Yarbrough's Law"), and HB170, Missouri's version of the "guns in cars" bill that is winding its way through the AZ lege.
In fact, if I didn't know that I was looking at the website of the *Missouri* legislature, her list of bills sponsored could easily be mistaken for that of any of a couple of dozen AZ legislators.
I'd bet that she is a member of ALEC, but since they're rather secretive about which legislators are active members of the organization...
Later...
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The coming week - everybody but the lege edition
As usual, all info gathered from the relevant websites and subject to change without notice...
...In the U.S. House, this week's agenda has the usual memorials, housekeeping, and non-controversial bills (such as H.R. 1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 (cosponsored by AZ'ers Mitchell, Kirkpatrick, Grijalva, and Pastor). It also has H.R. 2892, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010, H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 and H.R. [no number assigned as yet], the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. There will be bickering over debate rules, earmarks, and occasionally, policy.
And money. Oh yeah.
The Defense Authorization Act will have a Rules Committee hearing on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. EDT; the Homeland Security Appropriations Act will also have a Rules hearing on Tuesday at 5. The Interior and Environment Approps Act doesn't have a Rules hearing scheduled as yet, but the deadline for submitting amendment proposals is Wednesday at 3 p.m., so the hearing will probably be on Thursday with floor consideration on Friday. Though it could be a day earlier for each.
...The Arizona Corporation Commission has a number of hearings scheduled this week, as well as two days of a full Commission meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. That agenda is here. This one is a utilities meeting, so it is loaded with water, power, and communications-related items, including some water rate hikes.
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has a Special Meeting scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. This meeting truly will be "special" - the agenda is short but significant. They will be considering final approval of the county's property tax rate (reduced from $1.0327 to $0.9903, but resulting in a revenue increase of $9,687,492), the FY2010 budget for Maricopa County ($2,136,275,386), County Improvement Districts (varies by district), the Flood Control District ($96,730,311), the Library District ($31,524,526), and the Stadium District ($10,555,364).
Immediately after that meeting will be another Special Meeting related to a number of IGAs (InterGovermental Agreements) relating to the Sheriff's office.
After that one, there will be a third Special Meeting to "amend the FY 2009-10 Schedule of Premium Pay Rates applicable to all employees paid through the Maricopa County payroll system."
And while it is as yet unscheduled, an Executive Session meeting on Wednesday or Thursday isn't out of the question.
They've had one pretty much every week for months now.
...The Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project doesn't have quite as eventful a week - on Thursday, there will be a Maintenance Orientation meeting, a Work/Study session related to power, and a meeting of CAP's Strategic Planning Task Force. No votes will be taken at any of the meetings.
...The Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District will meet on Tuesday. There will be an executive session at 5:30 p.m. for "Discussion for legal advice with attorney of the Governing Board--A.R.S. Section 38-431.03(A)(3) -- Payment of assessment," followed by a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m.
...The Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System has meetings scheduled for both Monday and Wednesday.
Monday's Special Meeting has the usual items for "special" meetings at this time of the year - a legislative update, approval of the District's tax levy, and, oh yeah, approval of the District's FY2010 budget.
Wednesday's Formal Meeting (aka - MIHS's regular meeting) is much more mundane. The highlight of that agenda looks to be Item 2 - Reports to the Board and Item 6 - Financial Report. You've got to be a geek/numbers junkie to get into those, though. :)
...The Citizens Clean Elections Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. No agenda posted yet.
...The Tempe City Council isn't scheduled to meet this week.
...The Scottsdale City Council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to interview and appointment community members to some of the City's boards and commissions, authorize adjustments to the FY2008/9 budget, and to consider citizen petitions to remove the City Attorney, reconsider the City's Retirement Incentive Program, and to go after former City Manager Jan Dolan over some projects she was assigned after her termination that were part of the separation agreement.
That meeting actually looks like it could be the most colorful of the week (non-legislature category). The City Attorney, Deborah Robberson, has been on the Council'sshit list since the regime change in January, so the long knives could be out at this meeting. Since Jan Dolan is already gone, she'll just be an after dinner mint. Robberson will be the main course.
Later...
...In the U.S. House, this week's agenda has the usual memorials, housekeeping, and non-controversial bills (such as H.R. 1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 (cosponsored by AZ'ers Mitchell, Kirkpatrick, Grijalva, and Pastor). It also has H.R. 2892, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010, H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 and H.R. [no number assigned as yet], the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. There will be bickering over debate rules, earmarks, and occasionally, policy.
And money. Oh yeah.
The Defense Authorization Act will have a Rules Committee hearing on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. EDT; the Homeland Security Appropriations Act will also have a Rules hearing on Tuesday at 5. The Interior and Environment Approps Act doesn't have a Rules hearing scheduled as yet, but the deadline for submitting amendment proposals is Wednesday at 3 p.m., so the hearing will probably be on Thursday with floor consideration on Friday. Though it could be a day earlier for each.
...The Arizona Corporation Commission has a number of hearings scheduled this week, as well as two days of a full Commission meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. That agenda is here. This one is a utilities meeting, so it is loaded with water, power, and communications-related items, including some water rate hikes.
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has a Special Meeting scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. This meeting truly will be "special" - the agenda is short but significant. They will be considering final approval of the county's property tax rate (reduced from $1.0327 to $0.9903, but resulting in a revenue increase of $9,687,492), the FY2010 budget for Maricopa County ($2,136,275,386), County Improvement Districts (varies by district), the Flood Control District ($96,730,311), the Library District ($31,524,526), and the Stadium District ($10,555,364).
Immediately after that meeting will be another Special Meeting related to a number of IGAs (InterGovermental Agreements) relating to the Sheriff's office.
After that one, there will be a third Special Meeting to "amend the FY 2009-10 Schedule of Premium Pay Rates applicable to all employees paid through the Maricopa County payroll system."
And while it is as yet unscheduled, an Executive Session meeting on Wednesday or Thursday isn't out of the question.
They've had one pretty much every week for months now.
...The Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project doesn't have quite as eventful a week - on Thursday, there will be a Maintenance Orientation meeting, a Work/Study session related to power, and a meeting of CAP's Strategic Planning Task Force. No votes will be taken at any of the meetings.
...The Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District will meet on Tuesday. There will be an executive session at 5:30 p.m. for "Discussion for legal advice with attorney of the Governing Board--A.R.S. Section 38-431.03(A)(3) -- Payment of assessment," followed by a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m.
...The Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System has meetings scheduled for both Monday and Wednesday.
Monday's Special Meeting has the usual items for "special" meetings at this time of the year - a legislative update, approval of the District's tax levy, and, oh yeah, approval of the District's FY2010 budget.
Wednesday's Formal Meeting (aka - MIHS's regular meeting) is much more mundane. The highlight of that agenda looks to be Item 2 - Reports to the Board and Item 6 - Financial Report. You've got to be a geek/numbers junkie to get into those, though. :)
...The Citizens Clean Elections Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. No agenda posted yet.
...The Tempe City Council isn't scheduled to meet this week.
...The Scottsdale City Council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to interview and appointment community members to some of the City's boards and commissions, authorize adjustments to the FY2008/9 budget, and to consider citizen petitions to remove the City Attorney, reconsider the City's Retirement Incentive Program, and to go after former City Manager Jan Dolan over some projects she was assigned after her termination that were part of the separation agreement.
That meeting actually looks like it could be the most colorful of the week (non-legislature category). The City Attorney, Deborah Robberson, has been on the Council's
Later...
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