Americans for Prosperity, the Big Business-funded and -controlled "grassroots" group (that's the definition of "astroturf" group) has released its 2009 scorecard, a rating of all of Arizona's legislators based on some arcane standard.
The group purports itself to be non-partisan, but the only two Republicans they gave a negative rating to were Sen. Carolyn Allen (LD8), one of the few real public servants in the GOP caucus, and Governor Jan Brewer, someone who has gleefully crippled the ability of Arizona state government to provide public services.
I can understand them not liking Sen. Allen; she really is the closest thing to a moderate voice in the entire AZGOP. But to go after Brewer, who has done more to cut public education and the social safety net in Arizona than any governor ever...?
Can you say "credibility problem"?
Anyway, back to the point of the post. Scorecards like this one, produced by anti-society advocacy groups, are best read from the bottom up.
The folks they give the lowest ratings to are the people that do the most to look out for their constituents and their state.
Read that way, the biggest Hero of Society is LD17's own state senator, Meg Burton Cahill.
And coming in at 6th and 7th place, as Champions of Society, are LD17's state representatives, Ed Ableser and David Schapira.
Oh, and for the record, the folks that AFP gave their highest ratings to (and the lowest by my standards, "Enemies of Society") are, you guessed it, ol' blog favorites state Sens. Russell Pearce (LD18), Chuck Gray (LD19), Sylvia Allen (LD5), and Jack Harper (LD4).
Of course.
Other legislative report cards include:
The Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club (2008 report card here)
East Valley Chambers of Commerce Alliance (note: only EV legislators covered)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
That's it? A domestic spending freeze?
I respect President Obama's desire to rein in federal spending and close the budget deficit, but a freeze on domestic spending is a woefully inadequate approach, and worse, it places the blame for the deficit exactly where it shouldn't be placed, but exactly where Republicans want it to go -
Right smack on the backs of America's poor, elderly, and children.
If this idea was floated by his predecessor, screams would have risen from coast to coast.
Including from me.
And the fact that Barack Obama is a Democrat doesn't mean that he should get a free pass on this one.
Let's be clear - federal spending *is* out of control (current CBO analysis here) and controls are needed. However, the root of the problem isn't domestic spending (or earmarks, Jeff Flake's rhetoric notwithstanding), or even the Bush tax cuts (which certainly haven't helped, though), but instead the continued siphoning of America's resources to fund the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
We are spending over $10 billion per month on one war (Iraq) that was justified with lies (WMDs, anyone) and another (Afghanistan) where the justification (hunting down Osama bin Laden) is looking more and more suspect (he hasn't been there for years, yet American troops are still fighting and dying there).
On top of that, all of the troops who survive those wars will need the care that they have been promised, and deserve, by a nation grateful for their service, and that will cost billions.
Enough already.
The President campaigned on promises to get the U.S. military out of both countries; it is time for him to deliver on those promises.
And in a rather fortuitous coincidence, delivering on those promises would help him balance the budget in a way that minimizes the impact to America's most vulnerable citizens.
Right smack on the backs of America's poor, elderly, and children.
If this idea was floated by his predecessor, screams would have risen from coast to coast.
Including from me.
And the fact that Barack Obama is a Democrat doesn't mean that he should get a free pass on this one.
Let's be clear - federal spending *is* out of control (current CBO analysis here) and controls are needed. However, the root of the problem isn't domestic spending (or earmarks, Jeff Flake's rhetoric notwithstanding), or even the Bush tax cuts (which certainly haven't helped, though), but instead the continued siphoning of America's resources to fund the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
We are spending over $10 billion per month on one war (Iraq) that was justified with lies (WMDs, anyone) and another (Afghanistan) where the justification (hunting down Osama bin Laden) is looking more and more suspect (he hasn't been there for years, yet American troops are still fighting and dying there).
On top of that, all of the troops who survive those wars will need the care that they have been promised, and deserve, by a nation grateful for their service, and that will cost billions.
Enough already.
The President campaigned on promises to get the U.S. military out of both countries; it is time for him to deliver on those promises.
And in a rather fortuitous coincidence, delivering on those promises would help him balance the budget in a way that minimizes the impact to America's most vulnerable citizens.
The Watergate Burglars: The Next Generation
...or as I was going to title this post - "Karma, or what goes around, comes around."
From the New Orleans Times-Picayune -
Something tells me that while this year looks to be a tough year for Democratic candidates all over the country, their biggest problems won't be from the tea baggers, they'll be from the black baggers.
Of course, I have to wonder if O'Keefe is going to try to hang tough or if he is going to roll on other conspirators. The original Watergate burglars/conspirators knew that they had the Nixon administration to watch their backs and to issue pardons or at least influence the courts into giving them lighter sentences.
I don't expect that the Obama administration will be quite so understanding. At least I hope not.
Anyway, look for O'Keefe to join Sarah Palin on the Tea Party Rubber Chicken Dinner And Speaking Tour across America while he awaits trial. He'll need the speaker's fees to raise money for his defense.
From the New Orleans Times-Picayune -
ACORN gotcha man among four arrested for attempting to tamper with Mary Landrieu's office phonesNote: The links in the quote were added by me. The websites linked to are either info about or writings by the individuals arrested. I cannot guarantee their accuracy or that they are actually by the arrestees, but they "feel" right.
Alleging a plot to tamper with phones in Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu's office in the Hale Boggs Federal Building in downtown New Orleans, the FBI arrested four people Monday, including James O'Keefe, 25, a conservative filmmaker whose undercover videos at ACORN field offices severely damaged the advocacy group's credibility.
Also arrested were Joseph Basel, Stan Dai and Robert Flanagan, all 24. Flanagan is the son of William Flanagan, who is the acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, the office confirmed. All four were charged with entering federal property under false pretenses with the intent of committing a felony.
Something tells me that while this year looks to be a tough year for Democratic candidates all over the country, their biggest problems won't be from the tea baggers, they'll be from the black baggers.
Of course, I have to wonder if O'Keefe is going to try to hang tough or if he is going to roll on other conspirators. The original Watergate burglars/conspirators knew that they had the Nixon administration to watch their backs and to issue pardons or at least influence the courts into giving them lighter sentences.
I don't expect that the Obama administration will be quite so understanding. At least I hope not.
Anyway, look for O'Keefe to join Sarah Palin on the Tea Party Rubber Chicken Dinner And Speaking Tour across America while he awaits trial. He'll need the speaker's fees to raise money for his defense.
Jack Harper wants to separate orphans from their extended families
That title sounds counter-intuitive, as State Sen. Jack Harper (R-LD4) is well known to be an ardently pro-family* whackaloon.
*As long as the "family" in question is wealthy, white, and Republican
However, his latest proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution, SCR1029, is an anti-family measure dressed up as an anti-gay and lesbian measure.
The text of his proposal -
Based on that language, the children of parents who, say die in a car accident (not an unheard-of happenstance in Arizona, or elsewhere for that matter), couldn't be placed with an unmarried family member (say, a widowed grandparent or divorced aunt or uncle).
Of course, his language also says that while he thinks that the children of heterosexual couples are important, and so rate adoption by his ideal adoptive parents (of the heterosexual couple variety), the children of single parents are less important and don't rate adoption by his "gold standard" of would-be adopters.
But I'm not going there. Harper's proposal is clearly a sloppily-written attack on everyone who isn't heterosexual and/or married.
Harper is clearly trying to regain the Legislative Loon Award that he won three years ago, and proposals like this one make him a favorite.
*As long as the "family" in question is wealthy, white, and Republican
However, his latest proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution, SCR1029, is an anti-family measure dressed up as an anti-gay and lesbian measure.
The text of his proposal -
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring: 1. Article XXXI, Constitution of Arizona, is proposed to be added as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:
ARTICLE XXXI. PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN
1. Adoption; foster care; restrictions
SECTION 1. IF A CHILD IS BORN TO A HETEROSEXUAL COUPLE WHO ARE MARRIED TO EACH OTHER EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE CHILD'S BIRTH, ONLY ANOTHER HETEROSEXUAL MARRIED COUPLE IS QUALIFIED TO SUBSEQUENTLY ADOPT THAT CHILD OR BECOME THE CHILD'S FOSTER PARENTS.
2. The Secretary of State shall submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election as provided by article XXI, Constitution of Arizona.
Based on that language, the children of parents who, say die in a car accident (not an unheard-of happenstance in Arizona, or elsewhere for that matter), couldn't be placed with an unmarried family member (say, a widowed grandparent or divorced aunt or uncle).
Of course, his language also says that while he thinks that the children of heterosexual couples are important, and so rate adoption by his ideal adoptive parents (of the heterosexual couple variety), the children of single parents are less important and don't rate adoption by his "gold standard" of would-be adopters.
But I'm not going there. Harper's proposal is clearly a sloppily-written attack on everyone who isn't heterosexual and/or married.
Harper is clearly trying to regain the Legislative Loon Award that he won three years ago, and proposals like this one make him a favorite.
Community Radio Fundraising Concert
From an email -
Later...Charlie King and Karen Brandow and The Black River Bandit
An Evening of Satirical and Political Folk Music Fund Raising Concert for Radio Phoenix
"Arizona’s Largest Community-based Internet Radio Station"
"Best of Phoenix, 2009 “Best internet station that should be a radio station"
February 19
MADCAP Theater,
(the former Harkins Centerpoint)
West 7th Street and Mill Ave, Tempe
7:00 PM
Tickets at www.azcmf.org
or
Changing Hands Bookstore,
6428 S. McClintock, Tempe
Admission$17 in advance
$20 at the door
Light rail special $1 back on presentation of a valid light rail pass for February 19
Charlie, Karen, and the Black River Bandit will make you laugh, sigh, and dance. Their songs make your drooping shoulders straighter and restore your flagging faith in humanity. An evening of songs and singing for the entire family.
Radiophoenix.org, the best in internet radio for Arizona
Monday, January 25, 2010
Doug Quelland has an axe to grind
Rep. Doug Quelland (R-LD10) has been repeatedly ordered to vacate his office due to violations of Clean Elections rules. He has appealed each decision against him (and is appealing the latest one, which is why he is still in office) and whether he ultimately leaves office or not, he is running for an LD10 State Rep slot this year.
When he is not expending energy on his efforts to fight Clean Elections' rulings against him, Quelland is using his remaining time in office to interfere with the Citizens Clean Elections Commission (CCEC). Not really representing his district's interests, but that is just a minor detail, right?
So far this session, he has introduced -
HB2588, forcing the CE Commission to turn over evidence from a complainant to a participating candidate within one day (that period of time seems to be awfully short);
HB2589, allowing the CCEC to assess attorney's fees against a complainant when a complaint is found to be false or evidence submitted is fraudulent (OK, this one doesn't seem to be too bad on the face of it);
HB2590, requiring that CCEC advise candidates in every publication that participating candidates have due process and evidentiary discovery rights (Another one that doesn't seem to be too bad at first glance);
HB2591, barring the AG's office from representing the CCEC in an action against a participating candidate (this one has the odor of some serious rancidness wafting from it - removing the ability of CCEC to use the AG's office as its cousel in enforcement actions means that they will have to expend scarce resources on outside counsel);
HB2592, giving defendants in CCEC enforcement actions the same discovery and disclosure procedures and standards as set forth in Arizona's Rules of Civil Procedure (I don't know enough about Civil Procedure to have a comment here).
Think Quelland is still p!$$ed over losing his case, over and over again?
When he is not expending energy on his efforts to fight Clean Elections' rulings against him, Quelland is using his remaining time in office to interfere with the Citizens Clean Elections Commission (CCEC). Not really representing his district's interests, but that is just a minor detail, right?
So far this session, he has introduced -
HB2588, forcing the CE Commission to turn over evidence from a complainant to a participating candidate within one day (that period of time seems to be awfully short);
HB2589, allowing the CCEC to assess attorney's fees against a complainant when a complaint is found to be false or evidence submitted is fraudulent (OK, this one doesn't seem to be too bad on the face of it);
HB2590, requiring that CCEC advise candidates in every publication that participating candidates have due process and evidentiary discovery rights (Another one that doesn't seem to be too bad at first glance);
HB2591, barring the AG's office from representing the CCEC in an action against a participating candidate (this one has the odor of some serious rancidness wafting from it - removing the ability of CCEC to use the AG's office as its cousel in enforcement actions means that they will have to expend scarce resources on outside counsel);
HB2592, giving defendants in CCEC enforcement actions the same discovery and disclosure procedures and standards as set forth in Arizona's Rules of Civil Procedure (I don't know enough about Civil Procedure to have a comment here).
Think Quelland is still p!$$ed over losing his case, over and over again?
Well, they won't have Pam Gorman to kick around any more...
FYI - Pam Gorman is the Republican state senator from LD6 (Anthem), and "they" refers to her own caucus and leadership in the State Senate.
From AZCentral.com's Political Insider -
The timing of this actually isn't a surprise.
A vacancy in the Senate during this part of the session of the lege doesn't mean much as there probably won't be any significant votes (aka - "budget stuff") any time soon. Her replacement will be from a list of three nominated by the Republican PCs in her district and approved by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, who will most likely just rubber-stamp the choice of the supe from that part of the county (Andy Kunasek, I think).
Expect similar moves from the other sitting officeholders running in the CD3 Republican primary (State Sen. Jim Waring of LD7, State Rep. Sam Crump of LD6, Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker, and possibly State Rep. Adam Driggs of LD11, whose name was floated by the AZRepublic this weekend.)
From AZCentral.com's Political Insider -
Pamela Gorman made it official Monday, becoming the first Arizona lawmaker to resign the Legislature in pursuit of the District 3 congressional seat.
Gorman, an Anthem Republican, sent a brief and straight-forward letter to Senate President Bob Burns -- a marked departure from some of her earlier and somewhat preachy missives to the Senate GOP leadership.
{snip}
Gorman's departure, one Capitol wag observed, probably puts her back on Gov. Jan Brewer's Christmas-card list. Gorman held out against one-on-one lobbying from Brewer as the governor pressed for Gorman's "yes" vote on a sales-tax hike.
Gorman's opposition to that tax hike put her at odds with the direction of Senate leadership, prompting her to resign her majority-whip position last year.
The timing of this actually isn't a surprise.
A vacancy in the Senate during this part of the session of the lege doesn't mean much as there probably won't be any significant votes (aka - "budget stuff") any time soon. Her replacement will be from a list of three nominated by the Republican PCs in her district and approved by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, who will most likely just rubber-stamp the choice of the supe from that part of the county (Andy Kunasek, I think).
Expect similar moves from the other sitting officeholders running in the CD3 Republican primary (State Sen. Jim Waring of LD7, State Rep. Sam Crump of LD6, Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker, and possibly State Rep. Adam Driggs of LD11, whose name was floated by the AZRepublic this weekend.)
More candidate committees forming
This post will focus mostly on Maricopa County races (and then mostly on the Scottsdale/Tempe area) because there haven't been any significant changes in state-level races since the last post on this topic. This is *not* meant to be a comprehensive list -
- Andy Yates (R) of Scottsdale has filed for the Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (aka - Central Arizona Project)
- Mark Anderson (R) of Mesa, a former state legislator and candidate for Congress, has filed for the West Mesa Justice of the Peace slot (R incumbent)
- Michael Stauffer (R) of Cave Creek, a lieutenant with the Scottsdale PD, has filed for a run for Sheriff. An office which, to the best of my knowledge, isn't on this year's ballot. Not yet, anyway.
- Tim Bray (R) of Scottsdale has filed for a run at CAP Director
- Charles Boles (R) of Tempe has filed for a run at the University Lakes JP spot. The R incumbent here, John Ore, has become Joe Arpaio's go-to guy when Arpaio needs to find someone to sign search warrants filed against Superior Court-level judges who find themselves on Arpaio's $h!t list.
- Guy Phillips (R) of Scottsdale, a contractor, has filed for a run at Scottsdale City Council
In terminated committee news, Vernon Parker, formerly an R candidate for governor and currently a candidate for the CD3 seat held by the soon-to-retire John Shadegg, has closed his "Save Our Jobs: Stop the Tax Hike" committee (filer ID 201000350). Since this committee was set up as a conduit for third-party expenditures in the governor's race, there is no reason to continue it now that its founder is running for a federal office.
Later...
- Andy Yates (R) of Scottsdale has filed for the Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (aka - Central Arizona Project)
- Mark Anderson (R) of Mesa, a former state legislator and candidate for Congress, has filed for the West Mesa Justice of the Peace slot (R incumbent)
- Michael Stauffer (R) of Cave Creek, a lieutenant with the Scottsdale PD, has filed for a run for Sheriff. An office which, to the best of my knowledge, isn't on this year's ballot. Not yet, anyway.
- Tim Bray (R) of Scottsdale has filed for a run at CAP Director
- Charles Boles (R) of Tempe has filed for a run at the University Lakes JP spot. The R incumbent here, John Ore, has become Joe Arpaio's go-to guy when Arpaio needs to find someone to sign search warrants filed against Superior Court-level judges who find themselves on Arpaio's $h!t list.
- Guy Phillips (R) of Scottsdale, a contractor, has filed for a run at Scottsdale City Council
In terminated committee news, Vernon Parker, formerly an R candidate for governor and currently a candidate for the CD3 seat held by the soon-to-retire John Shadegg, has closed his "Save Our Jobs: Stop the Tax Hike" committee (filer ID 201000350). Since this committee was set up as a conduit for third-party expenditures in the governor's race, there is no reason to continue it now that its founder is running for a federal office.
Later...
IOKIYAR as an editorial standard
On Saturday, both the Arizona Democratic Party and the Arizona Republican Party held meetings of their respective state committees in Phoenix. As such gatherings are wont to be, both were exercises in energizing party activists as well as allowing candidates to "meet and greet" activists and to recruit supporters for their campaigns.
Very rarely does one see substantive policy initiatives trotted out in these conditions. That's just not their raison d'etre.
Apparently, however, the editors at the Arizona Capitol Times, a publication almost exclusively devoted to covering politics in Arizona, are unfamiliar with this dynamic.
After the Democratic meeting, they published an article with the following lede (subscription login required) -
I've got no problem with criticisms of Democratic candidates when such criticisms are deserved.
And yes, Terry Goddard will eventually have to present a plan for addressing Arizona's needs.
However, Saturday afternoon wasn't "eventually" and holding Democrats to higher standards than they hold Republicans to doesn't exactly enhance the credibility of AZ Capitol Times, something they should consider in this time of plummeting newspaper circulations.
BTW - So will somebody tell me how having "It's OK If You're A Republican" as an editorial standard is evidence of that nearly-mythical "liberal bias" in the media? Or even evidence of professional journalism in the media?
Anybody?
Very rarely does one see substantive policy initiatives trotted out in these conditions. That's just not their raison d'etre.
Apparently, however, the editors at the Arizona Capitol Times, a publication almost exclusively devoted to covering politics in Arizona, are unfamiliar with this dynamic.
After the Democratic meeting, they published an article with the following lede (subscription login required) -
Terry Goddard didn’t produce any solutions for the problems facing the state, but he had a lot of harsh words for Gov. Jan Brewer and the Republican legislative leaders.On the other hand, while criticizing Terry Goddard, the current Attorney General, for not announcing ways to fix the budget mess in Arizona while at a non-policy event, they had no such criticism for the Republicans who also didn't promulgate any new policies at their party meeting, instead focusing on campaigns against one of their own and blaming "Sinema Democrats" for the budget mess that the Republicans in legislature have enthusiastically crafted, with the complicity of their governor.
I've got no problem with criticisms of Democratic candidates when such criticisms are deserved.
And yes, Terry Goddard will eventually have to present a plan for addressing Arizona's needs.
However, Saturday afternoon wasn't "eventually" and holding Democrats to higher standards than they hold Republicans to doesn't exactly enhance the credibility of AZ Capitol Times, something they should consider in this time of plummeting newspaper circulations.
BTW - So will somebody tell me how having "It's OK If You're A Republican" as an editorial standard is evidence of that nearly-mythical "liberal bias" in the media? Or even evidence of professional journalism in the media?
Anybody?
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The coming week...
As usual, all info gathered from the websites of the relevent political bodies/agencies, and subject to change without notice...
...In Congress, it will be a rather brief week due to the President's State of the Union address on Wednesday.
Possibly controversial items on the House's scheduled agenda -
- An as-yet-unnumbered bill titled "Emergency Aid to American Survivors of the Haiti Earthquake Act" from Rep. Charlie Rangel
- An as-yet-unnumbered bill regarding "additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958" from Rep. Nydia Velazquez
There won't be any business conducted in the House on Thursday and Friday so that the House Republicans may meet in an issues conference.
Over in the Senate, they'll be attending the State of the Union address with the members of the House, but before and after that, they'll be conducting business. Their committee schedule is here. There doesn't seem to be anything of specific interest to Arizona this week, though something could crop up.
...The committee schedule for the Arizona legislature was covered in a separate post here. There is one additional meeting to add: the Joint Committee on Capital Review will meet on Tuesday at 8 a.m. in HHR4.
...The Arizona Corporation Commission will be holding a Public Comment Meeting in Litchfield Park on Monday at 6:30 p.m. They will be soliciting public input on a rate increase request from Liberty Water, formerly known at Litchfield Park Service Co. ACC's full hearing schedule is here.
...The Citizens Clean Elections Commission will meet on Thursday at 9 a.m. No agenda posted as yet, but expect at least an informal discussion of the recent court ruling outlawing CE's matching funds provisions. (Note: CE is appealing the decision.)
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will hold an informal meeting on Monday and a formal meeting on Wednesday (agenda available on this page).
...The Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System will have a busy week -
- An executive session on Monday at 1 p.m.
- A formal meeting on Monday at 3 p.m.
- Another formal meeting on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
...The Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District will meet on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., with an executive session at 5:30 p.m.
...The Tempe City Council's Calendar is here. No formal council meetings are scheduled for this week. However, since last week's meeting was postponed due to the weather issues in the area, it may be rescheduled for this week. Stay tuned.
...The Scottsdale City Council will have a busy Tuesday -
- A 3:30 p.m. Executive Session
- A 4 p.m. Special Meeting on Board and Commission appointments
- A 5 p.m. Regular Meeting, assuming that all will still be running according to schedule.
The City's Community Meeting Notice is here.
On Monday, the City's Charter Review Task Force will be meeting on Monday evening. An AZRepublic preview of the meeting is here.
Not meeting this week: Arizona Board of Regents, Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project
...In Congress, it will be a rather brief week due to the President's State of the Union address on Wednesday.
Possibly controversial items on the House's scheduled agenda -
- An as-yet-unnumbered bill titled "Emergency Aid to American Survivors of the Haiti Earthquake Act" from Rep. Charlie Rangel
- An as-yet-unnumbered bill regarding "additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958" from Rep. Nydia Velazquez
There won't be any business conducted in the House on Thursday and Friday so that the House Republicans may meet in an issues conference.
Over in the Senate, they'll be attending the State of the Union address with the members of the House, but before and after that, they'll be conducting business. Their committee schedule is here. There doesn't seem to be anything of specific interest to Arizona this week, though something could crop up.
...The committee schedule for the Arizona legislature was covered in a separate post here. There is one additional meeting to add: the Joint Committee on Capital Review will meet on Tuesday at 8 a.m. in HHR4.
...The Arizona Corporation Commission will be holding a Public Comment Meeting in Litchfield Park on Monday at 6:30 p.m. They will be soliciting public input on a rate increase request from Liberty Water, formerly known at Litchfield Park Service Co. ACC's full hearing schedule is here.
...The Citizens Clean Elections Commission will meet on Thursday at 9 a.m. No agenda posted as yet, but expect at least an informal discussion of the recent court ruling outlawing CE's matching funds provisions. (Note: CE is appealing the decision.)
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will hold an informal meeting on Monday and a formal meeting on Wednesday (agenda available on this page).
...The Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System will have a busy week -
- An executive session on Monday at 1 p.m.
- A formal meeting on Monday at 3 p.m.
- Another formal meeting on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
...The Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District will meet on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., with an executive session at 5:30 p.m.
...The Tempe City Council's Calendar is here. No formal council meetings are scheduled for this week. However, since last week's meeting was postponed due to the weather issues in the area, it may be rescheduled for this week. Stay tuned.
...The Scottsdale City Council will have a busy Tuesday -
- A 3:30 p.m. Executive Session
- A 4 p.m. Special Meeting on Board and Commission appointments
- A 5 p.m. Regular Meeting, assuming that all will still be running according to schedule.
The City's Community Meeting Notice is here.
On Monday, the City's Charter Review Task Force will be meeting on Monday evening. An AZRepublic preview of the meeting is here.
Not meeting this week: Arizona Board of Regents, Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The Coming Week: Legislative Edition
As usual, all info gathered from the website of the Arizona legislature, except where noted, and subject to change.
The lege has a very full committee schedule this week, so only the real highlights/lowlights will be specifically covered here.
OK, so it will be just lowlights. We're talking about the *Arizona* legislature, so there aren't any highlights. :)
Over in the House...
...The Rules Committee will meet on Monday at 1 p.m. in HHR4.
...The Ways and Means Committee will meet on Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR1. The "highlight" here is consideration of HB2250. The Rep authors of the piece have named it "Arizona's Job Recovery Act." I name it the "Arizona's Big Businesses Get HugeTax Gifts While Average Arizonans Get Shafted" Act. Legislative summary here.
...Natural Resources and Rural Affairs will meet Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR4. This agenda has HB2290, a scheme to dump discarded tires into abandoned mines, and HCR2008, Jerry Weiers' proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution to protect Arizona's oppressed but avid hunters and fishermen.
...Education will meet on Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR3. The agenda includes the first "striker", or strike-everything amendment. The amendment would turn HB2127 into a measure pertaining to joint enrollment and funding apportionment between school districts and joint technical education districts (JTEDs). Legislative summary here.
...Banking and Insurance will meet on Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR5. The item of interest here is HB2161, Rep. Andy Tobin's (R-LD1) scheme to override the voters' decision to end payday loans in Arizona. Ugh.
...Public Employees, Retirement, and Entitlement Reform will meet on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in HHR3.
...Government will meet on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in HHR4. The nugget of nastiness here is HB2395, which would bar school boards from authorizing payroll deductions for teachers to pay union dues. Punitive payback for all of the rallies, letters, and phone calls organized by teachers in support of public education over the last year.
...Environment will meet on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in HHR5. Here they will consider HB2248, a bill to bar Arizona from participating in the Western Climate Initiative.
...Military Affairs and Public Safety will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR3. This one has a couple of bad bills up - HB2347, a massive loosening of gun laws, including the removal of any requirements of silly things like safety education for concealed weapons permit applicants/holders or that possessors of such a permit actually carry it on their persons when they are carrying a weapon, and HB2383, allowing the governor to declare a state of emergency in Arizona due to illegal immigration and upon such declaration, require that the National Guard be mobilized and deployed to the border with Mexico.
...Health and Human Services will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR4.
...Commerce will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR5. They will consider HB2228, allowing the state to outsource/privatize elevator safety inspections to "third party" inspectors (aka - corporations more interested in profit than safety...not that I'm cynical or anything :) ); HB2246, basically deregulating "consumer fireworks," aka "handy dandy finger removers"; HB2260, making it much tougher for a state agency to implement a new regulatory rule or even to maintain existing ones.
...Appropriations will meet on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in HHR1. It's early in the session, so the highlight of this agenda appears to be a couple of presentations, including one by JLBC.
...Water and Energy will meet on Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR5.
...Transportation and Infrastructure will meet on Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR3. On the agenda: HB2034, requiring stickers on gas pumps that list all state and federal taxes on a gallon of gas; and HB2338, micromanaging traffic lights and photo enforcement of the same at four-way intersections.
...Judiciary will meet on Thursday in HHR4. This one has HB2384, barring cities and counties from implementing "sanctuary city" (or "sanctuary county") policies and turning local law enforcement officials into ICE agents.
Over in the Senate...
...Rules will meet on Monday upon adjournment of the floor session in Caucus Room 1.
...Natural Resources, Infrastructure, and Public Debt will meet at 1:30 p.m. in SHR109.
...Judiciary will meet on Monday at 1:30 p.m. in SHR1. Their agenda is just chock full o' ugly from Russell Pearce this week. Let's see:
SB1021, which would make it legal for firearms possessors who feel scared enough of someone else to show their weapons (defensive display) to kill those who have scared them.
SB1098, which states that firearms manufactured and possessed in Arizona are exempt from federal laws. Wonder if any of the authors have asked the feds about this one?
SB1101, exempts current and former law enforcement officials from needing a permit to carry a concealed firearm. I can understand the allowance for active-duty personnel, but *former*? No.
SB1102, similar to HB2347 above.
SB1153, prohibits cities, towns, and counties from enacting laws governing the possession and use of knives (aka - no banning of them from city parks, schools, or government buildings).
...Commerce and Economic Development will meet Tuesday at 1:30 in SHR1.
...Appropriations will meet on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in SHR109. This one has more Pearce-spawned ugliness in the form of SB1103, forcing the Arizona Department of Corrections to purchase new prison beds that meet a specific pricing criteria before purchasing higher-priced beds. There's nothing in the bill about the new beds meeting any sort of building or health standards.
...Public Safety and Human Services will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in SHR3.
...Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in SHR1.
...Finance will meet on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in SHR3.
...Education Acccountability and Reform will meet on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in SHR1. Proceedings will include consideration of SB1175, expanding the Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District to seven by adding two members elected countywide.
...Government Institutions will meet on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in SHR1. This one has my nominee for "Worst Bill of the Week" - SB1100. This one would remove records related to audits of county officers from the realm of public records subject to public disclosure. This one is also from Russell Pearce. Apparently he is Joe Arpaio's personal state senator these days, because this one is set up to shield Arpaio's (mis)management of MCSO from public scrutiny.
If you are interested in one or more of the bills listed here or on any of the agendas, check the posted agendas for updates before traveling to the Capitol. Things are subject to change at the lege.
The lege has a very full committee schedule this week, so only the real highlights/lowlights will be specifically covered here.
OK, so it will be just lowlights. We're talking about the *Arizona* legislature, so there aren't any highlights. :)
Over in the House...
...The Rules Committee will meet on Monday at 1 p.m. in HHR4.
...The Ways and Means Committee will meet on Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR1. The "highlight" here is consideration of HB2250. The Rep authors of the piece have named it "Arizona's Job Recovery Act." I name it the "Arizona's Big Businesses Get HugeTax Gifts While Average Arizonans Get Shafted" Act. Legislative summary here.
...Natural Resources and Rural Affairs will meet Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR4. This agenda has HB2290, a scheme to dump discarded tires into abandoned mines, and HCR2008, Jerry Weiers' proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution to protect Arizona's oppressed but avid hunters and fishermen.
...Education will meet on Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR3. The agenda includes the first "striker", or strike-everything amendment. The amendment would turn HB2127 into a measure pertaining to joint enrollment and funding apportionment between school districts and joint technical education districts (JTEDs). Legislative summary here.
...Banking and Insurance will meet on Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR5. The item of interest here is HB2161, Rep. Andy Tobin's (R-LD1) scheme to override the voters' decision to end payday loans in Arizona. Ugh.
...Public Employees, Retirement, and Entitlement Reform will meet on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in HHR3.
...Government will meet on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in HHR4. The nugget of nastiness here is HB2395, which would bar school boards from authorizing payroll deductions for teachers to pay union dues. Punitive payback for all of the rallies, letters, and phone calls organized by teachers in support of public education over the last year.
...Environment will meet on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in HHR5. Here they will consider HB2248, a bill to bar Arizona from participating in the Western Climate Initiative.
...Military Affairs and Public Safety will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR3. This one has a couple of bad bills up - HB2347, a massive loosening of gun laws, including the removal of any requirements of silly things like safety education for concealed weapons permit applicants/holders or that possessors of such a permit actually carry it on their persons when they are carrying a weapon, and HB2383, allowing the governor to declare a state of emergency in Arizona due to illegal immigration and upon such declaration, require that the National Guard be mobilized and deployed to the border with Mexico.
...Health and Human Services will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR4.
...Commerce will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR5. They will consider HB2228, allowing the state to outsource/privatize elevator safety inspections to "third party" inspectors (aka - corporations more interested in profit than safety...not that I'm cynical or anything :) ); HB2246, basically deregulating "consumer fireworks," aka "handy dandy finger removers"; HB2260, making it much tougher for a state agency to implement a new regulatory rule or even to maintain existing ones.
...Appropriations will meet on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in HHR1. It's early in the session, so the highlight of this agenda appears to be a couple of presentations, including one by JLBC.
...Water and Energy will meet on Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR5.
...Transportation and Infrastructure will meet on Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR3. On the agenda: HB2034, requiring stickers on gas pumps that list all state and federal taxes on a gallon of gas; and HB2338, micromanaging traffic lights and photo enforcement of the same at four-way intersections.
...Judiciary will meet on Thursday in HHR4. This one has HB2384, barring cities and counties from implementing "sanctuary city" (or "sanctuary county") policies and turning local law enforcement officials into ICE agents.
Over in the Senate...
...Rules will meet on Monday upon adjournment of the floor session in Caucus Room 1.
...Natural Resources, Infrastructure, and Public Debt will meet at 1:30 p.m. in SHR109.
...Judiciary will meet on Monday at 1:30 p.m. in SHR1. Their agenda is just chock full o' ugly from Russell Pearce this week. Let's see:
SB1021, which would make it legal for firearms possessors who feel scared enough of someone else to show their weapons (defensive display) to kill those who have scared them.
SB1098, which states that firearms manufactured and possessed in Arizona are exempt from federal laws. Wonder if any of the authors have asked the feds about this one?
SB1101, exempts current and former law enforcement officials from needing a permit to carry a concealed firearm. I can understand the allowance for active-duty personnel, but *former*? No.
SB1102, similar to HB2347 above.
SB1153, prohibits cities, towns, and counties from enacting laws governing the possession and use of knives (aka - no banning of them from city parks, schools, or government buildings).
...Commerce and Economic Development will meet Tuesday at 1:30 in SHR1.
...Appropriations will meet on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in SHR109. This one has more Pearce-spawned ugliness in the form of SB1103, forcing the Arizona Department of Corrections to purchase new prison beds that meet a specific pricing criteria before purchasing higher-priced beds. There's nothing in the bill about the new beds meeting any sort of building or health standards.
...Public Safety and Human Services will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in SHR3.
...Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in SHR1.
...Finance will meet on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in SHR3.
...Education Acccountability and Reform will meet on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in SHR1. Proceedings will include consideration of SB1175, expanding the Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District to seven by adding two members elected countywide.
...Government Institutions will meet on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in SHR1. This one has my nominee for "Worst Bill of the Week" - SB1100. This one would remove records related to audits of county officers from the realm of public records subject to public disclosure. This one is also from Russell Pearce. Apparently he is Joe Arpaio's personal state senator these days, because this one is set up to shield Arpaio's (mis)management of MCSO from public scrutiny.
If you are interested in one or more of the bills listed here or on any of the agendas, check the posted agendas for updates before traveling to the Capitol. Things are subject to change at the lege.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Massachusetts Special Election - Not exactly a rebuke to President Obama
Just a couple of interesting numbers -
Votes for John McCain, November 2008 - 1,108,154
Votes for Scott Brown, January 2010 - 1,168,107
Difference: 59,953
That number indicates that a major factor in Brown's victory was turnout problems for the Dems, driven, IMO, by a poor campaign effort from their candidate and the state party there.
Votes for John McCain, November 2008 - 1,108,154
Votes for Scott Brown, January 2010 - 1,168,107
Difference: 59,953
That number indicates that a major factor in Brown's victory was turnout problems for the Dems, driven, IMO, by a poor campaign effort from their candidate and the state party there.
PSA time - ADOT road closures
Straight from an email from ADOT -
CLOSURE UPDATE: Interstates 40 and 17 to Reopen Tonight; Safety Top Concern
Drivers: Be Cautions in Changing Conditions
PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation will reopen I-40 in both directions from Flagstaff at 7 p.m. Friday. The highway had been closed from Kingman to Winslow, a 180-mile stretch across Northern Arizona .
I-17 will reopen at the same time for southbound traffic only. On Saturday morning, I-17 northbound from the Sedona turnoff (State Route 179) is expected to open, allowing time for additional runoff to drain from the highway.
While these critical routes will be reopened to all traffic, drivers are warned of continued threatening conditions. Blowing snow, flurries, drifts, high winds, low visibility and water running across roadways have been reported on both highways. Drivers are urged to use caution and to limit trips when possible. Roadways are passable but conditions may change based on weather conditions. Drivers should also be alert to possible roadway damage and reduce travel speeds.
Both I-17 and I-40 were closed on Thursday afternoon when an intensive winter storm pounded the state, dropping more than two feet of snow. ADOT responded by actively working to assist motorists, support DPS officers and complete repairs and snow removal as quickly as possible. I-40 and I-17 are important corridors for state and national freight hauling, and are important routes for travelers. Because of this importance, ADOT applied all available resources to opening both highways as quickly as possible.
Heavy snow created unsafe conditions along both stretches of the interstate traveling to or through Flagstaff . ADOT and the Arizona Department of Public Safety worked together with local agencies to protect motorists, including commercial truck drivers, who easily could have become stranded or involved in crashes in the snow packed and icy conditions.
Other ADOT highways of note:
•State Route 87 closed (including off-road areas) between Bush Highway and State Route 188, south of Payson
•State Route 89a between Sedona and Flagstaff remains closed and is expected to reopen Saturday.
•State Route 260 closed between McNary and Eagar due to blowing and drifting snow.
•State Route 273 closed approaching Sunrise Ski Resort due to heavy snow.
For more information on travel conditions across the state, call 5-1-1 or visit www.az511.gov. For winter driving tips, visit www.azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
Non-weather related closures can be found here, but due to the weather impeding construction plans, the closures may change. Contact ADOT at the above number or websites to find out current info.
CLOSURE UPDATE: Interstates 40 and 17 to Reopen Tonight; Safety Top Concern
Drivers: Be Cautions in Changing Conditions
PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation will reopen I-40 in both directions from Flagstaff at 7 p.m. Friday. The highway had been closed from Kingman to Winslow, a 180-mile stretch across Northern Arizona .
I-17 will reopen at the same time for southbound traffic only. On Saturday morning, I-17 northbound from the Sedona turnoff (State Route 179) is expected to open, allowing time for additional runoff to drain from the highway.
While these critical routes will be reopened to all traffic, drivers are warned of continued threatening conditions. Blowing snow, flurries, drifts, high winds, low visibility and water running across roadways have been reported on both highways. Drivers are urged to use caution and to limit trips when possible. Roadways are passable but conditions may change based on weather conditions. Drivers should also be alert to possible roadway damage and reduce travel speeds.
Both I-17 and I-40 were closed on Thursday afternoon when an intensive winter storm pounded the state, dropping more than two feet of snow. ADOT responded by actively working to assist motorists, support DPS officers and complete repairs and snow removal as quickly as possible. I-40 and I-17 are important corridors for state and national freight hauling, and are important routes for travelers. Because of this importance, ADOT applied all available resources to opening both highways as quickly as possible.
Heavy snow created unsafe conditions along both stretches of the interstate traveling to or through Flagstaff . ADOT and the Arizona Department of Public Safety worked together with local agencies to protect motorists, including commercial truck drivers, who easily could have become stranded or involved in crashes in the snow packed and icy conditions.
Other ADOT highways of note:
•State Route 87 closed (including off-road areas) between Bush Highway and State Route 188, south of Payson
•State Route 89a between Sedona and Flagstaff remains closed and is expected to reopen Saturday.
•State Route 260 closed between McNary and Eagar due to blowing and drifting snow.
•State Route 273 closed approaching Sunrise Ski Resort due to heavy snow.
For more information on travel conditions across the state, call 5-1-1 or visit www.az511.gov. For winter driving tips, visit www.azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
Non-weather related closures can be found here, but due to the weather impeding construction plans, the closures may change. Contact ADOT at the above number or websites to find out current info.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tornado Warning issued for Maricopa County
No joking, and no politics.
A tornado warning has been issued in Maricopa County until 10 p.m.
Keep your flashlights and candles handy, and if a twister approaches your location, get into a bathtub (cast iron is preferable, but since this is 21st century AZ... :) ), and cover up with a blanket to protect against flying glass.
Pretty much everything significant has been closed for the night due to the weather, and tomorrow is iffy. Call ahead if your plans for Friday included flying out of Sky Harbor or attending the car auction.
Or attending anything else that doesn't include staying at home...
The rain is expected to continue on Friday, though the winds should (hopefully!) die down a little, with the rain possibly ending on Saturday.
A tornado warning has been issued in Maricopa County until 10 p.m.
Keep your flashlights and candles handy, and if a twister approaches your location, get into a bathtub (cast iron is preferable, but since this is 21st century AZ... :) ), and cover up with a blanket to protect against flying glass.
Pretty much everything significant has been closed for the night due to the weather, and tomorrow is iffy. Call ahead if your plans for Friday included flying out of Sky Harbor or attending the car auction.
Or attending anything else that doesn't include staying at home...
The rain is expected to continue on Friday, though the winds should (hopefully!) die down a little, with the rain possibly ending on Saturday.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Mass. Mess: They got complacent and they got cute
Much is being made among the political chattering class (and most readers here and this writer are part of that group) of Republican Scott Brown's upset of Democrat Martha Coakley in the special election held in Massachusetts to fill the Senate seat once held by the late Ted Kennedy.
Many are saying that it was a referendum on President Barack Obama and plans for reforming health care in America (OK, "many" is shorthand "any Republican who can find a microphone").
There may have been some of that (I don't really think so, though, not in MA), but it was more a referendum on the campaign conducted by Martha Coakley and the Democrats in Massachusetts,
Many people, including me, thought the race to fill Ted Kennedy's unexpired term was over after the Democratic primary.
Given the huge D registration advantage in MA and the high-profile D nominee (Coakley is the sitting AG in Massachusetts), it should have been.
However, that didn't account for a dreadfully complacent candidate and party structure, or a well-run campaign by the R nominee, Brown.
Coakley actually went on vacation during the campaign; understandable if it was a two-year campaign and she needed to decompress and recharge, but jaw-droppingly arrogant during a two-month one. In addition to that, party donors and activists slacked off after the primary and stayed on the sidelines long enough for Brown to gain traction.
None of this would have mattered if the MassDems hadn't gotten cute during the Romney administration a few years back.
Ted Kennedy's health had been failing for years, so, worried that Republican Romney might have had an opportunity to appoint a U.S. Senator of his liking, the Ds in the MA lege forced through a change to the law there that took the power to fill a vacant Senate seat away from the governor and created a special election process.
Oopsie.
The really embarrassing part of this (as if losing the seat held by Ted Kennedy for almost five decades to a lightweight like Brown isn't embarrassing enough) is that if any of the movers and shakers in the Massachusetts Democratic Party or working on the Coakley campaign had ever read Tip O'Neill's autobiography Man of the House or his political primer All Politics is Local, they would have known better than to take an opponent, any opponent, for granted.
And if political operatives in any state have read Tip O'Neill, Massachusetts' politicos have.
Or at least *should* have.
BTW - for all of the talk about the dominance of Democrats in Mass, everyone should remember that Mass voters have voted for Republicans in the recent past. For 16 years, from 1991 until 2007, they had Republican governors there.
Voters there have and will cast their ballots in support of the better candidate, even if that candidate is a Republican (as long as he isn't a Yankees fan too :) ), and simply put, Scott Brown ran a better campaign than Martha Coakley did over the last couple of months.
Now the race starts anew - Brown's filler term ends in 2012. Then he has to run for a full term, with the accompanying full length campaign where no one will underrate him.
In some ways, this will be more fun to watch than a Coakley term. Now Brown has to find a way to placate his teabagger base while not alienating the vast majority of the MA electorate.
Not sure if he developed that skill set required for that as a backbencher the woefully outclassed Republican caucus of the Massachusetts State Senate.
He has shown that he is a skilled campaigner. Will he be a skilled elected official?
Many are saying that it was a referendum on President Barack Obama and plans for reforming health care in America (OK, "many" is shorthand "any Republican who can find a microphone").
There may have been some of that (I don't really think so, though, not in MA), but it was more a referendum on the campaign conducted by Martha Coakley and the Democrats in Massachusetts,
Many people, including me, thought the race to fill Ted Kennedy's unexpired term was over after the Democratic primary.
Given the huge D registration advantage in MA and the high-profile D nominee (Coakley is the sitting AG in Massachusetts), it should have been.
However, that didn't account for a dreadfully complacent candidate and party structure, or a well-run campaign by the R nominee, Brown.
Coakley actually went on vacation during the campaign; understandable if it was a two-year campaign and she needed to decompress and recharge, but jaw-droppingly arrogant during a two-month one. In addition to that, party donors and activists slacked off after the primary and stayed on the sidelines long enough for Brown to gain traction.
None of this would have mattered if the MassDems hadn't gotten cute during the Romney administration a few years back.
Ted Kennedy's health had been failing for years, so, worried that Republican Romney might have had an opportunity to appoint a U.S. Senator of his liking, the Ds in the MA lege forced through a change to the law there that took the power to fill a vacant Senate seat away from the governor and created a special election process.
Oopsie.
The really embarrassing part of this (as if losing the seat held by Ted Kennedy for almost five decades to a lightweight like Brown isn't embarrassing enough) is that if any of the movers and shakers in the Massachusetts Democratic Party or working on the Coakley campaign had ever read Tip O'Neill's autobiography Man of the House or his political primer All Politics is Local, they would have known better than to take an opponent, any opponent, for granted.
And if political operatives in any state have read Tip O'Neill, Massachusetts' politicos have.
Or at least *should* have.
BTW - for all of the talk about the dominance of Democrats in Mass, everyone should remember that Mass voters have voted for Republicans in the recent past. For 16 years, from 1991 until 2007, they had Republican governors there.
Voters there have and will cast their ballots in support of the better candidate, even if that candidate is a Republican (as long as he isn't a Yankees fan too :) ), and simply put, Scott Brown ran a better campaign than Martha Coakley did over the last couple of months.
Now the race starts anew - Brown's filler term ends in 2012. Then he has to run for a full term, with the accompanying full length campaign where no one will underrate him.
In some ways, this will be more fun to watch than a Coakley term. Now Brown has to find a way to placate his teabagger base while not alienating the vast majority of the MA electorate.
Not sure if he developed that skill set required for that as a backbencher the woefully outclassed Republican caucus of the Massachusetts State Senate.
He has shown that he is a skilled campaigner. Will he be a skilled elected official?
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