Just a quick hit...
It's been fun (of the "partisan political geek" variety, anyway) watching the Republicans in CD5 campaign against Rep. Harry Mitchell for being "too partisan" (voting with his fellow Democrats too often) while they have been railing against their own Sen. John McCain for not being Republican enough.
The entertaining problem with that: their accusations contradict each other.
- In the 110th Congress (the last completed session of Congress), Republican John McCain voted with his party 88.2% of the time (source: Washington Post).
- In the same 110th Congress, Harry Mitchell voted with his fellow Democrats only 80.7% of the time (same source)
BTW - "consistently inconsistent" is a euphemism for "consistently hypocritical." Just in case you didn't pick up on that. :)
Monday, April 26, 2010
Speculation on SB1070 and its impact on professional baseball in AZ
Well that didn't take long...
Because of the huge presence of professional baseball in Arizona and Arizona's economy - the Diamondbacks and Spring Training (which most people are aware of), as well as the Arizona Fall League, Arizona Rookie League, Arizona Instructional League (less a league than a post-season version of spring training) and next year's All Star Game, I gave the MLB Commissioner's Office a call at 12:11 p.m. AZ time.
I wanted to ask them about any impact of the new anti-immigrant law here ("Hand Over Your Papers!") on MLB's plans in AZ.
After being referred to the voicemail of someone with their PR organization, I left a message identifying myself, my blog, and my question. No one has gotten back to me yet (it's only been 120 minutes at this writing, so that isn't a criticism), but within 4 minutes, by 12:15 p.m. AZ time, this blog had received a hit from, you guessed it, Major League Baseball.
The info -
Anyway, while it may be too soon for MLB to have formulated a position on the new law, they probably will have to, and do so very soon.I wanted to ask them about any impact of the new anti-immigrant law here ("Hand Over Your Papers!") on MLB's plans in AZ.
After being referred to the voicemail of someone with their PR organization, I left a message identifying myself, my blog, and my question. No one has gotten back to me yet (it's only been 120 minutes at this writing, so that isn't a criticism), but within 4 minutes, by 12:15 p.m. AZ time, this blog had received a hit from, you guessed it, Major League Baseball.
The info -
Search Engine Phrase random musings
Search Engine Name Google
Search Engine Host www.google.com
Host Name
IP Address 64.95.235.19
Country United States
Region New York
City New York
ISP Major League Baseball
While the impact of the law on the Diamondbacks and Spring Training may be significant (look for screaming the first time someone from MCSO stops Albert Pujols or Miguel Cabrera on the street outside of Chase Field and demands to see his papers), there isn't much that can be done over the short term, at least until MLB can figure out how to break leases and agreements. (Look for them to do so when they realize how onerous and oppressive this new law is)
The Arizona Fall League and the Arizona Instructional League shouldn't see much of a short-term impact either - Latin players who are good enough for the AFL tend to be in demand for their countries' winter leagues, and those leagues have first dibs on players from their leagues, and there are enough MLB-sponsored baseball academies in Latin America to handle instructional duties. In addition, they don't have a significant economic or cultural presence in AZ. If MLB moves those operations, only hardcore fans will notice.
The Arizona Rookie League could be a disaster in the making for MLB. It is a league for young, frequently first-year, players. A significant portion (guessstimate: slightly >50%) are 17 and 18-year old Latin players journeying out of their home countries for the first time. Many speak little or no English, and the ones that do, do so with an accent.
In others words, prime targets for
Given the inroads that MLB has made into Latin American countries in recent decades (>30% of MLB players are Latin, and the number is still growing), how well will pics of their native sons languishing in one of Arpaio's cells or restraint chairs play there?
Of course, given the low visibility of the League and its players in AZ, and the open bigotry of too many of Arizona's "leaders", there won't be much of a furor in AZ, and if anything, the Pearces and Brewers of AZ will be happy at the idea of imprisoning Dominican (and Venezuelan and Mexican and so on) teenagers and will view international criticism as a source of pride.
That league, the Rookie League, starts play in late June and continues into August, well after the law is expected to go into effect (90 days after the lege adjourns for the year).
In other words, but the end of the summer, potentially a significant percentage* of the next generation of MLB players could find themselves in jail or detained by police to be grilled over their immigration status, all for daring to be born on the wrong side of a line on a map.
That leaves MLB's big club, if they choose to use it.
Next year's All Star Game, planned for Chase Field in Phoenix on July 12. 2o11.
The direct impact of the game and related activities on Phoenix's economy is expected to be in excess of $60 million, with millions more in less-direct economic impacts.
By doing this (enacting an anti-immigrant police state law) more than a year out, the nativists in the lege have created a window of opportunity for MLB to move the game if it so chooses, though it will have to be soon to allow the new site time to adequately prepare (Southern CA might be a good choice - great facilities, experience with big events, and, if MLB wants to send a message, a large Latino population).
Now we wait who MLB wants to keep happy - a few thousand nativists in Arizona, or the hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of its players and fans worldwide who don't think that Latinos, whether or not they are baseball players, should be oppressed because of their ethnicity.
*Note - There are 6 North American-based leagues that are primarily made up of first year pros - Arizona, Gulf Coast, Appalachian, Pioneer, Northwest and New York-Penn (Northwest and NY Penn tend to have college age players, the others tend to be younger). There are also MLB-sponsored summer leagues in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, but those players tend to be 17 or younger and solely from those two c0untries. Usually, players who graduate from the Venezuelan and Dominican summer leagues move into the Arizona or Gulf Coast leagues for a season to acclimate to the United States before moving into a full-season minor league.
Why don't I think this will lessen the calls for an economic boycott of Arizona?
Should've covered this last week, but I was busy at the time the news broke (as were most of us). However, the SPLC picked it up and refreshed my memory...
From the Arizona Daily Star -
Anyway, calls for organizing an economic boycott of Arizona may not be necessary - between the newly-enacted laws turning AZ into a police state ("Gimme your papers!"), into a place where maniacs can carry concealed weapons without a permit, background check, or even basic safety training, and the above, the formation of paramilitary hate groups operating under the imprimatur of state approval, most potential visitors will consider AZ an unsafe place for their companies, families, and selves, and they'll reach that understanding on their own.
From the Arizona Daily Star -
Tired of watching smugglers and other illegal border crossers walk past, the Cochise County Militia is planning to form a paramilitary squad with permission to confront them.Probably not a coincidence that Cochise County is where Russell Pearce wants to appropriate state money to fund a "volunteer security force" to hunt immigrants (HB2162, up for final approval in the Senate today).
Bill Davis, who founded the group in 2001, said in an email to supporters Monday that the militia would be forming a "private military company."
" We will be forming a PMC - (Private Military Company) - completely legal!!! - We can be considered paramilitary, but not vigilantes, mercenaries, etc."
Anyway, calls for organizing an economic boycott of Arizona may not be necessary - between the newly-enacted laws turning AZ into a police state ("Gimme your papers!"), into a place where maniacs can carry concealed weapons without a permit, background check, or even basic safety training, and the above, the formation of paramilitary hate groups operating under the imprimatur of state approval, most potential visitors will consider AZ an unsafe place for their companies, families, and selves, and they'll reach that understanding on their own.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Coming Week - Everybody Else Edition
As usual, all info gathered from the websites of the relevent political bodies/agencies, and subject to change without notice...
In DC...
...The House's agenda is here. It looks fairly quiet thus far, though H.R. 2499 (Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009) and H.R. 5013 (Implementing Management for Performance and Related Reforms to Obtain Value in Every Acquisition Act of 2010, aka IMPROVE Act) may generate some controversy.
It looks like that after the healthcare reform dust-up earlier this year, the leadership; in the House is going to take it easy on the really controversial stuff.
...Over in the Senate, much of their week will be consumed by consideration of financial regulation overhaul (S. 3217). Call me cynical, but much of the contention on this one seems to be over deciding between faux reform (Senate Ds) and no reform (Senate Rs). The Senate's committee schedule is here.
Here in Arizona...
...The Arizona Corporation Commission is holding a utilities-related meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, agenda here. On Friday, they'll be holding a special open meeting in Globe to solicit public comment on line extension policies of electric utilities.
The ACC's hearing schedule is here.
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is meeting this week. Their "informal" meeting on Monday has been cancelled, however, Wednesday's "formal" meeting is still on tap.
...The Citizens Clean Election Commission is meeting on Thursday. No agenda posted as yet.
...The Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District will meet on Tuesday, with an executive session at 5:30 p.m. and the regular session at 6:30 p.m. Agenda here.
...The Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System is meeting on Wednesday. The executive session agenda is here; regular session agenda here.
...The Tempe City Council isn't meeting this week. Their calendar of events is here.
...The Scottsdale City Council has a regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday and a special meeting scheduled for noon on Friday to interview finalists for the City Manager's position. The City's Community Meeting Notice is here.
Not meeting this week: Arizona Board of Regents, Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project
In DC...
...The House's agenda is here. It looks fairly quiet thus far, though H.R. 2499 (Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009) and H.R. 5013 (Implementing Management for Performance and Related Reforms to Obtain Value in Every Acquisition Act of 2010, aka IMPROVE Act) may generate some controversy.
It looks like that after the healthcare reform dust-up earlier this year, the leadership; in the House is going to take it easy on the really controversial stuff.
...Over in the Senate, much of their week will be consumed by consideration of financial regulation overhaul (S. 3217). Call me cynical, but much of the contention on this one seems to be over deciding between faux reform (Senate Ds) and no reform (Senate Rs). The Senate's committee schedule is here.
Here in Arizona...
...The Arizona Corporation Commission is holding a utilities-related meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, agenda here. On Friday, they'll be holding a special open meeting in Globe to solicit public comment on line extension policies of electric utilities.
The ACC's hearing schedule is here.
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is meeting this week. Their "informal" meeting on Monday has been cancelled, however, Wednesday's "formal" meeting is still on tap.
...The Citizens Clean Election Commission is meeting on Thursday. No agenda posted as yet.
...The Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District will meet on Tuesday, with an executive session at 5:30 p.m. and the regular session at 6:30 p.m. Agenda here.
...The Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System is meeting on Wednesday. The executive session agenda is here; regular session agenda here.
...The Tempe City Council isn't meeting this week. Their calendar of events is here.
...The Scottsdale City Council has a regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday and a special meeting scheduled for noon on Friday to interview finalists for the City Manager's position. The City's Community Meeting Notice is here.
Not meeting this week: Arizona Board of Regents, Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The wheel of history coming around again...
The names change, both of the victims and the victimizers, but nothing else changes. What the nativists in the lege and on the 9th floor of the Executive Tower are doing is nothing new, they're just adding an Arizona twang to the litany of hate.
From Pastor Martin Niemoller, speaking on the rise of Nazi Germany:
From Pastor Martin Niemoller, speaking on the rise of Nazi Germany:
"They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up."
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu - suffering from latent Arpaioism
Paul Babeu, the Sheriff in Pinal County, has been making the rounds of various MSM outlets and events in support of the newly-enacted police state bill, SB1070.
He's been touting the measure as something that protects the people of Arizona.
He was the featured speaker at an Andrew Thomas press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, supporting Thomas' plan to take over all illegal immigration-related prosecutions if he is elected as Attorney General in November. Even better, he was a guest on a KPHO (Phoenix channel 5) newscast on Friday to support Jan Brewer's decision to sign SB1070 into law.
The video of his appearance is here; the money quote starts at around the :56 mark of the segment (referring to the current laws regarding the actions of law enforcement officials) -
Actually, he's not given such authority - people who are accused of a crime or even convicted of a crime still have rights.
The law enforcement officers involved may or may not like that fact, but it *is* the way it is.
However, more to the point of this post, after living for more than a decade and a half in Maricopa County with a sheriff that exhibits no respect for the Bill of Rights, or even basic human decency, I fear for the people of Pinal County.
They may be in for some of the abuses that we have been getting.
He's been touting the measure as something that protects the people of Arizona.
He was the featured speaker at an Andrew Thomas press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, supporting Thomas' plan to take over all illegal immigration-related prosecutions if he is elected as Attorney General in November. Even better, he was a guest on a KPHO (Phoenix channel 5) newscast on Friday to support Jan Brewer's decision to sign SB1070 into law.
The video of his appearance is here; the money quote starts at around the :56 mark of the segment (referring to the current laws regarding the actions of law enforcement officials) -
"...we're given the authority to suspend people's Constitutional rights..."
Actually, he's not given such authority - people who are accused of a crime or even convicted of a crime still have rights.
The law enforcement officers involved may or may not like that fact, but it *is* the way it is.
However, more to the point of this post, after living for more than a decade and a half in Maricopa County with a sheriff that exhibits no respect for the Bill of Rights, or even basic human decency, I fear for the people of Pinal County.
They may be in for some of the abuses that we have been getting.
The Coming Week - Legislative Edition
As usual, all info gathered from the website of the Arizona Legislature, except where noted, and subject to change without notice...
There are two reasons to believe that the 2nd Session of the 49th Arizona Legislature is in its final days -
1. The sooner they adjourn, the sooner the 90-day clock starts ticking for SB1070 to become the law of the land. (Brewer may have signed it on Friday, but it doesn't go into effect until 90 days after the lege adjourns sine die).
2. The agendas for the respective chambers' Rules committees are getting shorter, indicating that there will be fewer bills reaching the floor for a final vote.
On the House side...
- Rules will meet Monday in HHR4 upon adjournment/recess of the floor session or "upon announcement" (another indicator that the end is near: scheduling becomes very fluid). Highlights of the agenda: an amended SB1042 (restricting municipalities' abilities to levy building permit and related fees) and SB1443 (inhibiting photo enforcement by placing all kinds of restrictions on procedures post citation issuance).
- Final Read calendar for the floor is posted here. Final Read is for approval of House bills that have been approved by the Senate but with changes. If they changes are too much for the House to accept, they will go to a conference committee to iron out the differences.
- - Monday's conference committee schedule is here.
- Third Read (final approval) calendar is here. Highlights: HB2060 (moving money from the Public Conservation Account of the Land Conservation Fund to the state parks board, the Arizona Historical Society, and the Prescott Historical Society). Because of Voter Protection Act provisions, this will take a 3/4 vote to pass; and SB1309 (a Center for Arizona Theocracy-written measure regarding "parents rights" ).
- COW calendar (Committee of the Whole) is here.
Over on the Senate side, a Rules agenda hasn't been posted as yet. There are a few committees meeting to consider executive branch nominations.
- Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform will meet on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in SHR1 to consider appointments to the Arizona Medical Board and the Radiation Regulatory Hearing Board.
- Education Accountability and Reform will meet on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in SHR1 to consider appointments to the State Board for Charter Schools, the State Board of Education, and the School Facilities Board. One name that stood out upon cursory examination was that of Eileen Klein for the State Board of Education. Klein is Jan Brewer's Chief of Staff.
- Commerce and Economic Development will meet on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in SHR3 to consider appointments to the Greater Arizona Development Authority, Industrial Commission of Arizona, and Arizona Power Authority Commission.
- Natural Resources, Infrastructure, and Public Debt will meet on Tuesday at 11 a.m. (or upon adjournment of the Senate Education committee) in SHR109 to consider appointments the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board.
- COW calendars for Monday are posted here and here. There are a number of lousy bills on both, but especially the 2nd one.
- Third Read for Monday is here. A number of bad bills on this one.
- The Caucus Calendar is here. In the absence of a Rules agenda, this one is a good indicator of the measures that may receive floor votes later in the week. It includes HB2250, the Republicans' corporate bailout bill (updated fiscal note here). Combined with the proposed sales tax hike (election day is May 18 for that one), this represents a massive redistribution of money from Arizona's poor and middle classes into the pockets of corporations.
In events news, other than the expected continuing rallies at the Capitol to oppose SB1070, a number of legislators (presumably, mostly Republicans) will be participating in something called "AZ legislators for wildlife shootout" at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility's Clay Target Center on Monday from 4 - 7 p.m.
No word if they will be painting sombreros on the targets beforehand.
Later...
There are two reasons to believe that the 2nd Session of the 49th Arizona Legislature is in its final days -
1. The sooner they adjourn, the sooner the 90-day clock starts ticking for SB1070 to become the law of the land. (Brewer may have signed it on Friday, but it doesn't go into effect until 90 days after the lege adjourns sine die).
2. The agendas for the respective chambers' Rules committees are getting shorter, indicating that there will be fewer bills reaching the floor for a final vote.
On the House side...
- Rules will meet Monday in HHR4 upon adjournment/recess of the floor session or "upon announcement" (another indicator that the end is near: scheduling becomes very fluid). Highlights of the agenda: an amended SB1042 (restricting municipalities' abilities to levy building permit and related fees) and SB1443 (inhibiting photo enforcement by placing all kinds of restrictions on procedures post citation issuance).
- Final Read calendar for the floor is posted here. Final Read is for approval of House bills that have been approved by the Senate but with changes. If they changes are too much for the House to accept, they will go to a conference committee to iron out the differences.
- - Monday's conference committee schedule is here.
- Third Read (final approval) calendar is here. Highlights: HB2060 (moving money from the Public Conservation Account of the Land Conservation Fund to the state parks board, the Arizona Historical Society, and the Prescott Historical Society). Because of Voter Protection Act provisions, this will take a 3/4 vote to pass; and SB1309 (a Center for Arizona Theocracy-written measure regarding "parents rights" ).
- COW calendar (Committee of the Whole) is here.
Over on the Senate side, a Rules agenda hasn't been posted as yet. There are a few committees meeting to consider executive branch nominations.
- Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform will meet on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in SHR1 to consider appointments to the Arizona Medical Board and the Radiation Regulatory Hearing Board.
- Education Accountability and Reform will meet on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in SHR1 to consider appointments to the State Board for Charter Schools, the State Board of Education, and the School Facilities Board. One name that stood out upon cursory examination was that of Eileen Klein for the State Board of Education. Klein is Jan Brewer's Chief of Staff.
- Commerce and Economic Development will meet on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in SHR3 to consider appointments to the Greater Arizona Development Authority, Industrial Commission of Arizona, and Arizona Power Authority Commission.
- Natural Resources, Infrastructure, and Public Debt will meet on Tuesday at 11 a.m. (or upon adjournment of the Senate Education committee) in SHR109 to consider appointments the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board.
- COW calendars for Monday are posted here and here. There are a number of lousy bills on both, but especially the 2nd one.
- Third Read for Monday is here. A number of bad bills on this one.
- The Caucus Calendar is here. In the absence of a Rules agenda, this one is a good indicator of the measures that may receive floor votes later in the week. It includes HB2250, the Republicans' corporate bailout bill (updated fiscal note here). Combined with the proposed sales tax hike (election day is May 18 for that one), this represents a massive redistribution of money from Arizona's poor and middle classes into the pockets of corporations.
In events news, other than the expected continuing rallies at the Capitol to oppose SB1070, a number of legislators (presumably, mostly Republicans) will be participating in something called "AZ legislators for wildlife shootout" at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility's Clay Target Center on Monday from 4 - 7 p.m.
No word if they will be painting sombreros on the targets beforehand.
Later...
Friday, April 23, 2010
Brewer signs anti-immigrant police state bill
Yes, I predicted exactly this a few days ago, but deep inside, I was hoping that I was being overly cynical
In a move that surprised virtually no one, today Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB1070, enacting the nation's harshest anti-immigrant law. In both her signing statement and an executive order on the matter, she says that the bill, now law, won't engender racial profiling.
Nobody believes that, though.
Some, the Russell Pearces and J.D. Hayworths of the world, have publicly agreed with Brewer, but with a wink and a nod - they want profiling - it's what the law is all about.
Anyway, there are scads of articles and op-eds on Friday's developments. Here are links to a few of them -
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon in the Washington Post (normally I think that Gordon is a tool, but to his credit, he gets this one right)
Huffington Post
E.J. Dionne
Arizona Senate Democrats
Oh hell, there's lots more and I have to go to bed. Just go to Google News to read about Arizona's insanity to your heart's content.
I'll write more after my work week is over. Until then, find out where your local Democratic legislative candidates (or statewide or Congressional candidates) are canvassing this weekend, and volunteer to help. From this very minute all the way through to November.
In a move that surprised virtually no one, today Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB1070, enacting the nation's harshest anti-immigrant law. In both her signing statement and an executive order on the matter, she says that the bill, now law, won't engender racial profiling.
Nobody believes that, though.
Some, the Russell Pearces and J.D. Hayworths of the world, have publicly agreed with Brewer, but with a wink and a nod - they want profiling - it's what the law is all about.
Anyway, there are scads of articles and op-eds on Friday's developments. Here are links to a few of them -
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon in the Washington Post (normally I think that Gordon is a tool, but to his credit, he gets this one right)
Huffington Post
E.J. Dionne
Arizona Senate Democrats
Oh hell, there's lots more and I have to go to bed. Just go to Google News to read about Arizona's insanity to your heart's content.
I'll write more after my work week is over. Until then, find out where your local Democratic legislative candidates (or statewide or Congressional candidates) are canvassing this weekend, and volunteer to help. From this very minute all the way through to November.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Anyone wanna start a pool?
Giddy from this week's passage of the anti-immigrant police state bill and today's passage of the birther bill, one of the loons in the lege - perhaps "old guard" loons such as Pearce, Gould, or Harper, or perhaps new guard hatchlings like Antenori, Seel, or Montenegro - will have the bright idea of swearing out a complaint against President Obama under the new anti-immigrant law.
God knows Arpaio would trip over himself trying to get to the airport to serve such a complaint the next time the President visits Arizona. Of course, he wouldn't be worried about tripping, as long as there were TV cameras around.
The pool could be people predicting the time that elapses from the moment the bills become law until a complaint is filed, and who will be out in front of it.
Whaddya think?
:)
Note - To all nativist-friendly law enforcement officers/officials/agencies: The above is a metaphor only, used to make a political point. No actual wagering will take place as a result of the above proposal.
God knows Arpaio would trip over himself trying to get to the airport to serve such a complaint the next time the President visits Arizona. Of course, he wouldn't be worried about tripping, as long as there were TV cameras around.
The pool could be people predicting the time that elapses from the moment the bills become law until a complaint is filed, and who will be out in front of it.
Whaddya think?
:)
Note - To all nativist-friendly law enforcement officers/officials/agencies: The above is a metaphor only, used to make a political point. No actual wagering will take place as a result of the above proposal.
The Nation's Attention Focused On The Arizona Governor's Office
Observers from all over the country (and the world) have focused on the 9th Floor of the Executive Tower at the Arizona Capitol. Governor Jan Brewer is hunkered down there, trying to ride out the political firestorm that has erupted over the AZ Senate's final passage of SB1070, Russell Pearce's police state bill.
- The Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Los Angeles likened the bill to "Nazi and Soviet-style" techniques of oppression.
- Congressional lawmakers, including Arizona's Raul Grijalva (D-CD7), have publicly urged Brewer to veto the measure.
- Across the nation and world, newspaper editorials and op-eds, including some from outlets that aren't exactly noted as bastions of liberalism (i.e. - The Christian Science Monitor), have weighed in against the bill.
- The Governor's office has been inundated with phone calls, faxes, and emails on the bill, with messages opposing the bill outnumbering messages of support by an almost 9 - 1 margin (11931 opposing, 1356 favoring, and counting).
She has until Saturday to make a decision. After that, the bill becomes law without her signature. Expect the protests, letters, and editorials to continue until she does make a decision (or makes one by *not* making one).
Russell Pearce can't shut up about his bill or the people opposing it. From the AZRep article linked to "inundated" above -
"Anarchists"??
This from a man who wants to arm amateurs and vigilantes and send them to the border?
It's a compliment when someone who is as hypocritical and evil as Pearce doesn't like you.
As for his professed regard for people who are "working jobs and raising families", it seems that he only accords respect to working folk and their families if they don't have brown skin. The people who will be most affected are just trying to put a roof over their families' heads.
They just have the flaw ("flaw" by the standards of Pearce and his ilk, anyway) of having ancestors who were born of the wrong side of a line on a map.
Prediction: Brewer signs it. Doing so will probably guarantee a win for her in the Republican primary. It may cost her the general election, but that won't matter to her if she doesn't get through the primary.
Tea leaf reading time: The Governor's schedule for the week has her speaking at a dinner for the Center for ArizonaTheocracy Policy on Saturday night. With Republican demagogue (and McCainiac) Sarah Palin.
Brewer is going to want a hero's welcome there.
Put it all together and it seems that Brewer has more to gain from signing it than vetoing it.
She is going to sign the bill.
- The Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Los Angeles likened the bill to "Nazi and Soviet-style" techniques of oppression.
- Congressional lawmakers, including Arizona's Raul Grijalva (D-CD7), have publicly urged Brewer to veto the measure.
- Across the nation and world, newspaper editorials and op-eds, including some from outlets that aren't exactly noted as bastions of liberalism (i.e. - The Christian Science Monitor), have weighed in against the bill.
- The Governor's office has been inundated with phone calls, faxes, and emails on the bill, with messages opposing the bill outnumbering messages of support by an almost 9 - 1 margin (11931 opposing, 1356 favoring, and counting).
She has until Saturday to make a decision. After that, the bill becomes law without her signature. Expect the protests, letters, and editorials to continue until she does make a decision (or makes one by *not* making one).
Russell Pearce can't shut up about his bill or the people opposing it. From the AZRep article linked to "inundated" above -
Pearce called Tuesday's protesters "anarchists." He said he has not heard of any planned rallies in favor of the bill but said that is because supporters trust their state leaders.
"They are working jobs and raising families and expect us to do the right thing," he said.
"Anarchists"??
This from a man who wants to arm amateurs and vigilantes and send them to the border?
It's a compliment when someone who is as hypocritical and evil as Pearce doesn't like you.
As for his professed regard for people who are "working jobs and raising families", it seems that he only accords respect to working folk and their families if they don't have brown skin. The people who will be most affected are just trying to put a roof over their families' heads.
They just have the flaw ("flaw" by the standards of Pearce and his ilk, anyway) of having ancestors who were born of the wrong side of a line on a map.
Prediction: Brewer signs it. Doing so will probably guarantee a win for her in the Republican primary. It may cost her the general election, but that won't matter to her if she doesn't get through the primary.
Tea leaf reading time: The Governor's schedule for the week has her speaking at a dinner for the Center for Arizona
Brewer is going to want a hero's welcome there.
Put it all together and it seems that Brewer has more to gain from signing it than vetoing it.
She is going to sign the bill.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Quick summary of a day at the lege
Things I learned at the lege today -
- Most of the talk of sine die (end of the legislative session) centers on next Thursday, April 29. According to House Democratic Leader Rep. David Lujan, the Speaker of the House is really focusing on that day (the 29th), so expect a lot of activity over the next week and a half.
Some folks are more pessimistic - Jeremy Browning, an associate at Ziemba Waid Public Affairs and seasoned Capitol watcher believes that they'll try hard for that date but will end up spilling over into the following week. On the other hand, he's a wide-eyed optimist compared to D17 Rep. Ed Ableser, who predicted a sine die date of May 11.
- Andrew Thomas may have left the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, but he hasn't left the nativist crazy train. In a press conference at the Capitol today, he announced that if he is elected as AZ Attorney General, his office will take over all human smuggling prosecutions in the state, including those against the smugglees themselves. In addition, his assistant AGs will be cross-deputized at the county level in order to handle prosecutions at that level.
And if any county dares to decline his offer of "help", he'll ask his allies in the lege to pass a law requiring them to do so.
AZRep columnist E.J. Montini offers his take on Thomas' announcement here.
- The House passed HCR2068, proclaiming April 20, 2010 as "Jack Brown Western Day" in honor of Rep. Brown's decades of public service to Arizona. There was a video tribute to Rep. Brown featuring a bipartisan roster of current and former denizens of West Washington, including (former) Governor Jane Hull, (former) House Democratic leader Art Hamilton, (former) Democratic gubernortorial candidate Eddie Basha, House Speaker Kirk Adams, Representative Olivia Cajero Bedford, and more. In addition, a number of members of the House rose to speak of their appreciation for Brown's civility, wisdom, and humor. Even folks who had gone on to greater things like current Congressman Harry Mitchell and former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini sent letters of appreciation which were read to the Brown, the rest of the House, and the public in the gallery.
It was a show of genuine affection and respect from all sides of the aisle of the sort that is usually missing from the Capitol these days.
- Weird fact department: Today was the first time I have visited the lege while they were considering "death resolutions" (not as macabre as it sounds - they're resolutions honoring a recently passed luminary). Turns out that out of respect to the honorees and their families, they close the public gallery. If you are in it when the session starts, you can stay, but you can't enter the gallery until the consideration of the resolutions has been completed.
Other updates for the rest of the week:
- Senate Government will meet on Thursday at 10:45 in SHR1 to consider the appointment of three people to the Arizona State Retirement System Board. Pretty mundane, but the names are interesting -
Thomas Manos, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Finance for the Brewer Administration
Kevin McCarthy, President of the Arizona Tax Research Association (his organization advocated sweeping money from K-12 to balance the state's budget last year. Perhaps the retired employees from the state should plan for dog food diets in the near future.)
Dennis Hoffman, an economics professor from ASU (OK, he looks like he may be qualified for this post in ways that go beyond political connections.)
- Floor calendars for tomorrow (April 21) are here.
- On Thursday, the House will be the location of the AZ Capitol's first-ever naturalization ceremony for three active-duty service members. Reps. Lynne Pancrazi and David Lujan will speak. Festivities start at 10:30 a.m.
Later...
- Most of the talk of sine die (end of the legislative session) centers on next Thursday, April 29. According to House Democratic Leader Rep. David Lujan, the Speaker of the House is really focusing on that day (the 29th), so expect a lot of activity over the next week and a half.
Some folks are more pessimistic - Jeremy Browning, an associate at Ziemba Waid Public Affairs and seasoned Capitol watcher believes that they'll try hard for that date but will end up spilling over into the following week. On the other hand, he's a wide-eyed optimist compared to D17 Rep. Ed Ableser, who predicted a sine die date of May 11.
- Andrew Thomas may have left the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, but he hasn't left the nativist crazy train. In a press conference at the Capitol today, he announced that if he is elected as AZ Attorney General, his office will take over all human smuggling prosecutions in the state, including those against the smugglees themselves. In addition, his assistant AGs will be cross-deputized at the county level in order to handle prosecutions at that level.
And if any county dares to decline his offer of "help", he'll ask his allies in the lege to pass a law requiring them to do so.
AZRep columnist E.J. Montini offers his take on Thomas' announcement here.
- The House passed HCR2068, proclaiming April 20, 2010 as "Jack Brown Western Day" in honor of Rep. Brown's decades of public service to Arizona. There was a video tribute to Rep. Brown featuring a bipartisan roster of current and former denizens of West Washington, including (former) Governor Jane Hull, (former) House Democratic leader Art Hamilton, (former) Democratic gubernortorial candidate Eddie Basha, House Speaker Kirk Adams, Representative Olivia Cajero Bedford, and more. In addition, a number of members of the House rose to speak of their appreciation for Brown's civility, wisdom, and humor. Even folks who had gone on to greater things like current Congressman Harry Mitchell and former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini sent letters of appreciation which were read to the Brown, the rest of the House, and the public in the gallery.
It was a show of genuine affection and respect from all sides of the aisle of the sort that is usually missing from the Capitol these days.
- Weird fact department: Today was the first time I have visited the lege while they were considering "death resolutions" (not as macabre as it sounds - they're resolutions honoring a recently passed luminary). Turns out that out of respect to the honorees and their families, they close the public gallery. If you are in it when the session starts, you can stay, but you can't enter the gallery until the consideration of the resolutions has been completed.
Other updates for the rest of the week:
- Senate Government will meet on Thursday at 10:45 in SHR1 to consider the appointment of three people to the Arizona State Retirement System Board. Pretty mundane, but the names are interesting -
Thomas Manos, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Finance for the Brewer Administration
Kevin McCarthy, President of the Arizona Tax Research Association (his organization advocated sweeping money from K-12 to balance the state's budget last year. Perhaps the retired employees from the state should plan for dog food diets in the near future.)
Dennis Hoffman, an economics professor from ASU (OK, he looks like he may be qualified for this post in ways that go beyond political connections.)
- Floor calendars for tomorrow (April 21) are here.
- On Thursday, the House will be the location of the AZ Capitol's first-ever naturalization ceremony for three active-duty service members. Reps. Lynne Pancrazi and David Lujan will speak. Festivities start at 10:30 a.m.
Later...
Pics from the lege - SB1070 protests
I'll do a more complete write up later, but here are a few pics (apologies for the formatting, but for some reason, Blogger doesn't like multiple pics)
Beginning of the presser/prayer session urging the Governor to veto SB1070
Somebody chained to the doors of the Old Capitol, shortly before the chains were cut and arrests were made (there was large police presence at the Capitol today. Not sure if it was larger than during any of the Tea Party rallies there)
The counter protestors (all 15 or so) leaving in their air-conditioned coach-style bus, shortly after the beginning of the press conference
Quotes from a Day That Will Live In Infamy
The Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff) has a piece up with some quotes from the AZ Senate's debate on Monday regarding the final passage of SB1070, Russell Pearce's police state bill.
From the article (with a little commentary added...call it "blogger's privilege" :) ) -
Look for more gems to come out of today's press conferences, as advocates from both sides work to convince Jan Brewer to sign or veto the bill.
From the article (with a little commentary added...call it "blogger's privilege" :) ) -
"We've been celebration Holocaust Remembrance Week. And folks were remembering that a lot of the tactics that will now be employed because of this piece of legislation were the tactics that were used in Nazi Germany." -- Sen. Paula Aboud, D-Tucson (Spot on. Period.)
"Let me assure you, you don't have to have a brown skin to be the victim of officer error, police enforcement error. Undoubtedly there is. There's a proper role for the media to cover that." -- Sen. John Huppenthal, R-Chandler, saying the legislation will not lead to racial profiling (I'm not sure, but I think he is saying that it is OK for the lege to pass horrible laws that institutionalize bigotry and abuse of power, because the media can talk about it. Ahhh, yes - this from the man who would be in charge of AZ's education system. )
"I get concerned when you start questioning people (about their immigration status). Chances are that you're going to run across U.S. citizens that you're going to end up detaining at some point." -- Yuma County Sheriff Ralph Ogden
"Part of his fear is political because he's weak-kneed, like many other folks, about enforcing the law. Enforce the law. You have an oath of office. That's your job." -- Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, in response. ("Weak-kneed" is just Pearce's verbal shorthand for "I'm not visiting Yuma County any time soon". He might want to avoid talking about oaths of office, since he so clearly violates his every day, though.)
Look for more gems to come out of today's press conferences, as advocates from both sides work to convince Jan Brewer to sign or veto the bill.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Quick update to the lege's schedule for the week
A couple of new committee agendas have been posted for this week.
House Health and Human Services will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR4. The agenda has one item on it, a striker to SB1043 that would restore KidsCare, the state's Children's Health Insurance Program. The KidsCare program was ended and removed from state statute in next year's budget, passed during the lege's special session in March.
House Judiciary will meet on Wednesday at 9:01 a.m. (or upon adjournment of HHS) in HHR4. That agenda also includes but a single item, a striker to SCR1009 that, if passed by the voters, would repeal Clean Elections in Arizona. As the measure is currently written, it would ban the use of public money for Clean Elections.
In other words, the striker is just as bad as the original, but it's a cleaner, more direct, kind of "bad."
Lastly, there will be a prayer session and press conference in the Capitol's rose garden by the interfaith community, urging the Governor to veto SB1170, Russell Pearce's police state bill. Proceedings start at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
House Health and Human Services will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR4. The agenda has one item on it, a striker to SB1043 that would restore KidsCare, the state's Children's Health Insurance Program. The KidsCare program was ended and removed from state statute in next year's budget, passed during the lege's special session in March.
House Judiciary will meet on Wednesday at 9:01 a.m. (or upon adjournment of HHS) in HHR4. That agenda also includes but a single item, a striker to SCR1009 that, if passed by the voters, would repeal Clean Elections in Arizona. As the measure is currently written, it would ban the use of public money for Clean Elections.
In other words, the striker is just as bad as the original, but it's a cleaner, more direct, kind of "bad."
Lastly, there will be a prayer session and press conference in the Capitol's rose garden by the interfaith community, urging the Governor to veto SB1170, Russell Pearce's police state bill. Proceedings start at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
AZ Senate passes Pearce's police state bill, sends it to Jan Brewer for her signature
I can understand disagreeing with most of what comes out of the AZ lege, most of the time, it's just politics.
What I can't stand is being ashamed of what comes out of the lege.
Tonight, I'm profoundly embarrassed to be an Arizonan.
From Reuters (yes, this is getting worldwide coverage) -
As noted in the article, the vote was 17-11, with the voting going almost completely along party lines. The only Democrats who didn't oppose the bill were Amanda Aguirre and Albert Hale, who were both absent.
The only Republican who had both enough humanity and spine to oppose the bill was Carolyn Allen.
All of the rest of the Rs in the Senate fall into one of two categories -
Pure evil
Craven cowards
Late last week, a friend of mine from work who is of Mexican descent but is a U.S. citizen by birth, as are her children and grandchildren, asked me about this bill and what she should do when she is pulled over by the police and they demand to see her papers.
All I had for her was a lame "be polite and give them over."
When she asked why the law was going to be passed, I told her that some of the people in the lege "simply don't like brown people", to which she replied that "brown people vote, too."
Unfortunately, not enough vote in the general election and almost none vote in the Republican primaries.
Which brings us to the question of whether or not Jan Brewer will sign the bill into law.
Rest assured, she will.
She's running in a Republican primary where every candidate is trying to out-right-wingnut her (and she was pretty much a far right ideologue even before the primary season started.) This bill is tailor-made for someone who is trying to get the Tea Party/nativist wing of the GOP on their side.
In other words, the real question isn't "will she sign it?" but "will she be doing the Snoopy dance on a copy of the Bill of Rights while she signs it, or will she just be grinning from ear-to-ear for the cameras?"
What I can't stand is being ashamed of what comes out of the lege.
Tonight, I'm profoundly embarrassed to be an Arizonan.
From Reuters (yes, this is getting worldwide coverage) -
Arizona lawmakers passed a controversial immigration bill on Monday requiring police in the state that borders Mexico to determine if people are in the United States illegally, a measure critics say is open to racial profiling.And the money quote from the article -
Lawmakers in the Arizona Senate voted 17 to 11 to approve the bill, widely regarded as the toughest measure yet taken by any U.S. state to curb illegal immigration.
"I believe handcuffs are a wonderful tool when they're on the right people," said Russell Pearce, the Republican state senator who wrote the bill.For those of you who aren't familiar with our Sen. Pearce, when he says "bad guys" and "the right people" for handcuffs, he's referring to people with skin that is a color other than white, reserving a special contempt for people of Mexican descent (remember his proposal to restart "Operation Wetback" anyone?)
We want to "get them off law enforcement and get them on the bad guys," he told Reuters.
As noted in the article, the vote was 17-11, with the voting going almost completely along party lines. The only Democrats who didn't oppose the bill were Amanda Aguirre and Albert Hale, who were both absent.
The only Republican who had both enough humanity and spine to oppose the bill was Carolyn Allen.
All of the rest of the Rs in the Senate fall into one of two categories -
Pure evil
Craven cowards
Late last week, a friend of mine from work who is of Mexican descent but is a U.S. citizen by birth, as are her children and grandchildren, asked me about this bill and what she should do when she is pulled over by the police and they demand to see her papers.
All I had for her was a lame "be polite and give them over."
When she asked why the law was going to be passed, I told her that some of the people in the lege "simply don't like brown people", to which she replied that "brown people vote, too."
Unfortunately, not enough vote in the general election and almost none vote in the Republican primaries.
Which brings us to the question of whether or not Jan Brewer will sign the bill into law.
Rest assured, she will.
She's running in a Republican primary where every candidate is trying to out-right-wingnut her (and she was pretty much a far right ideologue even before the primary season started.) This bill is tailor-made for someone who is trying to get the Tea Party/nativist wing of the GOP on their side.
In other words, the real question isn't "will she sign it?" but "will she be doing the Snoopy dance on a copy of the Bill of Rights while she signs it, or will she just be grinning from ear-to-ear for the cameras?"
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