Candidates and committees update

...In unsurprising news, AZ House Speaker Andy Tobin (R-Paulden) announced that he is running for the CD1 seat currently held by Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick.

In the press release touting his candidacy, Tobin took a page from DC Republicans and blamed Kirkpatrick for the Republicans' shutdown of the federal government, including operations at the Grand Canyon.

From the above-linked Tucson Weekly story, written by Jim Nintzel -

"Kirkpatrick is so committed to protecting ObamaCare and supporting Nancy Pelosi, she has literally voted to shut down the Grand Canyon.”

 It's not true, and I daresay that Tobin is intelligent enough to know that it isn't true, but this tactic of pointing accusatory fingers at others (like, say...Democrats) to distract from their own failings.

We saw a prime example of this locally in 2007 when Tobin's former legislative colleague Jack Harper accused then-Congressman Harry Mitchell, a Democrat, of ignoring deplorable conditions at the Arizona *State* Veterans Home.

At the time, Mitchell was a newly-minted member of Congress and chair of the investigation subcommittee of the US House's Veterans' Committee.

Harper was a long-time member of the Arizona legislature and the chair of the AZ Senate's Government Committee.

Guess which one had more jurisdiction over the conditions at the AZ State Veterans Home?

Hint: it wasn't Mitchell, but the truth didn't slow down Harper then any more than the truth is slowing down Tobin now.

Housekeeping stuff: Any FEC filings by Tobin aren't on their website yet.  Remember that government shutdown that Tobin blames on Kirkpatrick? :)

...Republican Mark Brnovich has made official what has long been expected:  the prison industrial complex "fixer" has formed a committee for a run at the Republican nomination for Arizona Attorney General.

...In LD24, the races for the Democratic nominations for legislative seats promise to be colorful.  Don't know yet if the races will be *close*, but *colorful* is all but guaranteed.

- Austin Head, lately a failed candidate for a seat on the Phoenix City Council filed for a run at a nomination for state representative.

His claim to fame?

"Interesting" campaign signs -

 I'm guessing that he's a "serious" candidate, in that he wants to win, but he's not a "serious" candidate in that he doesn't take this seriously (see: his campaign signs).

- Michael Lyon has formed a committee to run for the seat in the state senate currently held by Democrat Katie Hobbs.

He faces an uphill fight in his quest to unseat the highly popular and highly respected Hobbs no matter what.

However, his candidacy has two factors already dragging it down -

1.  His close ties to Head - they share a campaign address and phone number, and Head is Lyon's campaign treasurer.  Perceptions of Lyon will be influenced by perceptions of Head.

2.  The name of his campaign committee, "Lyon In The Sun", sounds unfortunately like "Lying In The Sun".


...In Mesa's LD25, Jerry Walker, a Russell Pearce acolyte, has formed a committee for an R nomination for state rep.  Walker has been around for a while - he was an embarrassment while a member of the governing board of the Maricopa County Community College District and he ran for the Mesa schools governing board last year.  There were four candidates for three seats.  He came in fourth.



...More to come...

Inquiring minds want to know: Is Republican candidate for SOS Wil Cardon encouraging petition fraud?

As in most states, in Arizona the chief elections office is the Secretary of State.

The two Republican candidates (so far) are State Sen. Michele Reagan and businessman (and 2012 candidate for US Senate) Wil Cardon.

Both candidates look to be running on campaign platforms that seem "counterintuitive" for candidates who are asking voters to put them in charge of the state's elections.

Reagan was the public face of most of the voter suppression provisions in HB2305, a bill so onerous in its design and planned implementation that a multipartisan (and nonpartisan) coalition of activists were able to gather enough signatures to refer the measure to next year's ballot.

Note: she wasn't the final sponsor of HB2305.  She tried to push most of the provisions through as individual bills.  However, her bills failed so most of the provisions were crammed into HB2305 and the package was railroaded through the legislature in one bill.

With Reagan staking out the "voter suppression" campaign turf, that apparently leaves Cardon with limited options, and he seems to be grabbing the "fraud" ground.

From his campaign's FB page -

Questioning my own eyes, I enlarged the picture -

Now, I could be wrong, and feel free to correct me if I am, but I think that the person signing Cardon's petition above is just a shade too young to do so.

Legally, anyway.

Add "Magician" to Jeff Flake's resume

...Turns out he can be in two places at once...

By now, everyone knows about the US Senate vote on Friday that stripped anti-Obamacare provisions from a bill to keep the federal government operating in the absence of a full budget (aka - "continuing resolution", or "CR").

The bill now goes back to the US House, where the Republicans have issued a laundry list of demands as their price for passing a CR.

Prediction:  Government shutdown, with GOPers/tea party types dancing in the streets as national parks close and military veterans and service members go without benefits and pay.  However, I digress...

It was a bit of news here in AZ when news broke that AZ's junior senator, Republican Jeff Flake would miss the vote in order to attend the wedding of one of his sons (not the budding bigot, another one).

While there are some who have criticized Flake for choosing to attend a significant family event (interestingly, most of the criticisms have come from the right), I don't have problem with it -

His vote would not have made a difference in the outcome, and the wedding of one of his children is truly significant.  Most people would take time away from their jobs for such an occasion; it would be hypocritical to expect different from him.

Of course, if he had been in DC and voted, as he stated that he would have if he had been present in DC, to deny health insurance to millions of Americans, that would have been worthy of criticism.

Serious criticism.

However, this post is about some needling (minor  criticism) over some sloppiness.

While he was enjoying is son's nuptials in Mesa, he sent out an email (OK, it was probably sent by one of his staffers, but it was over Flake's name, so that makes it Flake's).

From the email -

"Update From Washington" during a week where the biggest Flake news is that he *isn't* in Washington?

Somebody isn't paying attention or is just completely tone deaf..

Open enrollment in healthcare exchanges starting next week...

Despite the many, and increasingly desperate, efforts of Congressional Republicans to stop it, enrollment in state-based health insurance exchanges created as part of the Affordable Care Act starts October 1st.

There are still many questions about the exchanges and the process of enrolling in them.

Courtesy Healthcare.gov, some answers to some questions (more information at each link) -

What is the Health Insurance Marketplace?

The Marketplace is a new way to find quality health coverage. It can help if you don’t have coverage now or if you have it but want to look at other options.

With one Marketplace application, you can learn if you can get lower costs based on your income, compare your coverage options side-by-side, and enroll.

-- Arizona-specific information:

Health Insurance Marketplace in Arizona

If you live in Arizona, you’ll use this website, HealthCare.gov, to apply for coverage, compare plans, and enroll. Specific plans and prices will be available on October 1, 2013, when Marketplace open enrollment begins. Coverage can start as soon as January 1, 2014.

How do I get help enrolling in the Marketplace?

The Marketplace will offer several kinds of assistance to help you apply for coverage and choose a plan that meets your needs.

• online questions and answers
• online chat — available now
• a toll-free call center—available now
• people in your community trained to help you apply and enroll

Find local help

In all states, there will be people trained and certified to help you understand your health coverage options and enroll in a plan. They will be known by different names, depending on who provides the service and where they are located. All will provide similar kinds of help:

• Navigators
• Application assisters
• Certified application counselors
• Government agencies, such as State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Offices

Insurance agents and brokers can also help you with your application and choices.

-- Find help in your area at Localhelp.healthcare.gov.

 

What if I have job-based insurance?

If you have job-based health insurance you like, you can keep it. You're considered covered. You may be able to change to Marketplace coverage if you want to.

Any job-based health plan you currently have qualifies as minimum essential coverage. You don't need to change to a Marketplace plan in order to avoid the fee that uninsured people may have to pay for 2014. If you'd like to explore Marketplace coverage options you can, but there are several important things to consider.

How can I get lower costs on Marketplace coverage?

When you use the Health Insurance Marketplace you may be able to get lower costs on monthly premiums or out-of-pocket costs, or get free or low-cost coverage.

3 ways to save on health care coverage

You can save money in the Health Insurance Marketplace 3 ways. All of them depend on your income and family size.

1. You may be able to lower costs on your monthly premiums when you enroll in a private health insurance plan. These plans all cover essential health benefits and pre-existing conditions.
2. You may qualify for lower out-of-pocket costs for copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
3. You or your child may get free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program CHIP. Some states will be expanding Medicaid eligibility in 2014, so you may qualify even if you have been turned down for Medicaid in the past.

What do small businesses need to know?

Small businesses may get health coverage in the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace. No employers are required to offer health coverage.

Starting in 2014, businesses with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees can use SHOP to offer coverage to their employees. This applies to non-profit organizations as well. You control the coverage you offer and how much you pay toward premium costs.

Health coverage through SHOP starts as soon as January 1, 2014. Open enrollment begins October 1, 2013. You can sign up and begin offering coverage any time during the year.

Do I qualify for Medicaid?

You qualify for Medicaid based on income and family size. If you're eligible, you get free or low-cost care and don't need to buy a Marketplace plan.

Medicaid basics

Medicaid provides health coverage for some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Medicaid programs must follow federal guidelines, but they vary somewhat from state to state.

== AHCCCS eligibility requirements here.

What if I'm self-employed?

If you're self-employed with no employees, you're not considered an employer. You can use the individual Marketplace to find coverage that fits your needs.

How to know if you’re "self-employed"

If you run an income-generating business with no employees, then you're considered self-employed (not an employer) and can get coverage through the Marketplace. You’re not considered an employer even if you hire independent contractors to do some work.
If you have employees (generally, workers whose income you report on a W-2 at the end of the year) you’re considered an employer. Then you could get coverage for yourself and your employees through the SHOP Marketplace. Learn more about how to determine if you have employees.

New options for the self-employed

If you're self-employed, you'll have more health coverage options in 2014.

Starting October 1, 2013, you can use the Marketplace to find health coverage that fits your budget and meets your needs. You can compare important features of several plans side-by-side, all of them offering a full package of essential health benefits. You can see what your premium, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs will be before you decide to enroll.

You can't be denied coverage or charged more because you have a pre-existing health condition.
If you currently have individual insurance--a plan you bought yourself, not the kind you get through an employer--you may be able to change to a Marketplace plan. Learn more about changing individual insurance plans.

What if I have a pre-existing health condition?

Starting in 2014, health insurance plans can't refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a pre-existing health condition. (Emphasis added here)

How does the health care law protect me?

 Part 1.

Rights & Protections

Part 2.

The Health Insurance Marketplace

Part 3.

Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions

Part 4.

Summary of Benefits and Coverage

Part 5.

Cracking Down on Frivolous Cancellations

Part 6.

Doctor Choice & Emergency Room Access

Part 7.

Young Adult Coverage

Part 8.

Free Preventive Care

Part 9.

Ending Lifetime & Yearly Limits

Part 10.

Rate Review & the 80/20 Rule

Part 11.

Your Right to Appeal Coverage Decisions

And if you were wondering about the section on death panels?  There isn't one, because they don't exist outside of the Koch-fueled fantasies of certain Republicans.

President Obama Speaks on the Affordable Care Act

Time for a BOLO in Tucson?

From the Twitter feed of former state senator Frank Antenori, posted a few minutes ago -

Tennessee man shows that the need for tolerance in the US has never been greater; ABC News shows that the need for editors in the US has never been greater

First, the part about tolerance, or the lack thereof, in the US.

From ABC News/Good Morning America, via Yahoo! News, written by Alexis Shaw -

A Tennessee school district has cancelled some field trips to religious venues after a parent complained that a teacher was pushing "Islamic tolerance" on students.

Mike Conner, 46, of Hendersonville, Tenn., told ABC News that he felt his 14-year-old step daughter's teacher was intentionally giving Islam a greater emphasis than other religions in her Honors World Studies curriculum. The popular elective at the suburban Nashville school with 1,500 students examines five major world religions but only schedules field trips to two houses of worship – a mosque and a Hindu temple. 

In some parts of the country apparently the possibility that children may be taught that "people with different religious beliefs (or non-beliefs) aren't all wild-eyed terrorists" is the sort of un-American activity that must be sniffed out and snuffed out.

Now, the part about editors, or the lack thereof, in the US.

Using snippys (in case someone wants to claim that a "copy-and-paste" can be altered) -

Aside from the fact that the statement is utter crap (there is hardly a "lack" information regarding Christ and/or Gandhi out there), it's "lack *of* information".

Still, one such error could just be a typo.

Typos happen; I know that I've made share. ;)

Unfortunately, there's more than one in the story.

 Ummm..."an" Islamic Center (and I'm not sure that the capitalization here is correct, but this post is about using incorrect words; things like capitalization and punctuation can be addressed another day...of course, the capitalization would work if "and" was replaced with "the", so maybe this is just a case of using the wrong word...) and, in this situation, the parents have "objections".

Both of these mistakes are part of quotes, and I suppose that it's possible that the people being quoted are both grammar-challenged.

However, two people quoted in the same story, making the same mistake, and one of them is a college professor?  Doesn't seem likely.

What seems a little more likely is that Ms. Shaw is a truly unqualified writer.

However, given that the preponderance of the story was serviceable, it seems more likely that someone assembled the story from notes where the quotes were written by someone in a rush who wrote what they needed to remember the actual statement.

And what is not "likely" but definite?

The fact that none of ABC News' editors caught the errors.

Investigative journalism: Republican AG candidate Mark Brnovich and his ties to private prison corporation CCA

While the current Arizona Attorney General, Republican Tom Horne, has proven to be such an embarrassment to the "powers that be" in the AZGOP have allowed at least one of their water carriers to mount a primary challenge to him.

Mark Brnovich, director of Arizona's Department of Gaming and a long-time Republican apparatchik, has announced that he is running for the office.

To the best of my knowledge, he didn't give his girlfriends taxpayer-funded jobs, commit hit-and-run accidents, violate campaign finance laws, or has been permanently banned from securities trading by the SEC.

However, he does seem to have a very questionable association in his closet, one that a state's top law enforcement officer wannabe is going to have trouble explaining away.

From an in-depth article published by the Center for Media and Democracy's PR Watch, written by Beau Hodai -

A former Corrections Corporation of America “senior director of business development” and lobbyist is planning to run for the office of Arizona's top law enforcement officer, Attorney General.

On September 3, Arizona Department of Gaming Director Mark Brnovich sent a letter to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, declaring his intention to resign his post, effective September 20. Although Brnovich has yet to file any formal campaign/committee registration documents with the Office of the Arizona Secretary of State Division of Elections, the Capitol Times reported on September 4, that Brnovich had reserved the website address, "mark4ag.com," on August 23.

{snip}

According to statements of financial disclosure filed with the Office of the Arizona Secretary of State Division of Elections by Brnovich’s wife, former Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioner and current Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Susan Brnovich, Mark Brnovich served as a “senior director of business development” for CCA during the course of 2005, 2006 and 2007. CCA was not Brnovich's sole source of employment during at least part of this time. He also worked as a federal prosecutor while working for or on behalf of CCA during part of this time, according to the financial disclosure forms of his wife.

Statements of financial disclosure filed by Susan Brnovich, per her employment with the courts, are only available with the Office of the Arizona Secretary of State Division of Elections dating back to 2005. There are no publicly-available records of Mark Brnovich's financial interests or employment prior to this point.

Biographical data submitted to the Arizona Legislature pursuant to Mark Brnovich's March 31, 2009, appointment as the director of the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) states that Mark Brnovich began his employment with CCA in 2005. Similarly, lobbyist records maintained by the Office of the Utah Lieutenant Governor show that Mark Brnovich was a registered lobbyist for CCA in that state during 2005 and 2006. (Utah lobby reports filed for Brnovich during 2006 and 2007 pertain to Brnovich lobby activity on behalf of CCA during 2005 and 2006).

The entire article is well-researched, well-sourced, well written and well worth a read.

Especially as the 2014 election season ramps up...

In the wake of the Navy Yard mass shooting, a University of Kansas professor posts a tweet critical of the NRA; professor placed on leave

From the New York Daily News, written by Michael Walsh -

The University of Kansas placed a tenured journalism professor on administrative leave Friday after a controversial Tweet in which he suggested victims for the country's next mass shooting: children of National Rifle Association members.

"The blood is on the hands of the #NRA. Next time, let it be YOUR sons and daughters. Shame on you. May God damn you," tenured associate professor David Guth said in the wake of the Navy Yard shooting in Washington, D.C.

A snippy of the tweet at issue, courtesy the same article -

When asked about the tweet, Guth stated that his tweet was in no way threatening or advocating violence, and upon reading it, I agree.  

I would have phrased it differently, something along the lines of "if the NRA's adherents and families were doing the dying instead of the killing, maybe their reaction to calls for better gun safety measures would be more thoughtful and reasoned than their current standard of reflexively hysterical."

In other words, if they were directly experiencing the same tragedies and losses as civil society, maybe they would be a little less enthusiastic about the effect of their attitude that the best way to deal with gun violence in society is to introduce more guns into society

However, Republicans in the Kansas legislature aren't fans of free speech, especially when they disagree with the speech in question.  

They are calling for the University to fire Guth and threatening the school's budget if it doesn't accede to their demands.

From Huffington Post -

While the university has taken steps against Guth, Republican state lawmakers want Guth fired. If he isn't, they say, the school could face consequences. State Senate President Susan Wagle (R-Wichita) and Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce (R-Hutchison) have both issued statements calling for Guth's dismissal. State Sen. Greg Smith (R-Overland Park) released a statement Friday saying that unless further action is taken against Guth, he will react.

"As a public educator in the Kansas high school education system, I am often consulted by my students as to which college they should attend," Smith said in his statement. "As long as Professor Guth remains employed by the University of Kansas I will no longer recommend the university as an institution worthy of attendance by any of my students nor, as a state senator, will I support any budget proposals or recommendations for the University of Kansas."

Much of the rightwing echo chamber has leaped on this, twisting Guth's words in ways ranging from "he wants to kill the children of NRA members" to "he wants to take the guns of, and kill the children of, NRA members".

Guth, to his credit, hasn't backed down from his tweet, saying that perhaps his words were too "nuanced" for certain segments of society.

For what it's worth, I don't think that his words were nuanced, not even a little bit.

I think that they were words very obviously filled with outrage, frustration, and grief.

I also think that certain segments of society have deliberately misinterpreted them in order to cover their own bloodlust with a mask of false equivalency.

Guth has a blog here.  While I don't agree with everything that he's published, I give credit where it is due - he's not afraid to call people out for their BS as he sees it.

The Winnowing Begins: Hallman Withdraws From GOP Race For Governor

Earlier this week, State Rep. Chad Campbell, Democratic leader in the Arizona House announced his decision to *not* seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014.

That decision leaves Fred Duval as the only "name" candidate currently in the race for the Democratic nod.

Thursday, a Republican candidate did something similar, with one difference.

There are still like half a bajillion Republicans in the race for their nomination.

From the Arizona Republic, written by Mary Jo Pitzl -

Hugh Hallman on Thursday jumped from the 2014 race for governor to the race for state treasurer, saying he was urged to do so by an influential group of business and civic leaders.

Hallman leaves behind a crowded GOP field vying for the state’s top spot and expands the field for treasurer.

Former Chandler City Councilman Martin Sepulveda and businessman Jeff DeWit also have filed to run for the treasurer’s post.

Still in the GOP race for their gubernatorial nomination, or strongly rumored to be getting in:

Disgraced former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas
Former GoDaddy executive Christine Jones
State Sen. "Atomic" Al Melvin
AZ Secretary of State Ken Bennett (exploring)
AZ Treasurer Doug Ducey (exploring)
Mesa Mayor Scott Smith (rumored)

It's too early to make more than a WAG as to who will be the next GOPer to drop out of the race, but if I had to guess, I expect that the next to go will be Melvin or Thomas -

They're both trying to gain the support of the "bay at the moon" wing of the AZGOP, and while that wing isn't without its influence, it may not be a broad enough base to support two candidates.

Campaign and committees update: busy day

...First, the big news:  Rep. Chad Campbell, Democratic leader in the AZ House, announced his decision to not seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014.

His statement, via Facebook -

It’s been no secret that for the last few months I have been considering running for Governor of Arizona.  Our analysis, as well as independent polling, confirms that I would be in a very strong position if I entered the race.  I have talked with Arizonans across the state about the need to move Arizona in a new direction.  We must focus on job creation, improving our education system and instilling transparency at all levels of government.  However, there are other issues that need to be considered outside of purely political factors when deciding whether or not to run.  It is with these considerations in mind that I have decided to not run for Governor of Arizona at this time.  This decision was not made lightly. I need to focus on my family and other new business opportunities that will allow me to improve communities not only in Arizona, but also across the nation.  To the countless number of people across Arizona who have encouraged me to run, I cannot thank you enough.  While I look forward to serving my last year in the Arizona Legislature as the House Democratic Leader, this decision by no means marks the end of my public service.  I will continue looking at all options in the future to determine how best I can serve Arizona.

Campbell's departure from the race leaves Fred Duval as the only "name" Democrat in the race.  While there is still time for someone else to enter, it's going to have to be soon.

Note:  I didn't have a "favorite" in the projected race but I thought, and think, that a robust primary at the top of the ticket would benefit all Democratic candidate by generating interest and media coverage.

...Human Rights Campaign and other groups announced their plans to support an effort to repeal the state's constitutional prohibition of same-sex marriage.

From the Arizona Daily Sun, written by Howie Fischer of Capitol Media Services -

Hoping to create a change in attitudes, various civil rights groups are taking the first steps today to convince Arizonans that letting gays wed would be a good thing.

The education campaign being launched comes just five years after 56 percent of those who went to the polls voted to put an amendment in the Arizona Constitution defining marriage in this state as strictly between one man and one woman. But supporters of rescinding the ban contend there are Arizonans who can be convinced — if not now, then by 2016 — to support repeal. And they say there already is evidence of a sharp change in public attitudes.

“For example, Wisconsin in 2006 passed a similar amendment,” said Paul Guequierre, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, one of several groups involved in today’s event. “And yet this past year (they) elected their first openly gay senator in history.”

Irony alert, from the same article (emphasis added) -

But Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, said supporters of gay marriage are reading far too much into last year’s election of Baldwin, a seven-term member of Congress who edged out former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson.

“I would not say that the voters of Wisconsin elected that senator because of her sexual orientation and that reflects a change in attitudes,” Herrod said. “People judge candidates on the basis of their qualities, where they stand on the issues.”

I wonder if Ms. Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Theocracy Policy, actually understands the significance of what she said, because for the first time in, like, EVER, I find myself in agreement with one of her statements.

...A candidate with a last name that's famous in AZ politics has entered the race for the Republican nomination to the Arizona House of Representatives in LD 25.  Mesa school board member Michelle Udall has opened a committee for a run.

...Gary Kiehne, campaign address in Eagar, has opened a committee for a run at the Republican nomination in CD1.  Arizona Republic story here.

Washington Naval Yard Shooting Press Conference - Hard Truths

AHCCCS holding a series of community meetings on Medicaid restoration

The meeting schedule from the publicity flyer:

AHCCCS Community Forums
 
General - Sessions for Families, Advocates, and Community Partners
 
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
1 - 3 p.m.
Casino del Sol Conference Center
5655 West Valencia Road
Tucson, AZ 85757
RSVP: ForwardTucson@AZAHCCCS.gov
 
Friday, October 11, 2013
1 - 3 p.m.
Flagstaff Medical Center - McGee Auditorium
1200 North Beaver Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
RSVP: ForwardFlagstaff@AZAHCCCS.gov
 
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
1 -3 p.m.
3:15 - 5 p.m.
The Disability Empowerment Center
5025 East Washington Street, Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85034
RSVP: Both sessions full
 
Monday, November 4, 2013
1 - 3 p.m.
The Disability Empowerment Center
5025 East Washington Street, Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85034
RSVP: ForwardPhoenix@AZAHCCCS.gov
 
 
 
Tribal - Sessions for Tribal Stakeholders
 
Monday, September 16 and September 23, 2013
1 - 3 p.m.
Native American Community Service Center
4520 North Central Avenue, 6th Floor Conference Room
Phoenix, AZ 85012
RSVP: ForwardPhoenix@AZAHCCCS.gov
 
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Casino del Sol Conference Center
5655 West Valencia Road
Tucson, AZ 85757
RSVP: ForwardTucson@AZAHCCCS.gov

Friday, October 11, 2013
10:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m.
Flagstaff Medical Center - McGee Auditorium
1200 North Beaver Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
RSVP: ForwardFlagstaff@AZAHCCCS.gov


If you plan to attend one of the meetings and speak, you can download a Speaker Slip here.

More information from AHCCCS on Medicaid restoration here.

Sen. Ed Ableser (LD26) hosting a forum on capital punishment tomorrow...

From a press release -

Senator Ed Ableser will host a forum on capital punishment at the Arizona Senate on Friday, September 13^th. Joined by legislators from both sides of the aisle and guests from government, law enforcement, criminal defense, religious institutions, victims’ rights groups and academics, Sen. Ableser will lead the discussion of the current state of capital punishment in Arizona and its future role in crime deterrence and punishment.

 

WHAT:           Legislative Forum on Capital Punishment

 

WHO:             Guests scheduled to attend include:

·       Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery

·       Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix

·       Alan Tavassoli of the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender

·       Reverend Oscar Tillman, President of the Maricopa County branch of the NAACP

·       Carol Gaxiola, Director of Homicide Survivors

·       Timothy LaSota of the law firm Tiffany & Bosco PA

·       Larry Hammond of the law firm Osborn Maledon PA

·       John Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Justice Studies at Arizona State University

 

WHEN:           Friday, September 13^th at 9 a.m.

 

WHERE:         Senate Hearing Room 1

 

 

 

RBB: Tea party types taking down Gilbert school district

It's been well-known for a while that tea party types don't play well with others; turns out that they don't play well with each other, either.

Here in AZ, that fact has been evident nearly from the start. 

In 2011, tea party types in the then-LD20 Republican district organization were apoplectic over the fact that the majority of that district's GOP activists elected a supporter of Sen. John McCain*, Anthony Miller, as the district chair.  The threats, while marginally veiled, were extreme enough for him to fear for the safety of his family and himself, and he ended up resigning the post.

* - I'm sure the fact that Mr. Miller is African-American had absolutely nothing to do with their outrage over his election as chair.  /end sarcasm

Just this year, Andy Biggs, the Republican president of the state senate, declared the seat of Sen. Rich Crandall, a fellow Republican, vacant.  Crandall had announced that he was resigning to take a job in Wyoming, but tried to time his resignation so that his children would have continuous health insurance coverage (they have pre-existing conditions, and a gap in insurance coverage would give any future insurance providers an excuse to deny coverage.

Now, Mike McClellan, a blogger at AZCentral.com has the scoop on what some tea party types are doing down in Gilbert.

...Since the November election created an ultra conservative majority, the [Gilbert] school board has taken these steps:

Forced the resignation of the superintendent.

Decertified the teachers’ union.

Withdrew from the Arizona School Board Association (ASBA) . . . sort of.

Cut the salaries of school janitors and cafeteria workers and other classified staff.

Threatened to end an anti-bullying campaign.

Claimed that Gilbert’s high AIMS scores could be the result of “gaming the system.”

Argued that a curriculum adopted by the district was “socialistic."

 

{snip}

 

But board member Julie Smith has been the busiest recently. After examining the new curriculum for language arts, Smith argued that the curriculum was “socialistic.” Her evidence? Well, it included the suggested writing assignments teachers could use. Assignments like, “Should schools stop selling pop?”

She also argued that the World of Difference anti-bullying program should be stopped. Why?   It’s sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League?

So what, you ask? Well, from Smith’s view that’s the socialistic camel’s nose in the tent. Because, you see, the Anti-Defamation League supports gay marriage. Ergo, an anti-bullying campaign somehow is a de facto support of gay marriage.

Her opposition to the anti-bullying is ironic, given the actions of her husband, David Smith.

Seems that the school board president, Staci Burk, began receiving anonymous threatening text messages this summer. Ms. Burk was rightly frightened, so much so that her health was damaged. Eventually, she learned the texts came from the Julie Smith home.

Burk is a tea party favorite.

Smith is a tea party favorite.

Burk endorsed Smith during Smith's last election.


It'll be interesting to see what the endorsement lists look like during next year's campaigns...


...BTW, am I the only one to notice that the welfare of children is usually placed at risk when tea party types get "rambunctious"?