Legislative schedule - week starting 7/14/2024

Nada, as in there is nothing scheduled at this point.

With their ruling in Trump v. USA, the U.S. Supreme Court has announced which dance move is sweeping America

At least, their immunity decision proclaims which is the go to dance move at Trump U Law School faculty mixers.

That move is the Abject Genuflect.

From Merriam-Webster -

Wonder if the majority on the Court realized that with their ruling creating an imperial presidency, they also created a paradox along the lines of "if God is all powerful, can he create a rock that's so heavy that he himself cannot lift it?"

Guessing that they did - they may be utterly without integrity, but none of them are utterly without intelligence.

The paradox is thus - If an entity created by a Constitution and given the authority to evaluate whether something adheres to that Constitution then declares that Constitution to be null and void, do they then retain the authority to render such a decision?

They'll say that they do, of course, but credibility counts, and they have none.

Primary ballots are in!

I received it on 7/5.

There aren't many races on the Democratic side.  As you can see. :)

The big one on my ballot is the six-way race in CD1 for a chance to take on Republican David Schweikert in the general election.

Being a former Republican isn't a dealbreaker for me (the Republican Party has gotten so extreme [and anti-society] that any member of the GOP who's even within sniffing distance of being a decent human being has left it.)

Being a former supporter of Jan Brewer isn't quite a dealbreaker, either.  Much closer, though.  She was a profoundly lousy governor.

Being someone who voted for Cheeto *is* a dealbreaker, though.  He was and is a profoundly lousy human being and anyone who wants to be a member of Congress should be smart enough to see that.  And decent enough to be bothered by that.

Having said all of that, I will vote for a candidate in the primary, Kurt Kroemer.

On the other hand, I fully expect that whichever candidate emerges victorious from the primary will run as R-lite in the general.

Bottom line: we don't need a second iteration of Kyrsten Sinema in D.C. and I won't hold my nose when I vote, ever again.  I won't vote for Schweikert, but I may skip the race entirely.

Also, I expect that the candidate and certain party officers to be simply aghast to see an R-lite candidate lose to an R.  Yet again.

In the LD8 primary for state representative, I'll be voting for Juan Mendez and Brian Garcia.  

I've known Mendez for years and supported him in previous runs for office and he's done a good job in those offices.  I'm happy to vote for him again.

As for Garcia, I've never met him, but while I'm not a fan of endorsements, he's been endorsed by someone I respect greatly.

In the race for Arizona Corporation Commission, I have no opinion.  Three people, Joshua Polacheck, Ylenia Aguilar, and Jonathon Hill are on the ballot.

In the race for Maricopa County Sheriff, working for Joe Arpaio is a dealbreaker...in the primary.  Like Cheeto, Arpaio was and is a profoundly lousy human being.

As such, I'll be voting for Tyler Kamp.

If he makes it though the primary, though, Russ Skinner will get my vote in the general.  The Republican candidates are all running on a platform of "I'm more like Joe than thou."

I expect my elected officials like county sheriff and county attorney to be seen and not heard.  By that, I mean that I should know nothing about them.

The former sheriff, Paul Penzone, was quiet.

When Arpaio was in office, the old joke was that the most dangerous spot to be in AZ was any place between him and a TV camera.

Legislative schedule - week starting 7/7/2024

Almost nada is scheduled.  The "almost" part will be pure propaganda though.

On Monday, 7/8  -

Legislative Council meets at 9 a.m. in HHR1.  On the agenda: no bills, but they will be considering the 14 measures that will appear on ballots in November.  Since the legislature put 11 questions on the ballot, I expect those to get a free pass.

The other three were put there by the public, so the Republicans in the legislature will get their hate on for them.

1099s or W2s: Which will the Cheeto Org give to the USSC justices who conferred immunity upon Dear Leader?

Or maybe they'll just award the justices knighthoods.

From The Guardian (UK) -

Sotomayor says immunity ruling makes a president ‘king above the law’

In a stark dissent from the conservative-majority US supreme court’s opinion granting Donald Trump some immunity from criminal prosecution, the liberal justice Sonia Sotomayor said the decision was a “mockery” that makes a president a “king above the law”.

The court ruled Monday that Trump cannot be prosecuted for “official acts” he took while president, setting up tests for which of the federal criminal charges over his attempt to subvert the 2020 election are considered official and sending the case back to a lower court to decide.

“Today’s decision to grant former Presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency,” Sotomayor wrote in dissent. “It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.”

The U.S. Supreme Court, like all other courts, relies on moral credibility to buttress its decisions.

It has none.

Interestingly, the person helped most by this decision may be Joe Biden.  He's looking to win an election, not receive a coronation.

The best thing for Tim Stringham in his quest to be county recorder might be for Stephen Richer to lose in the Republican primary

Richer is the current Maricopa County Recorder.

I spent some time watching the R debate for Maricopa County Recorder, sponsored by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission and the Arizona Media Association.

Richer seems, well, "competent."

Justin Heap, a current state legislator, was simply a conspiracy theory-spouting hot mess.

However, the other R primary candidate, Donald Hiatt, made Heap seem polished and well-rounded.

During his opening statement, at the 6:04 mark, he conflated the Ten Commandments with the U.S. Constitution.

And things went downhill from there.

In his defense, he did frequently point out that he is not a politician.

It showed.

If R voters like vagueness, they'll vote for Heap or Hiatt.

Stringham is probably hoping they do.

Legislative schedule - week starting 6/30/2024

Nada.  As in there's nothing scheduled for this coming week.

To finish an open issue from last week's post, a court has sided with the governor and legislature and said they can use opioid settlement funds for non-opioid purposes.

The minds of most voters won't be changed by the presidential debate

This is a relatively quiet week in AZ politics - last week, the lege adjourned for the year and next week, primary ballots will start being mailed out, so this week, the most interesting thing in AZ politics will take place outside of AZ.

While he's not perfect, Joe Biden is a decent human being trying to do a thankless job.

The next time that Cheeto behaves like a decent human being will be the first time.

Both things are well-known to their supporters and detractors, and the people who have decided to vote for either won't change that decision, even after the debate.

Biden's supporters (and I'm one) care about the character of their elected officials while Cheeto's supporters don't.

My guess is that won't change, so both will try to appeal to the folks who are undecided.

Only four questions remain.

Those questions (with my answers in parentheses) -

1. Will Cheeto moon the audience (maybe)?

2. If he does that, will his supporters swoon (yes, of course)?

3. If he does that, will the people on his shortlist for VP candidates throw elbows at each other in an effort to put themselves in a position to enthusiastically kiss what was presented to them (yes, of course)?

4. Will Cheeto enter the stage to the strains of Cult of Personality by Living Colour (not unless I'm put in charge of the candidates' entrance music and I can secure the rights to play the music, and can obtain them on short notice)?

The debate will be broadcast by CNN.  However, for those who, like me, don't have cable, it will be simulcast on many over-the-air outlets.

FWIW, I think that Biden will win the election.  I don't have any great political insight to share, but Biden is the answer to one very important question.

Who would you rather have a beer with?

Biden would ask "draft, can, or bottle"?

Cheeto would ask if the container has his image on it (and if he was getting a percentage)?

Dear Alex: Don't let the door hit you in ass on the way out

Normally, this is a political, not a sports, blog, but since the Coyotes saga involves an election, the story is political-adjacent.  Plus, I was into hockey long before I was into politics.

From KXNV (Phoenix channel 15), written by Tannya Barba -

REPORT: Alex Meruelo stopping his attempts to bring 'Coyotes' NHL team back to the Valley

Alex Meruelo is reportedly stopping his efforts to bring an NHL team under the Coyotes name back to the Valley, according to NHL insider Craig Morgan.

Meruelo was expected to be one of several bidders eyeing the land near Scottsdale Road north of Loop 101 as a new home for the Coyotes. However, that land auction was put on pause recently by the city, with no rescheduled date in the near future.

Meruelo tried to scam gain the cooperation of the voters of Tempe, but they wanted no part of it.

Meruelo still has some influence over professional hockey in Arizona - he owns the Tucson-based franchise in the minor league American Hockey League, the Tucson Roadrunners.

As of yesterday, the Roadrunners will remain in Tucson, but that's subject to change..

Legislative schedule - week starting 6/23/2024

The AZ Legislature has passed a balanced budget* and adjourned sine die, and Gov. Hobbs signed the budget package into law.

* = Sort of.  They used some earmarked funds, monies that were earmarked for one purpose but taken by the legislature and used for a different purpose.  As some folks objected and sued over that, the "balanced" part will depend on the outcome of that court case.

The creative reuse of those funds has been blocked, pending that case.

From AZ Mirror, written by Jim Small -

Judge blocks use of opioid settlement money to balance Arizona’s budget deficit

A judge on Thursday blocked the transfer of $115 million from the state’s share of the national opioid settlement that legislators approved less than a week ago as a key component of balancing a nearly $1.4 billion budget deficit.

The court stepped in after Attorney General Kris Mayes, who was sharply critical of the proposed transfer when it emerged late last week and said it would violate the terms of the settlement, filed a lawsuit earlier in the day and asked for a judge to take emergency action.

[snip]

Late Thursday, Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioner Mary Cronin agreed that Mayes was likely to win her lawsuit and issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the transfer. The restraining order will stay in place until July 5. On June 27, Mayes and the Hobbs administration will have a hearing in front of Judge Scott Minder to discuss the underlying lawsuit.

The case in question is CV2024-016033

In short, depending on the ruling in the case, the legislature may have to return to the Capitol to balance the budget .

But without stealing money.

One thing I expect that they won't do:  rein in the budget busting school voucher grift.

Right now, there isn't much on tap at the Capitol.

Monday, 6/24 thru Thursday, 6/27 - Nada

Friday, 6/28 

-

Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Study Committee on Water Security meets at 1 p.m. in HHR1.  On the agenda: a raft of industry presentations saying basically the same thing - any water conservation measures will reduce their short term profits.

Louisiana enacts a law requiring schools to display the 10 Commandments

Or, as I refer to it, an "Attorney Full Employment Act."

From CNN -

Louisiana classrooms now required by law to display the Ten Commandments

Louisiana public schools are now required to display the Ten Commandments in all classrooms, after Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed the requirement into law Wednesday.

House Bill 71, approved by state lawmakers last month, mandates that a poster-size display of the Ten Commandments with “large, easily readable font” be in every classroom at schools that receive state funding, from kindergarten through the university level.

House Bill 71 in Louisiana was sponsored State Rep. Dodie Horton; while it was passed by the legislature and signed in law by the governor there but a different bill here experienced a different fate.  State Sen. Anthony Kern's SB1151, doing pretty much the same thing,  was vetoed by Governor Hobbs

Both Horton and Kern are listed as members of the State Freedom Caucus Network -

Kern and Horton have a bit of a history.  In 2015 or 2016 both signed on to an amicus brief supporting a Texas law restricting access to abortion.

From the amicus brief, courtesy ScotusBlog -

Also, in 2018, both received  money from the Koch brothers.

From Sourcewatch -

My only question is this:

So how long before Kern proposes a bill making Arizona part of western Louisiana?

USDOJ finds that the Phoenix PD abused the public's trust

As can be expected, spokespeople for Phoenix PD objected...to the findings documenting and publicizing their behavior, not the underlying behavior itself.

From AZFamily, written by David Baker, Amy Cutler, Dennis Welch, Cody Lillich and Ben Bradley, dated 6/12 -

Justice Department finds Phoenix PD used excessive force, discriminated against certain groups

Following a nearly three-year investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice has found that the Phoenix Police Department violated people’s rights, discriminated against certain groups and has used excessive force, including “unjustified deadly force.”

A 126-page report released Thursday morning says the department discriminates against certain races, as well as people with behavioral health disabilities. The report also found that Phoenix police detain and arrest people who are homeless without reasonable suspicion that they committed a crime and unlawfully dispose of their belongings.

“A person’s constitutional rights do not diminish when they lack shelter,” the report says.

The AZFamily article contains the report itself; I recommend downloading it in its entirety...if a reader is in search of some light reading.

According to an article from Phoenix' Channel 15, the City of Phoenix rebutted the findings with "But that's not us NOW."

Again, I recommend downloading response from the City of Phoenix.

The head of the Phoenix police union, Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, or PLEA, has already issued threats to reduce staffing at Phoenix PD.

From Phoenix' Channel 12, written by Joe Dana, dated 6/13 -

Supporters rally around Phoenix officers amid DOJ criticism

The law enforcement community came to the defense of rank-and-file Phoenix police officers after a damning report from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Phoenix Police union leader Darrell Kriplean says the chance of a multi-year federal court monitor would hurt a department already struggling to fill its ranks.

“It would decimate morale,” said Kriplean of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association. “I think you would see a lot of our officers, the senior officers, maybe retire early, or some of our younger officers make lateral moves to a department that isn't constrained by DOJ.”

It seems like Kriplean has issued an "or else" statement, as in "let us continue to be bigoted and violent toward the public on the public's dime or else we're going to leave you on your own."

It's easy to forget that base of the reports, denials, and articles are some real world victims.

From Phoenix' Channel 12, written by Jonathan McCall, dated 6/15 -

He was new to Arizona and out on an afternoon drive. Then the Phoenix police arrested him.

In 2022, then 44-year-old Jeffery Henderson moved to Arizona from Texas looking for a fresh start in life. 

“I moved to Arizona for the opportunities as an electrician and I thought this was a place that I could call home for years to come,” Henderson said.

In June 2022, the Army veteran says he received an unpleasant greeting from Phoenix Police while driving near 19th and Dunlap avenues while out for an afternoon drive. The experience is one his attorney shared with the United States Department of Justice, and as a 34-month investigation into the conduct of the Phoenix Police Department found, not an uncommon experience. 

Or

From the Innocence Project -

Ray Krone

On the morning of December 29, 1991, the body of the thirty-six year old victim was found, nude, in the men's restroom of the Phoenix, Arizona bar where she worked. She had been fatally stabbed, and the perpetrator left behind little physical evidence. Blood at the crime scene matched the victim's type, and saliva on her body came from someone with the most common blood type. There was no semen and no DNA tests were performed.

Investigators relied on bite marks on the victim’s breast and neck. Upon hearing that the victim had told a friend that a regular customer named Ray Krone was to help her close up the bar the previous night, police asked Krone to make a Styrofoam impression of his teeth for comparison. On December 31, 1991, Krone was arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault.

At his 1992 trial, Krone maintained his innocence, claiming to be asleep in his bed at the time of the crime. Experts for the prosecution, however, testified that the bite-marks found on the victim’s body matched the impression that Krone had made on the Styrofoam and a jury convicted him on the counts of murder and kidnapping. He was sentenced to death and a consecutive twenty-one year term of imprisonment, respectively. Krone was found not guilty of the sexual assault.

From KJZZ, written by Kirsten Dorman, dated 6/14 -

Victims of police violence and their families gather in downtown Phoenix

Victims of police violence and their families gathered in downtown Phoenix on Friday to tell their stories and support accusations of racial discrimination in policing in the Department of Justice’s recently released report.

Dravon Ames, his then-pregnant fiancée and their two young daughters received nearly half a million dollars from the city of Phoenix in 2020 for what happened when officers who suspected them of shoplifting were seen on video pointing guns at the family.

"I was beaten up by the cops and Tased and choked unconscious. And it just got completely dismissed," Ames said.

One officer was fired, and another received a written reprimand.

Employment termination?  A written reprimand? For assault with a deadly weapon?

If members of civil society who engaged in such violent behavior were subjected to the same penalties, society would soon fall into chaos.

Kind of like the Phoenix Police Department.

Legislative schedule - week starting 6/16/2024

Today (Friday, 6/14), the Arizona Legislature is scheduled to do something they should have done months ago - consider a budget for the state.  There is some doubt whether they can pass one - some of the R members won't vote for it and the D members aren't coming to the aid  of the R majority.

As of this writing, both chambers are "on break."

My guess is that the leadership of both chambers is trying to whip votes right now.

If they're able to pass one, they'll adjourn; if not, there's nothing scheduled for next week.

Note: HHR refers to a hearing room in the House building; SHR refers to one in the Senate building.

Note2: Generally, I'll only specify bills that look to spread propaganda.  Other bills may be more conventionally bad (think: corrupt or other misuses of public monies and/or authority).  My recommendation is that if an agenda covers an area of interest to you, read the entire agenda.

Note3: Each chamber's respective Rules Committee meets on Monday, the House's in HHR4, generally at 1 p.m. and the Senate's in Senate Caucus Room 1, generally also at 1 p.m.  Both committees serve as rubber stamps for bills leadership wants to be advanced and gatekeepers for measures that leadership wants stopped.

Note4: Meeting start times may be listed, but are flexible.  Before journeying to the Capitol or viewing the meeting online, verify the start time.

Note5: Watch for strikers, or strike everything amendments.  Those involve inserting language that replaces the entirety of a bill.  Those can be introduced at any time and can make a previously harmless bill into a very bad one. 

New campaign slogan for Cheeto: "Wahhh!"

 From CNN -

Inside Trump’s gripe-filled meeting with House GOP and his reunion with McConnell

Former President Donald Trump led House Republicans through a gripe-filled closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill on Thursday, airing grievances about his legal and electoral challenges, attacking his critics in the room, and only briefly addressing policy matters like abortion and taxes, according to multiple GOP lawmakers in the room.

In his first time returning to the Capitol campus area since leaving office after the January 6, 2021, riot, the former president met with lawmakers for over an hour.

Arizona Republican Party: "Arizona" in name only?

On 6/11, the AZGOP sent out a rather non-specific press release touting their fundraising prowess.

From that email -

Th

The email was unclear as to which 13 weeks they were talking about here, but one thing was clear: they really shouldn't pique the interest of wiseasses with time available to be, well, *wiseasses.*

I took a look at their May monthly report to the FEC, which is the most current report available.  It covers only their April activity, and April is just 4+ weeks long, but I'm presuming that those 4+ weeks are part of the 13 weeks touted in the press release

I'm not saying that they lied in their press release, but April is ~1/3 of the period mentioned in the press release.

During that 1/3 of the period, they raised ~1/10 of the total mentioned in the press release.

From the summary of the report:

According to their April report, the AZGOP raised a little less than $133800 (caveat: my reading/analysis of the report showed that they reported $146K in donations, but some may not have been actual donations )

Of those donations, 

37 were thru WinRed (an online fundraising tool for Republicans that's similar to ActBlue for Democrats) for an average of ~$179.

49 were from out-of-state individuals, for an average of ~$646

15 were rom PACs or other committees, for an average of ~$5365.  Some of that money may be earmarked for specific purposes, even though this is a genal fund/committee.  For example, the NRSC (National Republican Senatorial Committee) gave them over $46K in one contribution.  I presume that was done with the understanding that the funds go toward helping their eventual nominee for U.S. Senate.

139 were from AZ individuals, for an average of ~$218.

The "not Arizona" part of "Arizona Republican Party"?

More than 75% of their funds raised came from committees or from out-of-state individuals.

Note: that total does not include the WinRed donations, because those were usually paired with an individual donation in the same amount and on the same day.  Some of those were from Arizona, but the vast majority were not.

The FEC report can be found here.

The FEC sent them a letter regarding a problem with a donation from the Hitler Youth PAC MAGA PAC Turning Point PAC.  The letter is here.

The AZGOP committee's FEC ID is C00008227.