In an email sent this evening to AZ Dem state committee members, Paul Eckerstrom announced that he is stepping down as chair, two weeks after his election.
He cited family and work obligations in Tucson and the difficulty of performing his duties in Phoenix. Harriet Young, 1st Vice Chair, will serve as the interim chair until a new Chair is elected at the next meeting of the state committee.
More details as they become available (best bet for inside info: Tedski at R-Cubed).
Friday, February 06, 2009
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Interesting timing there...
There's already a widely-supported move in the state lege to ban photo radar-based traffic tickets on Arizona's highways (HB2106). Given that the measure has support from legislators from across the political spectrum (progressive Democrat Ed Ableser and conservative hero-du-jour Republican Sam Crump are two of the primary sponsors of the bill), it stands a good chance of passing.
So how what are the Justice Courts in Coconino County going to do?
Spit on the basic principle of American jurisprudence - Innocent Until Proven Guilty.
From the AZ Daily Sun -
It strikes me, and judging from the comments on the linked article, it strikes many other people too, that this policy amounts to nothing more than the courts saying "it doesn't matter to us if you are innocent or guilty or if the ticket is justified or not, once the citation is issued, you *will* be punished. And if you exercise your rights to contest the charges against you, you will be punished more."
I am not entirely unsympathetic to the plight of the county justice courts - they were screwed over by the lege in its quest to rake in revenue. It was wrong to increase the costs to county courts (increase tickets to process) while not ensuring a revenue stream to cover those costs. If the state want increased revenue, they should bear the costs of it, not foist those costs off on to the already fiscally ailing counties.
However, responding by shredding the Constitution and centuries of legal principle is worse.
Far worse.
Of course, the tactics here suck, too. The timing of this announcement couldn't have been much worse as this will only serve to inflame voters at a time when the lege is considering HB2106, increasing the likelihood that photo radar will be banned...reducing the revenue stream from those tickets to the counties...Oh wait...that revenue stream doesn't exist...hmmmm.
Let's do some math here...Increased workload without increased revenue + upset voters + emboldened legislators - banned photo radar (and with it, the increased workload)...hmmm...
On the timing issue, never mind.
It's borderline brilliant.
:))
Later!
So how what are the Justice Courts in Coconino County going to do?
Spit on the basic principle of American jurisprudence - Innocent Until Proven Guilty.
From the AZ Daily Sun -
Drivers busted by photo-enforcement cameras posted along state highways in Coconino County will soon be charged an extra $20 when challenging or ignoring the speeding tickets they receive. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in January to allow the Coconino County Justice Courts to charge $20 extra for photo speeding tickets, to cover the costs of processing them.Leaving aside the tactical considerations/stupidity for the moment (why do something this certain to tick off the constituents of the legislators considering the repeal), what about the *Constitutional* considerations???
The Arizona Legislature enacted laws last year establishing a statewide photo enforcement system that sends ticket revenues to the state, including to an election fund, but lawmakers allocated no money to county court administrators do the related administrative work to process the citations, said Joy Dillehay, deputy court administrator for Coconino County Justice Courts.
It strikes me, and judging from the comments on the linked article, it strikes many other people too, that this policy amounts to nothing more than the courts saying "it doesn't matter to us if you are innocent or guilty or if the ticket is justified or not, once the citation is issued, you *will* be punished. And if you exercise your rights to contest the charges against you, you will be punished more."
I am not entirely unsympathetic to the plight of the county justice courts - they were screwed over by the lege in its quest to rake in revenue. It was wrong to increase the costs to county courts (increase tickets to process) while not ensuring a revenue stream to cover those costs. If the state want increased revenue, they should bear the costs of it, not foist those costs off on to the already fiscally ailing counties.
However, responding by shredding the Constitution and centuries of legal principle is worse.
Far worse.
Of course, the tactics here suck, too. The timing of this announcement couldn't have been much worse as this will only serve to inflame voters at a time when the lege is considering HB2106, increasing the likelihood that photo radar will be banned...reducing the revenue stream from those tickets to the counties...Oh wait...that revenue stream doesn't exist...hmmmm.
Let's do some math here...Increased workload without increased revenue + upset voters + emboldened legislators - banned photo radar (and with it, the increased workload)...hmmm...
On the timing issue, never mind.
It's borderline brilliant.
:))
Later!
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
My letter to the editor - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Since the Rep never publishes my letters anyway, here is the letter I just submitted regarding the economic stimulus package winding its way through Congress.
The letter -
While I truly do think that the package is far from a perfect solution, it is better than no solution at all.
Later!
The letter -
Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good
Many of the opponents of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are finding obscure provisions that they find objectionable to use as an excuse to object to the entire economic stimulus package.
To be sure, the package isn't perfect, and there are facets of it that I don't like. However, taken as a whole, it is a very good bill.
- It will create thousands of jobs in "green" energy production, including in the Arizona-friendly field of solar energy.
- The package's education funding will stave off the layoffs of hundreds of thousands of teachers (at least in schools not controlled by the Arizona Legislature).
- It creates jobs in building, improving, and maintaining our transportation, energy, and water delivery infrastructure.
Congress shouldn't let the naysayers nitpick them into doing nothing while searching for the perfect course of action, because doing nothing to address America's cratering economy is surely the worst course of action.
Better to implement an imperfect first step than to be intimidated into immobility.
[cpmaz]
While I truly do think that the package is far from a perfect solution, it is better than no solution at all.
Later!
Guest writer - Letter to the editor
Jerry Gettinger, a PC in LD8 and a friend, submitted this letter to the editor to the AZ Republic and has graciously allowed me to publish it here.
His letter, concerning the shortsighted approach to the state's budget crisis taken by the legislature -
He's a lot more succinct than I am...politer, too. :)
More later...
His letter, concerning the shortsighted approach to the state's budget crisis taken by the legislature -
It might be different if our educational system was highly prized as an example of what educating our young should be, but sadly, the money spent per student and the result is such that the drastic cuts in funding that our esteemed lawmakers have foisted upon us just pours salt in the open wound that has come to be known as funding.
Shame on you.
You are not representative of our citizens, but only of a few who are self-serving. After over 20 years of Republican majority in the statehouse we have a school system that is last in the U.S., an infrastructure that is woefully lacking and a social safety net that ignores the needs of our young and less fortunate.
Shame.
When the young graduates of our underfunded colleges find that they are at a disadvantage in the job market because of their lack of quality education, it will be too late to fix.
Parents take notice! Your children had money taken from their education while sheriff Joe got his back!
That says it all when talking about priorities.
Jerry Gettinger
Scottsdale
He's a lot more succinct than I am...politer, too. :)
More later...
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
So remind me again -
Why was bailing out bankers to open up credit markets was good (even though it hasn't worked!) and helping out auto workers so they can keep working and support their families bad?
Note: the links to 'good' and 'bad' are from the website of AZ Senator Jon Kyl. He makes it so easy sometimes...
From AP -
What happens is Vegas sure as hell isn't going to stay there...
Note: the links to 'good' and 'bad' are from the website of AZ Senator Jon Kyl. He makes it so easy sometimes...
From AP -
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wells Fargo & Co., which received $25 billion in taxpayer bailout money, is planning a series of corporate junkets to Las Vegas casinos this month.The economy is so bad that hundreds of people stood in line (some overnight) for a shot at one of 35 openings in the Miami (FL) Fire Department, and these clowns are turning around and taking taxpayer money on a Vegas spree??
Wells Fargo, once among the nation's top writers of subprime mortgages, has booked 12 nights at the Wynn Las Vegas and its sister hotel, the Encore Las Vegas beginning Friday, said Wynn spokeswoman Michelle Loosbrock.
What happens is Vegas sure as hell isn't going to stay there...
The Goldwater Institute Proves That The Cuts To Education Are Devastating Arizona
The Goldwater Institute released an article yesterday declaring that the vast majority of Arizonans didn't protest and don't oppose the cuts to education, yet their own article served to highlight the drastic impact a lack of education can have on people.
The headline of the article (emphasis mine) -
Ummm...the federal government (the USDA, to be specific) estimated AZ's 2007 population at 6,338,755.
Some basic math -
If, as the Goldwater Institute claims, 99.999999999999% of Arizonans didn't protest the cuts to education, that would mean that 0.000000000001% of Arizonans *did* protest them.
Based on their mathematical calculations, that would mean that out of over 6 million Arizonans, all of 0.000006338755 people showed up to protest the cuts at the legislature last week.
As the pictures of that rally show, significantly more than six millionths of a person were there.
I suggest that the authors of the article, Matthew Ladner and Byron Schlomach, look into registering for MAT082 at any Maricopa County community college (MAT082 - "Basic Arithmetic - Primary emphasis placed on fundamental operations with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, integers, and rational numbers; proportions, and percentages. Other topics include representations of data, geometric figures, and measurement. Prerequisites: None. ")
That is, if the education cuts that they've championed haven't necessitated cancellation of that class.
Note: at the end of the article, the authors state that the article itself "celebrates the long history of satire in American politics". If that is the case, then they do satire as well as they do math.
Later!
The headline of the article (emphasis mine) -
99.999999999999 percent of Arizonans choose not to protest spending cuts
Ummm...the federal government (the USDA, to be specific) estimated AZ's 2007 population at 6,338,755.
Some basic math -
If, as the Goldwater Institute claims, 99.999999999999% of Arizonans didn't protest the cuts to education, that would mean that 0.000000000001% of Arizonans *did* protest them.
Based on their mathematical calculations, that would mean that out of over 6 million Arizonans, all of 0.000006338755 people showed up to protest the cuts at the legislature last week.
As the pictures of that rally show, significantly more than six millionths of a person were there.
I suggest that the authors of the article, Matthew Ladner and Byron Schlomach, look into registering for MAT082 at any Maricopa County community college (MAT082 - "Basic Arithmetic - Primary emphasis placed on fundamental operations with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, integers, and rational numbers; proportions, and percentages. Other topics include representations of data, geometric figures, and measurement. Prerequisites: None. ")
That is, if the education cuts that they've championed haven't necessitated cancellation of that class.
Note: at the end of the article, the authors state that the article itself "celebrates the long history of satire in American politics". If that is the case, then they do satire as well as they do math.
Later!
Monday, February 02, 2009
Short Attention Span Musing - Legislative Edition
...Geez, I guess this means that State Sen. Russell Pearce (R-National Alliance) doesn't think that the readers of this blog are worthy of his 'copy and paste' skills.
And on behalf of my readers, I thank Sen. Pearce for that attitude. :)
Zelph at AZNetRoots found this post from BallotAccess.org about AZ's SB1158, a bill to compel presidential candidates will have to prove both their citizenship and their residency in the U.S. of 14 years before their names can be placed on the ballot. It's clearly directed at President Barack Obama (who was elected in spite of the debunked claims that his birth certificate is a forgery) though it could also serve to attack fellow Republican John McCain, who also twigged the Reps' lunatic fringe radar because he was born on a military base in Panama...and he isn't a fellow loon.
Now I wouldn't normally try to "steal the thunder" from Zelph's post (he's earned some for spotting this) but one of the comments on BallotAccess.org's post deserves comment itself -
It's a 3000+ word copy and paste special from Russell Pearce himself.
I call it a "copy and paste special" because of that 3000+ word comment, over 2600 of the words were copied and pasted articles from the Center for Immigration Studies, an anti-immigrant group masquerading as a neutral, "non-partisan" think tanks. (SourceWatch profile here)
You know, in spite of all the times that I have written so glowingly, Sen. Pearce has never taken the time to grace this blog with his brand of lazy but verbose nativist b.s.
...In more Pearce news, he has filed SB1170, a.k.a. the "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" Act.
That bill sets out some specific rules for parties in a justice court action who wish to seek a change of venue because they feel they cannot receive a fair trial in a particular court. Under current law (ARS 22-303), the defendant just has to file an affadavit to the effect that he cannot receive a fair trial in order to move the trial. Under Pearce's bill, a defendant would also need the affadavits of "two other credible persons of the county that they have good reason to believe, and do believe, that the party cannot have a fair and impartial trial before the justice..."
This could also be called the "Lester Pearce is sick of getting noticed for cause" bill.
"Noticed for cause" is court-speak for the change of venue motion, and Russell Pearce's brother Lester is known as one of the most "noticed" JPs in the system.
He tends to be rather umm... "set in his views" (hey, what else would you expect from a Pearce? :)) ), so much so that there is a possibly apocryphal story going around about him. And apocryphal or not, the story goes a long way to illustrate Lester Pearce's tendencies.
Apparently a while back, another judge (called a 'pro tem') was substituting for Lester Pearce on his bench in the North Mesa precinct. After a trial where the defendant was acquitted by the pro tem, the clerk who was working in the court turned to the pro tem turned to the substitute and advised him that they didn't know how to record that because they had never needed the code for acquittal before.
As I said, the story could be apocryphal (I mean not even a Pearce could convict every defendant without exception, right?? Right???????), but it totally jibes with what I've heard about his court.
Stay tuned...
...Jon Kyl is operating like he is not up for reelection next year, which, of course, he isn't.
From ABS-CBN News (Philippines) -
Yup, Jon - go ahead and pick on poor, elderly veterans.
Because while *you* may not be on the ballot next year, plenty of other Rep senators will be.
Later!
And on behalf of my readers, I thank Sen. Pearce for that attitude. :)
Zelph at AZNetRoots found this post from BallotAccess.org about AZ's SB1158, a bill to compel presidential candidates will have to prove both their citizenship and their residency in the U.S. of 14 years before their names can be placed on the ballot. It's clearly directed at President Barack Obama (who was elected in spite of the debunked claims that his birth certificate is a forgery) though it could also serve to attack fellow Republican John McCain, who also twigged the Reps' lunatic fringe radar because he was born on a military base in Panama...and he isn't a fellow loon.
Now I wouldn't normally try to "steal the thunder" from Zelph's post (he's earned some for spotting this) but one of the comments on BallotAccess.org's post deserves comment itself -
It's a 3000+ word copy and paste special from Russell Pearce himself.
I call it a "copy and paste special" because of that 3000+ word comment, over 2600 of the words were copied and pasted articles from the Center for Immigration Studies, an anti-immigrant group masquerading as a neutral, "non-partisan" think tanks. (SourceWatch profile here)
You know, in spite of all the times that I have written so glowingly, Sen. Pearce has never taken the time to grace this blog with his brand of lazy but verbose nativist b.s.
...In more Pearce news, he has filed SB1170, a.k.a. the "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" Act.
That bill sets out some specific rules for parties in a justice court action who wish to seek a change of venue because they feel they cannot receive a fair trial in a particular court. Under current law (ARS 22-303), the defendant just has to file an affadavit to the effect that he cannot receive a fair trial in order to move the trial. Under Pearce's bill, a defendant would also need the affadavits of "two other credible persons of the county that they have good reason to believe, and do believe, that the party cannot have a fair and impartial trial before the justice..."
This could also be called the "Lester Pearce is sick of getting noticed for cause" bill.
"Noticed for cause" is court-speak for the change of venue motion, and Russell Pearce's brother Lester is known as one of the most "noticed" JPs in the system.
He tends to be rather umm... "set in his views" (hey, what else would you expect from a Pearce? :)) ), so much so that there is a possibly apocryphal story going around about him. And apocryphal or not, the story goes a long way to illustrate Lester Pearce's tendencies.
Apparently a while back, another judge (called a 'pro tem') was substituting for Lester Pearce on his bench in the North Mesa precinct. After a trial where the defendant was acquitted by the pro tem, the clerk who was working in the court turned to the pro tem turned to the substitute and advised him that they didn't know how to record that because they had never needed the code for acquittal before.
As I said, the story could be apocryphal (I mean not even a Pearce could convict every defendant without exception, right?? Right???????), but it totally jibes with what I've heard about his court.
Stay tuned...
...Jon Kyl is operating like he is not up for reelection next year, which, of course, he isn't.
From ABS-CBN News (Philippines) -
World War II veteran Celestino Almeda will turn 92 in June. He relies on a small scooter to move around. He has been living in a daughter’s house, but now that she’s about to marry, he and a grandson are hunting for a new home.
He insists on paying his way and is counting on the $15,000 lump sum payment to Filipino World War II veterans – that is, if US Congress votes to give it to him and about 16,000 of his aging comrades.
{snip}
In another Fox Channel program, Republican Sen. Jon Kyl, a critic of the stimulus bill, claimed "there are so many things you can make fun of in this bill."
"Let me just mention one, millions of dollars to World War II Filipino veterans in the Philippines. Now, that may be a good thing to spend money on, but not in a stimulus bill. It doesn’t stimulate anything," he said.
But Almeda pointed out the lump sum payment will not add a single cent to the $800 billion stimulus bill.
"They thought this money to be given to Filipino veterans is an allotment from the stimulus bill package. It is not. The intention of Senator Inouye is just to use the stimulus bill as a vehicle so the $198 million approved in the 110th Congress and known as the Filipino Veterans Compensation Fund would be released to us," he added.
Yup, Jon - go ahead and pick on poor, elderly veterans.
Because while *you* may not be on the ballot next year, plenty of other Rep senators will be.
Later!
Letter from Harry Mitchell regarding H.R. 1
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a letter to Congressman Harry Mitchell about the economic stimulus package that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week and will be voted on in the Senate this week.
Today, I received a reply -
Later!
Today, I received a reply -
Dear Mr. [cpmaz]:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act, H.R. 1. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with me on this important issue.
I strongly believe that something must be done to bolster the flagging economy. We are not only struggling with a recession, but also an alarming rise in home foreclosures and unemployment. As of December 2008, the unemployment rate in Arizona was up to 6.9 percent - up from 4.2 percent in December of 2007. Making matters worse, Arizona, like many other states, is facing a serious budget deficit.
I believe that we need an economic recovery package that contains both fast-acting tax cuts as well as timely, targeted investments that will create jobs and help spur much-needed economic growth.
I am not happy with everything in the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act, H.R. 1, but I believe it is a good start, and that we must allow the legislative process to continue. The risk of inaction at this time is simply too great.
The American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act, H.R. 1, contains $275 billion in tax cuts, which would provide approximately 95 percent of taxpayers with relief. H.R. 1 also makes important timely, targeted investments in transportation and infrastructure.
If enacted, states like Arizona would receive funding for planned highway, bridge, transit, and other infrastructure projects that are ready to go. Nationwide, these investments in transportation infrastructure would stimulate the economy in the short-term by creating approximately 1.5 million jobs and would help keep the economy growing in the long run by providing infrastructure that encourages commerce.
As we've seen in Arizona, the right kind of transportation investments can generate economic benefits far beyond that associated with construction. For example, the initial investments we have made at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport are already sustaining 4,500 jobs and, according to a recent study by Arizona State University, generating an economic impact of nearly $500 million.
H.R. 1 would also provide tax incentives for renewable and alternative energy. This investment would immediately create more than half a million green jobs dedicated to moving our country toward energy independence.
Like transportation, we have seen the benefits of these types of investments in Arizona, as well. With the help of solar tax credits, Abengoa Solar and Arizona Public Service are developing the world's largest solar energy plant outside of Gila Bend. The Solana solar generating station will create an estimated 1,500 jobs and provide clean, emission-free energy for 70,000 homes. Solana is expected to ultimately spur $1 billion in local economic development.
Additionally, H.R. 1 would assist states like Arizona which are facing severe budget cuts by investing in education, health care, and unemployment benefits.
H.R. 1 would significantly increase the number of jobs in Arizona and around the country. According to Mark Zandi, a leading independent economist, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would create a minimum of four million jobs by 2010. This would include approximately 125,000 jobs in Arizona, which would decrease the unemployment rate by 2.3 percent by 2010.
To ensure that funding approved in H.R. 1 is spent effectively and appropriately, the legislation would establish a Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board tasked with the oversight of the implementation of the legislation. Additionally, H.R. 1 would establish a new web site, www.recovery.gov, where all funding information including grant competitions and allocation of formula grants would be made available to the public.
I offered two amendments to try to improve H.R. 1, and I am disappointed that they were blocked from reaching the House floor for debate and a vote. The first amendment would have stopped Congress from taking a pay raise. At a time like this, when so many Americans are struggling to make ends meet, I believe it is unconscionable for Congress to raise its own pay. The second amendment would have made recent tax cuts to capital gains and estate taxes permanent. If Congress does not act, these cuts will expire next year. At a time when we need to encourage growth and investment, I believe it is wrong for us to let these taxes increase.
Despite these shortcomings, I voted for and the House passed H.R. 1 on January 28 by a vote of 244 to188. This legislation is now pending before the Senate, where I hope it will be further refined.Please be assured that I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to help Congress enact an effective stimulus package that our nation urgently needs.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write to me about this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if you have additional comments or concerns.
If you would like to receive email updates about how I am working on behalf of Arizona's 5th Congressional District, I invite you to sign up for my newsletter at http://www.mitchell.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Harry E. Mitchell
Member of Congress
HEM/PS
Later!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
It must be nice for the lege's Republicans to have priorities...
...even if those priorities don't include the best interests of the people of Arizona...
Much has been written about the package of bills that the AZ lege passed and Jan Brewer, the newly-minted governor, signed into law to address the state's budget deficit.
I'll leave the observations to other writers, both wiser and more eloquent, on how damaging to Arizona's long term vitality that the attacks on healthcare, education, and infrastructure will be.
I'd say that the meat cleaver-wielding Republicans were indiscriminately attacking programs, but they knew *exactly* what they were going to decimate once Janet Napolitano left the Governor's office and ascended to her new job in D.C.
The drool was just flowing out of the Rep caucus rooms in the House and Senate buildings...
I will, however, cover some interesting details in the bills that were just signed by Jan Brewer. Here are a couple -
...In HB2001, the main budget cutting bill, there was an amendment added by the House Appropriations Committee led by Fountain Hills Republican John Kavanagh. In that amendment, $1.6 million of a $10 million dollar appropriation for GIITEM (Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission ) was earmarked to "the sheriff's office of a county with a population of more than two million persons for human smuggling and immigration enforcement."
If that's not clear to some of you, that provision is earmarked specifically for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio - Maricopa County is the only county in Arizona with more than 2 million residents. Hell, it's the only one with more than half that number.
Almost a month ago, Arpaio's fellow traveller on the nativist path, State Sen. Russell Pearce (R-National Alliance) promised to deliver money for Arpaio's anti-immigrant jihad in spite of the state's budget crisis.
And with the enthusiastic assistance of Pearce's good friend Kavanagh, Arpaio got his money while students all over the state face drastic cuts to their educations.
For the record, K-12 education and the state's universities took a nearly $300 million hit so that the likes of nativists Arpaio, Kavanagh, and Pearce can continue their witch hunts.
...HB2004 includes a provision that recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) take and pass a drug test before receiving any funds.
Ummm, I must have missed the study that shows that the state's budget crisis is a result of bad decisions made by intoxicated poor people instead of rampaging ideologues drunk on power.
Maybe a provision mandating drug tests for legislators would be more effective.
Other budget reconciliation bills and summaries of their effects -
HB2002 (capital outlay) - the bill and its legislative summary
HB2003 (revenue) - the bill and its legislative summary
HB2005 (criminal justice) - the bill and its legislative summary
HB2006 (education) - the bill and its legislative summary
Anyway, this is just the beginning, as the bills passed and signed last week only impact the state's budget shortfall for the current fiscal year. The devastation to education, human services, and the state's employees will be worse in next year's budget with its projected deficit of $3 billion.
The scary part is that as bad as the state's revenue outlook appears, we can count on the Republicans to work to make it worse.
They've proposed at least six bills to decrease state revenue, including HB2361 (to raise the state's personal property tax exemption from $50k to $10 million), SCR1011 (TABOR, aka "the cripple government and government services permanently" Act), SB1007 and HB2073 (repeal of the state's equalization property tax, the revenue of which is reserved for education funding), SB1181 (repeal of the state's motor vehicle fuel tax, money reserved for the Arizona highway user revenue fund), and SB1324 (a move to cut corporate income tax rates by more than a third).
This is only the beginning; if the Republicans get their way, by the close of the 2010 election cycle Arizona government and public services will be limited to cops, courts, and corrections.
The AZ Rep's coverage of this year's budget patch is here; the Arizona Guardian's coverage is here.
David Safier at Blog for Arizona has been doing a great job of covering the budget crisis' impact on education; State Rep. Daniel Patterson offers his take on the budget patch here.
Another take:
Dave Wells, writing in the EV Trib, offers his view here.
My take:
In the interests of full disclosure, we should change AZ's state motto from "God Enriches" to "Republicans Impoverish".
Much has been written about the package of bills that the AZ lege passed and Jan Brewer, the newly-minted governor, signed into law to address the state's budget deficit.
I'll leave the observations to other writers, both wiser and more eloquent, on how damaging to Arizona's long term vitality that the attacks on healthcare, education, and infrastructure will be.
I'd say that the meat cleaver-wielding Republicans were indiscriminately attacking programs, but they knew *exactly* what they were going to decimate once Janet Napolitano left the Governor's office and ascended to her new job in D.C.
The drool was just flowing out of the Rep caucus rooms in the House and Senate buildings...
I will, however, cover some interesting details in the bills that were just signed by Jan Brewer. Here are a couple -
...In HB2001, the main budget cutting bill, there was an amendment added by the House Appropriations Committee led by Fountain Hills Republican John Kavanagh. In that amendment, $1.6 million of a $10 million dollar appropriation for GIITEM (Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission ) was earmarked to "the sheriff's office of a county with a population of more than two million persons for human smuggling and immigration enforcement."
If that's not clear to some of you, that provision is earmarked specifically for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio - Maricopa County is the only county in Arizona with more than 2 million residents. Hell, it's the only one with more than half that number.
Almost a month ago, Arpaio's fellow traveller on the nativist path, State Sen. Russell Pearce (R-National Alliance) promised to deliver money for Arpaio's anti-immigrant jihad in spite of the state's budget crisis.
And with the enthusiastic assistance of Pearce's good friend Kavanagh, Arpaio got his money while students all over the state face drastic cuts to their educations.
For the record, K-12 education and the state's universities took a nearly $300 million hit so that the likes of nativists Arpaio, Kavanagh, and Pearce can continue their witch hunts.
...HB2004 includes a provision that recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) take and pass a drug test before receiving any funds.
Ummm, I must have missed the study that shows that the state's budget crisis is a result of bad decisions made by intoxicated poor people instead of rampaging ideologues drunk on power.
Maybe a provision mandating drug tests for legislators would be more effective.
Other budget reconciliation bills and summaries of their effects -
HB2002 (capital outlay) - the bill and its legislative summary
HB2003 (revenue) - the bill and its legislative summary
HB2005 (criminal justice) - the bill and its legislative summary
HB2006 (education) - the bill and its legislative summary
Anyway, this is just the beginning, as the bills passed and signed last week only impact the state's budget shortfall for the current fiscal year. The devastation to education, human services, and the state's employees will be worse in next year's budget with its projected deficit of $3 billion.
The scary part is that as bad as the state's revenue outlook appears, we can count on the Republicans to work to make it worse.
They've proposed at least six bills to decrease state revenue, including HB2361 (to raise the state's personal property tax exemption from $50k to $10 million), SCR1011 (TABOR, aka "the cripple government and government services permanently" Act), SB1007 and HB2073 (repeal of the state's equalization property tax, the revenue of which is reserved for education funding), SB1181 (repeal of the state's motor vehicle fuel tax, money reserved for the Arizona highway user revenue fund), and SB1324 (a move to cut corporate income tax rates by more than a third).
This is only the beginning; if the Republicans get their way, by the close of the 2010 election cycle Arizona government and public services will be limited to cops, courts, and corrections.
The AZ Rep's coverage of this year's budget patch is here; the Arizona Guardian's coverage is here.
David Safier at Blog for Arizona has been doing a great job of covering the budget crisis' impact on education; State Rep. Daniel Patterson offers his take on the budget patch here.
Another take:
Dave Wells, writing in the EV Trib, offers his view here.
My take:
In the interests of full disclosure, we should change AZ's state motto from "God Enriches" to "Republicans Impoverish".
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The John Sydney McCain Memorial Crappie Award
For the first time in the history of this distiguished award for spectacular political flip-floppery, the Crappie Award is going to bestowed rather reluctantly.
There were a couple of serious contenders for the award this week (for example, the House Republicans' faux show of bipartisanship with President Obama before abandoning bipartisanship, and the American people, when all of them voted against the Economic Stimulus plan), but there was one clear "winner" this week -
Congressman Phil Gingrey of Georgia.
Gingrey is one of the most conservative members of Congress, usually ranking among the ten most conservative. Normally, he's among the group of Republicans that is most in the pockets of the "culture warrior" type of conservative bullies, those more interested in fanning the flames of ideological conflict and polarization, furthering an agenda that doesn't include constituents or people.
Earlier this week though, even the normally faithful Gingrey had had enough, He called out some of the limo-riding, microphone-wielding talk show ranters and ravers that pass as conservative intellectuals these days.
From Politico on January 27 -
Have no doubt - Gingrey was and is still *very* conservative. His positions haven't changed one iota, probably since Fred Flintstone lived in Bedrock. :)
However conservative he remains though, he did one of the things that even a dyed-in-the-wool liberal like has to respect anyone for - he stood up to the unrepentant bullies that are dividing the country.
While most, if not all, of his political positions were and are wrong, his stand actually generated a spark of hope that perhaps we can start having an honest public dialogue on issues in this country.
Of course, as is the norm for such intraparty dustups, not too long after his statement, Gingrey backed off of his criticisms.
In and of itself, that fact wouldn't warrant a Crappie Award.
However, the fact that his "backing off" was of a spectacularly groveling nature does.
Gingrey actually called in to Limbaugh's radio show to verbally genuflect and make amends for his temporary apostasy.
From Politico on January 28 -
He was so cravenly obsequious that *I* was embarrassed for him, and partisan hack that I am, I normally *revel* in any Republican's embarrassment.
And so for his incrediblyspineless'flexible' twisting flip flop on bended knee, this week's John Sydney McCain Memorial Crappie Award goes out to Congressman Phil Gingrey
There were a couple of serious contenders for the award this week (for example, the House Republicans' faux show of bipartisanship with President Obama before abandoning bipartisanship, and the American people, when all of them voted against the Economic Stimulus plan), but there was one clear "winner" this week -
Congressman Phil Gingrey of Georgia.
Gingrey is one of the most conservative members of Congress, usually ranking among the ten most conservative. Normally, he's among the group of Republicans that is most in the pockets of the "culture warrior" type of conservative bullies, those more interested in fanning the flames of ideological conflict and polarization, furthering an agenda that doesn't include constituents or people.
Earlier this week though, even the normally faithful Gingrey had had enough, He called out some of the limo-riding, microphone-wielding talk show ranters and ravers that pass as conservative intellectuals these days.
From Politico on January 27 -
Responding to President Obama’s recommendation to Republican congressional leaders last week that they not follow Limbaugh’s lead, the conservative talkmeister said on his show that Obama is “obviously more frightened of me than he is Mitch McConnell. He's more frightened of me, than he is of, say, John Boehner, which doesn't say much about our party."
Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., did not take kindly to this assessment in an interview with Politico Tuesday.
“I think that our leadership, Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, are taking the right approach,” Gingrey said. “I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party. You know you’re just on these talk shows and you’re living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of that thing. But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn’t be or wouldn’t be good leaders, they’re not in that position of John Boehner or Mitch McConnell."
Have no doubt - Gingrey was and is still *very* conservative. His positions haven't changed one iota, probably since Fred Flintstone lived in Bedrock. :)
However conservative he remains though, he did one of the things that even a dyed-in-the-wool liberal like has to respect anyone for - he stood up to the unrepentant bullies that are dividing the country.
While most, if not all, of his political positions were and are wrong, his stand actually generated a spark of hope that perhaps we can start having an honest public dialogue on issues in this country.
Of course, as is the norm for such intraparty dustups, not too long after his statement, Gingrey backed off of his criticisms.
In and of itself, that fact wouldn't warrant a Crappie Award.
However, the fact that his "backing off" was of a spectacularly groveling nature does.
Gingrey actually called in to Limbaugh's radio show to verbally genuflect and make amends for his temporary apostasy.
From Politico on January 28 -
“Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Newt Gingrich, and other conservative giants are the voices of the conservative movement’s conscience. Everyday, millions and millions of Americans—myself included—turn on their radios and televisions to listen to what they have to say, and we are inspired by their words and by their determination,” Gingrey said.
He was so cravenly obsequious that *I* was embarrassed for him, and partisan hack that I am, I normally *revel* in any Republican's embarrassment.
And so for his incredibly
Who knew???
On Saturday, the AZ Republic ran a piece with quotes from various Arizona luminaries regarding the Cardinals and the Super Bowl.
Most were lame and evidence of the fact certain politicos *really* shouldn't try to talk about sports -
- Congressman Jeff Flake's (R-CD6) "...Win or lose though, I think most Cards fans are just happy they aren't in need of a bailout, not that that would stop the federal government from giving them one."
Hey Jeff - It's a football game, not a dead-in-the-water amendment against some public service project! Lighten up and let loose a little!
The likes of Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema fell into this group. Tempting though it may always be for an elected official to do so, sometimes working politics into every situation is just annoying.
Some were just plain insipid, and evidence of the fact that certain politicos shouldn't try to talk, period -
- Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' "Because coach Ken Whisenhunt runs a strict meritocracy..."
Hey Andy - Quit speaking like a lawyer! You could give the Arizona desert lessons in 'dry'!
Perhaps not too surprisingly, Joe Arpaio fell into this group.
Some were good examples of fun smack talk the way it's supposed to be - a little brash and over the top and supportive of the home team without being overly mean to the opponent -
- Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's "...the Cardinals are better than the Steelers. Our offense is better than their offense, our defense is better than their defense, our coaching is better than their coaching, and our fans are better and louder than their fans. (In a couple of days, our parade will be much, much better than their parade)."
That's more like it Phil!
However, the most eye-opening quote was from, of all people, CD5's Congressman Harry Mitchell (emphasis mine) -
"...Because nobody outside of Arizona thinks they can do it, and everybody loves an underdog. And besides, it will be fun to make the whole state of Pennsylvania cry, not just the Philadelphia half..."
That is AWESOME! Pointed yet subtle, it hurls jabs at more than one target in a single sentence. Turns out that Harry has some serious wiseass chops (and that's high praise indeed from someone who prides himself on his own wiseass chops). :))
Harry Mitchell - Husband, father, teacher, leader...wiseass???
Who knew??
Later!
Most were lame and evidence of the fact certain politicos *really* shouldn't try to talk about sports -
- Congressman Jeff Flake's (R-CD6) "...Win or lose though, I think most Cards fans are just happy they aren't in need of a bailout, not that that would stop the federal government from giving them one."
Hey Jeff - It's a football game, not a dead-in-the-water amendment against some public service project! Lighten up and let loose a little!
The likes of Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema fell into this group. Tempting though it may always be for an elected official to do so, sometimes working politics into every situation is just annoying.
Some were just plain insipid, and evidence of the fact that certain politicos shouldn't try to talk, period -
- Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' "Because coach Ken Whisenhunt runs a strict meritocracy..."
Hey Andy - Quit speaking like a lawyer! You could give the Arizona desert lessons in 'dry'!
Perhaps not too surprisingly, Joe Arpaio fell into this group.
Some were good examples of fun smack talk the way it's supposed to be - a little brash and over the top and supportive of the home team without being overly mean to the opponent -
- Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's "...the Cardinals are better than the Steelers. Our offense is better than their offense, our defense is better than their defense, our coaching is better than their coaching, and our fans are better and louder than their fans. (In a couple of days, our parade will be much, much better than their parade)."
That's more like it Phil!
However, the most eye-opening quote was from, of all people, CD5's Congressman Harry Mitchell (emphasis mine) -
"...Because nobody outside of Arizona thinks they can do it, and everybody loves an underdog. And besides, it will be fun to make the whole state of Pennsylvania cry, not just the Philadelphia half..."
That is AWESOME! Pointed yet subtle, it hurls jabs at more than one target in a single sentence. Turns out that Harry has some serious wiseass chops (and that's high praise indeed from someone who prides himself on his own wiseass chops). :))
Harry Mitchell - Husband, father, teacher, leader...wiseass???
Who knew??
Later!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Today's Education Rally At The State Capitol
Earlier today, thousands of Arizona's students and supporters of education rallied at the Wesley Bolin Plaza next to the State Capitol.
Starting with chants like "1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - we can't take these cuts no more...5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - save our schools, save our state!", "Don't hate, educate!" and more, the rally also featured the student body presidents from the state's universities and a number of education-friendly legislators (like D17's own State Sen. Meg Burton-Cahill and State Reps. Ed Ableser and David Schapira), including a few of the more responsible Republicans, today's rally was a call to action.
If you want to help fight for Arizona's future, surf over to Arizonans Taking Action and sign up for their grassroots organization.
My favorite sign, and unfortunately I couldn't get a picture of it as the holder of the sign was gone into the crowd before I could bring my camera to bear -
"ANOZIRA is backwards on education"
Contact your legislators and let them know that busting the budget by giving tax cuts to their wealthy friends and then balancing by destroying Arizona's future won't be accepted.
Starting with chants like "1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - we can't take these cuts no more...5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - save our schools, save our state!", "Don't hate, educate!" and more, the rally also featured the student body presidents from the state's universities and a number of education-friendly legislators (like D17's own State Sen. Meg Burton-Cahill and State Reps. Ed Ableser and David Schapira), including a few of the more responsible Republicans, today's rally was a call to action.
If you want to help fight for Arizona's future, surf over to Arizonans Taking Action and sign up for their grassroots organization.
My favorite sign, and unfortunately I couldn't get a picture of it as the holder of the sign was gone into the crowd before I could bring my camera to bear -
"ANOZIRA is backwards on education"
Contact your legislators and let them know that busting the budget by giving tax cuts to their wealthy friends and then balancing by destroying Arizona's future won't be accepted.
The crowd...
Marching on the Capitol...
The powerful voice of Students United...
Anyway, the rally seemed to go off without a hitch. Even though the area was packed with thousands of students and dozens of heavily armed and armored cops from the Capitol Police, DPS, City of Phoenix and MCSO, no arrests were reported as of the time the rally broke up (at least the police officers I spoke to hadn't heard of any).
A number of legislators and staffers did the whole "rubbernecking" thing and watched the protesters as they walked through the courtyard between the House and Senate buildings. Some stepped outside into the sun to observe; some remained safely ensconced in the 2nd floor lounge while looking out the windows.
Wherever they were, I hope they were all listening.
Later!
Arpaio showing his true colors...yet again
From AZCentral.com -
Ummm...yeah.
A couple of points here -
- The MCSO doesn't actually pay parking fees when transporting prisoners.
From later in the article linked above -
- "$72,000"??? The first time a prisoner gets loose and injures a civilian on a light rail car (or the first time that one of Arpaio's deputies goes Rambo in his zeal to subdue a prisoner and shoots up a light rail car and a few civilians), it's going to cost Maricopa County taxpayers one hell of a lot more than $72,000.
A couple of questions -
- Does Arpaio owe a favor to some of the anti-light rail folks? Because as heavily used as it is, nothing will destroy light rail's popularity more thoroughly than turning it into an MCSO shooting gallery.
- If Arpaio's $72,000 figure on how much he spends on airport parking is accurate, and the airport staff is accurate when they say that law enforcement agencies can park for free when transporting prisoners, what is MCSO spending the $72K on? Longterm parking for its junkets to Honduras?
Anyway, time to go to a rally. Hope to see you all there!
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio unveiled a plan Tuesday to avoid airport parking fees by transporting inmates on the Metro light rail, but officials claim that parking is already free.
Arpaio said he planned to transport extradited inmates using the light rail from 44th and Washington streets to the Fourth Avenue Jail in order to eliminate parking fees at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. MCSO estimates that the new system can save about $72,000 in transport fees.
Ummm...yeah.
A couple of points here -
- The MCSO doesn't actually pay parking fees when transporting prisoners.
From later in the article linked above -
"If they need to come to the airport and pick up or transport a prisoner, they can still do that for free,” Sky Harbor spokeswoman Julie Rodriguez said.
- "$72,000"??? The first time a prisoner gets loose and injures a civilian on a light rail car (or the first time that one of Arpaio's deputies goes Rambo in his zeal to subdue a prisoner and shoots up a light rail car and a few civilians), it's going to cost Maricopa County taxpayers one hell of a lot more than $72,000.
A couple of questions -
- Does Arpaio owe a favor to some of the anti-light rail folks? Because as heavily used as it is, nothing will destroy light rail's popularity more thoroughly than turning it into an MCSO shooting gallery.
- If Arpaio's $72,000 figure on how much he spends on airport parking is accurate, and the airport staff is accurate when they say that law enforcement agencies can park for free when transporting prisoners, what is MCSO spending the $72K on? Longterm parking for its junkets to Honduras?
Anyway, time to go to a rally. Hope to see you all there!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Favorite Bill Of The Legislative Session (so far)
In this context, "Favorite" means "vile, but at least it's honest about it."
We knew it was going to be bad, what with the Reps' gain of a few seats in the lege, the rightward shift of the Rep caucus as a whole, and the move of Janet Napolitano to D.C. and the ascension of Jan Brewer to the ninth floor.
We knew the annual three dozen or so anti-immigrant bills would be joined by anti-choice, anti-government (aka - TABOR), and anti-democratic (and anti-Democratic) bills, and they have.
Those will be covered in the coming weeks during the "Legislative Loon" competition and evaluation.
During one of my periodic perusals of bill submittals (766 and counting so far!), I came across SB1268.
It's an open declaration of war upon organized labor.
Sponsored by newby state senators Steve Pierce, Sylvia Allen, and "Cap'n Al" Melvin, along with veteran legislators Pam Gorman and Jonathan Paton, it would bar labor unions from using dues or membership fees to fund political activity, including "supporting or opposing any candidate for public office, political party, referendum, initiative, political issue advocacy, political action committee or other similar group."
Given that unions were the primary organizers behind last November's Prop 201, the Homeowners' Bill Of Rights, which was stridently opposed by the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) and various realtor and developer groups, it should be no surprise that legislators who benefitted from the campaign largesse of such groups are leading the effort to ensure that unions can never try that again.
Of course, the fact that this bill would also cripple unions' abilities to help out (what turns out to be mostly Democratic) candidates is just gravy.
Call the bill "The Home Builders Retaliation Act."
Wow! A whole post about a wingnutty bill in the AZ lege, and not one mention of Russell Pearce, Jack Harper, John Kavanagh, or Ron Gould to be found anywhere.
I must be slipping. :))
We knew it was going to be bad, what with the Reps' gain of a few seats in the lege, the rightward shift of the Rep caucus as a whole, and the move of Janet Napolitano to D.C. and the ascension of Jan Brewer to the ninth floor.
We knew the annual three dozen or so anti-immigrant bills would be joined by anti-choice, anti-government (aka - TABOR), and anti-democratic (and anti-Democratic) bills, and they have.
Those will be covered in the coming weeks during the "Legislative Loon" competition and evaluation.
During one of my periodic perusals of bill submittals (766 and counting so far!), I came across SB1268.
It's an open declaration of war upon organized labor.
Sponsored by newby state senators Steve Pierce, Sylvia Allen, and "Cap'n Al" Melvin, along with veteran legislators Pam Gorman and Jonathan Paton, it would bar labor unions from using dues or membership fees to fund political activity, including "supporting or opposing any candidate for public office, political party, referendum, initiative, political issue advocacy, political action committee or other similar group."
Given that unions were the primary organizers behind last November's Prop 201, the Homeowners' Bill Of Rights, which was stridently opposed by the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) and various realtor and developer groups, it should be no surprise that legislators who benefitted from the campaign largesse of such groups are leading the effort to ensure that unions can never try that again.
Of course, the fact that this bill would also cripple unions' abilities to help out (what turns out to be mostly Democratic) candidates is just gravy.
Call the bill "The Home Builders Retaliation Act."
Wow! A whole post about a wingnutty bill in the AZ lege, and not one mention of Russell Pearce, Jack Harper, John Kavanagh, or Ron Gould to be found anywhere.
I must be slipping. :))
Secretary Bennett, somehow, I'm not reassured...
Somebody needs to tell Ken Bennett, the newly-minted AZ Secretary of State, that being frugal with taxpayer dollars is a good thing, but that using that erstwhile frugality as an excuse to take bribes contributions from lobbyists is *not* a good thing. In fact, it the badness of that idea trumps any good that might come from the saving of the public's money.
From Mary Jo Pitzl at AZCentral.com's Political Insider (emphasis mine) -
Yeah, yeah - you just *knew* that I was going to work a broom reference into this post. :)
From Mary Jo Pitzl at AZCentral.com's Political Insider (emphasis mine) -
Ken Bennett was sworn in Monday as Secretary of State in a half-hour ceremony in the old Capitol. Chief Justice Ruth McGregor did the honors, making her third trip in as many weeks to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony.To Secretary Bennett - Keep on keepin' on. Every little bit helps toward the goal of sweeping Republicans from statewide office in 2010.
(Week One: Swear in new lawmakers. Week Two: Swear in Jan Brewer as governor. Week Three: Bennett. What's up for next week? Oh yeah, there's going to be a new lawmaker from District 13. See item below.)
After the ceremony, there was the reception, a nice little cookies-punch-and -ice-cream affair in the old Capitol's ice-cream parlor. The event didn't take any tax dollars, the new Secretary of State said; the money came from various lobbying groups, such as Veridus and John Mangum's shop.
Yeah, yeah - you just *knew* that I was going to work a broom reference into this post. :)
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