Good news, bad news

Today was one of those days, every piece of good news was accompanied by a piece of bad news...

Good news: The Arizona legislature has adjourned sine die. It'll be another eight months (at least) before the Republicans' next all-out assault on the 4th Amendment in the name of ethnic purity "border security".

Bad news: There may be yet another special session later this year to deal with budget issues, especially if one or more budget-related referenda fail at the ballot box (sales tax hike in may, overrides of Voter Protection Act protections on voter-mandated spending in November).

Good news: It looks like Joe Arpaio will run for governor. As such, he will have to resign as Maricopa County Sheriff. Note: Arpaio says that the report saying that he will definitely run is "just speculation."

Bad news: The possibility of "Governor Arpaio."

Good news: The MLBPA (Major League Baseball Players Association) has noticed and come out strongly against Arizona's new anti-immigrant law.

Bad news: This could be the first step in Phoenix losing the 2011 baseball All-Star Game.

Later...

Early filers

As has been seen in the rash of press releases hitting the blogosphere, a number of candidates have already submitted their nominating petitions to get on the ballot this year.

From the Secretary of State's website (so only federal and state offices are included; local, county and other offices will be covered in other posts) -

US Senate, Republican

DEAKIN, JIM
1734 East Pontiac Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85024 Telephone: (602)885-2569
Filerid: N/A

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 6862
Supplemental Signatures: No

HAYWORTH, J.D.
PO Box 28604
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Telephone: (602)357-0000
Filerid: N/A

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 11458
Supplemental Signatures: No


Congress CD1, Republican

BEAUCHAMP, BRADLEY
PO Box 62
Globe, AZ 85502
Telephone: (928)701-1077
Filerid: N/A

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 1954
Supplemental Signatures: No


Congress CD3, Republican

WINKLER, ED
PO Box 32674
Phoenix, AZ 85064
Telephone: (480)998-8536
Filerid: N/A

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 835
Supplemental Signatures: No


Congress CD5, Republican

SCHWEIKERT, DAVID
15749 East El Lago Boulevard
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 Telephone: (480)659-9383
Filerid: N/A

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 739
Supplemental Signatures: No


Congress CD7, Republican

MCCLUNG, RUTH
3963 West Prosperity Mine Place
Tucson, AZ 85745 Telephone: ( ) -
Filerid: N/A

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 1358
Supplemental Signatures: No


Governor, Democrat

GODDARD, TERRY
PO Box 1792
Phoenix, AZ 85001
Telephone: (602)254-6342
Filerid: 201000311

Date Filed: 03/12/2010
Signatures: 8589
Supplemental Signatures: No


Governor, Republican

BREWER, JAN
6835 West Union Hills Drive
Glendale, AZ 85308 Telephone: (602)633-4526
Filerid: 201000308

Date Filed: 02/02/2010
Signatures: 8154
Supplemental Signatures: No

JETTE, MATTHEW
2163 South Weaver Drive
Apache Junction, AZ 85220 Telephone: (480)205-0698
Filerid: 201000190

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 8547
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD4 State Senate, Democrat

DOLPHIN, SUE
20758 West Bunker Peak Road
Wittmann, AZ 85361 Telephone: (602)690-3780
Filerid: 201000142

Date Filed: 04/05/2010
Signatures: 597
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD7 State Senate, Republican

GREEN, BOB
4522 East Rowel Road
Phoenix, AZ 85050 Telephone: (480)717-7262
Filerid: 201000291

Date Filed: 03/08/2010
Signatures: 570
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD11 State Senate, Democrat

DICKINSON, RITA
2002 East Rancho Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85016 Telephone: (602)955-2772
Filerid: 201000397

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 659
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD11 State Senate, Republican

DAVIS, RICH
4644 North 22nd Street #2022
Phoenix, AZ 85016 Telephone: (623)239-1865
Filerid: 201000130

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 935
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD12 State Senate, Republican

SILVER, CLARK
18025 West Oregon Avenue
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 Telephone: (602)451-3160
Filerid: 201000361

Date Filed: 04/22/2010
Signatures: 762
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD15 State Senate, Democrat

SINEMA, KYRSTEN
335 West Windsor Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85003 Telephone: (602)570-7217
Filerid: 201000021

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 676
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD17 State Senate, Democrat

SCHAPIRA, DAVID
3633 South Hazelton Lane
Tempe, AZ 85282 Telephone: ( ) -
Filerid: 201000326

Date Filed: 04/22/2010
Signatures: 473
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD17 State Senate, Republican

ROGERS, WENDY
719 East Erie Drive
Tempe, AZ 85282 Telephone: (480)529-9891
Filerid: 201000107

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 784
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD26 State Senate, Republican

CAGE, CHERYL
5839 West Sonoran Links Lane
Marana, AZ 85658 Telephone: (520)360-9016
Filerid: 201000078

Date Filed: 04/29/2010
Signatures: 567
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD30 State Senate, Democrat

CAMENISCH, TODD
5540 East Paseo Cimarron
Tucson, AZ 85750 Telephone: (520)955-1948
Filerid: 201000294

Date Filed: 04/29/2010
Signatures: 758
Supplemental Signatures: No




LD1 State Rep, Republican

FANN, KAREN
5691 Hole In One Drive
Prescott, AZ 86301 Telephone: (928)308-3995
Filerid: 201000346

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 1514
Supplemental Signatures: No

TOBIN, ANDY
PO Box 28035
Prescott Valley, AZ 86312
Telephone: (928)710-2352
Filerid: 201000025

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 1120
Supplemental Signatures: No

LD8 State Rep. Democrat

KRIEKARD, JOHN
16467 North 109th Way
Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Telephone: (480)473-1176
Filerid: 201000293

Date Filed: 04/28/2010
Signatures: 701
Supplemental Signatures: No


WILLIAMSON, W. JOHN
6480 North 82nd Street, Apartment 205
Scottsdale, AZ 85250 Telephone: (480)607-9726
Filerid: 201000239

Date Filed: 04/27/2010
Signatures: 369
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD8 State Rep., Republican

PENNYPACKER, PAULA
11530 East Winchcomb Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Telephone: (480)556-6787
Filerid: 201000410

Date Filed: 04/27/2010
Signatures: 917
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD8 State Rep., Republican

GRAY, RICK
PO Box 2363
Sun City, AZ 85351
Telephone: (623)340-8091
Filerid: 201000196

Date Filed: 04/02/2010
Signatures: 701
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD 10 State Rep.. Democrat

JAHNEKE, AARON
4053 West Mission Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85051 Telephone: (602)509-0561
Filerid: 201000396

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 354
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD11 State Rep, Democrat

MEYER, ERIC
7765 North Foothill Drive South
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 Telephone: (480)607-0660
Filerid: 201000298

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 551
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD15 State Rep., Democrat

ALSTON, LELA
69 West Willetta Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003 Telephone: (602)278-2002
Filerid: 201000116

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 735
Supplemental Signatures: No


HOBBS, KATIE
1511 East Edgemont Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85006 Telephone: (602)318-9033
Filerid: 201000020

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 789
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD16, State Rep., Republican

GULAR, MICHAEL
PO Box 769
Laveen, AZ 85339
Telephone: (602)478-5359
Filerid: 201000131

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 177
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD18 State Rep., Democrat

CONWAY, MICHAEL
1758 East Gary Street
Mesa, AZ 85203 Telephone: (480)707-8570
Filerid: 201000359

Date Filed: 03/03/2010
Signatures: 281
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD19 State Rep., Republican

PERKINSON, SCOTT
3410 East Downing Street
Mesa, AZ 85213 Telephone: (602)818-4710
Filerid: 201000344

Date Filed: 02/16/2010
Signatures: 689
Supplemental Signatures: Yes


LD20 State Rep., Republican

ROBSON, BOB
2713 West Oak Grove Lane
Chandler, AZ 85224 Telephone: (480)786-0809
Filerid: 201000144

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 913
Supplemental Signatures: No

LD21 State Rep., Republican

MESNARD, J.D.
1427 West Homestead Court
Chandler, AZ 85286 Telephone: (480)650-4509
Filerid: 201000365

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 1172
Supplemental Signatures: No

WHITENER, VENESSA
18712 East Egret Circle
Queen Creek, AZ 85142 Telephone: (480)354-8174
Filerid: 201000341

Date Filed: 04/15/2010
Signatures: 878
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD23 State Rep., Republican

FILLMORE, JOHN
8840 East Main
Mesa, AZ 85207
Telephone: (602)885-6691
Filerid: 201000258

Date Filed: 04/14/2010
Signatures: 616
Supplemental Signatures: No

PRATT, FRANK
PO Box 10526
Casa Grande, AZ 85130
Telephone: (520)836-9592
Filerid: 201000228

Date Filed: 03/16/2010
Signatures: 599
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD27 State Rep., Democrat

GILBY, BOB
3027 North Gaia Place
Tucson, AZ 85745 Telephone: (520)743-9153
Filerid: 201000019

Date Filed: 03/31/2010
Signatures: 1176
Supplemental Signatures: No

LD28 State Rep., Democrat

SIDHWA, MOHUR
3661 North Campbell #316
Tucson, AZ 85719
Telephone: (520)954-2216
Filerid: 201000172

Date Filed: 04/01/2010
Signatures: 733
Supplemental Signatures: No

SULTAN, TIM
1347 East Spring Street
Tucson, AZ 85719 Telephone: (520)440-7442
Filerid: 201000279

Date Filed: 03/10/2010
Signatures: 494
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD29 State Rep., Republican

KILBURN, PAT
PO Box 17857
Tucson, AZ 85731
Telephone: (520)343-0022
Filerid: 201000385

Date Filed: 04/22/2010
Signatures: 300
Supplemental Signatures: No


LD30 State Rep., Democrat

DALESSANDRO, ANDREA
2214 East Falcon Vista Drive
Green Valley, AZ 85614 Telephone: (520)648-2092
Filerid: 201000100

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 1213
Supplemental Signatures: No


Attorney General, Democrat

ROTELLINI, FELECIA
3444 North 49th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85018 Telephone: (602)684-0410
Filerid: 201000232

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 7639
Supplemental Signatures: No


Attorney General, Republican

HORNE, TOM
2824 East Mission Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85028 Telephone: (602)885-4959
Filerid: 201000003

Date Filed: 04/26/2010
Signatures: 10656
Supplemental Signatures: No


Superintendent of Public Instruction, Republican

HUPPENTHAL, JOHN
8 Bullmoose Circle
Chandler, AZ 85224 Telephone: (480)330-3215
Filerid: 201000065

Date Filed: 01/20/2010
Signatures: 11053
Supplemental Signatures: No


Arizona Corporation Commission, Republican

BURNS, BRENDA
7424 East McLellan Lane
Scottsdale, AZ 85250 Telephone: (480)948-7799
Filerid: 201000090

Date Filed: 01/22/2010
Signatures: 10783
Supplemental Signatures: No

PIERCE, GARY
2625 North 24th Street #10
Mesa, AZ 85213 Telephone: (480)615-0524
Filerid: 200693527

Date Filed: 04/16/2010
Signatures: 9289
Supplemental Signatures: No

WONG, BARRY
29 West Medlock Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85013 Telephone: (602)850-4300
Filerid: 201000198

Date Filed: 04/23/2010
Signatures: 7893
Supplemental Signatures: No


This is just from the first few days...more updates as necessary.

Lege trying to wrap it up tonight

They're doing Final Read right now (approving Senate changes to bills that the House had previously approved. What I've seen so far looks to be non-controversial, but so did alt-fuels, before it cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars at the beginning of the last decade.

That one was passed during an end-of-session rush, too.

Keep your eyes open.

Full analysis this weekend.

A busy couple of days

A mish-mash of stuff, some immigration-related, some not.

...Congressman Harry Mitchell is having an active week, what with the Senate approving his bill to block this year's automatic pay raise for Congress and the VA ducking and running from a Mitchell-chaired hearing that had been scheduled to look into the VA's lackluster efforts to address the epidemic of suicides and attempted suicides among veterans of the U.S.'s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (Mitchell press release on the matter here).

Can't wait until one of the Rs running against Rep. Mitchell tries to label reining in Congress' pay and protecting America's veterans as being "too liberal."

...In signs that Arizona isn't the only place with whackadoodle nativists (we do seem to have the highest concentration of them, though) -

- A GOP candidate for Congress wants to implant microchips into undocumented immigrants (I'm OK with this...as soon as we find a way to implant souls into extreme GOPers)

- A GOP congressman from California, Duncan Hunter (the younger), wants to deport natural-born American citizens if they were born to undocumented immigrants...because their souls aren't American enough. (I'll concede the Congressman's evident expertise on that subject of souls that aren't "American enough")

- However, there is a least one ray of sanity breaking through the cloud of bigotry that has seemed to sweep over Arizona - Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County has called the newly-enacted law "stupid" and "racist." (Probably too much to hope for, but if he moves to Maricopa County and challenges our would-be tin horn despot, I'll campaign and vote for him.)

...In a potentially scary development, and one that I hope I'm misreading and overreacting to, a co-worker of mine of Latino descent recently visited an office at an East Valley hospital and was asked for ID.

Not a big deal, except that this co-worker has been going to this office for years (literally) and was well-known to the staff there.

Even worse, this person was the only Latino in a full waiting room, and was the *only* one there asked for papers.

I've got an email out to the hospital in question. I'm hoping that this is a case of misreading the situation. As such, I'm not going to name the hospital until I see a pattern of bad behavior.

I'll update if I get a response, or if the behavior is shown to be part of a pattern.

BTW, because some nativist is going to ask: the co-worker is a third-generation Arizonan and has lived their entire life here. Not that it really matters to the nativists who are totally gaga over Arizona's "breathing while brown" law.

...It turns out that the Rs raging bigotry could cost Arizona some national influence. Not in a "Arizona will spend a decade as the nation's punch line" sort of way, but in a "they've intimidated Latinos into not responding to the Census, so Arizona won't be properly represented in Congress" sort of way.

There's more to be snarky about, but I have to head to bed.

Later...

Arizona's version of the corporate bailout bill dead...for now

From Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services, via East Valley Tribune (my link) -

Senate Republicans drove the final nail Monday into a House-passed package of tax cuts for business.

Several members of the GOP caucus said they could not go along with a package to sharply cut corporate income taxes, phase out the state property tax and give other breaks to businesses. The plan, as approved earlier this year by the House, eventually would have slashed state revenues by $950 million a year.

The package had been trimmed into something that would have cost the state $600 million per year in lost revenue.

Of course, even in that "compromise", the priorities of House Speaker Kirk Adams and the rest of the Rs in the lege were made clear - they eliminated a cut to the state's personal income tax rate while leaving the corporate cuts intact.

Apparently, enough members of the R caucus realized that a year in which they eliminated KidsCare, closed state parks, and caused the layoffs of thousands of teachers may not be the best year in which to give a massive gift to corporations.

Especially a week after the approved the police state bill and put the state and themselves under a national and worldwide microscope.

Something tells me that the Rs really wanted to approve the corporate gifts, but didn't want to be seen doing so.

AZBlueMeanie at Blog for Arizona has coverage here.

Jon Stewart nails it...Arizona is the meth lab of democracy

Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, one of the great thinkers of his day, observed that state legislatures are the "laboratories of democracy." (New State Ice Company v. Liebmann, 1932, FindLaw cite here)

Jon Stewart of The Daily Show, one of the great wiseasses of his day, observed that "Arizona is the meth lab of democracy." (4/26/2010, video on this posting at Talking Points Memo)


Justice Brandeis offered another quote, one that the nativists should keep in mind when they take their shoes off and start pounding on the table and start screaming about "respect for the law!" (source BrainyQuote.com) -

If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.

Of course, that won't happen in Arizona (making the law respectable) until we get some respectable lawmakers in Arizona.

Find a candidate, volunteer to help their campaign, and remember to vote in November.

Schapira first to file signatures in LD17

Press release time (via email) -

Schapira First to File in District 17

TEMPE - David Schapira has filed enough petition signatures with the Secretary of State’s office to qualify as a candidate for the State Senate race in District 17. He is the first candidate in District 17 of either party in either the House or Senate races to qualify. Schapira, a Clean Elections participating candidate, also filed more than the requisite number of $5 qualifying contributions in order to run under Arizona’s Clean Elections system.

An Arizona native, Schapira has drawn on his experience as a teacher and small business owner to serve Tempe and south Scottsdale for two terms in the State House of Representatives. He has received commendation as one of six “Lawmakers Who Made a Difference” and one of five “Emerging Leaders Worth Watching” by the Arizona Republic. He aims to bring his effective, pragmatic approach as a leader to the State Senate.

“I am honored by the way that petitions and contributions poured in from people all over Tempe and south Scottsdale. The people of our state are hungry for a change in leadership now more than ever, and I intend to be a part of that change,”
said Schapira. “For years, the leadership at the capitol has proven that they care more about practicing destructive, exclusive partisan politics and pursuing extremist ideological goals than they do about working on behalf of the people of Arizona. We have to break the status quo before it breaks our state completely.”

In addition to the recognition David has received from the Arizona Republic, he has been named a top legislator by the Arizona Student Association, American Cancer Society, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Arizona Technology Council. David has worked tirelessly at the capitol to make improving Arizona’s public education system a priority. He considers investment in K-12 and university education essential to reviving the state’s stagnant economy.

“Education must come first, and in this economy and job market, it’s even more critical to our advancement as a state. The best way to bring stable, well-paying jobs to Arizona is by offering employers a highly educated workforce. The best way to develop a robust, homegrown economic foundation is through our public universities’ research initiatives.”

David and his wife Rosemary reside in Tempe, and are expecting the birth of their first child this summer.

Learn more at DavidforAZ.com.

Congrats David!

Kyl and McCain abandon average Arizonas for Wall St. bigwigs

Yeah, they served this one up like a BP fastball during baseball's homerun derby so it doesn't seem fair to hit it out of the park.



Too bad.



Earlier today, the U.S. Senate failed to invoke cloture (limit debate) on financial reform. The bill is something that Wall St. interests have been working diligently with the Republicans in the Senate to beat back. (AP coverage, via Yahoo! News, here)

Today, all of the Senate's Republicans, including Arizona's Jon Kyl and John McCain, and one Democratic defector (Ben Nelson of Nebraska) teamed up to put Wall Street's interests before that of Main Street's.

This is nothing new from the McKyl brothers, but it is still a little disappointing and more than a little surprising. In this year where the only people held in lower esteem than long-time elected officials (you know, like Senators McCain and Kyl) are Wall Street executives, this should have been an easy call for our Jon and John.

OK, it probably *was* an easy call for them - both have well-documented histories of placing the interests of deep-pocketed donors above the interests of the people they were sent to D.C. to represent.

"Hola officer!"

Much of the furor surrounding the enactment of SB1070, Russell Pearce's anti-immigrant police state bill, including my own, has stemmed from a worry that the language of the bill will allow/compel law enforcement officers to ethnically profile Arizona's Hispanic residents and visitors ("Where are your papers!").

Language has been put in the bill that purports to bar such profiling, but the rest of the measure was written is such a way (i.e. - saying that LEOs can stop people and question their immigration status based on "reasonable suspicion", without explicitly defining that term) as to render the language barring profiling utterly meaningless.

As such, there is a "trust" gap that has developed between the law enforcement and the non-nativist communities.

Anyone who isn't a hardcore R nativist is worried that they could be stopped at any moment by a LEO and if they aren't carrying proof of citizenship/legal entry into the US, they will be arrested.

While there are certain to be a few Arizona LEOs who abuse the new law (like those who work for Joe Arpaio, Paul Babeu, or in Chandler, for starters), most of Arizona's law enforcement officers are honest, hardworking men and women who are dedicated to serving and protecting the community.

To let them know that we appreciate what they do for us, and that we won't hold the actions of a few bad apples against all of them, when you encounter a police officer, greet them with a warm and hearty


¡Hola Officer!


This idea was inspired by something that I read on Facebook earlier today. I tried to track down the originator to give full credit, but was unable to find it again. My thanks to the originator, and apologies for not finding the original reference.

Arizona Republicans - consistently inconsistent

Just a quick hit...

It's been fun (of the "partisan political geek" variety, anyway) watching the Republicans in CD5 campaign against Rep. Harry Mitchell for being "too partisan" (voting with his fellow Democrats too often) while they have been railing against their own Sen. John McCain for not being Republican enough.

The entertaining problem with that: their accusations contradict each other.

- In the 110th Congress (the last completed session of Congress), Republican John McCain voted with his party 88.2% of the time (source: Washington Post).

- In the same 110th Congress, Harry Mitchell voted with his fellow Democrats only 80.7% of the time (same source)

BTW - "consistently inconsistent" is a euphemism for "consistently hypocritical." Just in case you didn't pick up on that. :)

Speculation on SB1070 and its impact on professional baseball in AZ

Well that didn't take long...

Because of the huge presence of professional baseball in Arizona and Arizona's economy - the Diamondbacks and Spring Training (which most people are aware of), as well as the Arizona Fall League, Arizona Rookie League, Arizona Instructional League (less a league than a post-season version of spring training) and next year's All Star Game, I gave the MLB Commissioner's Office a call at 12:11 p.m. AZ time.

I wanted to ask them about any impact of the new anti-immigrant law here ("Hand Over Your Papers!") on MLB's plans in AZ.

After being referred to the voicemail of someone with their PR organization, I left a message identifying myself, my blog, and my question. No one has gotten back to me yet (it's only been 120 minutes at this writing, so that isn't a criticism), but within 4 minutes, by 12:15 p.m. AZ time, this blog had received a hit from, you guessed it, Major League Baseball.

The info -

Search Engine Phrase random musings
Search Engine Name Google
Search Engine Host www.google.com
Host Name
IP Address 64.95.235.19
Country United States
Region New York
City New York
ISP Major League Baseball

Anyway, while it may be too soon for MLB to have formulated a position on the new law, they probably will have to, and do so very soon.

While the impact of the law on the Diamondbacks and Spring Training may be significant (look for screaming the first time someone from MCSO stops Albert Pujols or Miguel Cabrera on the street outside of Chase Field and demands to see his papers), there isn't much that can be done over the short term, at least until MLB can figure out how to break leases and agreements. (Look for them to do so when they realize how onerous and oppressive this new law is)

The Arizona Fall League and the Arizona Instructional League shouldn't see much of a short-term impact either - Latin players who are good enough for the AFL tend to be in demand for their countries' winter leagues, and those leagues have first dibs on players from their leagues, and there are enough MLB-sponsored baseball academies in Latin America to handle instructional duties. In addition, they don't have a significant economic or cultural presence in AZ. If MLB moves those operations, only hardcore fans will notice.

The Arizona Rookie League could be a disaster in the making for MLB. It is a league for young, frequently first-year, players. A significant portion (guessstimate: slightly >50%) are 17 and 18-year old Latin players journeying out of their home countries for the first time. Many speak little or no English, and the ones that do, do so with an accent.

In others words, prime targets for dedicated Hispanic hunting squads MCSO sweeps.

Given the inroads that MLB has made into Latin American countries in recent decades (>30% of MLB players are Latin, and the number is still growing), how well will pics of their native sons languishing in one of Arpaio's cells or restraint chairs play there?

Of course, given the low visibility of the League and its players in AZ, and the open bigotry of too many of Arizona's "leaders", there won't be much of a furor in AZ, and if anything, the Pearces and Brewers of AZ will be happy at the idea of imprisoning Dominican (and Venezuelan and Mexican and so on) teenagers and will view international criticism as a source of pride.

That league, the Rookie League, starts play in late June and continues into August, well after the law is expected to go into effect (90 days after the lege adjourns for the year).

In other words, but the end of the summer, potentially a significant percentage* of the next generation of MLB players could find themselves in jail or detained by police to be grilled over their immigration status, all for daring to be born on the wrong side of a line on a map.

That leaves MLB's big club, if they choose to use it.


Next year's All Star Game, planned for Chase Field in Phoenix on July 12. 2o11.


The direct impact of the game and related activities on Phoenix's economy is expected to be in excess of $60 million, with millions more in less-direct economic impacts.

By doing this (enacting an anti-immigrant police state law) more than a year out, the nativists in the lege have created a window of opportunity for MLB to move the game if it so chooses, though it will have to be soon to allow the new site time to adequately prepare (Southern CA might be a good choice - great facilities, experience with big events, and, if MLB wants to send a message, a large Latino population).

Now we wait who MLB wants to keep happy - a few thousand nativists in Arizona, or the hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of its players and fans worldwide who don't think that Latinos, whether or not they are baseball players, should be oppressed because of their ethnicity.


*Note - There are 6 North American-based leagues that are primarily made up of first year pros - Arizona, Gulf Coast, Appalachian, Pioneer, Northwest and New York-Penn (Northwest and NY Penn tend to have college age players, the others tend to be younger). There are also MLB-sponsored summer leagues in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, but those players tend to be 17 or younger and solely from those two c0untries. Usually, players who graduate from the Venezuelan and Dominican summer leagues move into the Arizona or Gulf Coast leagues for a season to acclimate to the United States before moving into a full-season minor league.

Why don't I think this will lessen the calls for an economic boycott of Arizona?

Should've covered this last week, but I was busy at the time the news broke (as were most of us). However, the SPLC picked it up and refreshed my memory...

From the Arizona Daily Star -

Tired of watching smugglers and other illegal border crossers walk past, the Cochise County Militia is planning to form a paramilitary squad with permission to confront them.

Bill Davis, who founded the group in 2001, said in an email to supporters Monday that the militia would be forming a "private military company."

" We will be forming a PMC - (Private Military Company) - completely legal!!! - We can be considered paramilitary, but not vigilantes, mercenaries, etc."

Probably not a coincidence that Cochise County is where Russell Pearce wants to appropriate state money to fund a "volunteer security force" to hunt immigrants (HB2162, up for final approval in the Senate today).

Anyway, calls for organizing an economic boycott of Arizona may not be necessary - between the newly-enacted laws turning AZ into a police state ("Gimme your papers!"), into a place where maniacs can carry concealed weapons without a permit, background check, or even basic safety training, and the above, the formation of paramilitary hate groups operating under the imprimatur of state approval, most potential visitors will consider AZ an unsafe place for their companies, families, and selves, and they'll reach that understanding on their own.

The Coming Week - Everybody Else Edition

As usual, all info gathered from the websites of the relevent political bodies/agencies, and subject to change without notice...

In DC...

...The House's agenda is here. It looks fairly quiet thus far, though H.R. 2499 (Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009) and H.R. 5013 (Implementing Management for Performance and Related Reforms to Obtain Value in Every Acquisition Act of 2010, aka IMPROVE Act) may generate some controversy.

It looks like that after the healthcare reform dust-up earlier this year, the leadership; in the House is going to take it easy on the really controversial stuff.

...Over in the Senate, much of their week will be consumed by consideration of financial regulation overhaul (S. 3217). Call me cynical, but much of the contention on this one seems to be over deciding between faux reform (Senate Ds) and no reform (Senate Rs). The Senate's committee schedule is here.


Here in Arizona...

...The Arizona Corporation Commission is holding a utilities-related meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, agenda here. On Friday, they'll be holding a special open meeting in Globe to solicit public comment on line extension policies of electric utilities.

The ACC's hearing schedule is here.

...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is meeting this week. Their "informal" meeting on Monday has been cancelled, however, Wednesday's "formal" meeting is still on tap.

...The Citizens Clean Election Commission is meeting on Thursday. No agenda posted as yet.

...The Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District will meet on Tuesday, with an executive session at 5:30 p.m. and the regular session at 6:30 p.m. Agenda here.

...The Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System is meeting on Wednesday. The executive session agenda is here; regular session agenda here.

...The Tempe City Council isn't meeting this week. Their calendar of events is here.

...The Scottsdale City Council has a regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday and a special meeting scheduled for noon on Friday to interview finalists for the City Manager's position. The City's Community Meeting Notice is here.

Not meeting this week: Arizona Board of Regents, Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project

The wheel of history coming around again...

The names change, both of the victims and the victimizers, but nothing else changes. What the nativists in the lege and on the 9th floor of the Executive Tower are doing is nothing new, they're just adding an Arizona twang to the litany of hate.

From Pastor Martin Niemoller, speaking on the rise of Nazi Germany:

"They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up."

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu - suffering from latent Arpaioism

Paul Babeu, the Sheriff in Pinal County, has been making the rounds of various MSM outlets and events in support of the newly-enacted police state bill, SB1070.

He's been touting the measure as something that protects the people of Arizona.

He was the featured speaker at an Andrew Thomas press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, supporting Thomas' plan to take over all illegal immigration-related prosecutions if he is elected as Attorney General in November. Even better, he was a guest on a KPHO (Phoenix channel 5) newscast on Friday to support Jan Brewer's decision to sign SB1070 into law.

The video of his appearance is here; the money quote starts at around the :56 mark of the segment (referring to the current laws regarding the actions of law enforcement officials) -

"...we're given the authority to suspend people's Constitutional rights..."

Actually, he's not given such authority - people who are accused of a crime or even convicted of a crime still have rights.

The law enforcement officers involved may or may not like that fact, but it *is* the way it is.

However, more to the point of this post, after living for more than a decade and a half in Maricopa County with a sheriff that exhibits no respect for the Bill of Rights, or even basic human decency, I fear for the people of Pinal County.

They may be in for some of the abuses that we have been getting.

The Coming Week - Legislative Edition

As usual, all info gathered from the website of the Arizona Legislature, except where noted, and subject to change without notice...

There are two reasons to believe that the 2nd Session of the 49th Arizona Legislature is in its final days -

1. The sooner they adjourn, the sooner the 90-day clock starts ticking for SB1070 to become the law of the land. (Brewer may have signed it on Friday, but it doesn't go into effect until 90 days after the lege adjourns sine die).

2. The agendas for the respective chambers' Rules committees are getting shorter, indicating that there will be fewer bills reaching the floor for a final vote.


On the House side...

- Rules will meet Monday in HHR4 upon adjournment/recess of the floor session or "upon announcement" (another indicator that the end is near: scheduling becomes very fluid). Highlights of the agenda: an amended SB1042 (restricting municipalities' abilities to levy building permit and related fees) and SB1443 (inhibiting photo enforcement by placing all kinds of restrictions on procedures post citation issuance).

- Final Read calendar for the floor is posted here. Final Read is for approval of House bills that have been approved by the Senate but with changes. If they changes are too much for the House to accept, they will go to a conference committee to iron out the differences.

- - Monday's conference committee schedule is here.

- Third Read (final approval) calendar is here. Highlights: HB2060 (moving money from the Public Conservation Account of the Land Conservation Fund to the state parks board, the Arizona Historical Society, and the Prescott Historical Society). Because of Voter Protection Act provisions, this will take a 3/4 vote to pass; and SB1309 (a Center for Arizona Theocracy-written measure regarding "parents rights" ).

- COW calendar (Committee of the Whole) is here.


Over on the Senate side, a Rules agenda hasn't been posted as yet. There are a few committees meeting to consider executive branch nominations.

- Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform will meet on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in SHR1 to consider appointments to the Arizona Medical Board and the Radiation Regulatory Hearing Board.

- Education Accountability and Reform will meet on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in SHR1 to consider appointments to the State Board for Charter Schools, the State Board of Education, and the School Facilities Board. One name that stood out upon cursory examination was that of Eileen Klein for the State Board of Education. Klein is Jan Brewer's Chief of Staff.

- Commerce and Economic Development will meet on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in SHR3 to consider appointments to the Greater Arizona Development Authority, Industrial Commission of Arizona, and Arizona Power Authority Commission.

- Natural Resources, Infrastructure, and Public Debt will meet on Tuesday at 11 a.m. (or upon adjournment of the Senate Education committee) in SHR109 to consider appointments the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board.

- COW calendars for Monday are posted here and here. There are a number of lousy bills on both, but especially the 2nd one.

- Third Read for Monday is here. A number of bad bills on this one.

- The Caucus Calendar is here. In the absence of a Rules agenda, this one is a good indicator of the measures that may receive floor votes later in the week. It includes HB2250, the Republicans' corporate bailout bill (updated fiscal note here). Combined with the proposed sales tax hike (election day is May 18 for that one), this represents a massive redistribution of money from Arizona's poor and middle classes into the pockets of corporations.


In events news, other than the expected continuing rallies at the Capitol to oppose SB1070, a number of legislators (presumably, mostly Republicans) will be participating in something called "AZ legislators for wildlife shootout" at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility's Clay Target Center on Monday from 4 - 7 p.m.

No word if they will be painting sombreros on the targets beforehand.

Later...

Brewer signs anti-immigrant police state bill

Yes, I predicted exactly this a few days ago, but deep inside, I was hoping that I was being overly cynical

In a move that surprised virtually no one, today Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB1070, enacting the nation's harshest anti-immigrant law. In both her signing statement and an executive order on the matter, she says that the bill, now law, won't engender racial profiling.

Nobody believes that, though.

Some, the Russell Pearces and J.D. Hayworths of the world, have publicly agreed with Brewer, but with a wink and a nod - they want profiling - it's what the law is all about.

Anyway, there are scads of articles and op-eds on Friday's developments. Here are links to a few of them -

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon in the Washington Post (normally I think that Gordon is a tool, but to his credit, he gets this one right)

Huffington Post

E.J. Dionne

Arizona Senate Democrats

Oh hell, there's lots more and I have to go to bed. Just go to Google News to read about Arizona's insanity to your heart's content.

I'll write more after my work week is over. Until then, find out where your local Democratic legislative candidates (or statewide or Congressional candidates) are canvassing this weekend, and volunteer to help. From this very minute all the way through to November.

Anyone wanna start a pool?

Giddy from this week's passage of the anti-immigrant police state bill and today's passage of the birther bill, one of the loons in the lege - perhaps "old guard" loons such as Pearce, Gould, or Harper, or perhaps new guard hatchlings like Antenori, Seel, or Montenegro - will have the bright idea of swearing out a complaint against President Obama under the new anti-immigrant law.

God knows Arpaio would trip over himself trying to get to the airport to serve such a complaint the next time the President visits Arizona. Of course, he wouldn't be worried about tripping, as long as there were TV cameras around.

The pool could be people predicting the time that elapses from the moment the bills become law until a complaint is filed, and who will be out in front of it.

Whaddya think?

:)


Note - To all nativist-friendly law enforcement officers/officials/agencies: The above is a metaphor only, used to make a political point. No actual wagering will take place as a result of the above proposal.

The Nation's Attention Focused On The Arizona Governor's Office

Observers from all over the country (and the world) have focused on the 9th Floor of the Executive Tower at the Arizona Capitol. Governor Jan Brewer is hunkered down there, trying to ride out the political firestorm that has erupted over the AZ Senate's final passage of SB1070, Russell Pearce's police state bill.

- The Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Los Angeles likened the bill to "Nazi and Soviet-style" techniques of oppression.

- Congressional lawmakers, including Arizona's Raul Grijalva (D-CD7), have publicly urged Brewer to veto the measure.

- Across the nation and world, newspaper editorials and op-eds, including some from outlets that aren't exactly noted as bastions of liberalism (i.e. - The Christian Science Monitor), have weighed in against the bill.

- The Governor's office has been inundated with phone calls, faxes, and emails on the bill, with messages opposing the bill outnumbering messages of support by an almost 9 - 1 margin (11931 opposing, 1356 favoring, and counting).

She has until Saturday to make a decision. After that, the bill becomes law without her signature. Expect the protests, letters, and editorials to continue until she does make a decision (or makes one by *not* making one).

Russell Pearce can't shut up about his bill or the people opposing it. From the AZRep article linked to "inundated" above -

Pearce called Tuesday's protesters "anarchists." He said he has not heard of any planned rallies in favor of the bill but said that is because supporters trust their state leaders.

"They are working jobs and raising families and expect us to do the right thing," he said.

"Anarchists"??

This from a man who wants to arm amateurs and vigilantes and send them to the border?

It's a compliment when someone who is as hypocritical and evil as Pearce doesn't like you.

As for his professed regard for people who are "working jobs and raising families", it seems that he only accords respect to working folk and their families if they don't have brown skin. The people who will be most affected are just trying to put a roof over their families' heads.

They just have the flaw ("flaw" by the standards of Pearce and his ilk, anyway) of having ancestors who were born of the wrong side of a line on a map.

Prediction: Brewer signs it. Doing so will probably guarantee a win for her in the Republican primary. It may cost her the general election, but that won't matter to her if she doesn't get through the primary.

Tea leaf reading time: The Governor's schedule for the week has her speaking at a dinner for the Center for Arizona Theocracy Policy on Saturday night. With Republican demagogue (and McCainiac) Sarah Palin.

Brewer is going to want a hero's welcome there.

Put it all together and it seems that Brewer has more to gain from signing it than vetoing it.

She is going to sign the bill.

Quick summary of a day at the lege

Things I learned at the lege today -

- Most of the talk of sine die (end of the legislative session) centers on next Thursday, April 29. According to House Democratic Leader Rep. David Lujan, the Speaker of the House is really focusing on that day (the 29th), so expect a lot of activity over the next week and a half.

Some folks are more pessimistic - Jeremy Browning, an associate at Ziemba Waid Public Affairs and seasoned Capitol watcher believes that they'll try hard for that date but will end up spilling over into the following week. On the other hand, he's a wide-eyed optimist compared to D17 Rep. Ed Ableser, who predicted a sine die date of May 11.

- Andrew Thomas may have left the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, but he hasn't left the nativist crazy train. In a press conference at the Capitol today, he announced that if he is elected as AZ Attorney General, his office will take over all human smuggling prosecutions in the state, including those against the smugglees themselves. In addition, his assistant AGs will be cross-deputized at the county level in order to handle prosecutions at that level.

And if any county dares to decline his offer of "help", he'll ask his allies in the lege to pass a law requiring them to do so.

AZRep columnist E.J. Montini offers his take on Thomas' announcement here.

- The House passed HCR2068, proclaiming April 20, 2010 as "Jack Brown Western Day" in honor of Rep. Brown's decades of public service to Arizona. There was a video tribute to Rep. Brown featuring a bipartisan roster of current and former denizens of West Washington, including (former) Governor Jane Hull, (former) House Democratic leader Art Hamilton, (former) Democratic gubernortorial candidate Eddie Basha, House Speaker Kirk Adams, Representative Olivia Cajero Bedford, and more. In addition, a number of members of the House rose to speak of their appreciation for Brown's civility, wisdom, and humor. Even folks who had gone on to greater things like current Congressman Harry Mitchell and former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini sent letters of appreciation which were read to the Brown, the rest of the House, and the public in the gallery.

It was a show of genuine affection and respect from all sides of the aisle of the sort that is usually missing from the Capitol these days.

- Weird fact department: Today was the first time I have visited the lege while they were considering "death resolutions" (not as macabre as it sounds - they're resolutions honoring a recently passed luminary). Turns out that out of respect to the honorees and their families, they close the public gallery. If you are in it when the session starts, you can stay, but you can't enter the gallery until the consideration of the resolutions has been completed.

Other updates for the rest of the week:

- Senate Government will meet on Thursday at 10:45 in SHR1 to consider the appointment of three people to the Arizona State Retirement System Board. Pretty mundane, but the names are interesting -

Thomas Manos, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Finance for the Brewer Administration

Kevin McCarthy, President of the Arizona Tax Research Association (his organization advocated sweeping money from K-12 to balance the state's budget last year. Perhaps the retired employees from the state should plan for dog food diets in the near future.)

Dennis Hoffman, an economics professor from ASU (OK, he looks like he may be qualified for this post in ways that go beyond political connections.)

- Floor calendars for tomorrow (April 21) are here.

- On Thursday, the House will be the location of the AZ Capitol's first-ever naturalization ceremony for three active-duty service members. Reps. Lynne Pancrazi and David Lujan will speak. Festivities start at 10:30 a.m.

Later...

Pics from the lege - SB1070 protests

I'll do a more complete write up later, but here are a few pics (apologies for the formatting, but for some reason, Blogger doesn't like multiple pics)

Beginning of the presser/prayer session urging the Governor to veto SB1070

Somebody chained to the doors of the Old Capitol, shortly before the chains were cut and arrests were made (there was large police presence at the Capitol today. Not sure if it was larger than during any of the Tea Party rallies there)

The counter protestors (all 15 or so) leaving in their air-conditioned coach-style bus, shortly after the beginning of the press conference

Quotes from a Day That Will Live In Infamy

The Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff) has a piece up with some quotes from the AZ Senate's debate on Monday regarding the final passage of SB1070, Russell Pearce's police state bill.

From the article (with a little commentary added...call it "blogger's privilege" :) ) -

"We've been celebration Holocaust Remembrance Week. And folks were remembering that a lot of the tactics that will now be employed because of this piece of legislation were the tactics that were used in Nazi Germany." -- Sen. Paula Aboud, D-Tucson (Spot on. Period.)

"Let me assure you, you don't have to have a brown skin to be the victim of officer error, police enforcement error. Undoubtedly there is. There's a proper role for the media to cover that." -- Sen. John Huppenthal, R-Chandler, saying the legislation will not lead to racial profiling (I'm not sure, but I think he is saying that it is OK for the lege to pass horrible laws that institutionalize bigotry and abuse of power, because the media can talk about it. Ahhh, yes - this from the man who would be in charge of AZ's education system. )

"I get concerned when you start questioning people (about their immigration status). Chances are that you're going to run across U.S. citizens that you're going to end up detaining at some point." -- Yuma County Sheriff Ralph Ogden

"Part of his fear is political because he's weak-kneed, like many other folks, about enforcing the law. Enforce the law. You have an oath of office. That's your job." -- Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, in response. ("Weak-kneed" is just Pearce's verbal shorthand for "I'm not visiting Yuma County any time soon". He might want to avoid talking about oaths of office, since he so clearly violates his every day, though.)

Look for more gems to come out of today's press conferences, as advocates from both sides work to convince Jan Brewer to sign or veto the bill.

Quick update to the lege's schedule for the week

A couple of new committee agendas have been posted for this week.

House Health and Human Services will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR4. The agenda has one item on it, a striker to SB1043 that would restore KidsCare, the state's Children's Health Insurance Program. The KidsCare program was ended and removed from state statute in next year's budget, passed during the lege's special session in March.

House Judiciary will meet on Wednesday at 9:01 a.m. (or upon adjournment of HHS) in HHR4. That agenda also includes but a single item, a striker to SCR1009 that, if passed by the voters, would repeal Clean Elections in Arizona. As the measure is currently written, it would ban the use of public money for Clean Elections.

In other words, the striker is just as bad as the original, but it's a cleaner, more direct, kind of "bad."

Lastly, there will be a prayer session and press conference in the Capitol's rose garden by the interfaith community, urging the Governor to veto SB1170, Russell Pearce's police state bill. Proceedings start at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

AZ Senate passes Pearce's police state bill, sends it to Jan Brewer for her signature

I can understand disagreeing with most of what comes out of the AZ lege, most of the time, it's just politics.

What I can't stand is being ashamed of what comes out of the lege.

Tonight, I'm profoundly embarrassed to be an Arizonan.


From Reuters (yes, this is getting worldwide coverage) -

Arizona lawmakers passed a controversial immigration bill on Monday requiring police in the state that borders Mexico to determine if people are in the United States illegally, a measure critics say is open to racial profiling.

Lawmakers in the Arizona Senate voted 17 to 11 to approve the bill, widely regarded as the toughest measure yet taken by any U.S. state to curb illegal immigration.

And the money quote from the article -

"I believe handcuffs are a wonderful tool when they're on the right people," said Russell Pearce, the Republican state senator who wrote the bill.

We want to "get them off law enforcement and get them on the bad guys," he told Reuters.

For those of you who aren't familiar with our Sen. Pearce, when he says "bad guys" and "the right people" for handcuffs, he's referring to people with skin that is a color other than white, reserving a special contempt for people of Mexican descent (remember his proposal to restart "Operation Wetback" anyone?)

As noted in the article, the vote was 17-11, with the voting going almost completely along party lines. The only Democrats who didn't oppose the bill were Amanda Aguirre and Albert Hale, who were both absent.

The only Republican who had both enough humanity and spine to oppose the bill was Carolyn Allen.

All of the rest of the Rs in the Senate fall into one of two categories -


Pure evil

Craven cowards


Late last week, a friend of mine from work who is of Mexican descent but is a U.S. citizen by birth, as are her children and grandchildren, asked me about this bill and what she should do when she is pulled over by the police and they demand to see her papers.

All I had for her was a lame "be polite and give them over."

When she asked why the law was going to be passed, I told her that some of the people in the lege "simply don't like brown people", to which she replied that "brown people vote, too."

Unfortunately, not enough vote in the general election and almost none vote in the Republican primaries.

Which brings us to the question of whether or not Jan Brewer will sign the bill into law.

Rest assured, she will.

She's running in a Republican primary where every candidate is trying to out-right-wingnut her (and she was pretty much a far right ideologue even before the primary season started.) This bill is tailor-made for someone who is trying to get the Tea Party/nativist wing of the GOP on their side.

In other words, the real question isn't "will she sign it?" but "will she be doing the Snoopy dance on a copy of the Bill of Rights while she signs it, or will she just be grinning from ear-to-ear for the cameras?"

Community Action for Jobs at Sky Harbor Airport

Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy (CASE) will be holding a community meeting in support of workers at Sky Harbor whose jobs are in jeopardy because of contractor changes taking place there.

Concessionaire contracts are re-awarded periodically, which isn't a problem. What is a problem is that most of the workers in the typically low-wage concession jobs lose those jobs when the airport changes concessionaires. The new concessionaires tend to immediately focusing on cutting expenses, including the labors costs associated with their most experienced workers. This tendency costs those workers their jobs and and ends up costing Phoenix experienced people at the place the most visitors form their first impressions of Arizona.

Info on the airport, its workers, and the economic impact is here.

An official economic impact analysis, courtesy the City of Phoenix, here.

Visitor statistics here (for February 2010) and here (historical data, through 2004), also courtesy the City of Phoenix.


Anyway, on to the meeting -

When: Thursday, April 22, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Where: Wilson Elementary School, 400 N. 30th St., Phoenix (parking across the street at St. Mark;s Church)

From a flyer on the meeting -

STAND up for the livelihoods of 1000 community members who work at Sky Harbor Airport

STAND in the footsteps of Golden Gate Barrio community members who fought 40 years ago for community integrity and a just airport policy

STAND up for a new social movement for jobs, justice, and government accountability in Metropolitan Phoenix.

Later...

The coming week - legislative edition

OK, so I said that last week's lege schedule post would probably be the last free-standing one of the year. I was wrong. :)

As usual, all info gathered from the website of the Arizona Legislature, except where noted, and subject to change without notice.

For the most part, committees other than each chamber's Rules committees won't be meeting this week.

- Over on the Senate side of the Capitol. its Rules committee will meet on Monday upon adjournment of the floor. All of the bills on the agenda will pass the committee, but that agenda serves as a good indicator of what will reach the Senate floor later in the week. The highlight here looks to be HB2663, relating to easing "reforming" requirements for corporate contributions to school tuition organizations (STOs).

Monday's Senate floor schedule has been posted.

On its Final Read calendar (approving changes made by the House before sending a bill on to the Governor for her signature): SB1070, Russell Pearce's police state bill, gussied up as a nativist's wet dream.

On its Third Read calendar: HB2442, barring ADEQ from regulating greenhouse gas emissions without express legislative approval.

On its COW calendar: HB2246, allowing the sale of certain "consumer fireworks." As originally written, this bill would have barred any local or county governments from regulating such fireworks within their jurisdictions. That has been modified to allow those levels of government to regulate permissible quanitities within their jurisdictions. Still a bad bill.


On the House side -

- Rules will meet on Monday at 1 p.m. in HHR4. On this one: SB1128, barring any level of government in this state from penalizing (i.e. - limiting or barring access to public facilities) the Boy Scouts for discriminating against others.

- Appropriations will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. in HHR1. That one may have strikers to SB1238 (relating to "agriculture; pests; appropriation") and SCR1060 (relating to state debt, the current subject of the bill). Neither striker's text has been posted online as yet.

The House's floor schedule has been posted.

Its Final Read calendar is here.

Its Third Read calendar is here. On this one: SB1153, preempting local regulation of knives

Its COW calendars are here and here. Highlights: SB1398 (requiring that local governments demand that the federal government coordinate with them before enforcing federal laws, regulations or policies within the jurisdiction of the local government) and SB1274 (allowing STO contributions made by April 15th to be credited to the previous year's taxes).


Other events:

On Monday, there will be something called a "Freedom" Rally (quotes are theirs) on the Senate lawn from noon until 2 p.m. I think it is related to motorcyclists (Rep. Jerry Weiers will probably be involved if it is), but I can't really find much about this.

On Tuesday, and more details will be available Monday, there will be a rally at the Capitol to urge the Governor to veto SB1070 (assuming that it passes, as expected). I've seen times of 11 a.m and noon, so plan on 11. More details when they become available.

Turns out the reps of Joe Arpaio and Scottsdale both travel well

Had a bit of an ego boost this week.

A writer for Sun-Sentinel.com (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) linked to an old post of mine when writing about the city manager there. Turns out that George Gretsas, the city manager in question, is a finalist for the same job in Scottsdale.

After enjoying the ego boost of the link (and the increased site traffic), I read the article and the comments accompanying it.

Most of them were as expected ("Gretsas is great/lousy", "Scottsdale is lucky/screwed", etc.) and similar can be found on almost any MSM website with a similar story.

A couple of them were eye-openers, however.

From commenter Trudy -

Trust me Georgie will fit right in in Snotsdale. Toodles

"Snotsdale"? I think she may have visited AZ once or twice, because I've only heard that one from natives.

From commenter Robert Walsh (the typos/spelling errors and poor sentence construction are his) -

Scottsdale Arizonia is a beautiful City.Good luck Mr.Gretsas with this process.I have been to Scottsdale very wealthy community.Very pretty city and I.m sure you would be an assest to Scottsdale-Only one proplem if I come to visit that Sheriff out there if this is Maricopa County. that Sheriff is wacked-Anyways if he wants it I hope he gets it

"wacked"?

Be still my beating heart. I think he is talking about our own Joe Arpaio.

"Snotsdale" and "wacked", accurate criticisms from a state that can't design an understandable ballot or count ballots once they are cast.

I'd say we've hit rock bottom, but the Rs in the lege might read this, view it as a challenge, and break out their shovels.

Later...

AZ lege's Republicans: "brown skin" equals "probable cause for arrest"

To the joy of nativists all over the country, the Arizona House of Representatives passed SB1070 on Tuesday, which if passed into law would bar sanctuary city policies, require local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws, radically lower the probable cause threshold for traffic stops, make it a crime for an immigrant to not present "their papers" to a law enforcement officer upon request (and make it grounds to detain anyone, even if they're citizens or legal residents, who doesn't have documentation until their identities are verified) and worse. (AZ Republic coverage here)

In short, Arizona is about to become the Mecca for nativists, Nazis, Klan types, and other vicious bigots who thrive on the demonization of "different."

Oh wait - they might be offended by the term "Mecca"...that's a place where some "durn furriners" hang out.

How about " Arizona is about to become the Ft. Lauderdale at spring break for nativists, with fewer babes in bikinis and more skinheads in jackboots"?

Anyway, it's hardly a new development in this country's history, though something of a disappointment.

Time for a repost of my very first post here; it's as relevent now as it was four years ago.

Unfortunately.

The post (a little rough around the edges, but it still works) -

Hi everyone! My first real post (i.e. – a post other than “test”) is inspired by something I found while doing research for a class that I am taking this semester. While what I found wasn’t useful for class, I still found it very illuminating.

I found a letter, at http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/americavotes/knownothing.html, that proves, at least in relation to anti-immigrant fervor, that not much has changed in the last 150+ years. The letter sets out the presidential campaign platform of the Know-Nothing Party, circa 1856. Here’s what it says (with the blank line at one word that I couldn’t make out):

1. Repeal of all naturalization laws

2. None but native Americans for office.
3. A pure American common school system.
4. War to the hilt, on political Romanism.
5. Opposition to the formation of military companies composed of foreigners.
6. The advocacy of a sound, healthy and safe nationality.
7. Hostility to all Papal influences, when brought to bear against the Republic.
8. American Institutions and American Sentiments.
9. More stringent and effective immigration laws.
10. The amplest protections to Protestant interests.
11. The doctrines of the revered Washington.
12. The sending back of all foreign _____.
13. Formation of societies to protect American interests.
14. Eternal enmity to all who attempt to carry out the principles of a foreign church on state.
15. Our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country.
16. Finally, American Laws, and American…..

Other than the blatantly anti-Catholic parts (haven’t heard any serious rants about ‘Papists’ since JFK was running for President), this could have been written today, with very little need to edit for modern language and concerns.

From the Minuteman Project’s website (http://www.minutemanproject.com/):

“We have seen defiance of the rule of law by foreign nationals. We have seen protests across America with disdain for American sovereignty. Defiance of the law supported by protest is outrageous to those who are lawful and proud of America.”

“It is now time to stop complaining and start reclaiming America!”

Found at http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=174:

“The Mexican culture is based on deceit. Chicanos and Mexicanos lie as a means of
survival. Fabricating false IDs is just another extension of that culture ... [which] condones everything from the most lowly misdemeanor to murder in the highest levels of government." - VOICES OF CITIZENS TOGETHER
(I couldn’t find a link for a group by that name, though a Google search for that group did bring up a site for something called "Glenn Spencer’s American Patrol Report" that was full of writings in the same vein. I didn’t search the entire site for a direct quote. That stuff’ll stunt your growth, LOL.)

The parallels between the anti-Mexican rhetoric today and the anti-Irish (and, to a lesser extent, anti-German) rhetoric of the 1840s and 1850s are striking. The Mexican immigrant tends to take jobs that most Americans don’t want, particularly menial labor; the Irish immigrant did the same 150 years ago. Mexicans usually live in the same neighborhoods; so did the Irish. Both groups are/were proud of their history, and still have/had strong family ties to the “old country”. And so on… All of which is used by the anti-immigrant crowd to whip up sentiments against ‘them durn furriners’.

On the one hand, it’s scary that a country founded on immigration could harbor such hypocritically virulent bigotry toward immigrants (hey, it’s hypocritical because ALL of us have immigrants somewhere in our family tree), even today. (BTW – I’m the grandson and great-grandson of immigrants. Port of Boston, late 1800s, and the 1910s)

On the other hand, the Know-Nothings, while they had a bit of electoral success in the late 1850s, particularly at the state level, were pretty much a complete non-factor politically by the mid-1860s. Gives me a little hope that the hysteria will die down soon.

Personally, I think that it will die down on November 8th, with a strong likelihood of resurrection as a polarizing/motivating issue if the Republicans feel that they will have their asses handed to them in the 2008 elections.

Not that I’m a cynic or anything.

Priorities

On Monday, a committee of the Arizona Senate approved a bill that, if passed by the entire lege and signed into law, would reduce state revenue by almost $650 million per year by 2017.

The bill would -

• phase out the state's equalization property tax (revenue from which is dedicated to funding education)
• cut corporate income taxes by ~30% (and no strings attached, like a requirement that the money then be turned around to create jobs in Arizona)
• cut corporate property taxes (forcing residential property owners to pick up the slack in local bond elections)

Just to reiterate some of the ways that that the Rs in the lege have "balanced" the budget -

• Ended KidsCare (Arizona's version of SCHIP), taking away the medical care for nearly 40,000 children in Arizona
• Proposed that the voters override themselves and take away funding from First Things First (eliminating early childhood development and health care funding) and give the money to the lege to appropriate
• Reduced eligibility for AHCCCS (Arizona's Medicaid program), taking away the health care for over 300,000 Arizonans
• Cut the pay of state employees by at least 5%
• Asked the voters to approve a temporary sales tax increase, threatening steeper cuts to education, health care, and infrastructure in Arizona

In short, they are provisionally* balancing the budget on the backs of Arizona's poorest residents, yet are turning around even before the ink has dried on those cuts and giving the money that has been save to corporations.

* = "provisionally" because the budget won't be balanced unless the voters approve some of the schemes put forward by the lege (sales tax hike, eliminate First Things First, etc.). If the answer from the voters is "no" on any of the many issues that the lege punted on, then the budget is totally out of whack.

Again.

Any question what the Rs' priorities are? Hint: looking after the long-term best interests of Arizonans (you know, the people who they swore an oath to) isn't on the list.

To reiterate a point I made a couple of posts ago -

The important election this year isn't the May special election concerning the sales tax hike, it's the general election in November.

If this isn't the year we make some serious inroads into the Republican control of the Capitol, the devastation of the last two years will be nothing compared to that of the next two.

The coming week - everybody else edition

As usual, all info gathered from the websites of the relevent political bodies/agencies, except where noted, and subject to change without notice.

...The post regarding the planned activities of the Arizona Legislature this week is here.

...In D.C., both chambers of Congress will be back in session this week, and should be until the week of Memorial Day at the end of May/beginning of June.

- The House's floor schedule is here. As might be expected during a week where they will be getting back up to speed after two weeks off (and most of a year devoted to health care reform), the schedule is kind of light. Only one bill looks like it might generate some serious controversy, H.R. 4715, the "Clean Estuaries Act of 2010." It amends the Clean Water Act, and the only "amendment" to that Act that the Rs will accept is a complete repeal. They aren't getting it with this.

- The Senate's website is unavailable at this writing, but they are expected to take up an extension of unemployment benefits, one that expired for hundreds of thousands of Americans due to Republican obstructionism.

...Back here in AZ -

- The Arizona Corporation Commission will hold a Securities, Safety, and Utilities meeting on Tuesday. They are holding "special" meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, and Thursday and Friday. Lastly, the ACC's regular hearing schedule is here.

- The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has two regularly scheduled meetings on tap this week. Monday's "informal" session will be focusing on renewable energy contracts for the Jefferson St. Garage and the Downtown Justice Center. Wednesday's "formal" meeting looks to be longer but pretty mundane.

- The Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District is holding a "work session" on Tuesday evening. The scheduled topic of the meeting is "EFFECTIVE TEACHING & LEARNING – ON-LINE/IN-CLASS/HYBRID?"

- The Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project will hold a rate setting workshop for its customers on Thursday. Preliminary rate schedule here.

- The Tempe City Council isn't scheduled to meet this week. The Council's Calendar is here.

- The Scottsdale City Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday. Things look pretty mundane so far. The agenda has been revised to announced the appointment of John Washington to the Channel 11 Programming Commission by Councilman Tony Nelssen. Info on Washington is here. He was a write-in candidate for mayor in 2008 and is acting as the treasurer for Nelssen's reelection committee. The City's Community Meeting Notice is here.


Not meeting this week: Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System, Arizona Board of Regents

Something to think about before casting your vote on Prop 100

...especially if the Rs pass their corporate tax cut bill before adjourning the 2010 session of the legislature.

Thanks goes to Taegan Goddard's Political Wire for the heads-up on this...

From Business Insider -

The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Cliché, sure, but it's also more true than at any time since the Gilded Age.

The poor are getting poorer, wages are falling behind inflation, and social mobility is at an all-time low.

If you're in that top 1%, life is grand.

There are 15 slides detailing the ever-widening income and wealth gap in the United States. Each of the slides is eye-popping and the piece is worth checking out in its entirety, but I'll include one here -

The Prop 100 election (temporary sales tax increase) is very important. I'm not sold on it yet, not completely anyway, but there is no doubt that the state's education and social safety net infrastructures will be devastated further if it doesn't pass.

What is causing my hesitation, however, is my fear that people will come out for this one in May and think that the fight is over afterward. If the folks mobilizing in support of Prop 100 stay home in November, they'll just be winning one small battle but losing the overall war for Arizona's future.

Approving Prop 100 will just be delaying the inevitable if Arizonans don't kick the Kool-Aid gang to the curb.

It's time make some serious changes at the Capitol, and that can only happen in November. Not May.

More on these subjects (Prop 100 and the corporate tax cut) here and here, from AZBlueMeanie at Blog for Arizona.

A related story from Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services, via the East Valley Tribune, here.

The coming week - legislative edition

As usual, all info gathered from the website of the Arizona Legislature, except where noted, and subject to change without notice...


This is probably the last free-standing legislative schedule post of the year. With the session winding down quickly - most legislators want to get on with campaigning, and those from the nether reaches of the state want to get out of Phoenix before it turns into hell with a zip code :) - almost all of the lege's committees have stopped meeting to consider bills.

On the House side, Rules is meeting on Monday at 1 p.m. in HHR4. Most of the bills on the agenda will probably be on a floor calendar later in the week. A couple of them are controversial (relating to limiting eminent domain, municipalities' ability to levy certain sales taxes, parents' "rights", etc.), but most passed through committee unanimously.

On the Senate side, there is a little more activity.

- Rules is meeting on Monday in Caucus Room 1 after floor adjournment. The agenda is a long one (71 items!) with some seriously bad bills, but they won't be killed in the Rules Committee - it's a rubber stamp. Look for many of the worst of the worst of the session to reach the floor later this week.

- Finance is meeting on Monday in SHR3 at 1:30 p.m. Its agenda balances the Rules agenda - there's only one item on it, but that one is a doozy. It will be considering a striker to HB2250, with an amendment proposed for the striker. Basically, it waters down the tax cuts proposed by the Kool-Aid drinkers (aka - the Republican caucus in the lege) so that instead of costing the state $941 billion per year by 2017, it will decrease revenue by "only" $650 million/year. (AZBlueMeanie at Blog for Arizona has coverage here.)

- As potentially ugly as that one may be, the expected winner of the "Worst Committee Agenda of the Week" should be the agenda for the Appropriations meeting on Tuesday (2:30 p.m., SHR1).

That agenda has no bills on it, just a presentation titled "Reclaiming Our Border." Presenters include:

- Patrick Bray (from the Arizona Cattlemen's Association)

-Louis Pope (who blames the U.S. government for the death of rancher Robert Krentz. Wonder if his anger at the U.S. Government will change his willingness to accept payouts from the feds?)

- John Ladd (a rancher/vigilante from the Douglas area)

- Gary Thrasher (a veterinarian and member of the AZ Grower's Association)

- Scott Arena (an activist with the AZ Cattlemen's Association)

Given the makeup of the presenters, this looks to be a propaganda session in support of Russell Pearce's amended version of HB2162, creating an "Arizona Border Security Commission" with a $200,000 appropriation to fund a "volunteer" vigilante force in Cochise County, where most of the presenters are based.

By the way, did I mention that Pearce is the chair of the committee hearing the presentation?


The House's Third Read Calendar for Monday is here. It's Monday COW calendars are here, here, and here. Tuesday's Caucus Calendar is here.

The Senate's Third Read Calendar for Monday is here.

Check the lege's website frequently for updates, as there probably will be significant calendars posted for each day this week.

Later...