As usual, all info gathered from the websites of the relevant political bodies and subject to change without notice...
...The U.S. House's agenda has a few controversial issues -
- The latest privileged resolution from AZ's Jeff Flake (R-CD6) that calls for a House ethics committee investigation into ties between campaign contributions by the clients of the lobbying firm PMA Group, and earmarks that benefitted those clients. It'll fail, again, but this is one of the few issues where a Republican has taken the lead that actually has bipartisan appeal - no one likes corruption, and if there is some fire behind the cloud of smoke in the air around PMA, it needs to be dealt with.
- H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. Expect some serious angst over this one from the Republicans - it helps public schools, it authorizes $7 billion in expenditures, and it strongly encourages the use of U.S.-made iron, steel, and manufactured good. This one is scheduled for a hearing in front of the House Rules Committee on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. (EDT).
- Consideration of an FY2009 supplemental appropriations act. While money bills are always controversial (and this one has $90 billion+ attached to it), this bill also shuts down the prison at Guantanamo Bay. This one will draw lots of posturing and screaming from Republicans. And probably at least a little posturing from certain Democrats.
...In the AZ lege...
- Tuesday's House COW calendar thus far contains only one measure that looks to generate a significant amount of controversy - HB2610, which, if passed, would reduce corporations' exposure in product liability cases. Also on the agenda: HCR2023, a concurrent resolution relating to greenhouse gases. Proposed by Republican Rep. Lucy Mason, it supports the idea that any reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases should be done in a business-friendly manner.
Both HB2610 and HCR2023 will pass - HB2610 along a party line vote (if a roll call or division vote takes place during the COW session) while HCR2023 will garner support from the Democratic side of the aisle, while certain Republican members of the "global warming is a hoax" caucus will vote against the measure.
- In House committee action, the only committee scheduled to meet (thus far, anyway) is House Rules on Monday at 1 p.m. (HHR4).
- In Senate Committee action, there are only two committees scheduled to meet - Natural Resources (Monday, 1:30 p.m., SHR109) and Healthcare (Wednesday, 9 a.m., SHR1). Both are meeting for presentations or executive appointments.
Of real interest this week is the possibility that something substantive will break regarding the state budget. A slim possibility perhaps, but one worth keeping an eye out for.
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. No agenda posted as yet.
...The Arizona Corporation Commission had a securities and safety meeting scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m., but that one has been cancelled and rescheduled for Wednesday, May 20.
...The Citizens Clean Election Commission is scheduled to meet on Friday at 11 a.m. No agenda has been posted online as yet, but it is expected to include the conclusion to the Quelland saga. State Rep. Doug Quelland is facing possible sanctions from the CCEC over some campaign finance violations.
...The Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board, the Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System, the Directors of the Central Arizona Project and the Arizona Board of Regents aren't scheduled to meet this week.
...The Tempe City Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. Most of the agenda is standard (aka - "mundane, but necessary"). One item concerns the issuance of up to $24.5 million worth of bonds to finance some water/wastewater capital projects. There are also a couple of items related to zoning (historic overlay districts and designation of historic buildings) that could generate some talk, but since I don't know Tempe that well, I have no insight on those items.
...The Scottsdale City Council has a quiet week planned. All they have scheduled is an executive session meeting for Tuesday at 3 p.m. The only item on the agenda for that meeting has to do with the search for someone to fill the City Auditor's position.
...Oh, and on Wednesday at 7 p.m., some community activist will give the commencement speech at Arizona State University.
:)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Trent Franks - showing his real priorities in Congress
Thanks to blogger Jill Richardson at La Vida Locavore for the heads-up on this...
Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ2), already one of the least district-focused members of Congress, has apparently taken the fact that he is a member of the minority party in the House as reason to propose or co-sponsor a number of bills that have absolutely no relationship to his duties as a Congressman.
My personal favorite so far is his original co-sponsorship of H. Con. Res. 121.
That one would declare a "National Year of the Bible."
If passed, the fact the HConRes121 specifically mentions the Christian bible (New Testament) while ignoring other, non-Christian religions (and the non-religious) could actually make one of the normally harmless HConResolutions actually unconstitutional (The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bars Congress from making a law "respecting an establishment of religion...")
Imagine the uproar from Franks and his cohorts if one of the Muslim MOCs proposed a "National Year of the Quran," one of the Jewish MOCs proposed a "National Year of the Torah," or a non-religious MOC proposed something similar regarding a text that is the inspiration for worship by millions of people all over the world (maybe a "National Year of the SI Swimsuit Issue"? :)) )
Now, perhaps I've been too hard on Rep. Franks - he *has* sponsored eight bills, and two of them are even directly relevant to his district.
- H.R.1122, which would "require the Secretary of the Interior to plan, design, and construct a new school at Third Mesa, Arizona, on the Hopi Indian Reservation." In a sign that this bill is actually a good one, it is cosponsored by the Democratic members of the AZ delegation, while the other two Republican members of the delegation (Jeff Flake and John Shadegg) are staying far away from it.
- H.R. 2100, which would give 315 acres of federal land in Mojave County to the AZ Game and Fish Dept. for the establishment of a shooting range. And in a show of the universally high regard that the other members of Congress have for this bill, NONE of them have signed on as cosponsors.
Later...
Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ2), already one of the least district-focused members of Congress, has apparently taken the fact that he is a member of the minority party in the House as reason to propose or co-sponsor a number of bills that have absolutely no relationship to his duties as a Congressman.
My personal favorite so far is his original co-sponsorship of H. Con. Res. 121.
That one would declare a "National Year of the Bible."
If passed, the fact the HConRes121 specifically mentions the Christian bible (New Testament) while ignoring other, non-Christian religions (and the non-religious) could actually make one of the normally harmless HConResolutions actually unconstitutional (The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bars Congress from making a law "respecting an establishment of religion...")
Imagine the uproar from Franks and his cohorts if one of the Muslim MOCs proposed a "National Year of the Quran," one of the Jewish MOCs proposed a "National Year of the Torah," or a non-religious MOC proposed something similar regarding a text that is the inspiration for worship by millions of people all over the world (maybe a "National Year of the SI Swimsuit Issue"? :)) )
Now, perhaps I've been too hard on Rep. Franks - he *has* sponsored eight bills, and two of them are even directly relevant to his district.
- H.R.1122, which would "require the Secretary of the Interior to plan, design, and construct a new school at Third Mesa, Arizona, on the Hopi Indian Reservation." In a sign that this bill is actually a good one, it is cosponsored by the Democratic members of the AZ delegation, while the other two Republican members of the delegation (Jeff Flake and John Shadegg) are staying far away from it.
- H.R. 2100, which would give 315 acres of federal land in Mojave County to the AZ Game and Fish Dept. for the establishment of a shooting range. And in a show of the universally high regard that the other members of Congress have for this bill, NONE of them have signed on as cosponsors.
Later...
Will they toast this at this week's NRA Convention?
From AP via AZCentral.com -
A Houston-area couple has been charged in the killing. With aggravated assault only.
Only in Texas...and maybe Arizona.
Anyway, the relevant details for those who will say that a murdered seven-year-old is less important than the absolute right of people to defend their property from trespassers, from the article -
And the ever-helpful staff at the Phoenix Convention Center has been working diligently to ensure that the NRA revelers will be able to raise glasses of their favorite non-soft drinks - though this situation may not have been what they had in mind when they went to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control for temporary adjustments to the Convention Center's liquor license.
For what it's worth, residents and workers in central Phoenix should be grateful that the lege has approved, at least through the COW level, the guns in parking lots" bill instead of the "guns in restaurants" bill. A bill that has languished thus far (no committee hearings yet), but the lege is feeling frisky this year and may want to commemorate the NRA's visit to our bucolic burb.
Later...
HOUSTON - A 7-year-old boy who was allegedly shot in the head by a couple who thought he and three other people were trespassing on their property died Saturday, authorities said.
Donald Coffey Jr. died Saturday morning at a Houston hospital, less than two days after the boy was struck in the head by shotgun pellets, Liberty County Sheriff's Cpl. Hugh Bishop said.
A Houston-area couple has been charged in the killing. With aggravated assault only.
Only in Texas...and maybe Arizona.
Anyway, the relevant details for those who will say that a murdered seven-year-old is less important than the absolute right of people to defend their property from trespassers, from the article -
[Liberty County Chief Deputy] DeFoor said the levee belonged to the subdivision and was not private property.
[Liberty County Sheriff's Cpl.] Bishop said there was no indication the unarmed victims did anything threatening toward the Muhs.
And the ever-helpful staff at the Phoenix Convention Center has been working diligently to ensure that the NRA revelers will be able to raise glasses of their favorite non-soft drinks - though this situation may not have been what they had in mind when they went to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control for temporary adjustments to the Convention Center's liquor license.
For what it's worth, residents and workers in central Phoenix should be grateful that the lege has approved, at least through the COW level, the guns in parking lots" bill instead of the "guns in restaurants" bill. A bill that has languished thus far (no committee hearings yet), but the lege is feeling frisky this year and may want to commemorate the NRA's visit to our bucolic burb.
Later...
Friday, May 08, 2009
Congratulations to State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema
From KTAR.com -
Seriously, this really is an incredible honor both for Representative Sinema and for Arizona.
BTW - Between this invite and President Obama's frequent visits, it seems that he doesn't blame all of AZ for the fact that John McCain is based here.
:))
Later...
Arizona lawmaker Kyrsten Sinema has been invited by President Barack Obama to attend the first-ever White House Poetry Slam on Tuesday.Now, this may not be as cool as when my sister Patti got a private tour of the White House, but it's close (and yes, I'm biased. :)) )
{snip}
"It's an incredible honor any time to receive an invitation from the White House and President Obama," Sinema said. "But to see our nation's talent and be a part of history at the first-ever White House Poetry Slam is amazing. I'm very excited to be a part of this moment."
Seriously, this really is an incredible honor both for Representative Sinema and for Arizona.
BTW - Between this invite and President Obama's frequent visits, it seems that he doesn't blame all of AZ for the fact that John McCain is based here.
:))
Later...
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Hate to point out the obvious...really I do...really
State Rep. Andy Biggs (R-LD22) has, according to his legislative bio, degrees from BYU, U of A, and ASU.
I laud him for aquiring such an education (BA Asian Studies, JD [law degree], Master's in Political Science), but I have one suggestion for him -
Go back and take some kind of "comprehending statistics" class.
He likes to throw them around to support his positions even when a closer look at the numbers he cites actually work against his arguments.
During Tuesday's meeting of House Approps (yup, I'm still on that) there was a bit of back and forth between Democratic Rep. Matt Heinz and Biggs comparing the budget situations of Arizona and the state of Washington.
Biggs opened the ball by saying that the AZ lege's cuts to education funding aren't much compared to Washington, which is cutting even deeper than AZ.
Heinz later pointed out that the comparison with WA was a good one - both states are considered low tax burden states (WA = 35; AZ = 41 in 2008 according to the Tax Foundation) in the western U.S. and are similarly-sized, but that while WA's education cuts are even deeper than AZ's, they could cut deeper because they started at a much higher number.
Biggs responded by saying that Washington could spend more because their gross state product was 20% higher than AZ's (actually, according to the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, it's 26% higher as of 2007.)
Ummm...given that the state's really *are* roughly the same size - AZ has 6.5 million people, WA has 6.55 million), and AZ has a lower tax burden (see above), according to the Reps' anti-tax ideology, shouldn't AZ have the bigger GSP?
While Biggs and his Republican colleagues are constantly pimping tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations as the key to economic growth in AZ, they might want to consider the example of Washington before they decimate AZ's educational infrastructure (K - grad school) in order to give their friends hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts.
Data from the National Science Foundation -
Percentage of bachelor's degree holders in the workforce, 2004 -
AZ - 37.3%
WA - 39.7%
Percentage of Science and Engineering degree holders in the workforce, 2003 -
AZ - 0.28%
WA - 0.51%
Percentage of Life and Physical Scientists in the workforce, 2003 -
AZ - 0.22%
WA - 0.58%
Expenditures per pupil for elementary and secondary public schools, 2005 -
AZ - $6,184
WA - $7,717
Percentage of eighth grade students achieving math proficiency, 2005 -
AZ - 26%
WA - 36%
I could go on all night, but the pattern here is clear - tax burden is less of an indicator of a robust economy than is educational infrastructure and achievement.
Of course, students don't dole outbribes and jobs for family members campaign contributions.
Note: there are more current figures for per pupil spending and achievment, but those numbers show the same relative difference between the two states, so I'm sticking with the NSF numbers for consistency's sake.
I laud him for aquiring such an education (BA Asian Studies, JD [law degree], Master's in Political Science), but I have one suggestion for him -
Go back and take some kind of "comprehending statistics" class.
He likes to throw them around to support his positions even when a closer look at the numbers he cites actually work against his arguments.
During Tuesday's meeting of House Approps (yup, I'm still on that) there was a bit of back and forth between Democratic Rep. Matt Heinz and Biggs comparing the budget situations of Arizona and the state of Washington.
Biggs opened the ball by saying that the AZ lege's cuts to education funding aren't much compared to Washington, which is cutting even deeper than AZ.
Heinz later pointed out that the comparison with WA was a good one - both states are considered low tax burden states (WA = 35; AZ = 41 in 2008 according to the Tax Foundation) in the western U.S. and are similarly-sized, but that while WA's education cuts are even deeper than AZ's, they could cut deeper because they started at a much higher number.
Biggs responded by saying that Washington could spend more because their gross state product was 20% higher than AZ's (actually, according to the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, it's 26% higher as of 2007.)
Ummm...given that the state's really *are* roughly the same size - AZ has 6.5 million people, WA has 6.55 million), and AZ has a lower tax burden (see above), according to the Reps' anti-tax ideology, shouldn't AZ have the bigger GSP?
While Biggs and his Republican colleagues are constantly pimping tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations as the key to economic growth in AZ, they might want to consider the example of Washington before they decimate AZ's educational infrastructure (K - grad school) in order to give their friends hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts.
Data from the National Science Foundation -
Percentage of bachelor's degree holders in the workforce, 2004 -
AZ - 37.3%
WA - 39.7%
Percentage of Science and Engineering degree holders in the workforce, 2003 -
AZ - 0.28%
WA - 0.51%
Percentage of Life and Physical Scientists in the workforce, 2003 -
AZ - 0.22%
WA - 0.58%
Expenditures per pupil for elementary and secondary public schools, 2005 -
AZ - $6,184
WA - $7,717
Percentage of eighth grade students achieving math proficiency, 2005 -
AZ - 26%
WA - 36%
I could go on all night, but the pattern here is clear - tax burden is less of an indicator of a robust economy than is educational infrastructure and achievement.
Of course, students don't dole out
Note: there are more current figures for per pupil spending and achievment, but those numbers show the same relative difference between the two states, so I'm sticking with the NSF numbers for consistency's sake.
The John Sydney McCain Memorial Crappie Award
This one was easy...
Early in Tuesday's meeting of the House Appropriations Committee, Republican chairman Rep. John Kavanagh opined (courtesy AZ Capitol Times) (emphasis mine)-
While he was quick to criticize what her perceived at shortsighted thinking on the part of Democratic members of the lege, he ignored, proudly, his own.
From the Video archive of the meeting (available on this page if the previous link doesn't work - 5/5, House Approps I) at approximately the 2:59 mark, during a discussion of the Reps' scheme to get their paws on municipal development fees illustrate this (emphasis mine) - after a municipality had given a certain amount of their available development fees to the state, "a city or town would be free to use any and all impact fees for their immediate needs."
Umm...yeah, John, whatever.
For decreeing that Democrats should look to the future with their ideas but almost immediately flip-flopping and demonstrating that Republicans are incapable of doing the same, John Kavanagh earns...easily...this edition of the John Sydney McCain Crappie Award.
Later...
Early in Tuesday's meeting of the House Appropriations Committee, Republican chairman Rep. John Kavanagh opined (courtesy AZ Capitol Times) (emphasis mine)-
"I guess it's great to be a Democrat in a situation like this," he said. "Democrats, unfortunately, are myopic. They don't see beyond the current year. They don't see 2011."
While he was quick to criticize what her perceived at shortsighted thinking on the part of Democratic members of the lege, he ignored, proudly, his own.
From the Video archive of the meeting (available on this page if the previous link doesn't work - 5/5, House Approps I) at approximately the 2:59 mark, during a discussion of the Reps' scheme to get their paws on municipal development fees illustrate this (emphasis mine) - after a municipality had given a certain amount of their available development fees to the state, "a city or town would be free to use any and all impact fees for their immediate needs."
Umm...yeah, John, whatever.
For decreeing that Democrats should look to the future with their ideas but almost immediately flip-flopping and demonstrating that Republicans are incapable of doing the same, John Kavanagh earns...easily...this edition of the John Sydney McCain Crappie Award.
Later...
What part of "illegal" don't they understand?
...I thought about titling this post "OK people - it's time to grow up and shut up" or something in a similar vein, but I've been looking for a chance to use one of the favorite mantras of the nativist crowd against them.
The AZGOP and their echo chamber in the rightwing blogosphere is going nuts over the arrest of AZGOP executive director Brett Mecum for criminal speeding.
According to some bloggers and many of their commenters, the arrest is proof of a politically motivated conspiracy, plotted by DPS holdovers from the Napolitano Administration.
Mecum himself claims to "have no memory" of the incident and also says that the arrest was because DPS was "playing politics."
Even the normally measure Greg Patterson at Espresso Pundit calls the arrest an act of "the worst kind of political intimidation." He also suggests that the release of info about the arrest was also politically motivated.
They all seem to think that Mecum was arrested for the same crime (criminal speeding) that hundreds of others have been arrested for because of his political connections.
I seem to think that they just want him to get a free pass because of his political connections.
Enough already.
Mecum isn't the first person arrested for speeding.
He's not the first busted because of a photo citation.
He's not the first to be arrested at work.
He's not even the highest profile person arrested under similar circumstances.
Anybody remember the DMX case? I expect that if you were to conduct a poll of people that don't work for the AZ GOP, most would be more familiar with the name "DMX" than with the name "Brett Mecum."
Or these lower-profile cases, including one where the accused speeder was arrested at work?
Or these cases, including one who was arrested for a violation allegedly committed in an area (Loop 101 near 75th Ave.) near where Mecum allegedly committed his (Loop 101 near 59th Ave.) and another case where a driver was arrested for a speed (89 mph) significantly slower than Mecum's (109 mph). This one is from a DPS press release from over a month ago...probably done to set up a cover for the Mecum press release, right conspiracy theorists?
In other words, join the club - Arizona's traffic laws apply to everyone, even well-connected Republican operatives.
Later...
The AZGOP and their echo chamber in the rightwing blogosphere is going nuts over the arrest of AZGOP executive director Brett Mecum for criminal speeding.
According to some bloggers and many of their commenters, the arrest is proof of a politically motivated conspiracy, plotted by DPS holdovers from the Napolitano Administration.
Mecum himself claims to "have no memory" of the incident and also says that the arrest was because DPS was "playing politics."
Even the normally measure Greg Patterson at Espresso Pundit calls the arrest an act of "the worst kind of political intimidation." He also suggests that the release of info about the arrest was also politically motivated.
They all seem to think that Mecum was arrested for the same crime (criminal speeding) that hundreds of others have been arrested for because of his political connections.
I seem to think that they just want him to get a free pass because of his political connections.
Enough already.
Mecum isn't the first person arrested for speeding.
He's not the first busted because of a photo citation.
He's not the first to be arrested at work.
He's not even the highest profile person arrested under similar circumstances.
Anybody remember the DMX case? I expect that if you were to conduct a poll of people that don't work for the AZ GOP, most would be more familiar with the name "DMX" than with the name "Brett Mecum."
Or these lower-profile cases, including one where the accused speeder was arrested at work?
Or these cases, including one who was arrested for a violation allegedly committed in an area (Loop 101 near 75th Ave.) near where Mecum allegedly committed his (Loop 101 near 59th Ave.) and another case where a driver was arrested for a speed (89 mph) significantly slower than Mecum's (109 mph). This one is from a DPS press release from over a month ago...probably done to set up a cover for the Mecum press release, right conspiracy theorists?
In other words, join the club - Arizona's traffic laws apply to everyone, even well-connected Republican operatives.
Later...
Wonder if they will chalk this up to "Manny being Manny"?
Wow...non-political posts two days in a row...must be a record or somethin' :))
From the LA Times -
Now, it would be unseemly to gloat about this happening to a guy who tanked defensive and base-running plays while he played for the Red Sox in order to force a trade out of Boston.
...Well, it would be unseemly if I had any shame.
But since I don't.... Oh YEAH!! Hey Dodgers fans - WE TOLD YOU SO! :)
Of interest to Diamondbacks' fans is the fact that Ramirez' suspension seriously alters the dynamic in the NL West. Right now the Dodgers have the best record in baseball, are 2nd in runs scored and 1st in on-base percentage in all of baseball (1st in the NL in runs, hits, RBIs and batting average, and near the top in most of the other offensive categories.)
In 50 games, without the presence of Ramirez in the middle of their batting order, expect them to fall back to the middle of the pack. Not to fall apart completely (LA's pitching has been hot so far, too), but enough to give an opening to the other teams in the division, none of which have a better than .500 record.
Now one of those teams (are you listening AZ?) has to take advantage of the opportunity.
From the LA Times -
Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and will be suspended 50 games starting today, The Times has learned.
Now, it would be unseemly to gloat about this happening to a guy who tanked defensive and base-running plays while he played for the Red Sox in order to force a trade out of Boston.
...Well, it would be unseemly if I had any shame.
But since I don't.... Oh YEAH!! Hey Dodgers fans - WE TOLD YOU SO! :)
Of interest to Diamondbacks' fans is the fact that Ramirez' suspension seriously alters the dynamic in the NL West. Right now the Dodgers have the best record in baseball, are 2nd in runs scored and 1st in on-base percentage in all of baseball (1st in the NL in runs, hits, RBIs and batting average, and near the top in most of the other offensive categories.)
In 50 games, without the presence of Ramirez in the middle of their batting order, expect them to fall back to the middle of the pack. Not to fall apart completely (LA's pitching has been hot so far, too), but enough to give an opening to the other teams in the division, none of which have a better than .500 record.
Now one of those teams (are you listening AZ?) has to take advantage of the opportunity.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Rally at the lege tomorrow to fight the Rep budget...
Via Facebook -
Subject: Join us at the state capitol tomorrow!
Stop the Massive Budget Cuts!
Enough is Enough! It is time we stand up and take action by joining forces for a better Arizona!
Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee adopted a state budget proposal that includes MASSIVE budget cuts to child protection services, health care, education, and numerous support services for seniors and families. These cuts take Arizona in the wrong direction and will damage our economy, workforce, families, and the future of our state! We must and not allow more cuts which will reduce our workforce and not contribute to moving Arizona in the right direction.
There is still time to influence the budget before it is final! But our elected officials need to hear from us.
Tomorrow, progressive organizations including the Arizona AFL-CIO will join together to kick off the Arizona Budget Coalition! We will mobilize for a press conference to speak out against harmful budget cuts and speak out for better options that balance the budget without cuts to jobs, education, health, and human services.
Please join us TOMORROW, Thursday, May 7 at 9:00 a.m. on the Senate lawn at the capitol, 1700 West Washington. (17th Ave and Washington) Best parking lot is South of 17th Street off of Washington.
We hope to see you there!
In Solidarity,
Rebekah Friend,
Executive Director, Arizona AFL-CIO
The Principles of the Arizona Budget Coalition
1. Make budget decisions in an open and transparent budget process that includes opportunities for input from all legislators and the public
2. Reverse massive FY2009 cuts which caused devastating impact on vital programs and services in education and universities and in health and human services
3. Do no further harm to Arizona economy through additional unnecessary and reckless cuts to services or jobs on which our residents and our state's future depend
4. Use a comprehensive approach to balance our budget, including federal stimulus funding, revenue enhancements, reasonable reductions in expenditures that avoid job loss, accounting adjustments, long-term financing, and rejection of irresponsible tax cuts
5. Keep people working so our economy can recover – especially front-line employees delivering public services
6. Create a fair and adequate tax structure to enable government to carry out its obligations and to stimulate long-term economic growth
7. Preserve state revenue sharing to ensure local governments remain financially viable and able to contribute to a healthy economy
I can't make it tomorrow, but urge everyone who has the opportunity to go. Our legislators need to know that people are watching, and that if they put ideology before the best interests of Arizona and its residents, we will remember it in November of 2010.
Subject: Join us at the state capitol tomorrow!
Stop the Massive Budget Cuts!
Enough is Enough! It is time we stand up and take action by joining forces for a better Arizona!
Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee adopted a state budget proposal that includes MASSIVE budget cuts to child protection services, health care, education, and numerous support services for seniors and families. These cuts take Arizona in the wrong direction and will damage our economy, workforce, families, and the future of our state! We must and not allow more cuts which will reduce our workforce and not contribute to moving Arizona in the right direction.
There is still time to influence the budget before it is final! But our elected officials need to hear from us.
Tomorrow, progressive organizations including the Arizona AFL-CIO will join together to kick off the Arizona Budget Coalition! We will mobilize for a press conference to speak out against harmful budget cuts and speak out for better options that balance the budget without cuts to jobs, education, health, and human services.
Please join us TOMORROW, Thursday, May 7 at 9:00 a.m. on the Senate lawn at the capitol, 1700 West Washington. (17th Ave and Washington) Best parking lot is South of 17th Street off of Washington.
We hope to see you there!
In Solidarity,
Rebekah Friend,
Executive Director, Arizona AFL-CIO
The Principles of the Arizona Budget Coalition
1. Make budget decisions in an open and transparent budget process that includes opportunities for input from all legislators and the public
2. Reverse massive FY2009 cuts which caused devastating impact on vital programs and services in education and universities and in health and human services
3. Do no further harm to Arizona economy through additional unnecessary and reckless cuts to services or jobs on which our residents and our state's future depend
4. Use a comprehensive approach to balance our budget, including federal stimulus funding, revenue enhancements, reasonable reductions in expenditures that avoid job loss, accounting adjustments, long-term financing, and rejection of irresponsible tax cuts
5. Keep people working so our economy can recover – especially front-line employees delivering public services
6. Create a fair and adequate tax structure to enable government to carry out its obligations and to stimulate long-term economic growth
7. Preserve state revenue sharing to ensure local governments remain financially viable and able to contribute to a healthy economy
I can't make it tomorrow, but urge everyone who has the opportunity to go. Our legislators need to know that people are watching, and that if they put ideology before the best interests of Arizona and its residents, we will remember it in November of 2010.
Poetic Justice?
From CNBC.com (emphasis mine) -
Of course, there are issues even there, like Fox Reality *star* Joe Arpaio's use of tax money to help operate his show on FRC.
One non-traditional area that is acting as a drag on News Corp's earnings, and looks to continue doing so for the foreseeable future is the social networking site Myspace. Things are so bad over there that News Corp has forced out the founder of Myspace in favor of the former COO of rival (and ascending) site Facebook.
Maybe Murdoch should hire Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow? LOL
Later...
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp posted a 47 percent drop in operating income on Wednesday because of falling advertising revenue at its television stations, newspapers and other businesses.It's only fair to note that News Corp's "television segment" does NOT include Fox News Channel or its other cable offerings such at FX, Fox Reality Channel and Fox Movie Channel. While there are ratings issues there, as with all cable nets, I don't know what impact those issues have had on earnings. Yet.
{snip}
News Corp's television segment operating income fell 99 percent to $4 million because of lower ad revenue and higher programing costs. Newspaper division operating income fell 97 percent because of lower ad sales.
Of course, there are issues even there, like Fox Reality *star* Joe Arpaio's use of tax money to help operate his show on FRC.
One non-traditional area that is acting as a drag on News Corp's earnings, and looks to continue doing so for the foreseeable future is the social networking site Myspace. Things are so bad over there that News Corp has forced out the founder of Myspace in favor of the former COO of rival (and ascending) site Facebook.
Maybe Murdoch should hire Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow? LOL
Later...
I know it's too late for an April Fool's joke, but that's the only reasonable explanation for this one
Non-political post ahead...
Earlier today, I was shopping at my local Fry's (the supermarket, not the electronics store) when I did a double-take.
I turned a corner to head up an aisle and what did I see?
A stack of 50 pound bags of a new dog food.
Old Yeller Dog Food.
Earlier today, I was shopping at my local Fry's (the supermarket, not the electronics store) when I did a double-take.
I turned a corner to head up an aisle and what did I see?
A stack of 50 pound bags of a new dog food.
Old Yeller Dog Food.
pic from the Pissed Off Gamer blog
Based on this press release, it seems that this is a Fry's exclusive.
I'm not sure who in this fiasco is more clueless - the Disney types who licensed this use of their movie, or the Fry's marketing types who bought into this hook, line, and sinker.
From the press release -
I'm not sure who in this fiasco is more clueless - the Disney types who licensed this use of their movie, or the Fry's marketing types who bought into this hook, line, and sinker.
From the press release -
"The movie is a timeless classic that transcends generations, and webelieve this brand will appeal not only to original fans, but to the millionsof Americans who share the same kind of special bond with their beloved dogs,"said Barry Vance, Kroger senior corporate category manager.
"Bringing Disney's Old Yeller brand to a trusted retailer like Kroger wasa natural fit," said Christopher King, category director, Disney ConsumerProducts FMCG. "Disney's Old Yeller dog food is for those dogs that are partof the family."
Ummm...three points.
1. By the end of the movie, Old Yeller was rabid.
2. By the end of the movie, they had to shoot Old Yeller.
3. By the end of the movie, Old Yeller died.
It was a great movie in its day, but it was also heartbreakingly traumatic for most kids who ever saw it.
In addition, "its day" was over 50 years ago (it came out in 1957). Most people who are interested in buying dog food are far too young to have seen the movie.
Of course, that means that most people won't equate "Old Yeller" with "dead dog", but that's a bit of a pyrrhic victory marketing-wise, don't you think? I mean, most of the available market for the product is too young to understand the branding, and most of the ones that do understand the branding will associate negative images and feelings with it.
1. By the end of the movie, Old Yeller was rabid.
2. By the end of the movie, they had to shoot Old Yeller.
3. By the end of the movie, Old Yeller died.
It was a great movie in its day, but it was also heartbreakingly traumatic for most kids who ever saw it.
In addition, "its day" was over 50 years ago (it came out in 1957). Most people who are interested in buying dog food are far too young to have seen the movie.
Of course, that means that most people won't equate "Old Yeller" with "dead dog", but that's a bit of a pyrrhic victory marketing-wise, don't you think? I mean, most of the available market for the product is too young to understand the branding, and most of the ones that do understand the branding will associate negative images and feelings with it.
Another reason for the Republicans to hate photo radar...
This one is already floating around the AZ blogosphere, both lefty and righty, but it's still worth a mention.
Most of the blogs are citing an AZ Guardian story, but since I don't subscribe to the Guardian, I'll go with an Arizona Republic piece -
Tedski at Rum, Romanism, Rebellion has coverage here (and here), including the tidbit that Mecum, the AZGOP ED, was arrested for driving in excess of 100 mph and was caught by a photo radar van.
Seeing Red AZ has coverage here (Warning: this site is so conservative it borders on being a GOP press release outlet.)
Ahhhh, yes - the law-and-order AZGOP, staffed by scofflaws.
P.S. - I'm having a little fun with this, but only because no one was hurt. If Mr. Mecum is guilty, I hope he (and the rest of his GOP associates) learns the lesson.
Most of the blogs are citing an AZ Guardian story, but since I don't subscribe to the Guardian, I'll go with an Arizona Republic piece -
The executive director of the Arizona Republican Party was arrested Wednesday morning on a "traffic violation" charge, the GOP has confirmed.
Tedski at Rum, Romanism, Rebellion has coverage here (and here), including the tidbit that Mecum, the AZGOP ED, was arrested for driving in excess of 100 mph and was caught by a photo radar van.
Seeing Red AZ has coverage here (Warning: this site is so conservative it borders on being a GOP press release outlet.)
Ahhhh, yes - the law-and-order AZGOP, staffed by scofflaws.
P.S. - I'm having a little fun with this, but only because no one was hurt. If Mr. Mecum is guilty, I hope he (and the rest of his GOP associates) learns the lesson.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
The House Appropriations Meeting - the epitome of the interminable train ride
Today's meeting of House Appropriations was like a slow train ride across West Texas - hours of staring out the window looking at the same old scenery. Just when you think that change is just around the bend, you get around that bend and see...
Miles more of that same old scenery, stretching of to the horizon.
However, I jumped off the train at 2. Four hours on on this mind- and butt-numbing train was enough hell on my bladder.
Yeah, I know that's a TMI moment, but the legislators could get up and leave whenever they wanted to...something Rep. Vic "Walking Man" Williams did. Often. It seemed that *his* bladder got weak whenever there was a roll call vote.
Rep. Daniel Patterson (D - LD29) was there "tweeting" the meeting. That feed is here. He can confirm Williams' behavior, and pretty much everything else in this post.
Oh yeah - eventually the video of the meeting will be posted here, though it may be a couple of days.
Anyway, back to the meeting...
As with the passengers on most trains, confined to previously-laid tracks, everyone in attendance knew this one's destination. Nothing unexpected happened; still, the ride was eye-opening in stretches.
...It started late. The scheduled start time was 10 a.m., but in 'legislative time' 10 a.m. means "sometime after 10 and before lunch." Chairman John Kavanagh (R-Russell Pearce with a Noo Yawk accent) gavelled it into session at around 10:15.
...Early on during consideration of HB2533, the General Appropriations or "feeder" bill, LD17 State Rep. David Schapira proposed an amendment to change language in the bill so that the Democratic Attorney General's office was treated with the same amount of budgetary respect as the other, Republican-occupied, executive branch offices.
Kavanagh, Biggs, and the other R's haughtily took offense at the implication that there might have been partisan motivation behind the attack on the AG's office.
I admit - during this section of the meeting, I just wanted to stand up and say to the Rs "Go for it. Attract the attention of a group of people whose job it is to prosecute those who prey on Arizonans. What are you going to do for a second act, kick over a hornet's nest?"
I didn't though. :))
...The meeting was marked by a resounding contempt for Democrats, not just for their ideas, but for them personally.
The Democratic members of the committee were constantly interrupted when they spoke if they dared to utter something that the Republicans disagreed with. However, on those occasions when the Dems took issue with something an R said, the Dem objections were shouted down by Kavanagh and Andy Biggs, the vice-chair of the committee.
...At one point, Rich Crandall (R-Wants to be Superintendant of Public Ed) mocked Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema by fluttering his arms after she objected to the chair's call for a vote on an amendment that she offered before it had even been discussed.
...Another bit of partisanship that Kavanagh and the Republicans engaged in was the convenient and repeated "misplacing" of the paperwork associated with the amendments offered by Democratic members in order to avoid having to consider and discuss them on the record.
...Of the 41 members of the public who utilized the lege's comments system to weigh in on the first measure (most didn't sign in to actually speak), 40 opposed the Republican budget.
The member of the public who did sign in as supporting the Rep budget (in the form of the General Appropriations bill)??
Royce Flora, former chair of the LD8 Republicans. As in "LD8, home of John Kavanagh."
...During the vote on the bill, Rep. David Schapira took the opportunity to point out that the Reps' budget would cut the already-lean Arizona Department of Financial Institutions so much that they would have to lay off the one employee that currently covers regulating pay day loan operations (Should we call that one the "Jim Weiers' provision").
The vote on the underlying bill broke, as expected, along party lines - Republicans voting for cuts, deep cuts, and only cuts, and Democrats voting for some fiscal responsibility (responsible as in "you get what you pay for" and "better to pay for students now than prisoners later").
That pattern held true through the rest of the hearing - the committee defeated a Schapira amendment to strike language repealing state equalization property tax and its $250 million in funding for education.
Yes, the Reps spent the whole meeting (in fact they've spent the whole session) proclaiming loudly and proudly that cuts to education and services are needed because of shrinking state revenues while seeking to further cut those revenues.
The meeting droned on for hours after I left, but based on Rep. Patterson's tweets, nothing varied from the theme that was exhibited while I was there -
The Republicans wanted to gut education and human services, and the Democrats, while understanding that cuts are unavoidable given the state's dismal fiscal situation after years under the "guidance" of the Republicans in the lege, wanted to minimize the harm to both.
Because of the 2008 elections, the Reps had the votes to get their way.
If enough people who care about the future of Arizona are paying attention to what's happening on West Washington, the 2010 elections will change that fact.
BTW - If some readers think that my characterizations of the Republicans on the committee are too harshly partisan, I'd like to remind them of two things -
1. I am openly and unabashedly partisan in my blogging. Always have been. Always will be.
2. Having said that, I can and do understand that people who honestly care about the future of the state and the needs of its residents can have honest differences of opinions on how to best meet those needs. I also understand that there are people who would sacrifice the future of the state and the needs of its residents on the altar of craven ideology.
I have nothing but respect for those elected officials of any partisan affiliation who take seriously their responsibilities and duties toward those that they were elected to serve.
None of the Reps in the room were that kind of public servant. Even would-be statewide candidate Rich Crandall occasionally mouthed some platitudes of concern, but when it came time to vote, he marched in lockstep with the rest of his caucus.
On the other hand, he was better than the Walking Man, Vic Williams.
At least Crandall cast his votes on the record.
BTW2 – If I wanted to be really harsh, I would have characterized Rep. Williams as “Overactive Bladder Man.”
Miles more of that same old scenery, stretching of to the horizon.
However, I jumped off the train at 2. Four hours on on this mind- and butt-numbing train was enough hell on my bladder.
Yeah, I know that's a TMI moment, but the legislators could get up and leave whenever they wanted to...something Rep. Vic "Walking Man" Williams did. Often. It seemed that *his* bladder got weak whenever there was a roll call vote.
Rep. Daniel Patterson (D - LD29) was there "tweeting" the meeting. That feed is here. He can confirm Williams' behavior, and pretty much everything else in this post.
Oh yeah - eventually the video of the meeting will be posted here, though it may be a couple of days.
Anyway, back to the meeting...
As with the passengers on most trains, confined to previously-laid tracks, everyone in attendance knew this one's destination. Nothing unexpected happened; still, the ride was eye-opening in stretches.
...It started late. The scheduled start time was 10 a.m., but in 'legislative time' 10 a.m. means "sometime after 10 and before lunch." Chairman John Kavanagh (R-Russell Pearce with a Noo Yawk accent) gavelled it into session at around 10:15.
...Early on during consideration of HB2533, the General Appropriations or "feeder" bill, LD17 State Rep. David Schapira proposed an amendment to change language in the bill so that the Democratic Attorney General's office was treated with the same amount of budgetary respect as the other, Republican-occupied, executive branch offices.
Kavanagh, Biggs, and the other R's haughtily took offense at the implication that there might have been partisan motivation behind the attack on the AG's office.
I admit - during this section of the meeting, I just wanted to stand up and say to the Rs "Go for it. Attract the attention of a group of people whose job it is to prosecute those who prey on Arizonans. What are you going to do for a second act, kick over a hornet's nest?"
I didn't though. :))
...The meeting was marked by a resounding contempt for Democrats, not just for their ideas, but for them personally.
The Democratic members of the committee were constantly interrupted when they spoke if they dared to utter something that the Republicans disagreed with. However, on those occasions when the Dems took issue with something an R said, the Dem objections were shouted down by Kavanagh and Andy Biggs, the vice-chair of the committee.
...At one point, Rich Crandall (R-Wants to be Superintendant of Public Ed) mocked Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema by fluttering his arms after she objected to the chair's call for a vote on an amendment that she offered before it had even been discussed.
...Another bit of partisanship that Kavanagh and the Republicans engaged in was the convenient and repeated "misplacing" of the paperwork associated with the amendments offered by Democratic members in order to avoid having to consider and discuss them on the record.
...Of the 41 members of the public who utilized the lege's comments system to weigh in on the first measure (most didn't sign in to actually speak), 40 opposed the Republican budget.
The member of the public who did sign in as supporting the Rep budget (in the form of the General Appropriations bill)??
Royce Flora, former chair of the LD8 Republicans. As in "LD8, home of John Kavanagh."
...During the vote on the bill, Rep. David Schapira took the opportunity to point out that the Reps' budget would cut the already-lean Arizona Department of Financial Institutions so much that they would have to lay off the one employee that currently covers regulating pay day loan operations (Should we call that one the "Jim Weiers' provision").
The vote on the underlying bill broke, as expected, along party lines - Republicans voting for cuts, deep cuts, and only cuts, and Democrats voting for some fiscal responsibility (responsible as in "you get what you pay for" and "better to pay for students now than prisoners later").
That pattern held true through the rest of the hearing - the committee defeated a Schapira amendment to strike language repealing state equalization property tax and its $250 million in funding for education.
Yes, the Reps spent the whole meeting (in fact they've spent the whole session) proclaiming loudly and proudly that cuts to education and services are needed because of shrinking state revenues while seeking to further cut those revenues.
The meeting droned on for hours after I left, but based on Rep. Patterson's tweets, nothing varied from the theme that was exhibited while I was there -
The Republicans wanted to gut education and human services, and the Democrats, while understanding that cuts are unavoidable given the state's dismal fiscal situation after years under the "guidance" of the Republicans in the lege, wanted to minimize the harm to both.
Because of the 2008 elections, the Reps had the votes to get their way.
If enough people who care about the future of Arizona are paying attention to what's happening on West Washington, the 2010 elections will change that fact.
BTW - If some readers think that my characterizations of the Republicans on the committee are too harshly partisan, I'd like to remind them of two things -
1. I am openly and unabashedly partisan in my blogging. Always have been. Always will be.
2. Having said that, I can and do understand that people who honestly care about the future of the state and the needs of its residents can have honest differences of opinions on how to best meet those needs. I also understand that there are people who would sacrifice the future of the state and the needs of its residents on the altar of craven ideology.
I have nothing but respect for those elected officials of any partisan affiliation who take seriously their responsibilities and duties toward those that they were elected to serve.
None of the Reps in the room were that kind of public servant. Even would-be statewide candidate Rich Crandall occasionally mouthed some platitudes of concern, but when it came time to vote, he marched in lockstep with the rest of his caucus.
On the other hand, he was better than the Walking Man, Vic Williams.
At least Crandall cast his votes on the record.
BTW2 – If I wanted to be really harsh, I would have characterized Rep. Williams as “Overactive Bladder Man.”
House Approps meeting in progress...
The set-up here isn't great for live blogging, so this will probably be my only post from the meeting itself...
Well, the locomotive is fully stoked and the railroad is running at full speed.
An hour into the meeting and they're still on the first bill, HB2633.
However, while that sounds slow, the railroad as conducted by John Kavanagh has successfully passed two minor Republican amendments by voice vote, but hase defeated all Democratic amendments on party line votes.
In addition, the conduct of the meeting by Kavanagh and his sidekick Andy Biggs has been rife with partisan discourtesy -
They constantly interrupt Democrats whenever a Dem says something they disagree with, but get offended if a Dem interrupts a Rep...
More later...
Well, the locomotive is fully stoked and the railroad is running at full speed.
An hour into the meeting and they're still on the first bill, HB2633.
However, while that sounds slow, the railroad as conducted by John Kavanagh has successfully passed two minor Republican amendments by voice vote, but hase defeated all Democratic amendments on party line votes.
In addition, the conduct of the meeting by Kavanagh and his sidekick Andy Biggs has been rife with partisan discourtesy -
They constantly interrupt Democrats whenever a Dem says something they disagree with, but get offended if a Dem interrupts a Rep...
More later...
House Appropriations Budget Hearing - Tuesday, 10 a.m.
On Tuesday morning (or *this* morning as you read this) the House Appropriations Committee will meet to consider the Republican budget proposal (10 a.m., HHR1).
It's pretty short notice, so I won't be able to do an in-depth look at all of the Budget Reconciliation Bills (BRBs) associated with the budget, but here are a few of the lowlights -
HB2635 - BRB Revenues
- Repeals the State Equalization Property Tax (they've been trying to do this for years, so...of course)
- Takes $210 million in development fees from cities and towns on one hand, and bars those same cities and towns from raising development fees to recover the revenue lost.
- Redirects lottery revenue from the Court Appointed Special Advocate fund to the state's General Fund. (In the General Appropriations bill, the Reps propose to appropriate $2.2 million for CASA, but to then transfer more than $3.4 million in CASA funds to the General Fund.)
HB2634 - Capital Outlay
- I don't know enough in this area to comment, but it's worth linking to for those who are interested in looking into it.
HB2636 - BRB General Government
- Allows county governments to implement reductions in work hours and furloughs for civil service employees and makes such unappealable.
- Eliminates the 21st Century Fund appropriation.
HB2637 - BRB State Properties
- Mandates that the state sell the State Agricultural Laboratory property at 2422 W. Holly in Phoenix
HB2638 - BRB Criminal Justice
- Raises all kinds of fees for those on parole, probation, or intensive probation
- Requires that $2 million in Court Diversion fee monies be transferred to the General Fund; CD fee monies in excess of $2 million will be transferred to the Crime Laboratory Operations Fund. If there are less than $2 million in CD fee monies, the difference must come from Crime Lab Operations Fund
HB2639 - BRB K-12 Education
- There's all kinds of technical stuff with funding formulas and percentages here; I'll leave coverage of that to David Safier at Blog for Arizona. He's the resident expert on legislative issues relating to education in the AZ blogosphere.
- Phases out the Career Ladder Program and Teacher Performance Pay
- Closes new enrollments to the Early Graduation Scholarship Program. Existing students get to remain if money is available
- Bars the funding of new school construction
HB2640 - BRB Higher Education
- Suspends the requirement for FY 2009-10 for the Legislature to appropriate $2 for every $1 raised by student fees deposited into the Arizona Financial Aid Trust
HB2641 - BRB Health and Welfare
- Wreaks all kinds of nastiness upon AHCCCS including the elimination of KidsCare Parents. This one will probably warrant its own post
- Takes Lottery Funds earmarked to go to DES for homeless services and diverts them to the General Fund
- Allows any person to sue, on behalf of the state, another person for making false claims for medical services, and sets forth how the persons bringing such lawsuits can profit from same
HB2642 - BRB Environment
- Repeals the Arizona Agricultural Protections Act (here and here)
- Takes more than $7 million from the State Land Department
Interesting stuff from HB2633, the General Appropriations Bill -
- Suspend GF support for the Arizona Commission on the Arts
- Restore FY09 reductions for the State Board for Charter Schools
- No Early Kindergarten
- Eliminate Alzheimer's research funding
- Cut (or eliminate, that's unclear here) the Nuclear Emergency Management Fund (Hey - eliminating the Health Crisis Fund in FY2009 has worked out so well in the face of the swine flu pandemic, we should expand the scheme, right?)
- Cut all sorts of funds from the Attorney General's office. The office that is run by the Democratic AG and presumptive Democratic nominee for governor next year
- Implement minimal or no cuts to the offices of the Governor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, or Mine Inspector - Republicans one and all. I'm not sure what, if any, cuts have been proposed for the State Superintendent of Public Education - there are all kinds of cuts to the Department of Education, but I'm not sure if any apply to Tom Horne's office itself
- Implements a fund swipe of $7 million from the Early Childhood Development & Health Fund (subject to ongoing litigation - this one may be subject to Voter Protection Act restrictions)
A press release on the topic from the House Democrats is here; the JLBC summary of the bills (BRBs and Gen Approps) is here.
It should be a looonnnng meeting on Tuesday...
It's pretty short notice, so I won't be able to do an in-depth look at all of the Budget Reconciliation Bills (BRBs) associated with the budget, but here are a few of the lowlights -
HB2635 - BRB Revenues
- Repeals the State Equalization Property Tax (they've been trying to do this for years, so...of course)
- Takes $210 million in development fees from cities and towns on one hand, and bars those same cities and towns from raising development fees to recover the revenue lost.
- Redirects lottery revenue from the Court Appointed Special Advocate fund to the state's General Fund. (In the General Appropriations bill, the Reps propose to appropriate $2.2 million for CASA, but to then transfer more than $3.4 million in CASA funds to the General Fund.)
HB2634 - Capital Outlay
- I don't know enough in this area to comment, but it's worth linking to for those who are interested in looking into it.
HB2636 - BRB General Government
- Allows county governments to implement reductions in work hours and furloughs for civil service employees and makes such unappealable.
- Eliminates the 21st Century Fund appropriation.
HB2637 - BRB State Properties
- Mandates that the state sell the State Agricultural Laboratory property at 2422 W. Holly in Phoenix
HB2638 - BRB Criminal Justice
- Raises all kinds of fees for those on parole, probation, or intensive probation
- Requires that $2 million in Court Diversion fee monies be transferred to the General Fund; CD fee monies in excess of $2 million will be transferred to the Crime Laboratory Operations Fund. If there are less than $2 million in CD fee monies, the difference must come from Crime Lab Operations Fund
HB2639 - BRB K-12 Education
- There's all kinds of technical stuff with funding formulas and percentages here; I'll leave coverage of that to David Safier at Blog for Arizona. He's the resident expert on legislative issues relating to education in the AZ blogosphere.
- Phases out the Career Ladder Program and Teacher Performance Pay
- Closes new enrollments to the Early Graduation Scholarship Program. Existing students get to remain if money is available
- Bars the funding of new school construction
HB2640 - BRB Higher Education
- Suspends the requirement for FY 2009-10 for the Legislature to appropriate $2 for every $1 raised by student fees deposited into the Arizona Financial Aid Trust
HB2641 - BRB Health and Welfare
- Wreaks all kinds of nastiness upon AHCCCS including the elimination of KidsCare Parents. This one will probably warrant its own post
- Takes Lottery Funds earmarked to go to DES for homeless services and diverts them to the General Fund
- Allows any person to sue, on behalf of the state, another person for making false claims for medical services, and sets forth how the persons bringing such lawsuits can profit from same
HB2642 - BRB Environment
- Repeals the Arizona Agricultural Protections Act (here and here)
- Takes more than $7 million from the State Land Department
Interesting stuff from HB2633, the General Appropriations Bill -
- Suspend GF support for the Arizona Commission on the Arts
- Restore FY09 reductions for the State Board for Charter Schools
- No Early Kindergarten
- Eliminate Alzheimer's research funding
- Cut (or eliminate, that's unclear here) the Nuclear Emergency Management Fund (Hey - eliminating the Health Crisis Fund in FY2009 has worked out so well in the face of the swine flu pandemic, we should expand the scheme, right?)
- Cut all sorts of funds from the Attorney General's office. The office that is run by the Democratic AG and presumptive Democratic nominee for governor next year
- Implement minimal or no cuts to the offices of the Governor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, or Mine Inspector - Republicans one and all. I'm not sure what, if any, cuts have been proposed for the State Superintendent of Public Education - there are all kinds of cuts to the Department of Education, but I'm not sure if any apply to Tom Horne's office itself
- Implements a fund swipe of $7 million from the Early Childhood Development & Health Fund (subject to ongoing litigation - this one may be subject to Voter Protection Act restrictions)
A press release on the topic from the House Democrats is here; the JLBC summary of the bills (BRBs and Gen Approps) is here.
It should be a looonnnng meeting on Tuesday...
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