6:09 - It looks like Education will be meeting tonight at 7 p.m. And the House will be coming back after dinner, so this looks like a day where I should have brought a cot with me.
6:07 - Burns assigns budget bills to Education Committee.
6:05 - Landrum Taylor talks about constituent concerns about the effects of the looming shutdown. Also laments lack of bipartisanship, and calls this one of the "stranger sessions" that she has ever seen.
6:04 - Waring urges "no more bills until the budget is passed."
6:02 - Leff blames Napolitano, but calls on Rep caucus to support Brewer.
6:02 - Jack Harper calls Napolitano's promotion to a Presidential cabinet post a "miracle." Urges Governor to sign current budget.
6:01 - Aboud's turn. Calls out Republicans for their failed leadership and focus on assessing blame for last year instead of dealing with this year.
6:00 - Rios brings up the fact that the Reps have controlled the lege for decades, and that the Reps are still looking to reduce revenues with tax breaks for Big Business. Gould walks away for a minute. Returns.
5:58 - Meg Burton Cahill rebuts Gould by bringing up the Republican mantra of "tax cuts for special interests."
5:55 - Gould stands up to blame Democrats and Janet Napolitano for the budget mess.
5:53 - Aboud criticizing Reps for not forwarding previously approved budget bills. Also notes that the bills of the compromise are now assigned to Education Committee.
5:47 - SB1395, common school districts, grade nine. Fails again.
5:47 - Gorman moved to reconsider SB1395.
5:46 - Gorman moved to reconsider SB1022, political signs, tampering.
5:44 - Rios criticizing the Reps for pushing the budget to the last possible moment and for not including Democrats in this, and that the Democrats could have taken care of this weeks ago.
5:43 - Vote to reconsider passes.
5:40 - This is a cluster***k. They are now reconsidering the vote on SB1464.
5:38 - McCune-Davis raises point of order about Burns' failure to order that passed bills be transmitted to the Governor. Burns says that the rules don't require that phrasing.
5:32 - SB1464, state budget reports, financial condition. Passes, apparently, though Burns is holding the vote open. Even though there is absolutely no opposition to it, so he isn't trying to gather votes for/against it. Not sure what is going on.
5:28 - SB1395, common school districts, grade nine. Fails.
5:27 - SB1386 - Charter school renewal periods. Passes.
5:26 - SB1289, Vehicle accident reports. Needs 2/3 to enact emergency clause. Gets it.
5:25 - SB1246, CPS information. Passes unanimously.
5:23 - SB1196, education omnibus. Aboud wonders why the budget isn't under consideration. Bill passes.
5:20 - SB1168, guns in parked cars. Passes. Ugh.
5:16 - SB1146, expenditure limitation, penalty waiver, Pima (as in "town of"). Passes 16-11
5:14 - SB1104, assisted living managers; nursing. Passes, wingers opposing.
5:13 - SB1022, relating to political signs and tampering, fails, bipartisan opposition.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Live blogging the House floor session
Not sure when it is scheduled to start, but a number of reps are trickling into the chamber. And the 5 (or 10, I'm not sure which) bell just sounded.
Other updates:
House Approps will *not* meet today. This has been confirmed by a member of the committee.
A couple of heavy hitters from the Governor's office were spotted over in the Senate building heading upstairs to a destination unknown. That doesn't seem to have helped - the same source that confirmed the delay in the House Approps meeting also stated that his best guess was that they were going to need a continuing resolution, probably passed tomorrow, to avoid a government shutdown over the 4th of July holiday weekend.
__________________________________________________________________
5:03 - Update from a loyal (and active!) reader - the Senate is about to go back into session. Heading over there....
5:01 - SB1459, passes
5:01 SB1449, passes
5:00 SB1326, passes
4:59 - SB1282, passes.
4:58 - SB1281, passes.
4:58 - SB1254, passes. this is going too fast.
4:58 - SB1253, Felony murder, drive by shooting. Passes.
4:57 - SB1243, Defensive display of firearm. Passes.
4:57 - SB1103, Nursing education. Passes.
4:56 - SB1100 - continuation of the Biomedical Research Commission. Passes.
4:55 - SB1047, child safety. Biggs opposes. Passes anyway.
4:50 - COW bills assigned to committees. Enter 2nd COW session. Rep. Boone takes chair.
4:49 - SB1175, performance of abortion, non-physician. Passes. End of COW.
4:48 - SB1123 passes.
4:42 - Lopes still excoriating Antenori's amendment. It still passes.
4:37 - Lopes still grilling Antenori.
4:33 - SB1123, nonpartisan elections in Tucson. Antenori wants to amend it to make sure people understand that this is targeted statewide, not at Tucson. Phil Lopes is calling him out on that. Lopes has a point - the only city affected by this bill, notwithstanding Antenori's amendment, is Tucson.
4:33 - SB1115, animal fighting. Passes.
4:30 - SB1113, Guns in bars and restaurants. Passes. Ugh.
4:29 - SB1106, Domestic violence, child custody. Passes.
4:25 - SB1091, more election laws stuff and BRB stuff. Amended by Tobin on the floor. Seel opposes bill because it requires petition signers to fill out too much info, and that will discourage voters from signing multiple petitions. Passes.
4:25 - SB1088, relating to domestic violence and dating relationships. Passes.
4:24 - SB1074, Amendments to election law passes.
4:22 - SB1059, relating to organized retail theft. Passes COW.
4:22 - SB1015, dispersing unlawful assemblies. Passes.
4:20 - SB1011, relating to sex offenders and probation monitoring. Passes.
4:18 - Gavelled into session. Going into COW session. Warde Nichols taking the chair.
4:16 - Floor session still hasn't started, but security seems to be ramped up a little from the what I have seen during visits earlier in the year.
Other updates:
House Approps will *not* meet today. This has been confirmed by a member of the committee.
A couple of heavy hitters from the Governor's office were spotted over in the Senate building heading upstairs to a destination unknown. That doesn't seem to have helped - the same source that confirmed the delay in the House Approps meeting also stated that his best guess was that they were going to need a continuing resolution, probably passed tomorrow, to avoid a government shutdown over the 4th of July holiday weekend.
__________________________________________________________________
5:03 - Update from a loyal (and active!) reader - the Senate is about to go back into session. Heading over there....
5:01 - SB1459, passes
5:01 SB1449, passes
5:00 SB1326, passes
4:59 - SB1282, passes.
4:58 - SB1281, passes.
4:58 - SB1254, passes. this is going too fast.
4:58 - SB1253, Felony murder, drive by shooting. Passes.
4:57 - SB1243, Defensive display of firearm. Passes.
4:57 - SB1103, Nursing education. Passes.
4:56 - SB1100 - continuation of the Biomedical Research Commission. Passes.
4:55 - SB1047, child safety. Biggs opposes. Passes anyway.
4:50 - COW bills assigned to committees. Enter 2nd COW session. Rep. Boone takes chair.
4:49 - SB1175, performance of abortion, non-physician. Passes. End of COW.
4:48 - SB1123 passes.
4:42 - Lopes still excoriating Antenori's amendment. It still passes.
4:37 - Lopes still grilling Antenori.
4:33 - SB1123, nonpartisan elections in Tucson. Antenori wants to amend it to make sure people understand that this is targeted statewide, not at Tucson. Phil Lopes is calling him out on that. Lopes has a point - the only city affected by this bill, notwithstanding Antenori's amendment, is Tucson.
4:33 - SB1115, animal fighting. Passes.
4:30 - SB1113, Guns in bars and restaurants. Passes. Ugh.
4:29 - SB1106, Domestic violence, child custody. Passes.
4:25 - SB1091, more election laws stuff and BRB stuff. Amended by Tobin on the floor. Seel opposes bill because it requires petition signers to fill out too much info, and that will discourage voters from signing multiple petitions. Passes.
4:25 - SB1088, relating to domestic violence and dating relationships. Passes.
4:24 - SB1074, Amendments to election law passes.
4:22 - SB1059, relating to organized retail theft. Passes COW.
4:22 - SB1015, dispersing unlawful assemblies. Passes.
4:20 - SB1011, relating to sex offenders and probation monitoring. Passes.
4:18 - Gavelled into session. Going into COW session. Warde Nichols taking the chair.
4:16 - Floor session still hasn't started, but security seems to be ramped up a little from the what I have seen during visits earlier in the year.
Notes from the meeting of the Senate Democratic Caucus...
...They're concerned that some very bad bills are going to slip through in the mad crush that is coming.
...As of 10 minutes ago (roughly 2:40 p.m.), nobody, including the Rep leadership in the Senate, had any clue as to when any part of the budget would move forward.
...A number of senators brought up some of the preparations that various state agencies are making for a shut down (warning campers that they might have to evacuate state parks if a budget doesn't pass and the parks have to close down for the 4th of July weekend, CPS letting folks know that a call to CPS may not be an option in the event of a situation and to be ready to call the police. Apparently, under the Republicans' emergency plan, Child Protective Services isn't a necessary function.
...They (the Dems) are planning for a long couple of days. As should we all. I probably won't be here tomorrow due to a dentist's appointment, and given today's activities ( and lack thereof), I'm thinking that will be a better use of my time.
...As of 10 minutes ago (roughly 2:40 p.m.), nobody, including the Rep leadership in the Senate, had any clue as to when any part of the budget would move forward.
...A number of senators brought up some of the preparations that various state agencies are making for a shut down (warning campers that they might have to evacuate state parks if a budget doesn't pass and the parks have to close down for the 4th of July weekend, CPS letting folks know that a call to CPS may not be an option in the event of a situation and to be ready to call the police. Apparently, under the Republicans' emergency plan, Child Protective Services isn't a necessary function.
...They (the Dems) are planning for a long couple of days. As should we all. I probably won't be here tomorrow due to a dentist's appointment, and given today's activities ( and lack thereof), I'm thinking that will be a better use of my time.
Live blogging the Senate floor session...
1:48 - Gould demands a roll call vote on the last. Moved that the COW record show that HB2572 failed. Carolyn Allen actually supports this because of lack of support for tax for education. Failed 8 - 17. HB2572 still proceeding.
1:44 - Still HB2572. Pearce opposing. He objects to helping Tucson. Calls it a "plunder" of the taxpayers, giving money to sports teams. Apparently, he likes giving taxpayer money only to non-sports corporations. Passes 18 - 7. COW session ends.
1:41 - HB2572, sports authority districts (aka - spring training in Tucson bill). Gould opposing, objects to even sending this to the voters. Jorge Luis Garcia supporting, because it *is* a referral to the voters.
1:39 - After 1st read and assignment of bills to committee (all to Rules), going into COW to amend bills; Waring is the chair of the COW session.
1:30 - Harper calls for standing firm on the original budget. Again (he did it twice during Senate Appropriations).
1:29 - A Democrat, Landrum-Taylor, introduced a teacher.
1:28 - Other Republican senators shamelessly doing the same.
1:27 - Gorman introducing some of the teachers that she wants to put out of work.
1:25 - Gould is ranting about socialized medicine in Canada.
1:21 - session gavelled into order, prayer and pledge of allegiance. Taking attendance. 26 present, 2 absent, 2 excused.
1:14 - Senators gathering, but no meeting yet. Press gaggle around Pearce on the floor. Gould and Sylvia Allen talking in the middle of the floor, as are Burns and Leff. Huppenthal on the phone.
1:00 The session was supposed to start at 1, but it hasn't. Not shocking that, as "Senate time" means "the scheduled time, give or take four hours." However, there is some pre-session setup activity going on, so it should be 15 minutes or so.
1:44 - Still HB2572. Pearce opposing. He objects to helping Tucson. Calls it a "plunder" of the taxpayers, giving money to sports teams. Apparently, he likes giving taxpayer money only to non-sports corporations. Passes 18 - 7. COW session ends.
1:41 - HB2572, sports authority districts (aka - spring training in Tucson bill). Gould opposing, objects to even sending this to the voters. Jorge Luis Garcia supporting, because it *is* a referral to the voters.
1:39 - After 1st read and assignment of bills to committee (all to Rules), going into COW to amend bills; Waring is the chair of the COW session.
1:30 - Harper calls for standing firm on the original budget. Again (he did it twice during Senate Appropriations).
1:29 - A Democrat, Landrum-Taylor, introduced a teacher.
1:28 - Other Republican senators shamelessly doing the same.
1:27 - Gorman introducing some of the teachers that she wants to put out of work.
1:25 - Gould is ranting about socialized medicine in Canada.
1:21 - session gavelled into order, prayer and pledge of allegiance. Taking attendance. 26 present, 2 absent, 2 excused.
1:14 - Senators gathering, but no meeting yet. Press gaggle around Pearce on the floor. Gould and Sylvia Allen talking in the middle of the floor, as are Burns and Leff. Huppenthal on the phone.
1:00 The session was supposed to start at 1, but it hasn't. Not shocking that, as "Senate time" means "the scheduled time, give or take four hours." However, there is some pre-session setup activity going on, so it should be 15 minutes or so.
More than just the budget going on today...
In spite of all of the attention paid to the budget mess, we should remember that there have been other forms of ugly going on down here all year.
Today, a number of protesters marched on the Capitol to protest Tom Horne's nativist ban on TUSD's ethnic studies classes.
Today, a number of protesters marched on the Capitol to protest Tom Horne's nativist ban on TUSD's ethnic studies classes.
Live blogging Senate Approps
12:47 - Up in the Senate gallery now, waiting for the floor session. Talk downstairs was that most of the Reps, including many of those on Approps, went out to lunch with some lobbyists. The Dems were meeting in their caucus room, though that has broken up somewhat (saw Amanda Aguirre, Albert Hale, and Paula Aboud in the halls/elevator).
House Approps has been delayed until after the House floor session. They seem to be having many of the same problems over there that they are having here - the nihilist branch of the extremist wing of the GOP caucus is standing together (so far) in opposition to anything resembling a compromise.
12:07 - Aboud stated that the earlier absence of the Dems was not a "statement", they were just working on something and no one had told them that the meeting was finally starting.
12:03 - Paula Aboud thinks that they (meaning the Rep leadership) could go to the floor and reassign these bills to another committee, as it doesn't seem that this Republican-run committee will pass the Republican-written budget.
11:59 - Now I'm updating my Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball teams. Translation - nothing happening. I'll give it another few minutes, maybe to 12:15, before looking for something a little more active. Word around the room is that House Approps is in session to consider the tax bills.
11:45 - LD17 State Rep Ed Ableser popped in and earned some laughs when he announced that he had been appointed chair of Senate Approps. If only...
11:38 - While waiting for the Reps to dislodge their craniums from their rectal orifices (could be a looong wait for that :) ), the votes on the feeder bill -
Opposed - Harper, Gould, Steve Pierce, and Aboud.
Supported - Russell Pearce, Melvin, Gorman, Sylvia Allen
Not voting - Hale, Rios, Aguirre
11:33 - Still in recess, and nary a game of kickball in sight. Some serious arm-twisting going on right now. The Reps do not have enough support in their caucus to pass this without Democratic support, and they would rather shut down the state completely than allow the Dems to have any input.
11:27 - The Keystone Cops have recessed again (h/t to Tedski for the Keystone Cops reference).
11:25 - Harper reiterates that if he votes with the Democrats on stuff today, he's not voting with the Democrats but against changing the previously passed budget.
11:22 - Meeting back in session. Steve Pierce moved to reconsider SB1470. Hale, Rios, and Aguirre are here now.
11:15 - SB1470 fails 4 - 4, 3 not voting. And the Republican circular firing squad continues. Meeting recessed.
11:14 - Aboud here.
11:13 - SB1470 is amended to the new bill, Gould opposing.
11:11 - Gould is here. Still no Dems.
11:09 - Pearce is rambling on about overspending, overtaxed, and tea parties.
11:08 - Harper expresses the thought that the original Senate budget was the best one, partially because the Home Builders Association liked it.
11:07 - House Approps chair John Kavanagh is in the room, overseeing the proceedings.
11:04 - First up - SB1470, the feed bill. Changes SB1188. Howie Fischer of Capitol Media had to turn on a mike so that everyone could here the presentation. Pearce forgot to hit the switch.
11:03 - Gorman is here. Meeting started. No Dems.
11:01 - Steve Pierce is here, but so far no Dems (except for Aguirre's brief appearance), Pam Gorman, or Ron Gould.
10:57 - no meeting yet, but more and more staffers. BTW - as many staffers as there are here, there may be more media folks in the room (including some who actually get paid for this stuff! :) )
Sylvia Allen opines that everybody is going to be back here in August, no matter which budget is passed. I may never agree with her on anything else, but on this? Yup.
10:49 - Pearce is finally here. Still no quorum as only Harper and Melvin are in the room with him.
10:39 - More staffers present, but there aren't any Senators in the meeting room right now.
10:25 - reformatted post; no changes yet. This is getting boring.
10:23 - Amanda Aguirre has taken her seat and is talking to Al Melvin. They're the only two Senators in the room right now.
10:09 - Melvin and Harper stepped back out; Sylvia Allen holding an impromptu press conference...until she stepped out.
Meeting getting closer though - legislative staff has put out printed copies of the strikers to be considered and their associated fact sheets.
10:02 - Sylvia Allen and Al Melvin just came in. Meeting not started yet.
10:00 - the only senator who has show up so far is Jack Harper, and he just walked in and is setting up his laptop.
House Approps has been delayed until after the House floor session. They seem to be having many of the same problems over there that they are having here - the nihilist branch of the extremist wing of the GOP caucus is standing together (so far) in opposition to anything resembling a compromise.
12:07 - Aboud stated that the earlier absence of the Dems was not a "statement", they were just working on something and no one had told them that the meeting was finally starting.
12:03 - Paula Aboud thinks that they (meaning the Rep leadership) could go to the floor and reassign these bills to another committee, as it doesn't seem that this Republican-run committee will pass the Republican-written budget.
11:59 - Now I'm updating my Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball teams. Translation - nothing happening. I'll give it another few minutes, maybe to 12:15, before looking for something a little more active. Word around the room is that House Approps is in session to consider the tax bills.
11:45 - LD17 State Rep Ed Ableser popped in and earned some laughs when he announced that he had been appointed chair of Senate Approps. If only...
11:38 - While waiting for the Reps to dislodge their craniums from their rectal orifices (could be a looong wait for that :) ), the votes on the feeder bill -
Opposed - Harper, Gould, Steve Pierce, and Aboud.
Supported - Russell Pearce, Melvin, Gorman, Sylvia Allen
Not voting - Hale, Rios, Aguirre
11:33 - Still in recess, and nary a game of kickball in sight. Some serious arm-twisting going on right now. The Reps do not have enough support in their caucus to pass this without Democratic support, and they would rather shut down the state completely than allow the Dems to have any input.
11:27 - The Keystone Cops have recessed again (h/t to Tedski for the Keystone Cops reference).
11:25 - Harper reiterates that if he votes with the Democrats on stuff today, he's not voting with the Democrats but against changing the previously passed budget.
11:22 - Meeting back in session. Steve Pierce moved to reconsider SB1470. Hale, Rios, and Aguirre are here now.
11:15 - SB1470 fails 4 - 4, 3 not voting. And the Republican circular firing squad continues. Meeting recessed.
11:14 - Aboud here.
11:13 - SB1470 is amended to the new bill, Gould opposing.
11:11 - Gould is here. Still no Dems.
11:09 - Pearce is rambling on about overspending, overtaxed, and tea parties.
11:08 - Harper expresses the thought that the original Senate budget was the best one, partially because the Home Builders Association liked it.
11:07 - House Approps chair John Kavanagh is in the room, overseeing the proceedings.
11:04 - First up - SB1470, the feed bill. Changes SB1188. Howie Fischer of Capitol Media had to turn on a mike so that everyone could here the presentation. Pearce forgot to hit the switch.
11:03 - Gorman is here. Meeting started. No Dems.
11:01 - Steve Pierce is here, but so far no Dems (except for Aguirre's brief appearance), Pam Gorman, or Ron Gould.
10:57 - no meeting yet, but more and more staffers. BTW - as many staffers as there are here, there may be more media folks in the room (including some who actually get paid for this stuff! :) )
Sylvia Allen opines that everybody is going to be back here in August, no matter which budget is passed. I may never agree with her on anything else, but on this? Yup.
10:49 - Pearce is finally here. Still no quorum as only Harper and Melvin are in the room with him.
10:39 - More staffers present, but there aren't any Senators in the meeting room right now.
10:25 - reformatted post; no changes yet. This is getting boring.
10:23 - Amanda Aguirre has taken her seat and is talking to Al Melvin. They're the only two Senators in the room right now.
10:09 - Melvin and Harper stepped back out; Sylvia Allen holding an impromptu press conference...until she stepped out.
Meeting getting closer though - legislative staff has put out printed copies of the strikers to be considered and their associated fact sheets.
10:02 - Sylvia Allen and Al Melvin just came in. Meeting not started yet.
10:00 - the only senator who has show up so far is Jack Harper, and he just walked in and is setting up his laptop.
Sen Approps agenda reposted
The new agenda still lists the meeting start time as 9:30 a.m., but the talk in SHR109 is that the meeting will start at 10.
Posting will be rather free form today as I try to cover as much as possible...
Posting will be rather free form today as I try to cover as much as possible...
Interesting...
New development in the budget saga (not sure if it qualifies as high drama or low comedy, but this mess deserves its own TV show...maybe Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park???) -
When I checked the lege's Senate committee agendas page, I noticed that the agenda for today's Senate Appropriations meeting has been pulled.
The Education Committee agenda for consideration of the tax packages still exists, so I'm not sure if this means that the Republicans' budget deal is dead, or just being reworked.
Heading down to the lege; will look into this when I get there.
Note: this could all be fixed by the time I get there. Expect a lot of fluidity in these situations for the next couple of days.
When I checked the lege's Senate committee agendas page, I noticed that the agenda for today's Senate Appropriations meeting has been pulled.
The Education Committee agenda for consideration of the tax packages still exists, so I'm not sure if this means that the Republicans' budget deal is dead, or just being reworked.
Heading down to the lege; will look into this when I get there.
Note: this could all be fixed by the time I get there. Expect a lot of fluidity in these situations for the next couple of days.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The coming week...
Back to a consolidated post of the weekly schedules of political bodies relevent to AZ and to the Scottsdale/Tempe area...
...Due to the holiday this week (Independence Day on Saturday, legal holiday on Friday), most political bodies aren't in session or have a light schedule. However, "most" doesn't mean "all."
...The chambers of the U.S. Congress are in recess until Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7.
...The AZ legislature is going nuts this week. While most of the attention will be focused on the budget, there will also be a mad rush to railroad through final passage of as many bills as possible, including some really ugly ones.
Monday and Tuesday should be *long* days at the lege, especially if it looks like the Rep caucus is going to get its act together long enough to pass some sort of budget. Floor sessions that drag on into the wee hours are likely.
There hasn't been much posted in the way of floor schedules as yet, and to be honest, anything that is posted this week will be out of date five minutes after it goes up. However, that is the usual situation in the AZ lege whenever it approaches sine die.
It's just a little worse during sessions as crazy and dysfunctional as this one.
Floor calendars will be posted here.
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has a "special" meeting planned for Monday morning at 10. The agenda is fairly short, mostly financial and employment matters, with the now-standard executive session at the tail end of the meeting.
...The Scottsdale City Council is going to have a busy week with meetings on Wednesday and Thursday as it tries to clear up some business before its summer break (next meeting: August 24).
Wednesday's regular agenda actually looks to be pretty light, except for some Council "housekeeping" measures added to the agenda by Councilman Wayne Ecton.
The fireworks should be at an executive session scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m. The highlight of that agenda?
Yes, based on the wording of that item, they'll be asking the City Attorney for advice on firing...the City Attorney.
Oh to be a fly on the wall... :)
Thursday's meeting has a longer consent agenda, loaded with liquor license applications, but it also has some regular agenda items that are likely to generate controversy. They'll be discussing noise issues, budget adjustments to the FY2009/2010 budget, a possible survey of Scottsdale residents regarding light rail.
Predictions on those matters - it's Scottsdale, so the only noise allowed is the ka-ching of cash registers; the Council is comprised entirely of Republicans, so any budget cuts that leave any semblance of public services intact are cuts that aren't deep enough; and there's no need for a survey to tell the Council what it already knows best - Scottsdale doesn't need light rail or any modern version of mass transit. The horse and buggy was good enough when the city was first settled, and its modern cousin, the overpriced and overloaded luxury SUV, is good enough today.
...The Arizona Corporation Commission, Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project, Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District, Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System, and Tempe City Council are not scheduled to meet this week.
Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on matters at the lege...
...Due to the holiday this week (Independence Day on Saturday, legal holiday on Friday), most political bodies aren't in session or have a light schedule. However, "most" doesn't mean "all."
...The chambers of the U.S. Congress are in recess until Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7.
...The AZ legislature is going nuts this week. While most of the attention will be focused on the budget, there will also be a mad rush to railroad through final passage of as many bills as possible, including some really ugly ones.
Monday and Tuesday should be *long* days at the lege, especially if it looks like the Rep caucus is going to get its act together long enough to pass some sort of budget. Floor sessions that drag on into the wee hours are likely.
There hasn't been much posted in the way of floor schedules as yet, and to be honest, anything that is posted this week will be out of date five minutes after it goes up. However, that is the usual situation in the AZ lege whenever it approaches sine die.
It's just a little worse during sessions as crazy and dysfunctional as this one.
Floor calendars will be posted here.
...The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has a "special" meeting planned for Monday morning at 10. The agenda is fairly short, mostly financial and employment matters, with the now-standard executive session at the tail end of the meeting.
...The Scottsdale City Council is going to have a busy week with meetings on Wednesday and Thursday as it tries to clear up some business before its summer break (next meeting: August 24).
Wednesday's regular agenda actually looks to be pretty light, except for some Council "housekeeping" measures added to the agenda by Councilman Wayne Ecton.
The fireworks should be at an executive session scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m. The highlight of that agenda?
Discuss and consider employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, salaries, disciplining or resignation of the City Attorney; and discuss or consult with the Cityattorney(s) for legal advice regarding same. A.R.S. § 38-431.03 (A) (1) and (3).
Yes, based on the wording of that item, they'll be asking the City Attorney for advice on firing...the City Attorney.
Oh to be a fly on the wall... :)
Thursday's meeting has a longer consent agenda, loaded with liquor license applications, but it also has some regular agenda items that are likely to generate controversy. They'll be discussing noise issues, budget adjustments to the FY2009/2010 budget, a possible survey of Scottsdale residents regarding light rail.
Predictions on those matters - it's Scottsdale, so the only noise allowed is the ka-ching of cash registers; the Council is comprised entirely of Republicans, so any budget cuts that leave any semblance of public services intact are cuts that aren't deep enough; and there's no need for a survey to tell the Council what it already knows best - Scottsdale doesn't need light rail or any modern version of mass transit. The horse and buggy was good enough when the city was first settled, and its modern cousin, the overpriced and overloaded luxury SUV, is good enough today.
...The Arizona Corporation Commission, Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project, Governing Board of the Maricopa County Community College District, Board of Directors of the Maricopa Integrated Health System, and Tempe City Council are not scheduled to meet this week.
Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on matters at the lege...
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Republicans working to derail Republican budget deal
At Saturday's meeting of the House Appropriations Committee, scheduled to hear the budget "compromise" between the Republican Governor and the Republican leadership in the legislature, the budget bills passed, but the bills related to the tax policy changes (impose a flat income tax, referendum on a sales tax hike) were skipped by committee chairman John Kavanagh (R-LD8).
Apparently, they are having absolutely no problems lining up Republican members in support of the proposed deep cuts to education, human services, and infrastructure. However, support for a tax hike, or even simply referring a tax hike to the voters, has proven much harder to come by.
It seems that enough of the Republican rank-and-file (and leadership??) in the lege are balking that there aren't enough votes to pass the entire compromise package through either chamber, making it likely that they may have to seek Democratic support for this travesty.
And speaking as a Democratic PC and State Committee member, they'd better not get any without some *serious* improvements to the package.
House Appropriations will meet on Monday at 11 a.m. in HHR1 to consider the three tax-related bills.
Over in the Senate, the Senate Appropriations Committee will meet on Monday at 9:30 a.m. in SHR1 to consider the Senate's versions of the bills that House Approps considered on Saturday.
Interestingly, the Senate Education Committee will meet in SHR109, upon adjournment of Senate Approps, to consider the three tax-related measures.
The difference between the committees?
Senate Appropriations is chaired by uber-winger Russell Pearce, and he is aided and abetted by fellow Kool-Aid drinkers Pam Gorman, Al Melvin, Jack Harper, and Ron Gould.
Senate Education is chaired by John Huppenthal, and he is accompanied by Linda Gray and Jonathan Paton. While none of those three qualifies as "moderate" by any real world standard, by the somewhat skewed standard set by the Republican caucus of the AZ lege, they are somewhat more pliable than their colleagues on Approps.
Both committees have one Rep member in common - Sylvia Allen of LD5.
This is only a guess, but since she is just as hardcore as any of her Approps colleagues (she wouldn't have been put there otherwise), Senate leadership is probably hoping that they can coax or scare one of the three Democrats on the committee (Paula Aboud, Linda Lopez, Leah Landrum Taylor) to support the bills long enough to get them past the committee stage.
As for floor consideration, only the House has any sort of a floor schedule posted so far (four COW calendars, here, here, here, and here). None of them lists any of the budget bills. So far.
More reading on the budget shenanigans/goings-on:
Gila Courier with news of a possible compromise on the compromise (no details yet)
Dave Wells at Make Democracy Work on why a flat tax is a bad idea
Tedski at R-Cubed with a pithy evaluation of the budget "compromise"
Blog For Arizona coverage of Saturday's March4Schools rally at the Capitol
Apparently, they are having absolutely no problems lining up Republican members in support of the proposed deep cuts to education, human services, and infrastructure. However, support for a tax hike, or even simply referring a tax hike to the voters, has proven much harder to come by.
It seems that enough of the Republican rank-and-file (and leadership??) in the lege are balking that there aren't enough votes to pass the entire compromise package through either chamber, making it likely that they may have to seek Democratic support for this travesty.
And speaking as a Democratic PC and State Committee member, they'd better not get any without some *serious* improvements to the package.
House Appropriations will meet on Monday at 11 a.m. in HHR1 to consider the three tax-related bills.
Over in the Senate, the Senate Appropriations Committee will meet on Monday at 9:30 a.m. in SHR1 to consider the Senate's versions of the bills that House Approps considered on Saturday.
Interestingly, the Senate Education Committee will meet in SHR109, upon adjournment of Senate Approps, to consider the three tax-related measures.
The difference between the committees?
Senate Appropriations is chaired by uber-winger Russell Pearce, and he is aided and abetted by fellow Kool-Aid drinkers Pam Gorman, Al Melvin, Jack Harper, and Ron Gould.
Senate Education is chaired by John Huppenthal, and he is accompanied by Linda Gray and Jonathan Paton. While none of those three qualifies as "moderate" by any real world standard, by the somewhat skewed standard set by the Republican caucus of the AZ lege, they are somewhat more pliable than their colleagues on Approps.
Both committees have one Rep member in common - Sylvia Allen of LD5.
This is only a guess, but since she is just as hardcore as any of her Approps colleagues (she wouldn't have been put there otherwise), Senate leadership is probably hoping that they can coax or scare one of the three Democrats on the committee (Paula Aboud, Linda Lopez, Leah Landrum Taylor) to support the bills long enough to get them past the committee stage.
As for floor consideration, only the House has any sort of a floor schedule posted so far (four COW calendars, here, here, here, and here). None of them lists any of the budget bills. So far.
More reading on the budget shenanigans/goings-on:
Gila Courier with news of a possible compromise on the compromise (no details yet)
Dave Wells at Make Democracy Work on why a flat tax is a bad idea
Tedski at R-Cubed with a pithy evaluation of the budget "compromise"
Blog For Arizona coverage of Saturday's March4Schools rally at the Capitol
Friday, June 26, 2009
State budget time - House Approps meeting on Saturday
Well, I had intended to write a post about Michael Jackson's passing, one that was profound, perceptive, and highly critical of the MSM's wall-to-wall coverage of it (bottom line: his death *is* news, but it's hardly the *only* news this week). However, Jan Brewer, Kirk Adams, and Bob Burns have conspired to use Michael Jackson's death as cover for imposing the worst budget in AZ history.
The "cut and slash" Republicans have compromised with the "slash and burn" Republicans (they really didn't have all that far to go - they already had "slash" as common ground) but I'm not sure that "compromise " is the right word here.
Is it really a compromise when it's really just the worst of both worlds?
I don't have time tonight to go through each bill of the "compromise" proposal, but some of the highlights include (from an AZCentral.com article) -
So, to sum up, in exchange for cuts to education and human services that are marginally less severe than those originally proposed by the legislature, the lege wants to enact tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations (flat tax, equalization tax repeal), a gift to deep-pocketed (and generous with the campaign contributions) developers and builders (ban on impact fees), and a chance to impose a tax increase that disproportionately affects poor and working-class families (referendum on a sales tax hike).
Niiiiiice.
House Appropriations is scheduled to meet Saturday at 9 a.m. in HHR1 to consider the budget. The agenda includes 12 bills, all with budget-related strike everything amendments.
Note: "Trailer" refers to the fact that the bills are not complete budget bills; they only modify the previously passed Senate budget bills that the legislature's leaders have thus far refused to send to the governor. Enactment of these bills is conditioned upon enactment of the original lege budget.
The proposed strikers are here -
HB2643, general appropriations; 2009-2010; trailer
HB2644, budget reconciliation; general revenues; trailer
HB2645, budget reconciliation; general government; trailer
HB2646, state properties; trailer
HB2647, budget reconciliation; criminal justice; trailer
HB2648, budget reconciliation; k-12 education; trailer
HB2649, budget reconciliation; higher education; trailer
HB2650, budget reconciliation; health; welfare; trailer
HB2651, budget reconciliation; environment; trailer
HB2652, statewide special election; sales tax
HB2653, flat tax; individual income
HCR2037, temporary transaction privilege tax
I'm going to try to attend the March4Schools Rally tomorrow morning, but given the short notice, I may not be able to rearrange my work schedule.
I still strongly urge everyone who cares about Arizona and its future to attend, and to let the legislature hear about your concerns about the damage their budget will do to the state and its future.
Note2: Thus far, no House floor or Senate schedules have been posted. Check here for updates.
The "cut and slash" Republicans have compromised with the "slash and burn" Republicans (they really didn't have all that far to go - they already had "slash" as common ground) but I'm not sure that "compromise " is the right word here.
Is it really a compromise when it's really just the worst of both worlds?
I don't have time tonight to go through each bill of the "compromise" proposal, but some of the highlights include (from an AZCentral.com article) -
• Referral to the November 2009 ballot of a temporary, 1-cent-per-dollar increase in the state sales tax.
• Implementation of a flat state-income tax at a rate of 2.8 percent, beginning in 2012. Currently, the state's income tax rates range from 2.59 percent for the lowest income bracket to 4.54 percent for individuals earning more than $150,000. An individual's first $10,000 would be tax-exempt, allowing the lowest-income Arizonans to pay nothing.
• Permanent repeal of the state equalization property tax. It has been suspended for three years, but generates about $250 million for state coffers when in effect.
{snip}
• A prohibition on benefits for the domestic partners of state employees. The legislative proposal also had the ban, but the new proposal includes a grandfather clause to allow domestic partners already under the state health plan to remain covered.
• A two-year freeze on the ability of cities to increase impact fees on new development. The freeze replaces a three-year moratorium initially sought by lawmakers.
• A revocation by the state of about $22 million in cities' share of vehicle-registration fees. That's about half the $45 million that cities would have lost under the legislative budget proposal.
So, to sum up, in exchange for cuts to education and human services that are marginally less severe than those originally proposed by the legislature, the lege wants to enact tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations (flat tax, equalization tax repeal), a gift to deep-pocketed (and generous with the campaign contributions) developers and builders (ban on impact fees), and a chance to impose a tax increase that disproportionately affects poor and working-class families (referendum on a sales tax hike).
Niiiiiice.
House Appropriations is scheduled to meet Saturday at 9 a.m. in HHR1 to consider the budget. The agenda includes 12 bills, all with budget-related strike everything amendments.
Note: "Trailer" refers to the fact that the bills are not complete budget bills; they only modify the previously passed Senate budget bills that the legislature's leaders have thus far refused to send to the governor. Enactment of these bills is conditioned upon enactment of the original lege budget.
The proposed strikers are here -
HB2643, general appropriations; 2009-2010; trailer
HB2644, budget reconciliation; general revenues; trailer
HB2645, budget reconciliation; general government; trailer
HB2646, state properties; trailer
HB2647, budget reconciliation; criminal justice; trailer
HB2648, budget reconciliation; k-12 education; trailer
HB2649, budget reconciliation; higher education; trailer
HB2650, budget reconciliation; health; welfare; trailer
HB2651, budget reconciliation; environment; trailer
HB2652, statewide special election; sales tax
HB2653, flat tax; individual income
HCR2037, temporary transaction privilege tax
I'm going to try to attend the March4Schools Rally tomorrow morning, but given the short notice, I may not be able to rearrange my work schedule.
I still strongly urge everyone who cares about Arizona and its future to attend, and to let the legislature hear about your concerns about the damage their budget will do to the state and its future.
Note2: Thus far, no House floor or Senate schedules have been posted. Check here for updates.
March4Schools protest against proposed budget plan
From the March4Schools.org website -
In case this isn't clear enough, a budget deal has been reach, and it is ugly. More details later.
URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Late last night the governor and Republican leadership struck a budget deal that will devastate Arizona and its public schools if passed by the legislature. Apparently support for the budget is a razor thin margin. It is not to late to defeat this budget and you can help.
Tomorrow, Saturday June 27, hundreds of parents, teachers, and community leaders will protest a backroom budget deal crafted by Republican leaders in the Arizona legislature and Governor Brewer. Reports from the capitol indicate the budget bills that include massive cuts to public education and other vital health and human services will be heard in House Appropriations tomorrow morning.
PLEASE ATTEND THIS CITIZEN PROTEST
Arizona State Capitol Mall
1700 W. Jefferson
June 27, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Taxpayers Protesting Cuts to Public Education and Vital Services
Organized by AEA, Parent Groups, ABC, Republican Educators
Click here for directions to the Capitol
Rsvp to doug.kilgore@arizonaea.org.
Fill up you car with family, friends, and colleagues.
Meet at Capitol Mall between House & Senate at 8:45 a.m
Water and sign making materials will be provided.
In case this isn't clear enough, a budget deal has been reach, and it is ugly. More details later.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
More games legislators play
From AZCentral.com -
The agenda for the meeting of the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee was a full one, just the perfect time and place to indoctrinate a new member of the committee.
Really.
I'm certain the fact that seven of the 16 bills on the agenda had Russell Pearce's name attached to them, and that one of those was the NRA-sponsored SB1270, legalizing the possession of a concealed weapon without a permit, played a huge part in Adams' (a fellow Mesa-based winger) rush to railroad through the bills.
It seems that every day I believe that we've finally seems the bottom of the depths of depravity and deception of the Republicans in the legislature.
And it seems that the following day, the Republicans do something to prove that they always have even deeper reserves of depravity to mine.
It's six days before the end of the fiscal year.
It's 109 degrees outside.
And inside the statehouse, tempers are flaring.
On Wednesday, Democrats walked out of a committee hearing, leaving it without a quorum to conduct business on its last meeting day of the year.
That led House Speaker Kirk Adams to appoint a Republican to fill out the committee and give it the needed votes to pass a bevy of bills, including a controversial measure that would do away with the requirement for concealed-weapon permits.
The agenda for the meeting of the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee was a full one, just the perfect time and place to indoctrinate a new member of the committee.
Really.
I'm certain the fact that seven of the 16 bills on the agenda had Russell Pearce's name attached to them, and that one of those was the NRA-sponsored SB1270, legalizing the possession of a concealed weapon without a permit, played a huge part in Adams' (a fellow Mesa-based winger) rush to railroad through the bills.
It seems that every day I believe that we've finally seems the bottom of the depths of depravity and deception of the Republicans in the legislature.
And it seems that the following day, the Republicans do something to prove that they always have even deeper reserves of depravity to mine.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Russell Pearce - learning lessons from the protests in Iran
Unfortunately, the lessons were the wrong ones.
From AZCentral.com -
Where people the world over see the protests and demonstrations in Iran, see an angry people speaking out against a stolen election, and are proud to see folks standing up and being heard against totalitarianism, Russell Pearce only sees security forces being used to suppress public input.
Kudos to Democratic Senators Paula Aboud, Amanda Aguirre, Albert Hale, and Rebecca Rios for refusing to lend their presence and credibility to Pearce's highhanded mistreatment and contempt for the public.
From AZCentral.com -
Members of the faith community speaking against an anti-illegal immigration bill Tuesday left after Sen. Russell Pearce called on security to remove them, prompting the committee's four Democrats to walk out of the session.
House Bill 2280, sponsored by Pearce, R-Mesa, would require local and state officials to enforce federal immigration laws, thus making any sanctuary laws illegal.
When Pearce said the committee would not hear any public input, members of the Valley Interfaith Project stood up to voice their opposition, quoting a verse in the Bible that begins, "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him."
Where people the world over see the protests and demonstrations in Iran, see an angry people speaking out against a stolen election, and are proud to see folks standing up and being heard against totalitarianism, Russell Pearce only sees security forces being used to suppress public input.
Kudos to Democratic Senators Paula Aboud, Amanda Aguirre, Albert Hale, and Rebecca Rios for refusing to lend their presence and credibility to Pearce's highhanded mistreatment and contempt for the public.
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