As usual, all info gathered from the websites of the relevant political bodies/agencies, and subject to change without notice...
...Top billing this week goes to the Arizona Legislature, who are scheduled to gather in special session to address the continuing budget. The session is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. on Monday. More details in this story from AZCentral.com.
No budget bills (only vehicle bills that can be amended later into budget bills), floor calendars, or committee schedules have been posted as of 10:45 a.m. on Sunday.
...The U.S. House is back in session on Tuesday, and it has one thing in common with the AZ lege - most of its week will be consumed by budget work. Unlike AZ however, we're not past the start of the new fiscal year without a budget, so it's not all they will be working on.
Among the items on the agenda -
H.R. 1511, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009
H.R. 2965, the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009
H.R. 2701, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
H.R. 2997, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
H.R. 3081, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010
Possible consideration of H.R. 3082, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2010
The bills listed, whether actual appropriations measures or simply authorization bills, are all money bills, and will be subject to proposed amendments and earmarks (from both parties) and a likely attempt from Jeff Flake to bar earmarks.
H.Rs. 2965, 2997, 3081, and 3082 are expected to have hearings before the House Rules Committee this week, where amendment proposals will be made in order for floor consideration.
...The Arizona Corporation Commission has an open meeting scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. The agenda is a brief one, with two securities-related items, and two items related to linesitings (utilities.)
...This is a quiet period for goverment bodies in AZ - the Arizona Board of Regents, 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, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Tempe City Council, and Scottsdale City Council are not scheduled to meet this week.
In fact, the CAP Board and both City Councils are not scheduled at all in July. Neither is the Arizona Board of Regents, but one of their committees, the Capital Committee, is scheduled to meet next week.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Saturday, July 04, 2009
If Palin wants to follow a "higher calling", she won't have to go far
...especially since Wasilla turned into the meth capital of Alaska during her tenure as mayor there...
From AP via Yahoo! News -
When I first saw the headline to this article, "Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' ", I thought that she was talking about entering a convent.
I see I was wrong.
While there is no such thing as a "liberal" nun - they aren't conservative enough for the likes of the GOP, what with their devotion to helping the poor, living a modest life, and so on.
Their vows include poverty (which no Republican can tolerate...for him or herself. For others, it's OK, though), obedience (well, I'm sure her husband Todd would just love that one), and chastity (OK, *that* one he'll have a serious problem with. She probably would, too.)
That last is also a problem in the 21st Century GOP of Ensign, Vitter, Sanford, Gingrich, and Foley.
Chastity is for others, not for them.
So, that seems to rule out entering a convent.
What else is left?
Oh yeah - challenging one of the Republican incumbent U.S. Senators from AK, running for President, or perhaps working as a paid speaker on the conservative rubber chicken/Kool Aid drinking circuit.
You know, maybe a trip to the convent would be best, both for her, and for America.
From AP via Yahoo! News -
Outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday laid the groundwork to take on a larger, national role after leaving state government, citing a "higher calling" with the aim of uniting the country along conservative lines.
When I first saw the headline to this article, "Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' ", I thought that she was talking about entering a convent.
I see I was wrong.
While there is no such thing as a "liberal" nun - they aren't conservative enough for the likes of the GOP, what with their devotion to helping the poor, living a modest life, and so on.
Their vows include poverty (which no Republican can tolerate...for him or herself. For others, it's OK, though), obedience (well, I'm sure her husband Todd would just love that one), and chastity (OK, *that* one he'll have a serious problem with. She probably would, too.)
That last is also a problem in the 21st Century GOP of Ensign, Vitter, Sanford, Gingrich, and Foley.
Chastity is for others, not for them.
So, that seems to rule out entering a convent.
What else is left?
Oh yeah - challenging one of the Republican incumbent U.S. Senators from AK, running for President, or perhaps working as a paid speaker on the conservative rubber chicken/Kool Aid drinking circuit.
You know, maybe a trip to the convent would be best, both for her, and for America.
An Independence Day message from President Obama
From an email blast -
This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let's also remember the remarkable story that led to this day.
Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when a courageous group of patriots pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the proposition that all of us were created equal.
Our country began as a unique experiment in liberty -- a bold, evolving quest to achieve a more perfect union. And in every generation, another courageous group of patriots has taken us one step closer to fully realizing the dream our founders enshrined on that great day.
Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation's course. America's greatness has always depended on her citizens embracing that freedom -- and fulfilling the duty that comes with it.
As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own. As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content. And as America comes ever closer to achieving the perfect Union our founders dreamed, that triumph -- that pride -- belongs to all of us.
So today is a day to reflect on our independence, and the sacrifice of our troops standing in harm's way to preserve and protect it. It is a day to celebrate all that America is. And today is a time to aspire toward all we can still become.
With very best wishes,
President Barack Obama
July 4th, 2009
P.S. -- Our nation's birthday is also an ideal time to consider serving in your local community. You can find many great ideas for service opportunities near you at http://www.serve.gov.
This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let's also remember the remarkable story that led to this day.
Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when a courageous group of patriots pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the proposition that all of us were created equal.
Our country began as a unique experiment in liberty -- a bold, evolving quest to achieve a more perfect union. And in every generation, another courageous group of patriots has taken us one step closer to fully realizing the dream our founders enshrined on that great day.
Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation's course. America's greatness has always depended on her citizens embracing that freedom -- and fulfilling the duty that comes with it.
As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own. As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content. And as America comes ever closer to achieving the perfect Union our founders dreamed, that triumph -- that pride -- belongs to all of us.
So today is a day to reflect on our independence, and the sacrifice of our troops standing in harm's way to preserve and protect it. It is a day to celebrate all that America is. And today is a time to aspire toward all we can still become.
With very best wishes,
President Barack Obama
July 4th, 2009
P.S. -- Our nation's birthday is also an ideal time to consider serving in your local community. You can find many great ideas for service opportunities near you at http://www.serve.gov.
Happy 233rd America!
Pic and text courtesy the National Archives
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Massachusetts: John Hancock
Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett William Whipple
Massachusetts: Samuel Adams John Adams Robert Treat Paine Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman Samuel Huntington William Williams Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire: Matthew Thornton
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Massachusetts: John Hancock
Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett William Whipple
Massachusetts: Samuel Adams John Adams Robert Treat Paine Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman Samuel Huntington William Williams Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire: Matthew Thornton
Friday, July 03, 2009
Palin Quits
Wonder if her passport will show trips to Argentina?
From AP -
Ummm...yeah. Whatever you say, Governor.
Hey, at least the cover story isn't "hiking the Appalachian Trail" or somesuch BS.
Still, it will be fun waiting for the other shoe to drop. And yes, that is my way of saying that I fully expect that there is some sort of Palin scandal or crisis that is going to break, and break soon (meaning this summer).
BTW - Here's to hoping that she doesn't follow Ted Stevens' lead and move to AZ after she is out of office. We have more than our share of GOP whack-jobs of the homegrown variety; we don't need to import any more.
Edit on 7/4 to add:
BTW2 - Here's to hoping that she doesn't follow former Sen. Larry Craig's (R-Airport Restroom) lead and promise to resign and then renege on that promise.
She's raised the hopes of Americans in Alaska and across the country; we should all be wary of a move to dash those hopes.
From AP -
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin abruptly announced Friday she is resigning from office at the end of the month, a shocking move that rattled the Republican party but left open the possibility she would seek a run for the White House in 2012.
Palin, 45, and her staff kept her future plans shrouded in mystery, and it was unclear if the controversial hockey mom would quietly return to private life or begin laying the foundation for a presidential bid.
{snip}
"Many just accept that lame duck status, and they hit that road. They draw a paycheck. They kind of milk it. And I'm not going to put Alaskans through that," she said.
Ummm...yeah. Whatever you say, Governor.
Hey, at least the cover story isn't "hiking the Appalachian Trail" or somesuch BS.
Still, it will be fun waiting for the other shoe to drop. And yes, that is my way of saying that I fully expect that there is some sort of Palin scandal or crisis that is going to break, and break soon (meaning this summer).
BTW - Here's to hoping that she doesn't follow Ted Stevens' lead and move to AZ after she is out of office. We have more than our share of GOP whack-jobs of the homegrown variety; we don't need to import any more.
Edit on 7/4 to add:
BTW2 - Here's to hoping that she doesn't follow former Sen. Larry Craig's (R-Airport Restroom) lead and promise to resign and then renege on that promise.
She's raised the hopes of Americans in Alaska and across the country; we should all be wary of a move to dash those hopes.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
The Special Session of the lege is starting to take shape
It's early yet, but there are already some moves at the lege regarding the special session starting on Monday.
On the lege's website, there have already been 12 bills posted for the special session, SB1001 thru SB1012 (though only the text for SB1001 hase been posted so far). Right now, they're all vehicle bills, placeholder "technical correction" bills meant to be amended into whatever budget "compromise" is worked out between the Governor and the Republicans in the lege.
I say "Republicans" because there is no evidence as yet that she is willing to even meet with the Democratic caucus, much less actually negotiate with them.
No calendars, floor or committee, have been posted so far, but that will probably change by the end of the weekend.
In an interesting development, SB1001 was dropped under Jack Harper's name. It's interesting because he was *not* a major part of this week's last minute negotiations between the Governor and legislative leadership (at least, he was wandering around the Senate floor while Burns and the rest were with the Governor on Tuesday.)
Next week could be interesting...
On the lege's website, there have already been 12 bills posted for the special session, SB1001 thru SB1012 (though only the text for SB1001 hase been posted so far). Right now, they're all vehicle bills, placeholder "technical correction" bills meant to be amended into whatever budget "compromise" is worked out between the Governor and the Republicans in the lege.
I say "Republicans" because there is no evidence as yet that she is willing to even meet with the Democratic caucus, much less actually negotiate with them.
No calendars, floor or committee, have been posted so far, but that will probably change by the end of the weekend.
In an interesting development, SB1001 was dropped under Jack Harper's name. It's interesting because he was *not* a major part of this week's last minute negotiations between the Governor and legislative leadership (at least, he was wandering around the Senate floor while Burns and the rest were with the Governor on Tuesday.)
Next week could be interesting...
Some days, I really miss Emily Derose...
...and some of her brilliant press releases skewering the AZGOP and its various functionaries...
Emily (Bittner) Derose used to be the Communications Director for the Arizona Democratic Party. She has moved onward and upward, taking a similar position with the Democratic Governors Association.
One of the things that always impressed me was her ability to wield sarcasm like a scalpel. Most of us in the AZ blogosphere tend to pride ourselves on our snarkiness, but our skills in that regard are chainsaw-like compared to her deft touch.
I was reminded of that today when I received one of her press releases via email from PRNewswire -
Then I read it this afternoon, and had the best laugh I've had all week, though there was strong competition for that honor from the lobbyists doing the wave in the House gallery on Tuesday while we all waited for the lege to get to work.
Anyway, I hope Emily is doing well, and hope she is able to direct some of her jabs at the Republicans in the hunt for the AZ governor's job next year. There should be plenty of material for her to work with here in 2010.
Emily (Bittner) Derose used to be the Communications Director for the Arizona Democratic Party. She has moved onward and upward, taking a similar position with the Democratic Governors Association.
One of the things that always impressed me was her ability to wield sarcasm like a scalpel. Most of us in the AZ blogosphere tend to pride ourselves on our snarkiness, but our skills in that regard are chainsaw-like compared to her deft touch.
I was reminded of that today when I received one of her press releases via email from PRNewswire -
Celebrate the Fourth With Michele BachmannWhen I saw the subject line in my email this morning ("Celebrate the Fourth With Michele Bachmann"), I groaned and saved it for later. I figured it was legit, and might be worth a "state of the kookocracy" post at most.
This Fourth of July, celebrate our freedom with Michele Bachmann's unique brand of patriotism!
From the woman who said that President Obama may have "anti-American views" and that reporters should investigate which elected officials are "pro-America," comes news that she is considering a run for governor of Minnesota.
If Michele Bachmann knows anything, it's that out-dated ideas -- like helping the middle class -- are ruining this country. And in a year when hospitals are struggling, teachers are being laid off and road repairs are delayed, Bachmann's ideas are exactly what we need if we are going to truly protect our billionaires.
As Bachmann weighs her gubernatorial options, the Democratic Governors Association is helping Minnesotans remind their friends and family about how she would celebrate.
Visit DraftBachmann.com to send your very own Fourth of July e-card to your friends and family.
Then I read it this afternoon, and had the best laugh I've had all week, though there was strong competition for that honor from the lobbyists doing the wave in the House gallery on Tuesday while we all waited for the lege to get to work.
Anyway, I hope Emily is doing well, and hope she is able to direct some of her jabs at the Republicans in the hunt for the AZ governor's job next year. There should be plenty of material for her to work with here in 2010.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Decompressing...
Today was like being hungover, but without the (somewhat dubious) benefits of a night out drinking.
Tired, dehydrated, sore and more than a little disillusioned, today was a day spent recuperating from the last couple of days.
The first three conditions could be alleviated easily - get plenty of sleep, water, and don't spend all day hunched over, pecking away at my Dell laptop.
That last was tough though - how to relieve the disillusionment?
Well, I went shopping today and came upon the cure, or at least the palliative.
Picked up a DVD copy of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.
Ahhhh...there's nothing like a bit of Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra when the old supply of wide-eyed idealism is running low. :)
...Anyway, some musings and notes from the last couple of days...
- In the giving credit where it's due department, after a fashion: Yesterday, I used the phrase "Political Katrina" to describe the goings-on. It came from a discussion I had with a state government employee who was in the gallery watching the proceedings to see if they'd have a job to go to in the morning. During our talk, this employee observed that much like with the federal government and FEMA and the Katrina debacle, everyone in the room could see the looming disaster and did absolutely nothing to prepare for it. The phrase came from the employee, who I'm not identifying by name, gender, or agency. Wouldn't want this person to get into trouble for speaking on a political issue.
However, to that person, I say thank you for a wonderfully succinct and apt phrase, one that Senator Meg Burton Cahill also thought was a perfect description of this mess. She used it during a floor speech last night while trying to protect Arizona from the worst depredations of the budget.
...The dynamics of next week's special session should be interesting - will Jan Brewer try to work with the Democratic caucus and the few moderate Rs in the lege to get something resembling "her" budget passed, or will she yield to the extremeists of her own party?
A lot depends on her plans for next year.
If she wants to run for a full term, she needs the wingers to get through a primary, but needs the support of moderates to win the general.
On the other hand, if she has decided, for health or aggravation reasons, to forego a run at a full term, she can just look to buttressing her legacy.
And "the accidental governor who sold out the state to ideological extremists" is *not* a great legacy.
Of course, the being Arizona, land of Ev Mecham, Fife Symington and worse, Brewer may think that's a fine way to be remembered in the history books.
Tired, dehydrated, sore and more than a little disillusioned, today was a day spent recuperating from the last couple of days.
The first three conditions could be alleviated easily - get plenty of sleep, water, and don't spend all day hunched over, pecking away at my Dell laptop.
That last was tough though - how to relieve the disillusionment?
Well, I went shopping today and came upon the cure, or at least the palliative.
Picked up a DVD copy of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.
Ahhhh...there's nothing like a bit of Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra when the old supply of wide-eyed idealism is running low. :)
...Anyway, some musings and notes from the last couple of days...
- In the giving credit where it's due department, after a fashion: Yesterday, I used the phrase "Political Katrina" to describe the goings-on. It came from a discussion I had with a state government employee who was in the gallery watching the proceedings to see if they'd have a job to go to in the morning. During our talk, this employee observed that much like with the federal government and FEMA and the Katrina debacle, everyone in the room could see the looming disaster and did absolutely nothing to prepare for it. The phrase came from the employee, who I'm not identifying by name, gender, or agency. Wouldn't want this person to get into trouble for speaking on a political issue.
However, to that person, I say thank you for a wonderfully succinct and apt phrase, one that Senator Meg Burton Cahill also thought was a perfect description of this mess. She used it during a floor speech last night while trying to protect Arizona from the worst depredations of the budget.
...The dynamics of next week's special session should be interesting - will Jan Brewer try to work with the Democratic caucus and the few moderate Rs in the lege to get something resembling "her" budget passed, or will she yield to the extremeists of her own party?
A lot depends on her plans for next year.
If she wants to run for a full term, she needs the wingers to get through a primary, but needs the support of moderates to win the general.
On the other hand, if she has decided, for health or aggravation reasons, to forego a run at a full term, she can just look to buttressing her legacy.
And "the accidental governor who sold out the state to ideological extremists" is *not* a great legacy.
Of course, the being Arizona, land of Ev Mecham, Fife Symington and worse, Brewer may think that's a fine way to be remembered in the history books.
Democratic Party statement on the passing of former Congressman Jim McNulty
From an email -
Tedski at R-Cubed has a more personal remembrance here.
Arizona Democrats lost one of their great leaders yesterday, as Former Congressman Jim McNulty died at age 83.
McNulty will be remembered by Democrats as a tireless public servant who had a bright vision for Southern Arizona. Originally from Boston, the G.I. Bill brought Jim to Arizona to study at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Following graduation, Jim worked for a Bisbee law firm. He then served as a State Senator from 1969 - 1975, followed by representing Arizona's Fifth Congressional District from 1983 - 1985.
Jim was honored to serve in the halls of Congress. He wrote a book on the experience titled Running Uphil. Jim was active in the Democratic Party for years after leaving office, helping fellow Democrats win elected office.
Don Bivens, Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party remarked, "I admired Jim, he will be missed, he was a man of principles, and a wonderful leader for Arizona."
Tedski at R-Cubed has a more personal remembrance here.
Well, that didn't take long - Special Session on tap for Monday
The Governor has vetoed part of the lege's budget package and called a special session of the legislature.
From AZCentral.com -
The Governor's statement on the matter is here; her proclamation calling for a special session is here. In addition, her veto/signing letters on each budget bill is here; and her line-item veto letter is here.
I guess we'll all be back on Monday.
Told ya the fat lady wasn't singing yet...
From AZCentral.com -
Five hours after lawmakers wrapped up their legislative session, Gov. Jan Brewer has called them back to work, beginning Monday.
She also issued line-item vetoes on what she called a "fatally flawed" budget.
The governor wants lawmakers to work on adjustments to the budget they just passed, as well as her call for a temporary increase in the state sales tax.
The Governor's statement on the matter is here; her proclamation calling for a special session is here. In addition, her veto/signing letters on each budget bill is here; and her line-item veto letter is here.
I guess we'll all be back on Monday.
Told ya the fat lady wasn't singing yet...
Ain't heard no fat lady singing yet, folks
The denizens of the lege were at it until around 7:30 a.m., making June 30, 2009 a 31 1/2 day (note: Mulder and Scully are flying in today to investigate the time dilation incident :) ).
And in spite of the all of the Republican posturing about their desire to pass a balanced budget (balanced on the backs of schools, the poor, and working families so that large corporations can have a huge tax cut), the Governor, even *if* she signs the budget, will have to call a special session of the lege.
They still need to balance the budget.
The lege played all sorts of games - holding their original budget until the last minute, passed June 4, in order to prevent an expected veto and force the Governor to sign their budget; negotiating a "compromise" with her, and then torpedoing their own compromise by refusing to vote it out of committee; killing any revenue-enhancing bills (even the odious sales tax hike), so that even when they passed the"compromise" on to the Governor, it was out of balance; even locking the doors of the Senate to keep the Governor's staff out and prevent the possible delivery of veto letters while they were still in session, forcing them to remain in session.
It was all to no avail, unless the motive behind all of the shenanigans was not to pass a balanced budget, but to ensure that Senate President Bob Burns could go on his previously-scheduled European Vacation.
Sooner or later, a special session will have to be called by the Governor in order to fix what the lege gave her. Not to make it "less draconian", just "less unbalanced."
And probably sooner than later, as school districts will be starting their academic years soon, some by the end of the month or early August.
Stay tuned.
For a summary of the provisions and a legislative session update, here's the text of an email update from the Arizona AFL-CIO (I am still too frazzled for much coherent thought and research right now) -
More later after I recover from the last couple of days (and yes, I am in far better shape than most of our legislators; I could leave when it got to be too much. They were there for the duration.
And in spite of the all of the Republican posturing about their desire to pass a balanced budget (balanced on the backs of schools, the poor, and working families so that large corporations can have a huge tax cut), the Governor, even *if* she signs the budget, will have to call a special session of the lege.
They still need to balance the budget.
The lege played all sorts of games - holding their original budget until the last minute, passed June 4, in order to prevent an expected veto and force the Governor to sign their budget; negotiating a "compromise" with her, and then torpedoing their own compromise by refusing to vote it out of committee; killing any revenue-enhancing bills (even the odious sales tax hike), so that even when they passed the"compromise" on to the Governor, it was out of balance; even locking the doors of the Senate to keep the Governor's staff out and prevent the possible delivery of veto letters while they were still in session, forcing them to remain in session.
It was all to no avail, unless the motive behind all of the shenanigans was not to pass a balanced budget, but to ensure that Senate President Bob Burns could go on his previously-scheduled European Vacation.
Sooner or later, a special session will have to be called by the Governor in order to fix what the lege gave her. Not to make it "less draconian", just "less unbalanced."
And probably sooner than later, as school districts will be starting their academic years soon, some by the end of the month or early August.
Stay tuned.
For a summary of the provisions and a legislative session update, here's the text of an email update from the Arizona AFL-CIO (I am still too frazzled for much coherent thought and research right now) -
Budget Update - July 1 at 10:00 am
Session & Budget Update-
This morning The Legislative Session adjourned sine die at 7:30 am. This means they are finished with all bill deliberations unless and until the Governor calls a future special session. It is being reported she will do this soon. The budget bills passed on June 4 along with the trailer bills passed earlier this morning have all been transmitted to the Governor.
There has been no formal statement posted on the Governor's website at this point in time. Rumor has it that she will hold a press conference or issue a formal statement as of 10:00 there has been no formal word. Many are saying she will do an extensive line-item of the general appropriations bill and veto some of the budget reconciliation bills (BRBs) and associated trailer bills. This will make it necessary for a special session to be called at some point to pass a balanced FY10 budget. There is a lot of confusion as to what this all means. When the Governor sends out a statement we will pass this information along.
About a dozen state parks closed yesterday at 4:30 and since the budget had not passed as of midnight last night they asked campers to leave last night. It was reported they would not be open for the 4th of July Weekend. If you were planning on going camping at a state park you may confirm they are open.
It was just reported from the Capitol times that the Gov. Jan Brewer's office said it would make an announcement on whether the governor would sign or veto the budget bills transmitted to her this morning. If Brewer vetoes the bills it will lead to at least a partial shutdown of state government. The Arizona Department of Administration posted a notice on its Web site at 9:42 a.m. that the governor is reviewing the budget bills, and that all state employees should report to work as scheduled.
For the votes...The Democrats in both the House and Senate were firm "NO" votes in opposition to the entire budget. In addition to their votes, Republican Representatives Lucy Mason (LD 1), Doug Quelland (LD 10), and Senators Carolyn Allen (LD 8) and Ron Gould (LD 3) also opposed the K-12 budget bill. For the revenue (tax policy) bill, the Democrats opposed as did Republican Senators Jay Tibshraeny (LD 21) and Carolyn Allen. The AEA sincerely appreciates the legislators who took a stand and voted "no" on these budget bills. Following is a summery of the budget from Arizona Education Association
FY10 BUDGET SUMMARY
(Fiscal Year 2010: July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010)
This is a summary of the bigger budget and policy items that passed the House and Senate on July 1, 2009. This is not a complete list of all the changes to education. The budget bills from June 4 along with the "trailer bills" will now be transmitted to the Governor.
TAXES (HB2644)
Permanent Repeal of the State Equalization Property Tax—aka the school tax
Permanently repeals the state equalization property tax. This is a loss of revenue to the state of approximately $250 million per year.
Reduction of Assessment Ratio for Business' Secondary Property Tax
Lowers the assessment ratio for secondary property taxes on businesses to 16% for all bonds and overrides approved after December 31, 2011. This will potentially make it harder for school districts, community colleges, counties, and cities/towns to pass bonds and overrides because there will be a property tax shift from business to homeowners.
Vehicle License Tax (VLT) used to offset basic state aid
Sweeps $22 million in VLT from cities and towns in FY10 to pay a portion of basic state aid for education.
K-12 EDUCATION (HB2648)
Fails to actually fund the 2% inflation to school districts
Section 9 in HB2648 sets the base level for FY10 at $3,267.72 which gives school districts the full 2% inflation factor. However, in section 25, there is a notwithstanding clause which then removes the 2% inflation to the base and instead sets the base level at $3,201.89 for FY10. From a historical standpoint, here are the base funding levels for the past two fiscal years:
2007-08 school year (FY08): $3,226.88
2008-2009 school year (FY09): $3,291.42
2009-2010 school year (FY10): $3,201.89 (this is the actual base level amount per student that a school district will receive)
The $3,201.89 amount for FY10 results in an amount that includes the reduction of the $121 million in education funding cuts that were part of the FY09 budget fix passed on January 31, 2009. Unfortunately, the '09 cuts have become part of the permanent new baseline number for education.
Soft Capital Reduction
Cuts soft capital funding an additional $175 million on January 1, 2010. The general appropriation trailer bill (HB2643) restores this funding if sufficient excess revenues are available by December 2009. (Note, without the sales tax, there will be no additional revenue available for this restoration.)
School districts with fewer than 600 students will be impacted with only half of this reduction. Of the remaining statewide allocation of soft capital funds (approximately $23 million total), a district may use their local share for any operating expenses.
No Funding for Utility Costs
Fails to provide any funding for the new utility formula that was passed last session for "excess utilities" (this is an $80 million cut to school districts that previously levied for "excess utilities").
Teacher Performance Pay
Reduces the Career Ladder program funding by 0.5% for FY10 (from 5.5% to 5%) and limits this program only to teachers who participated in FY09 (the 2008-09 school year).
Reinstates the new but unfunded teacher performance pay program that was established last session (the " Gilbert School District " proposal to provide the additional Career Ladder funding to all school districts).
Overrides and Bonds
Extends the timeframe during which a school district can issue a bond from six years to ten years after obtaining voter approval (this is only for future bonds to be approved by voters).
Permits a school district to issue Class B bonds for furniture, equipment, and technology provided that the bonds mature within five fiscal years after the bonds are issued.
Raises the maximum budget increase a school district may request for a Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Override from 10% of the Revenue Control Limit (RCL) to 15% of the RCL.
Establishes a Special Program Override by expanding the scope of the K-3 Override to allow for a program to be designed for any or all of the K-12 students. Specifies that the maximum amount a school district may request for an M&O Override is 10% of the RCL if the school district also requests a Special Program Override.
Authorizes a school district, for FY10, to conduct an election in March 2010 and submit one of the following proposals to the voters of the district:A 15% M&O override that, if approved, replaces any previously authorized M&O and K-3 overrides.
An additional 5% M&O or Special Program override if the voters of the school district authorize a 10% M&O override at the November 2009 election.
A 17% M&O override for a common school district if an M&O and K-3 override are still in effect on this bill's effective date. The 17% override, if approved, replaces any previously approved M&O and K-3 overrides and continues for the number of years of the previously approved K-3 override.
Permits a school board to cancel an override election scheduled for November 2009 by August 1, 2009.
Policy Changes Targeted Against Teachers & Association Members (HB2648 & SB1187)
Prohibits school district employment contracts from including compensated days for professional association activities. (New language added to the bill states that this policy change "does not prohibit individual employees of school districts from taking compensated leave time for any personal purpose, any professional purpose or any other lawful purpose.")
Prohibits a school district from adopting policies that provide employment retention priority for teachers based on tenure or seniority.
Removes the current prohibition against school districts reducing the salary of a tenured teacher except under a general salary reduction applied equitably to all tenured teachers.
Removes the contract dates (between March 15 and May 15) in which districts are required to offer teaching contracts for tenured teachers. Thus, there will be no date in statute set for contracts and school districts will each set their own contract notification deadline.
Eliminates the May 15 statutory deadline for notice of salary reduction. Instead allows each school district to set its own salary reduction deadline for teachers.
Removes current statute that requires a school board to notify a provisional teacher of nonrenewal by April 15; thus, there will be no date in statute set for this notification.
Removes the current statutory requirement for a school district to give a preferred right of reappointment to a job for a teacher who has lost his/her job through the reduction in force (RIF) process if a job becomes available within three years of the RIF process.
Reduces the time frame for requesting a hearing on dismissal or long-term suspension from 30 days to 10 days.
Reduces the amount of a time a school district must allow a teacher to correct inadequate classroom performance from 85 instructional days to 60 instructional days after receiving notice.
More later after I recover from the last couple of days (and yes, I am in far better shape than most of our legislators; I could leave when it got to be too much. They were there for the duration.
Good God, they're still at it...
I left over an hour-and-a-half ago, gave somebody a lift home, got detoured because of some road construction, made a small dinner, and checked in on the Senate's website, and they're still going strong.
Though strong may be the wrong word for it. :)
Anyway, they are considering the general government trailer bill and it's going to fail. Burns is holding the vote open to allow for some arm-twisting.
Harper and Carolyn Allen are both voting no (Jack Harper?!?), and Burns needs both votes to pass the bill.
Internet glitched; not sure what happened.
They've moved on to another bill, though.
Update: I'm not sure, but I think the bill passed. Most of the rest of the bills are passing 16 - 12.
Update2: They're substituting the House budget bills in for the Senate bills that they passed earlier this morning.
Update3: Now they're recessing into caucus meetings, and I'm going to bed.
Good night...
Though strong may be the wrong word for it. :)
Anyway, they are considering the general government trailer bill and it's going to fail. Burns is holding the vote open to allow for some arm-twisting.
Harper and Carolyn Allen are both voting no (Jack Harper?!?), and Burns needs both votes to pass the bill.
Internet glitched; not sure what happened.
They've moved on to another bill, though.
Update: I'm not sure, but I think the bill passed. Most of the rest of the bills are passing 16 - 12.
Update2: They're substituting the House budget bills in for the Senate bills that they passed earlier this morning.
Update3: Now they're recessing into caucus meetings, and I'm going to bed.
Good night...
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Senate floor session
1:05 - They win. They've outlasted me. I am out of here. If the state shuts down, don't call me in the morning...
1:03 - HB2222, special license plates, passes.
1:02 - Yahoo! Mail down.
1:00 - HB2207, behavior, analysts. Passes.
12:58 - HB2157, Wildlife, aquatic invasive species. Passes.
12:58 - HB2156, Fire insurance premium tax, report. Passes.
12:56 - HB2049, performance management software. Fails.
12:55 - HB2001, State monuments, repair funds, purposes. Passes.
12:52 - HB2419, Appraisal guidelines, state lands. Passes.
12:50 - McCune-Davis brings up time; Burns says that we are "still in the session day" of June 30. "Real world" time vs. "Senate" time.
12:49 - COW ends.
12:47 - COW for SB1307. Passes COW.
12:46 - Now Rich Crandall is with Pearce.
12:45 - Carl Seel or Laurin Hendrix is sitting with Jack Harper (I can't tell them apart, and that's not a shot at either one. They really do look alike.)
12:41 - John Kavanagh is hanging with his ideological soulmate, Russell Pearce
12:39 - Meg Burton Cahill roundly criticizing Gould (and the Reps) for their conduct and disparagement of Democrats and their motives.
12:38 - Gould calls on Dems to stop being "dilatory" by trying to have input or even enough info to understand the bills that they are voting on.
12:36 - Linda Lopez advised that since it is after midnight (even if the clocks have been turned off), that Burns is in violation of the court order from last week about transmitting budget bills before the end of the fiscal year.
12:35 - End of COW.
12:33 - HB2327, PSPRS omnibus, passes COW after some Gorman floor amendments. No questions allowed; apparently the Senate Republican Whip doesn't like Democrats trying to understand the effects of the language that they are voting on.
12:28 - HB2325, EORP omnibus amendments; passes COW
12:27 - COW, Leff as chair.
12:26 - Gray calls the question. Motion passes.
12:23 - Defeating Hale amendment to protect the use of Impact Aid to reservation school districts
12:20 - Hale bringing up tea parties in support of returning tax revenue generated on reservations to the reservations. DO NOT MENTION TEA PARTIES TO THIS CROWD!! That's like Viagra to the wingers!
12:18 - Call the cops! There is illegal gambling going on in front of the lege! Jerry Weiers and some of his friends are pitching quarters! Closest to the wall win! Oh, the humanity!
12:11 - Defeating Hale amendment to restore Commission on Indian Affairs
12:09 - Steve Pierce tried to silence Meg Burton Cahill. It didn't work.
12:07 - Anybody have a sausage-making video? It's got to be better than this...
12:05 - Defeating Burton-Cahill amendment to help teachers
12:03 - Ed Ableser and David Schapira among the House members who have walked across the quad, Patterson and Deschene here, too.
12:00 - Defeating Rios amendment to restore soft capital reduction to K-12.
12:00 - midnight, and no budget.
11:56 - Defeating Aboud amendment to add $2 million to DES for aging services
11:52 - Defeating Rios amendment to increase DES funding for children's services
11:50 - Defeating Aboud amendment to restore DHS $ for hunger programs.
11:48 - Defeating another Democratic amendment...this is going *very* fast...
11:47 - Pushing toward midnight...
11:45 - Defeating a Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidCare Parents.
11:44 - Defeating a Landrum Taylor amendment to restore the Indian Affairs Commission.
11:42 - Harper getting snippy over Garcia spending more time with the Governor than him.
11:39 - Doing the bills. Dems offering floor amendments with roll call vote.
1:03 - HB2222, special license plates, passes.
1:02 - Yahoo! Mail down.
1:00 - HB2207, behavior, analysts. Passes.
12:58 - HB2157, Wildlife, aquatic invasive species. Passes.
12:58 - HB2156, Fire insurance premium tax, report. Passes.
12:56 - HB2049, performance management software. Fails.
12:55 - HB2001, State monuments, repair funds, purposes. Passes.
12:52 - HB2419, Appraisal guidelines, state lands. Passes.
12:50 - McCune-Davis brings up time; Burns says that we are "still in the session day" of June 30. "Real world" time vs. "Senate" time.
12:49 - COW ends.
12:47 - COW for SB1307. Passes COW.
12:46 - Now Rich Crandall is with Pearce.
12:45 - Carl Seel or Laurin Hendrix is sitting with Jack Harper (I can't tell them apart, and that's not a shot at either one. They really do look alike.)
12:41 - John Kavanagh is hanging with his ideological soulmate, Russell Pearce
12:39 - Meg Burton Cahill roundly criticizing Gould (and the Reps) for their conduct and disparagement of Democrats and their motives.
12:38 - Gould calls on Dems to stop being "dilatory" by trying to have input or even enough info to understand the bills that they are voting on.
12:36 - Linda Lopez advised that since it is after midnight (even if the clocks have been turned off), that Burns is in violation of the court order from last week about transmitting budget bills before the end of the fiscal year.
12:35 - End of COW.
12:33 - HB2327, PSPRS omnibus, passes COW after some Gorman floor amendments. No questions allowed; apparently the Senate Republican Whip doesn't like Democrats trying to understand the effects of the language that they are voting on.
12:28 - HB2325, EORP omnibus amendments; passes COW
12:27 - COW, Leff as chair.
12:26 - Gray calls the question. Motion passes.
12:23 - Defeating Hale amendment to protect the use of Impact Aid to reservation school districts
12:20 - Hale bringing up tea parties in support of returning tax revenue generated on reservations to the reservations. DO NOT MENTION TEA PARTIES TO THIS CROWD!! That's like Viagra to the wingers!
12:18 - Call the cops! There is illegal gambling going on in front of the lege! Jerry Weiers and some of his friends are pitching quarters! Closest to the wall win! Oh, the humanity!
12:11 - Defeating Hale amendment to restore Commission on Indian Affairs
12:09 - Steve Pierce tried to silence Meg Burton Cahill. It didn't work.
12:07 - Anybody have a sausage-making video? It's got to be better than this...
12:05 - Defeating Burton-Cahill amendment to help teachers
12:03 - Ed Ableser and David Schapira among the House members who have walked across the quad, Patterson and Deschene here, too.
12:00 - Defeating Rios amendment to restore soft capital reduction to K-12.
12:00 - midnight, and no budget.
11:56 - Defeating Aboud amendment to add $2 million to DES for aging services
11:52 - Defeating Rios amendment to increase DES funding for children's services
11:50 - Defeating Aboud amendment to restore DHS $ for hunger programs.
11:48 - Defeating another Democratic amendment...this is going *very* fast...
11:47 - Pushing toward midnight...
11:45 - Defeating a Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidCare Parents.
11:44 - Defeating a Landrum Taylor amendment to restore the Indian Affairs Commission.
11:42 - Harper getting snippy over Garcia spending more time with the Governor than him.
11:39 - Doing the bills. Dems offering floor amendments with roll call vote.
Senate COWIng budget bills...aka the Washington and 19 Railroad
11:38 - COW rises.
11:36 - Lopez amendment to require school districts to offer contracts by April 15. Defeated.
11:34 - Burton Cahill amendment to restore statutory provisions to keep school districts from arbitrarily reducing a teacher's salary, and to give preference to laid off teachers during rehiring time. Defeated.
11:32 - Rios amendment to protect paid days for association activities. Defeated.
11:31 - Jumped the gun again. Lopez expressed her support. Defeated anyway.
11:29 - Rios amendment to restore $175 million soft capital reduction foisted off on school districts. Defeated.
11:27 - Hale amendment to protect school districts on military and Indian reservations. Defeated.
11:27 - SB1480, K-12 Ed
11:26 - SB1477, Higher Ed, no Dem amendments
11:25 - Wow! I have influence! Sen. Burton Cahill used the "political Katrina" line!! Whoo hooo!
11:23 - SB1476, Environment, no Dem amendments. Burton Cahill asking Burns about park closures and the fact that while there is funding for the parks, there is no authorization to use the funds.
11:20 - SB1475, Criminal Justice. No Dem amendments.
11:19 - SB1474, State properties. No Dem amendments offered.
11:18 - McCune-Davis amendment relating to science foundation funding. Defeated. The gallery is packed.
11:18 - Burton-Cahill amendment to protect cities and towns and the lege's ban on development fees. Defeated.
11:16 - Aboud amendment relating to development fees and a uniform development fee commission. Her amendment would put folks from different parties on it. Defeated.
11:16 - SB1473, General Government
11:14 - Hale amendment defeated.
11:13 - Got premature with my post of the 11:11 item. Paula Aboud is expressing her support.
11:11 - Hale amendment to return some reservation-generated tax revenues to the reservations. Defeated.
11:10 - Garcia amendment regarding secondary assessment rates and commercial property assessments. Defeated.
11:08 - Garcia amendment to expand the sales tax base and lower the rate. Defeated.
11:07 - Garcia amendment to allow the return of the state equalization tax. Defeated.
11:06 - SB1472, General Revenues.
11:06 - Lopes amendment to protect child care providers from state fee hikes. Defeated.
11:05 - Aguirre amendment to help counties. Defeated.
11:03 - Aboud amendment to grandfather in current recipients of domestic partner benefits. Defeated.
11:02 - Aboud amendment relating to the removal of domestic partner benefits from state employees. Defeated.
11:01 - Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidsCare Parents. Defeated.
11:00 - SB1471, Budget trailer - Health and Welfare
11:00 - 10 Democratic amendments offered, 10 Democratic amendments killed.
10:56 - Waring is ready for his next career as conductor. I don't think even Mussolini had the trains running this efficiently.
10:53 - Defeating Burton-Cahill and Garcia amendments.
10:51 - railroading past (defeating) Aguirre and Hale amendments. No debate going on tonight. How appropriate for this farce.
10:50 - Doing amendments to SB1470, general approps. Defeating Aboud amendments
11:36 - Lopez amendment to require school districts to offer contracts by April 15. Defeated.
11:34 - Burton Cahill amendment to restore statutory provisions to keep school districts from arbitrarily reducing a teacher's salary, and to give preference to laid off teachers during rehiring time. Defeated.
11:32 - Rios amendment to protect paid days for association activities. Defeated.
11:31 - Jumped the gun again. Lopez expressed her support. Defeated anyway.
11:29 - Rios amendment to restore $175 million soft capital reduction foisted off on school districts. Defeated.
11:27 - Hale amendment to protect school districts on military and Indian reservations. Defeated.
11:27 - SB1480, K-12 Ed
11:26 - SB1477, Higher Ed, no Dem amendments
11:25 - Wow! I have influence! Sen. Burton Cahill used the "political Katrina" line!! Whoo hooo!
11:23 - SB1476, Environment, no Dem amendments. Burton Cahill asking Burns about park closures and the fact that while there is funding for the parks, there is no authorization to use the funds.
11:20 - SB1475, Criminal Justice. No Dem amendments.
11:19 - SB1474, State properties. No Dem amendments offered.
11:18 - McCune-Davis amendment relating to science foundation funding. Defeated. The gallery is packed.
11:18 - Burton-Cahill amendment to protect cities and towns and the lege's ban on development fees. Defeated.
11:16 - Aboud amendment relating to development fees and a uniform development fee commission. Her amendment would put folks from different parties on it. Defeated.
11:16 - SB1473, General Government
11:14 - Hale amendment defeated.
11:13 - Got premature with my post of the 11:11 item. Paula Aboud is expressing her support.
11:11 - Hale amendment to return some reservation-generated tax revenues to the reservations. Defeated.
11:10 - Garcia amendment regarding secondary assessment rates and commercial property assessments. Defeated.
11:08 - Garcia amendment to expand the sales tax base and lower the rate. Defeated.
11:07 - Garcia amendment to allow the return of the state equalization tax. Defeated.
11:06 - SB1472, General Revenues.
11:06 - Lopes amendment to protect child care providers from state fee hikes. Defeated.
11:05 - Aguirre amendment to help counties. Defeated.
11:03 - Aboud amendment to grandfather in current recipients of domestic partner benefits. Defeated.
11:02 - Aboud amendment relating to the removal of domestic partner benefits from state employees. Defeated.
11:01 - Landrum Taylor amendment to restore KidsCare Parents. Defeated.
11:00 - SB1471, Budget trailer - Health and Welfare
11:00 - 10 Democratic amendments offered, 10 Democratic amendments killed.
10:56 - Waring is ready for his next career as conductor. I don't think even Mussolini had the trains running this efficiently.
10:53 - Defeating Burton-Cahill and Garcia amendments.
10:51 - railroading past (defeating) Aguirre and Hale amendments. No debate going on tonight. How appropriate for this farce.
10:50 - Doing amendments to SB1470, general approps. Defeating Aboud amendments
Less than 2 hours to Political Katrina
It looks like no tax bills will be heard in the Senate, flat or sales, so maybe they'll pass an unbalanced budget.
No Senate activity right now, but the House is still in COW.
No Senate activity right now, but the House is still in COW.
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