The ruling by federal judge Susan Bolton blocking parts of the new anti-immigrant law in AZ should quiet things, at least until the case is appealed to the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. But it won't.
People in AZ should now have the time to discuss Arizona's pathetic, among-the-nation's-worst K-12 education system, but they won't do it.
People in AZ should now have the time to discuss Arizona's unsafe school buildings, but they won't do it.
People in AZ should now have the time to discuss Arizona's crumbling infrastructure and transportation system, but they won't do it.
People in AZ should have the time to discuss Arizona's gaping maw of a budget deficit, and the accounting tricks and wishful thinking used to "balance" this year's budget, but they won't do it.
People in AZ should have the time to discuss the state's structural deficit and Jan Brewer et. al's plan to make it better by making it worse, but they won't do it.
People in AZ should have the time to discuss the utter dysfunctionality of Arizona's government at all levels, but they won't do it.
People in AZ should have the time to discuss the fact that too many of our elected officials do nothing more than bring ridicule and scorn upon our state, but they won't do it.
People in AZ should have the time to discuss the collapse of the Ponzi-scheme like Arizona economy (people would buy or build houses and make a profit by selling them to the people who came after them, which worked fine until fewer people arrived in AZ than there were houses to sell to them), but they won't do it.
There are a lot of things that ail Arizona that the people here could finally focus on and work to address, but they won't do it.
It's easier to be distracted by the "it's all the fault of the Brown people!" crowd than to actually participate in and discuss civic affairs.
Unless the people in this state who actually care about it and its future refuse to allow themselves to be distracted by the histrionics and insist that the public discussion cover all relevent topics, not just the ones that Brewer, Pearce, and the rest want to use to scare the public.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Breaking: significant parts of SB1070 blocked by federal judge
This fight is hardly over, and the Republicans/nativists are sure to appeal the ruling, but this is still great news...
From the Arizona Republic -
Terry Goddard, Arizona's Attorney General and a candidate for governor issued the following statement:
Breaking news in a breaking news post: I'm not sure if it is related to the ruling, though the timing is certainly eyebrow-raising, but the Downtown Justice Court building (NOT the federal court or Maricopa County Superior Court buildings in Phoenix) has been locked down due to a suspicious package. No one is being let in or out of the building. The MCSO has been called. More info as it becomes available. (confirmed by a call to the Justice Courts administration office)
The text of the judge's ruling, courtesy the Arizona Republic, here.
Arizona Capitol Times coverage here.
CNN coverage here.
From the Arizona Republic -
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton has issued a preliminary injunction preventing several sections of Arizona's new immigration law from becoming law, at least until the courts have a chance to hear the full case.Parts of the law will remain in effect, including provisions allowing individuals to sue law enforcement agencies/political subdivisions who don't enforce immigration law enthusiastically enough and those making it a misdemeanor to harbor or transport undocumented immigrants. Full hearings on the law will take place in the near future.
Key parts of Senate Bill 1070 that will not go into effect Thursday:
• The portion of the law that requires an officer make a reasonable attempt to determine the immigration status of a person stopped, detained or arrested if there's reasonable suspicion they're in the country illegally.
• The portion that creates a crime of failure to apply for or carry "alien-registration papers."
• The portion that makes it a crime for illegal immigrants to solicit, apply for or perform work. (This does not include the section on day laborers.)
• The portion that allows for a warrantless arrest of a person where there is probable cause to believe they have committed a public offense that makes them removable from the United States.
Terry Goddard, Arizona's Attorney General and a candidate for governor issued the following statement:
Jan Brewer played politics with immigration, and she lost.There were expected to be protests in downtown Phoenix, expressing objections to the law. Now, however, the protests are expected to be from those opposed to the ruling.
Rather than providing the leadership Arizona needs to solve the immigration problem, Jan Brewer signed a bill she could not defend in court which has led to boycotts, jeopardized our tourism industry and polarized our state.
It is time to look beyond election year grandstanding and begin to repair the damage to Arizona's image and economy.
Perhaps now we in Arizona can focus on effective steps to fight border crime and keep our families safe. Now we can focus on steps, such as the ones I have been taking, to go after border crime and cut off the cash that flows to organized criminal cartels that smuggle thousands into the U.S.
Now, we should start making smart decisions about immigration - beyond sound bites, fear mongering and political stunts.
Breaking news in a breaking news post: I'm not sure if it is related to the ruling, though the timing is certainly eyebrow-raising, but the Downtown Justice Court building (NOT the federal court or Maricopa County Superior Court buildings in Phoenix) has been locked down due to a suspicious package. No one is being let in or out of the building. The MCSO has been called. More info as it becomes available. (confirmed by a call to the Justice Courts administration office)
The text of the judge's ruling, courtesy the Arizona Republic, here.
Arizona Capitol Times coverage here.
CNN coverage here.
More candidate updates...
Edit later on 7/28 to update school board race info...
The Maricopa County Recorder's office has posted a list of candidates who have submitted petitions for non-partisan general election races. The list is incomplete as the deadline for submitting petitions for those races is August 4.
Highlights (so far):
There are 6 candidates so far for the 5 open seats on the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD), better known as the Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project.
One candidate, Tim Bray, is a current member of the Board. The other five who have already submitted petitions are challengers. The sig requirement for the race is 200. Most of the candidates gathered 350 - 720, except for challenger Arif Kazmi, a career engineer.
He submitted over 1700.
The next highest total so far is from Frank Fairbanks, the former City Manager of Phoenix. He submitted a total of 714 sigs.
Anyway, no list of school board candidates is up yet. I'm not sure if the County Recorder will list those or if that's left to each individual district.
Updates when available.
Edit on 7/28 -
Apparently, I'm not the only one whose mind turned toward some of the down-ballot races in the last day or so. The Arizona Republic has a piece on its website regarding the high number of potential school board candidates in the Kyrene and Tempe Union High School districts.
That piece led to the website of the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools, which contains a list of candidates who have submitted paperwork so far.
End edit...
In other news:
...There's been one *really* late withdrawal, this one from the race for the state senate seat in LD19 (East Mesa). James Molina dropped out of the Republican primary there, leaving an all but clear path to the seat for current state rep Rich Crandall (R). There is one Libertarian write-in candidate who has declared for the seat, but even if he qualifies for the November ballot, Crandall should cruise to the victory (no D is in the race).
Wouldn't it be embarrassing if Crandall lost the race to someone who wasn't even in it? It's theoretically possible, as ballots have already been printed. Even though he has dropped out of the race, Molina's name still appears on the ballot.
...The Brewer campaign is already taking a victory lap in the R gubernortorial primary, as they are refusing to participate in any debates with her lone remaining challenger in the R primary, Matthew Jette.
...On Monday, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will appoint someone to fill the seat of the ousted Doug Quelland (R-LD10) in the AZ House of Representatives. The possible choices are: Kimberly Yee, Francine Romeburg, and Henry Grosjean. I don't know anything about any of them other than Yee, who is a candidate in August's primary. According to the Arizona Guardian (subscription required), Jan Brewer is supporting Yee for the appointment, which means she is probably completely unqualified for the spot.
While Quelland has been removed from the lege, he remains a candidate for election to the next lege.
Some might think this is a meaningless appointment as the lege's session has ended, and it may yet prove to be so. However, there is a persistent rumor that there will be a special session after the elections in November to railroad through the Reps' corporate tax cuts bill.
Which may explain Brewer's push for a pet candidate.
Later...
The Maricopa County Recorder's office has posted a list of candidates who have submitted petitions for non-partisan general election races. The list is incomplete as the deadline for submitting petitions for those races is August 4.
Highlights (so far):
There are 6 candidates so far for the 5 open seats on the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD), better known as the Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Project.
One candidate, Tim Bray, is a current member of the Board. The other five who have already submitted petitions are challengers. The sig requirement for the race is 200. Most of the candidates gathered 350 - 720, except for challenger Arif Kazmi, a career engineer.
He submitted over 1700.
The next highest total so far is from Frank Fairbanks, the former City Manager of Phoenix. He submitted a total of 714 sigs.
Anyway, no list of school board candidates is up yet. I'm not sure if the County Recorder will list those or if that's left to each individual district.
Updates when available.
Edit on 7/28 -
Apparently, I'm not the only one whose mind turned toward some of the down-ballot races in the last day or so. The Arizona Republic has a piece on its website regarding the high number of potential school board candidates in the Kyrene and Tempe Union High School districts.
That piece led to the website of the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools, which contains a list of candidates who have submitted paperwork so far.
End edit...
In other news:
...There's been one *really* late withdrawal, this one from the race for the state senate seat in LD19 (East Mesa). James Molina dropped out of the Republican primary there, leaving an all but clear path to the seat for current state rep Rich Crandall (R). There is one Libertarian write-in candidate who has declared for the seat, but even if he qualifies for the November ballot, Crandall should cruise to the victory (no D is in the race).
Wouldn't it be embarrassing if Crandall lost the race to someone who wasn't even in it? It's theoretically possible, as ballots have already been printed. Even though he has dropped out of the race, Molina's name still appears on the ballot.
...The Brewer campaign is already taking a victory lap in the R gubernortorial primary, as they are refusing to participate in any debates with her lone remaining challenger in the R primary, Matthew Jette.
...On Monday, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will appoint someone to fill the seat of the ousted Doug Quelland (R-LD10) in the AZ House of Representatives. The possible choices are: Kimberly Yee, Francine Romeburg, and Henry Grosjean. I don't know anything about any of them other than Yee, who is a candidate in August's primary. According to the Arizona Guardian (subscription required), Jan Brewer is supporting Yee for the appointment, which means she is probably completely unqualified for the spot.
While Quelland has been removed from the lege, he remains a candidate for election to the next lege.
Some might think this is a meaningless appointment as the lege's session has ended, and it may yet prove to be so. However, there is a persistent rumor that there will be a special session after the elections in November to railroad through the Reps' corporate tax cuts bill.
Which may explain Brewer's push for a pet candidate.
Later...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Unseemly corporate influence doesn't just come in the form of direct contributions
Came across this press release, and since it involved both Arizona elections and Arizona American Water, it really piqued my interest...
From the press release:
And if you don't think that this kind of investment can pay off for Arizona American Water and various utilities. you should remember that the Corporation Commission is the body that approves/disapproves utility rate hike requests, requests that can generate millions of dollars per year in addition revenues and profits for the utilities and their corporate owners like Pinnacle West (APS) and American Water (Arizona American Water.)
Oh, and AZAm Water's press release boilerplate about "providing high-quality and reliable water"?
Thousands of residents in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley would beg to differ.
BTW - I'm not *entirely* down on all of the ACC candidates who are participating in the corporate sponsored forum.
Forecast high temp for Phoenix tomorrow: 101.
Forecast high temp for Flagstaff tomorrow: 78.
:)
From the press release:
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arizona American Water will team up with members of the Arizona Investment Council, the Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association (GCSECA) and the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce to sponsor a candidate forum for the six candidates running for the two vacancies at the Arizona Corporation Commission. Each candidate will give opening remarks and then answer various questions by a moderator.OK, it's not a direct contribution, nor is it even a third party expenditure on a race. What it is, however, is some "regulatees" ponying up some cash for the privilege of schmoozing with "regulators."
WHAT: ACC Candidate Forum
WHEN: Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Little America Hotel, 2515 East Butler Avenue, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004
WHY: All six candidates for the two vacancies on the Arizona Corporation Commission have expressed a commitment to participate in the forum. The candidates include: David Bradley (D-Tucson), Brenda Burns (R-Phoenix), Jorge Luis Garcia (D-Tucson), Renz Jennings (D-Phoenix), Gary Pierce (R-Mesa), and Barry Wong (R-Phoenix)
Arizona American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 350,000 people.
And if you don't think that this kind of investment can pay off for Arizona American Water and various utilities. you should remember that the Corporation Commission is the body that approves/disapproves utility rate hike requests, requests that can generate millions of dollars per year in addition revenues and profits for the utilities and their corporate owners like Pinnacle West (APS) and American Water (Arizona American Water.)
Oh, and AZAm Water's press release boilerplate about "providing high-quality and reliable water"?
Thousands of residents in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley would beg to differ.
BTW - I'm not *entirely* down on all of the ACC candidates who are participating in the corporate sponsored forum.
Forecast high temp for Phoenix tomorrow: 101.
Forecast high temp for Flagstaff tomorrow: 78.
:)
Scottsdale candidate forums
Thanks go out to the AZ Republic for the heads-up on these...
The next one will be on Monday and it will involve the Republicans running for the two House seats in LD8.
The first of those will be on Monday, September 20 in the City Hall Kiva at 6 p.m. That one is sponsored by the Brown Avenue Merchant's Association.
On Tuesday, September 21, the Citizens Clean Elections Commission will hold its LD8 general election candidate forum at the Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottdale 85253
On Monday, September 27, the Arizona Republic is sponsoring a forum to be held in the studios of CityCable11 (no room for an audience, but it will be televised.)
A week after that, October 4, the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors will hold their forum for City Council candidates, in the City Hall Kiva.
Later...
The next one will be on Monday and it will involve the Republicans running for the two House seats in LD8.
Arizona Republic Debate for State HouseThere will be a few forums in September.
Date: Monday, August 2, 2010
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: CityCable 11 Studio (cannot accommodate audience)
Broadcast LIVE on CityCable Channel 11
Also watch it LIVE online
Cost: n/a
Event Description: Arizona Republic Debate for State House
The first of those will be on Monday, September 20 in the City Hall Kiva at 6 p.m. That one is sponsored by the Brown Avenue Merchant's Association.
On Tuesday, September 21, the Citizens Clean Elections Commission will hold its LD8 general election candidate forum at the Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottdale 85253
On Monday, September 27, the Arizona Republic is sponsoring a forum to be held in the studios of CityCable11 (no room for an audience, but it will be televised.)
A week after that, October 4, the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors will hold their forum for City Council candidates, in the City Hall Kiva.
Later...
Monday, July 26, 2010
More fun with signs...
Keeping up with the theme of the last post...
It seems as if the Republicans really have their claws out for each other this year.
It seems as if the Republicans really have their claws out for each other this year.
This sign was spotted at the intersection of Rio Salado Parkway and Priest Drive in Tempe, in the heart of CD5.
Note the add-on banner in the upper left portion of the sign.
"CO-SPONSORED AND VOTED FOR SB1070"
Which would be fine in a "I'm not going to vote for him anyway, so even that doesn't lower my opinion of him" sort of way, except for one thing -
Ward has never held elected office, much less a seat in the Arizona legislature. He never had the opportunity to co-sponsor and vote for SB1070.
To be fair to Mr. Ward, I don't actually believe his campaign added the false statement to his sign. Yes, every R in the state is trying to jump on the nativist bandwagon, but even they hesitate at such a blatant lie...
...OK, they don't hesitate to lie so much as they hesitate to be *caught* lying, and that one is very easily debunked.
On the other hand, they don't hesitate to be caught lying, when they can make it look like someone else is doing the lying.
And the Schweikert campaign is also using the add-on banner gimmick on their signs, with the same white lettering on a red background.
Hmmm....
BTW - As of this afternoon anyway, the banner on the sign pictured above has been changed to "Endorsed by Congressman John Shadegg.".
BTW2 - The campaign claws are out and boy are they sharp this cycle. There are a huge number of pro-Schweikert trolls (or one pasty-complexioned one with absolutely no life) posting praise for Schweikert and criticism of Ward on all of the R blogs and many of the AZRep articles covering the CD5 primary. Given the amount of personal wealth that Schweikert, Ward, and a couple of the others have invested in the race to challenge Democratic incumbent Harry Mitchell, look for things to get even nastier than sign games and troll droppings.
Republican Primary Mudslinging: New 2nd Favorite Website
As a Democrat, I'm proud that most, if not all, of the D primary races have been run clean and on the issues. The personal and ad hominem attacks have been all but nonexistent.
As a writer, I'm bored by the Democratic races. Civility and professionalism are great qualities in elected officials and candidates; they're lousy topics for more than the occasional post.
Fortunately, the Republicans have stepped into the gap. Enthusiastically. :)
Two and a half weeks ago, I wrote about my newest favorite website, Crazy Jack Harper. That site highlights some of Harper's embarrassing behavior...at least, it's behavior that would be embarrassing to any public official who takes their responsibilities seriously. The site reads like a Republican site, if only because it doesn't criticize Harper for his political positions, only for silly,unprofessional, and (possibly) unethical acts while in office. As yet, however, no one has officially taken credit for the site.
Oopsie.
A lawyer who flouts the law (like Horne, apparently) is bad; a lawyer who doesn't know the law (like Thomas, apparently) isn't exactly better.
It's an election year, and it looks like Jan Brewer isn't the only R whose campaign motto is "Damn the facts! Full distort ahead!"
The next four weeks are going to be fun....
As a writer, I'm bored by the Democratic races. Civility and professionalism are great qualities in elected officials and candidates; they're lousy topics for more than the occasional post.
Fortunately, the Republicans have stepped into the gap. Enthusiastically. :)
Two and a half weeks ago, I wrote about my newest favorite website, Crazy Jack Harper. That site highlights some of Harper's embarrassing behavior...at least, it's behavior that would be embarrassing to any public official who takes their responsibilities seriously. The site reads like a Republican site, if only because it doesn't criticize Harper for his political positions, only for silly,unprofessional, and (possibly) unethical acts while in office. As yet, however, no one has officially taken credit for the site.
In a sign that the Republican primary season is heating up, another anti-Republican candidate website has popped up, and they aren't trying to be subtle with this one - another R campaign is taking credit for it in the "Paid for by..." boilerplate at the bottom of the page.
The pic below was emailed to me from a regular reader. It's of a sign erected at Hardy and Southern in Tempe.
The website listed at the bottom of the sign, stoptom.com, redirects a surfer to "thetomhornetruth.com."
That website lists a litany of Horne's alleged sins against Arizona Republican orthodoxy - he's had his securities trading license suspended by the SEC (I thought support for financial fraudsters *was* a primary plank on the GOP platform), he voted for sales tax increases while in the lege in the 1990s (he's hardly the only one - the only tax the Rs actually like is the ever-regressive sales tax), and so on - including one that his anti-immigrant bonafides aren't strong enough.
Most of the points raised on the website either fall into the category of "light on substance" (the SEC stuff is *40* years old) or irrelevent to the AG's race (umm,,,"sales tax"? "Abortion"? Pray tell, how is either matter germane to the AG's office?).
However, relevance and substance don't seem to matter to the authors of the website. It's all about winning the R primary.
The bottom line of the page:
PAID FOR BY THE THOMAS FOR AG COMMITTEE
Hypocrisy alert: Part of the Thomas campaign's diatribe against Horne is running down a list of Horne's speeding tickets.
From the site:
On Friday, August 21, 2009, the Arizona Republic broke a story reporting that Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne received six photo radar tickets in 18 months, including one for speeding in a school zone.
Sounds damning, doesn't it? An attorney, and a candidate for state attorney general, regularly flouting the law?
It would be damning, except for the fact that Andrew Thomas proudly and loudly refused to prosecute photo radar citations.
He also seems to have screwed up in knowledge of the law.
From the site:
Officer Mataele issued a criminal citation to Horne, charging him with violating A.R.S. 28-701.02 A2. This is a CRIMINAL charge (not civil) that subjected Horne to a maximum possible sentence of six (6) months in jail, three (3) years probation and a $2,500 fine.
According to A.R.S. 28-701.02 B, a violation of A2 is a class 3 misdemeanor.
OK, that doesn't prove Thomas' lack of knowledge of Arizona law...except that A.R.S. 13-707 sets the jail time for a class three misdemeanor at 30 days, and A.R.S. 13-802 sets the maximum fine for a class three misdemeanor at $500.
Oopsie.
A lawyer who flouts the law (like Horne, apparently) is bad; a lawyer who doesn't know the law (like Thomas, apparently) isn't exactly better.
It's an election year, and it looks like Jan Brewer isn't the only R whose campaign motto is "Damn the facts! Full distort ahead!"
The next four weeks are going to be fun....
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Short Attention Span Musing...
Haven't done one of these in a while...
...Gloating time: The Arizona Republic has published a significant number of its primary election endorsements, and as I predicted, they endorsed Susan Bitter Smith in the CD5 Republican primary.
I so love being able to say "I told ya so."
...Credit where it's due time: Republican Greg Patterson at Espresso Pundit wrote pretty eloquently on the Shirley Sherrod/"racist" comments/summary firing/apologetic rehiring mess from earlier this week. He observed unequivocally that the video clip that was originally publicized by conservative blogger Breitbart and then Fox News was grossly out of context.
Now, being a loyal Republican, Patterson didn't criticize Breitbart and Fox News for their deceptive and unethical editing of the video, but neither did he go after the White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture over their unthinking response. He earned some slack because of that.
I'm a loyal Democrat, as strong a D as Patterson is an R. As such, *I'll* criticize the White House et. al. for their response.
Making decisions based on information from Breitbart and Fox News? People and organizations with a documented history of taking statements out of context and even doctoring video (see: ACORN)?
The White House is supposed to be better than that. They're supposed to be smarter than that.
BTW - While Patterson was even-handed in not directly criticizing the principals involved in the dust-up, the commenters on his post were less so. Even though the White House had nothing to do with the fabrication, the commenters laid the blame squarely at the WH's feet while giving a free pass to Breitbart and Fox News.
...Arizona's fiscal plummet continues time: AKA - "More signs of the success of Jan Brewer's fiscal policies time" - In a story that, if not buried, has been downplayed by the AZ Republic, the state's debt rating has been downgraded yet again, making any future debt issued by the state (like school construction bonds) more expensive. In short, it will be even tougher in the future to balance the state's books because of ever-increasing debt-service costs.
....Later...
...Gloating time: The Arizona Republic has published a significant number of its primary election endorsements, and as I predicted, they endorsed Susan Bitter Smith in the CD5 Republican primary.
I so love being able to say "I told ya so."
...Credit where it's due time: Republican Greg Patterson at Espresso Pundit wrote pretty eloquently on the Shirley Sherrod/"racist" comments/summary firing/apologetic rehiring mess from earlier this week. He observed unequivocally that the video clip that was originally publicized by conservative blogger Breitbart and then Fox News was grossly out of context.
Now, being a loyal Republican, Patterson didn't criticize Breitbart and Fox News for their deceptive and unethical editing of the video, but neither did he go after the White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture over their unthinking response. He earned some slack because of that.
I'm a loyal Democrat, as strong a D as Patterson is an R. As such, *I'll* criticize the White House et. al. for their response.
Making decisions based on information from Breitbart and Fox News? People and organizations with a documented history of taking statements out of context and even doctoring video (see: ACORN)?
The White House is supposed to be better than that. They're supposed to be smarter than that.
BTW - While Patterson was even-handed in not directly criticizing the principals involved in the dust-up, the commenters on his post were less so. Even though the White House had nothing to do with the fabrication, the commenters laid the blame squarely at the WH's feet while giving a free pass to Breitbart and Fox News.
...Arizona's fiscal plummet continues time: AKA - "More signs of the success of Jan Brewer's fiscal policies time" - In a story that, if not buried, has been downplayed by the AZ Republic, the state's debt rating has been downgraded yet again, making any future debt issued by the state (like school construction bonds) more expensive. In short, it will be even tougher in the future to balance the state's books because of ever-increasing debt-service costs.
....Later...
Brewer's election year economic posturing: More of the same garbage that got us in the mess that we are in...
...And it's the same garbage that has gutted the underpinnings of America's once-robust economy...
There was an interesting coincidence today - the Arizona Republic ran a piece touting the economic record and proposals of Jan Brewer while she's been governor of AZ while Business Insider ran a piece (with a related blog post from Yahoo! Finance) highlighting 22 statistics that show that America's middle class, once the envy of the world, has all but disappeared.
While minds far more perceptive than mine and voices far more eloquent than mine can parse and discuss the details, essentially the wealth of the middle class has been siphoned off to pad the wallets and bank accounts and property listings of America's wealthiest (what, you thought that the wealthy were taking from the poor? The poor don't have much worth taking. That's why they are called "poor"...)
The concentration of America's wealth into an ever-smaller segment of our society has been enacted/enabled by the corpratization/globalization policies fronted by Republicans (and yes, CorpraDems, too!) over the last 30 or so years.
And nothing in Jan Brewer's "Five Point Plan" is going to help AZ's middle class.
1. Structural Budget Reform. Possibly the least bad of her "points", but also the least meaningful. Not enacted yet, or even the subject of substantive proposals (aka - bills before the legislature)
2. Improve Proposition 105 - The Voter Protection Act. AKA - "Get rid of the Voter Protection Act." The measure was enacted to prevent legislative tinkering with things approved by a direct vote cast by the state's electorate. This has led to the lege's (and Brewer's!) inability to get rid of things like First Things First (an early childhood health and education initiative) and Growing Smarter (a program that gives Arizonans a voice in and some control over over growth in their communities and land conservation.
Things like societal infrastructure/safety net and citizen control of government and the world around them are antithetical to those Republicans (and CorpraDems) who are more concerned with protecting profit margins than with public service.
Those are things that Brewer and the Republicans running the lege have condemned since they were enacted by the voters, and the current budget crisis has provided the best hope that the Reps have had for a repeal - they hope that voters are frightened enough to roll over for them.
There are lege-initiated questions (here and here) on the ballot in November to push forward the anti-societal agenda.
3. Additional spending cuts. Well, that one *has* been enacted, mostly to the sort of spending that benefits society as a whole - education, AHCCCS, and other social safety net programs. One area set for an increase in spending is on the private prisons (and the deep-pocketed corporations that own them) that stand to benefit from Brewer's signature on SB1070, the anti-immigrant law scheduled to go into effect in less than a week.
There will be more cuts in the next budget cycle. In addition, there will be more cuts this year if one or both of the above measures aren't approved by the voters.
Not that destroying First Things First and Growing Smarter won't qualify as "cuts"...
4. Reform and modernization of Arizona's state tax structure. "Reform" and "modernization" are code words for "continue to shift Arizona's tax burden on to those who can least afford it (but also onto those who can least afford thebribes campaign contributions to the politicians who are "supposed" to represent their interests.)
5. Temporary Tax Increase – Increase state revenues by $1 billion per year. Brewer got this one. Of course, her temporary tax increase was to the incredibly regressive state sales tax, not to the already low property tax. Of course, increases to the property tax, even property taxes themselves, are considered corporate/upper class-UNfriendly, hence the lack of discussion of a more equitable tax structure in AZ.
In short, Brewer's economic "plan" is nothing more than "more of what is destroying America's future."
Giving her four years to implement her "plan" for Arizona is something that the average Arizonan cannot afford.
...Earlier this month, John McCain accused President Obama of "generational theft"; McCain should look across the table at his fellow Republicans like Brewer (as well as in a mirror) before throwing around such accusations.
There was an interesting coincidence today - the Arizona Republic ran a piece touting the economic record and proposals of Jan Brewer while she's been governor of AZ while Business Insider ran a piece (with a related blog post from Yahoo! Finance) highlighting 22 statistics that show that America's middle class, once the envy of the world, has all but disappeared.
While minds far more perceptive than mine and voices far more eloquent than mine can parse and discuss the details, essentially the wealth of the middle class has been siphoned off to pad the wallets and bank accounts and property listings of America's wealthiest (what, you thought that the wealthy were taking from the poor? The poor don't have much worth taking. That's why they are called "poor"...)
The concentration of America's wealth into an ever-smaller segment of our society has been enacted/enabled by the corpratization/globalization policies fronted by Republicans (and yes, CorpraDems, too!) over the last 30 or so years.
And nothing in Jan Brewer's "Five Point Plan" is going to help AZ's middle class.
1. Structural Budget Reform. Possibly the least bad of her "points", but also the least meaningful. Not enacted yet, or even the subject of substantive proposals (aka - bills before the legislature)
2. Improve Proposition 105 - The Voter Protection Act. AKA - "Get rid of the Voter Protection Act." The measure was enacted to prevent legislative tinkering with things approved by a direct vote cast by the state's electorate. This has led to the lege's (and Brewer's!) inability to get rid of things like First Things First (an early childhood health and education initiative) and Growing Smarter (a program that gives Arizonans a voice in and some control over over growth in their communities and land conservation.
Things like societal infrastructure/safety net and citizen control of government and the world around them are antithetical to those Republicans (and CorpraDems) who are more concerned with protecting profit margins than with public service.
Those are things that Brewer and the Republicans running the lege have condemned since they were enacted by the voters, and the current budget crisis has provided the best hope that the Reps have had for a repeal - they hope that voters are frightened enough to roll over for them.
There are lege-initiated questions (here and here) on the ballot in November to push forward the anti-societal agenda.
3. Additional spending cuts. Well, that one *has* been enacted, mostly to the sort of spending that benefits society as a whole - education, AHCCCS, and other social safety net programs. One area set for an increase in spending is on the private prisons (and the deep-pocketed corporations that own them) that stand to benefit from Brewer's signature on SB1070, the anti-immigrant law scheduled to go into effect in less than a week.
There will be more cuts in the next budget cycle. In addition, there will be more cuts this year if one or both of the above measures aren't approved by the voters.
Not that destroying First Things First and Growing Smarter won't qualify as "cuts"...
4. Reform and modernization of Arizona's state tax structure. "Reform" and "modernization" are code words for "continue to shift Arizona's tax burden on to those who can least afford it (but also onto those who can least afford the
5. Temporary Tax Increase – Increase state revenues by $1 billion per year. Brewer got this one. Of course, her temporary tax increase was to the incredibly regressive state sales tax, not to the already low property tax. Of course, increases to the property tax, even property taxes themselves, are considered corporate/upper class-UNfriendly, hence the lack of discussion of a more equitable tax structure in AZ.
In short, Brewer's economic "plan" is nothing more than "more of what is destroying America's future."
Giving her four years to implement her "plan" for Arizona is something that the average Arizonan cannot afford.
...Earlier this month, John McCain accused President Obama of "generational theft"; McCain should look across the table at his fellow Republicans like Brewer (as well as in a mirror) before throwing around such accusations.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Stopping drug smuggling cartels: Terry Goddard's testimony before Congress
Goddard's work combatting the cartels by going after their money isn't sexy (hey, anything that involves accountants tends to be pretty boring :) ), and it certainly isn't the policy of
AZRep coverage of the efforts of the Attorney General's office here; Voice of America coverage of Goddard's testimony to Congress here.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Don't bother with contacting a state agency on Friday: Furlough day tomorrow
As part of the Republicans' budget "plan", tomorrow is the first of five "furlough" days for state workers between now and the end of the year. "Furlough" is a euphemism for "unpaid day off."
Most state workers won't be in the office/at work tomorrow. The main exceptions are those in law enforcement, judicial, and public safety roles.
The complete lists of agency closures and statuses can be found here, on the website of the Arizona Department of Administration.
Most state workers won't be in the office/at work tomorrow. The main exceptions are those in law enforcement, judicial, and public safety roles.
The complete lists of agency closures and statuses can be found here, on the website of the Arizona Department of Administration.
Two candidates for Scottsdale City Council cite feud with C of C when backing out of debate
From the Arizona Republic -
-endorsed-praised candidates mostly didn't win, and those candidates who didn't gain the Chamber's favor but won anyway have been exacting a little payback. (More background on the matter here)
While incumbent Littlefield and candidate Phillips are portraying their "boycott" of the C of C's forum as a matter of principle, neither one was likely to earn the Chamber's endorsement - Littlefield has been railing against the C of C for years and Phillips is a Tea Party type who doesn't approve of public infrastructure.
Since this post is more about commentary than news, here are a few points -
1. The C of C should just shut up, pay their fines, and not do it again. Despite their protestations to the contrary, the 2008 ads *were* an attempt to influence the election. That means that campaign finance laws apply, including disclosure of donors. By not accepting responsibility for their actions in 2008, they've kept the issue alive for the 2010 election cycle.
2. Littlefield and Phillips should quit the "high road" pretense. It's an election year, and part of any office holder's (or candidate's) job is to reach out to voters. Ditching the forum does nothing to help inform voters or allow them to compare candidates.
3. The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce is *far* from perfect and God knows that I have my issues with their retail/tourism-centric vision for Scottsdale's economy. However, it is still the *Scottsdale* Chamber of Commerce. The anti-government.anti-society ideology that the likes of Littlefield, Phillips and Mayor Jim Lane are trying to foist off on the City has been crafted by Grover Norquist, Dick Armey and others to protect the interests of large interstate and international corporations. There's absolutely no room in the "ideology" for "maintain and improve Scottsdale's quality of life."
Note: the other candidates on the ballot, who are all scheduled to participate in the forum, are Linda Milhaven, Ned O'Hearn, Wayne Ecton (incumbent) and Dennis Robbins.
Two candidates running for Scottsdale City Council are boycotting an upcoming forum put on by the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce to show their discontent with the business group's campaign-finance policy.The apparent conflict stems from the 2008 campaign season when the Chamber
Councilman Bob Littlefield and Guy Phillips said they will not participate in the Aug. 11 forum until the chamber reveals donors and pays fines associated with advertisements the group circulated before the fall 2008 city election.
While incumbent Littlefield and candidate Phillips are portraying their "boycott" of the C of C's forum as a matter of principle, neither one was likely to earn the Chamber's endorsement - Littlefield has been railing against the C of C for years and Phillips is a Tea Party type who doesn't approve of public infrastructure.
Since this post is more about commentary than news, here are a few points -
1. The C of C should just shut up, pay their fines, and not do it again. Despite their protestations to the contrary, the 2008 ads *were* an attempt to influence the election. That means that campaign finance laws apply, including disclosure of donors. By not accepting responsibility for their actions in 2008, they've kept the issue alive for the 2010 election cycle.
2. Littlefield and Phillips should quit the "high road" pretense. It's an election year, and part of any office holder's (or candidate's) job is to reach out to voters. Ditching the forum does nothing to help inform voters or allow them to compare candidates.
3. The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce is *far* from perfect and God knows that I have my issues with their retail/tourism-centric vision for Scottsdale's economy. However, it is still the *Scottsdale* Chamber of Commerce. The anti-government.anti-society ideology that the likes of Littlefield, Phillips and Mayor Jim Lane are trying to foist off on the City has been crafted by Grover Norquist, Dick Armey and others to protect the interests of large interstate and international corporations. There's absolutely no room in the "ideology" for "maintain and improve Scottsdale's quality of life."
Note: the other candidates on the ballot, who are all scheduled to participate in the forum, are Linda Milhaven, Ned O'Hearn, Wayne Ecton (incumbent) and Dennis Robbins.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Jawdropper of the day
I don't normally counter-post something that an R blogger has put up, and I certainly don't publicize R campaign events, but this one is a press release and it features a combination of performers that is so stunning that it merits a post of its own.
The press release for this event was originally published by the R blog Sonoran Alliance here.
My first thought upon seeing this was "whatthehell does Joe Arpaio have to do with education?"*
* = OK, he probably thinks that the fact that there are still people in the county who don't worship the ground he walks on is evidence that there is *too much* education in Arizona, but other than that, he doesn't appear to have any ties to the education system in Arizona.
Of course, Thursday's forum is probably less about "education" and more about "winning the Republican primary". Huppenthal spent most of the last eight years in the state senate working to weaken the state's education system, and nothing about his embrace of Arpaio indicates that he is interested in fixing what he helped to break.
Of course, I'm just a cynic...
BTW - Normally, I don't bother attending R events, but this one should be fascinating in a "train wreck" sort of way...
The press release for this event was originally published by the R blog Sonoran Alliance here.
My first thought upon seeing this was "whatthehell does Joe Arpaio have to do with education?"*
* = OK, he probably thinks that the fact that there are still people in the county who don't worship the ground he walks on is evidence that there is *too much* education in Arizona, but other than that, he doesn't appear to have any ties to the education system in Arizona.
Of course, Thursday's forum is probably less about "education" and more about "winning the Republican primary". Huppenthal spent most of the last eight years in the state senate working to weaken the state's education system, and nothing about his embrace of Arpaio indicates that he is interested in fixing what he helped to break.
Of course, I'm just a cynic...
BTW - Normally, I don't bother attending R events, but this one should be fascinating in a "train wreck" sort of way...
The two reasons that Democrats will do far better this November than anyone expects
In most mid-term elections, the party in control of the White House loses seats in Congress.
It's a truism in American politics, one that is based in fact - even the mighty Ronald Reagan experienced that in 1982.
As such, it won't be a surprise if/when the Democrats lose some seats in Congress in November's elections.
However, most Republicans are gleefully gloating over their anticipation of an electoral bloodbath this fall, one that could give control of one or both chambers of Congress to the Republicans.
That glee may be a little premature however.
The poll compiler website fivethirtyeight.com published an analysis recently on regional and demographic trends that serve to minimize (but hardly eliminate) the Democrats' vulnerability this fall. While Republican gains seem to be all but certain at this point, their window of opportunity is smaller than what they need in order to gain control of Congress.
However, fivethirtyeight's analysis is all science and demographics and research, and I'm all about the snark today.
There are two other reasons that the Rs are in trouble this fall.
1. Their campaign platform is to oppose anything President Obama and the Democrats proposed while urging a return to the good ol' days of George W. Bush's economic policies (you know, the policies that led to an economic meltdown and a bailout of Wall Street during Bush's watch).
Independent voters aren't happy with Democrats' slow progress at cleaning up the mess left by the Bushies, but they do remember who caused it.
2. The internecine skirmishing among the GOP's leadership as they jockey for increased power in a failing organization, like mobsters knocking each other off when the FBI starts closing in, is distracting them from their task of helping Republicans win elections.
It's still going to be a tough fall, but with a lot of hard work by Democrats and the Republicans' continuing self-immolation - their candidates are running on institutionalizing bigotry (every R in Arizona), protecting large corporations (i.e. - the CD5 R candidates' positions on tax credits/incentives for renewable energy), and grinding the average Americans under their bootheels - the elections this fall present a great opportunity for those candidates and voters who support professional and competent governance.
It's a truism in American politics, one that is based in fact - even the mighty Ronald Reagan experienced that in 1982.
As such, it won't be a surprise if/when the Democrats lose some seats in Congress in November's elections.
However, most Republicans are gleefully gloating over their anticipation of an electoral bloodbath this fall, one that could give control of one or both chambers of Congress to the Republicans.
That glee may be a little premature however.
The poll compiler website fivethirtyeight.com published an analysis recently on regional and demographic trends that serve to minimize (but hardly eliminate) the Democrats' vulnerability this fall. While Republican gains seem to be all but certain at this point, their window of opportunity is smaller than what they need in order to gain control of Congress.
However, fivethirtyeight's analysis is all science and demographics and research, and I'm all about the snark today.
There are two other reasons that the Rs are in trouble this fall.
1. Their campaign platform is to oppose anything President Obama and the Democrats proposed while urging a return to the good ol' days of George W. Bush's economic policies (you know, the policies that led to an economic meltdown and a bailout of Wall Street during Bush's watch).
Independent voters aren't happy with Democrats' slow progress at cleaning up the mess left by the Bushies, but they do remember who caused it.
2. The internecine skirmishing among the GOP's leadership as they jockey for increased power in a failing organization, like mobsters knocking each other off when the FBI starts closing in, is distracting them from their task of helping Republicans win elections.
It's still going to be a tough fall, but with a lot of hard work by Democrats and the Republicans' continuing self-immolation - their candidates are running on institutionalizing bigotry (every R in Arizona), protecting large corporations (i.e. - the CD5 R candidates' positions on tax credits/incentives for renewable energy), and grinding the average Americans under their bootheels - the elections this fall present a great opportunity for those candidates and voters who support professional and competent governance.
So you say you want to be a state supreme court justice?
If you've been a resident and practicing lawyer in Arizona for at least 10 years, this opportunity may be just what you have been waiting for.
Michael Ryan, Justice on the Arizona Supreme Court, is retiring on August 6, and the search is on for a replacement.
The job pays $155K per year, less than most Joe and Jane Schmoe attorneys earn in private practice, but the perks and respect accorded to "Justice Schmoe" far exceed those accorded to "Attorney Schmoe."
The nominating commission is accepting applications (which can be downloaded from this page). After they've reviewed all of the applications, they'll submit three of them to the Governor for her to consider.
According to the AZ Constitution, no more than two of the nominees submitted to the Governor can belong to the same political party.
Traditionally, this process is conducted and completed without (much) consideration to partisan politics, but given that the vacancy has occurred during an election year marked by lies and race-baiting, and the decision falls to *this* governor (less interested in facts and merit than in fostering fear), don't be surprised if she finds someone like the Louisiana JP who refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple late last year.
On the other hand, if you are a bigoted Republican lawyer (and no, not all Republicans or Republican lawyers are bigots) or are a Democratic lawyer who can keep a straight face when surrounded by nativists, you may be interested in filling out and returning an application (available above).
From the posting notice/application:
Have fun!
Michael Ryan, Justice on the Arizona Supreme Court, is retiring on August 6, and the search is on for a replacement.
The job pays $155K per year, less than most Joe and Jane Schmoe attorneys earn in private practice, but the perks and respect accorded to "Justice Schmoe" far exceed those accorded to "Attorney Schmoe."
The nominating commission is accepting applications (which can be downloaded from this page). After they've reviewed all of the applications, they'll submit three of them to the Governor for her to consider.
According to the AZ Constitution, no more than two of the nominees submitted to the Governor can belong to the same political party.
Traditionally, this process is conducted and completed without (much) consideration to partisan politics, but given that the vacancy has occurred during an election year marked by lies and race-baiting, and the decision falls to *this* governor (less interested in facts and merit than in fostering fear), don't be surprised if she finds someone like the Louisiana JP who refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple late last year.
On the other hand, if you are a bigoted Republican lawyer (and no, not all Republicans or Republican lawyers are bigots) or are a Democratic lawyer who can keep a straight face when surrounded by nativists, you may be interested in filling out and returning an application (available above).
From the posting notice/application:
An original completed application, 16 double-sided copies, and one (1) single-sided copy must be received by the Human Resources Division, Administrative Office of the Courts, 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007, no later than 3:00 p.m. on August 20, 2010.BTW - Environmentalists may *not* want to apply. That requirement of 18 copies of the application (1 original, 16 double-sided, 1 single-sided), an application packet that is almost 15 pages long, before answers are filled out and other paperwork is added in, mean that each applicant will have to kill multiple trees to even be considered.
Have fun!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)