By now, everyone has heard of the Republicans', led by Tom Horne and John Huppenthal, banning of Tucson's Ethnic Studies program, and of the Tucson Unified School District topping that by banning the books that were part of the curriculum (as well as many more).
The Republicans didn't and don't approve of anything that contradicts their ideological stance that all brown people are bad.
By now, most Capitol watchers have heard of the decision by the Legislative Council, the group tasked with directly overseeing Capitol operations, imposing new restrictions on free speech and protests at the Capitol. While there are a number of provisions, basically the Department of Public Safety (what Arizona calls its state police agency) will now shut down any protest or gathering deemed as too loud or disturbing by the Speaker of the Arizona House, the President of the Arizona Senate, or the head of the Legislative Council's staff (all Republicans, or working for Republicans).
The Republicans didn't and don't approve of anybody criticizing them within their hearing.
Now comes the latest outrage - they plan to bar public input on the state's budget. On Tuesday, two of the agencies that represent two of the biggest chunks of the state's budget gave presentations to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee chair, Sen. Don "Tequila" Shooter (R-Yuma) forbade public testimony on the subject. That went so well (for him and the other Rs on the committee, anyway), he now plans (subscription required) to impose the same barrier when the Senate takes up actual budget proposals.
The Republicans didn't and don't approve of anyone who stands up and calls them out for their moves to steamroll the state's schools and middle and working classes.
To top it off, while they oppose and wish to suppress any and all speech that they disagree with, they have no problem with *mandating* speech that they like.
Witness HB2041, requiring a high school course on "free enterprise". Students would have to pass the course before they could obtain a high school diploma. Based on the text of the bill, the curriculum requirements could have been written by Ayn Rand (though more likely, it was written by a Goldwater Institute or ALEC hack. Especially since Ayn Rand has been dead since 1982 or so ).
Welcome to Arizona, where the people are free to express...whatever the Republicans, particularly those in the legislature, are OK with.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
The coming week...part two...
Yesterday, the Arizona House; tonight, the Senate and other stuff...
...Tuesday at 9 a.m., Veterans, Military, and Government Affairs will meet in SHR3. Fairly quiet.
...Tuesday at 2 p.m., Banking and Finance will meet in SHR3. Fairly quiet. (caveat: There are bills on this short agenda that I don't understand, so they may be sneaky bad bills.)
...Tuesday at 2 p.m., Appropriations will meet in SHR109. Presentations but no bills.
...Wednesday at 9 a.m., Public Safety and Human Services will meet in SHR3. There are a few adoption/child custody-related measures that don't appear to be too bad (perhaps not coincidentally, two of the measures are sponsored/cosponsored by Democrats) and SB1114, slightly weakening Arizona's requirements for ignition interlock devices in the cars of DUI violators.
...Wednesday at 9 a.m., Government Reform will meet in SHR1. Relatively quiet, though there are a few measures related to HOAs and to planned communities.
...Wednesday at 9 a.m., Commerce and Energy will meet in SHR109. A few executive nominations, a few bills, and a presentation from Freeport McMoran.
...Wednesday at 2 p.m., Water, Land Use, and Rural Development will meet in SHR3. Another quiet one.
...Wednesday at 2 p.m., Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform will meet in SHR1. Executive nominations, a presentation, and a couple of bills. Highlight: SB1032, an anti-health care reform/anti-federal government "health care compact bill".
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Finance will meet in SHR1. Looks relatively quiet.
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Border Security, Federalism, and States' Sovereignty will meet in SHR109. As with last year, this committee looks like it will have the most ideologically pure, and purely batty, bills. Nuggets up this week: SB1081, giving county boards of supervisors the authority to declare a state of emergency in national forests and contract out logging of those forests; SCR1008, a concurrent resolution related to SB1081; SB1083, creating and funding the "Arizona Guard", a state-sanctions "border security" force (aka - an anti-brown people vigilante force).
The House and Senate floor calendars are here.
This week's Capitol events calendar is here; Arizona Capitol Times' Capitol Events calendar is here.
Later...
...Tuesday at 9 a.m., Veterans, Military, and Government Affairs will meet in SHR3. Fairly quiet.
...Tuesday at 2 p.m., Banking and Finance will meet in SHR3. Fairly quiet. (caveat: There are bills on this short agenda that I don't understand, so they may be sneaky bad bills.)
...Tuesday at 2 p.m., Appropriations will meet in SHR109. Presentations but no bills.
...Wednesday at 9 a.m., Public Safety and Human Services will meet in SHR3. There are a few adoption/child custody-related measures that don't appear to be too bad (perhaps not coincidentally, two of the measures are sponsored/cosponsored by Democrats) and SB1114, slightly weakening Arizona's requirements for ignition interlock devices in the cars of DUI violators.
...Wednesday at 9 a.m., Government Reform will meet in SHR1. Relatively quiet, though there are a few measures related to HOAs and to planned communities.
...Wednesday at 9 a.m., Commerce and Energy will meet in SHR109. A few executive nominations, a few bills, and a presentation from Freeport McMoran.
...Wednesday at 2 p.m., Water, Land Use, and Rural Development will meet in SHR3. Another quiet one.
...Wednesday at 2 p.m., Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform will meet in SHR1. Executive nominations, a presentation, and a couple of bills. Highlight: SB1032, an anti-health care reform/anti-federal government "health care compact bill".
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Finance will meet in SHR1. Looks relatively quiet.
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Border Security, Federalism, and States' Sovereignty will meet in SHR109. As with last year, this committee looks like it will have the most ideologically pure, and purely batty, bills. Nuggets up this week: SB1081, giving county boards of supervisors the authority to declare a state of emergency in national forests and contract out logging of those forests; SCR1008, a concurrent resolution related to SB1081; SB1083, creating and funding the "Arizona Guard", a state-sanctions "border security" force (aka - an anti-brown people vigilante force).
The House and Senate floor calendars are here.
This week's Capitol events calendar is here; Arizona Capitol Times' Capitol Events calendar is here.
Later...
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The coming week...
Well, it's time to watch your civil rights and hide the children and small animals - the lege is back in town.
Actually, they've been back for a couple of weeks now, but I've been busy and the first couple of weeks are mostly dedicated to getting organized. Most of the bills that move through committee this early in the session tend to be pretty non-controversial (though that's not always true, it's close enough for now).
So for the first schedule post of the year:
On the House side of the Capitol -
...Monday, the Rules Committee is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. in HHR4. The agenda is a long one. It may take them all of five minutes to approve it en bloc. The long Rules agenda this early in the session may be an indication that the lege is planning on an early exit this year, mostly so they can ramp up their election campaigns as soon as possible.
...Monday at 2 p.m., the Ways and Means Committee will meet in HHR1. Highlights: HB2212, raising the revenue threshold that must be met before tax-exempt organizations are required to file a state income tax return; HB2123, Rep. Steve Court's proposal to establish a committee to study and recommend ways to end the state's income tax and go to a system where the government's revenue would be based almost totally on a regressive sales tax.
...Monday at 2 p.m., the Energy and Natural Resources Committee will meet in HHR4. There are two bills on the agenda currently. Both have Democrats as the lead prime, or originating, sponsor (Reps. Chad Campbell and Matt Heinz). As such, while the measures may pass this committee, they almost certainly won't go any further. In the AZ lege, most proposals from Democrats go nowhere fast - unless an R decides he/she likes it and proposes a duplicate proposal, with the R's name as the lead sponsor.
...Monday at 2 p.m., the Education Committee will meet in HHR3. On the agenda: HB2171, a plan to repeal the Public School Information Hot Line Program and the School Safety Clearinghouse Program; HB2180, creating a "pilot program" for basing school funding on student test scores and other criteria.
...Monday at 2 p.m., the Banking and Finance Committee will meet in HHR5. Highlight: Rep. Jack Harper's HB2079, proposing to make it easier for mortgage loan originators to obtain a mortgage broker's license. The measure looks to be a self-serving one. From Harper's Twitter page -
The other measures may qualify as "sneaky bad", but none are as entertaining as anything proposed by Harper.
...Tuesday at 2 p.m., Employment and Regulatory Affairs will meet in HHR3. On the agenda: HB2264, a proposal to return the employer/employee contribution percentages into the state government retirement fund to 50/50. It was changed to 47/53 last year, but now the Republicans want to change it back. Not sure why yet, but my cynicism is running wild on this one. This would be the decent and honorable thing to do, and the majority in this legislature doesn't do "decent and honorable." Waiting for the other shoe to drop here...
...Wednesday at 9 a.m, Military Affairs and Public Safety will meet in HHR3. Highlight (so to speak): HJR2001, a mish-mash of 2nd Amendment and anti-UN rhetoric from Jack Harper and Sen. Ron Gould.
...Wedneday at 9 a.m., Higher Education, Innovation will meet in HHR1. Highlights: HB2349, a move to add institutions of higher education to the list of places where possession and use of medical marijuana is barred. The voter-approved (and protected) medical marijuana mandate already lists pre-K to 12 schools as places where medical marijuana is barred but does NOT list higher education facilities; HB2383, Rep. Eddie Farnsworth'sMeasles Protection Act proposal to bar the state's universities and community colleges from requiring that applicants receive immunizations as a condition of enrollment/admission.
...Wednesday at 9 a.m., Health and Human Services will meet in HHR4. The agenda is fairly long and filled with items that are either non-controversial or that I don't completely understand. If your area of interest is covered by this committee, examine the agenda and then look into an bills that interest you.
...Wednesday at 10 a.m., Commerce will meet in HHR5.
...Wednesday at 2 p.m., Appropriations will meet in HHR1. The agenda is short. Highlight: HCM2007, pleading with the US Congress that they pass a balanced budget amendment to the US Constitution.
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Transportation will meet in HHR3. Highlight: HB2512, a ban on texting while driving.
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Technology and Infrastructure will meet in HHR1. Highlight: HB2403, the now-annual proposal to end the requirement that public notices (articles of incorporation, etc.) be published in a newspaper by allowing the notices to be published on the internet.
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Judiciary will meet in HHR4. On the agenda: HB2385. a measure regarding campaign finance reporting for corporate "independent" expenditures; HB2386, a bill to limit the liability of corporations for asbestos-related claims.
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Agriculture and Water will meet in HHR5. For some reason, HCR2007, a proposed amendment to the AZ Constitution declaring state sovereignty over pretty much everything, has been assigned to this committee; HJR2002, a resolution to allow the state's director of water resources to "forbear" Arizona's rights to a certain part of its Colorado River water allocation. I freely admit that I don't understand this one, but given that 1) we live in a desert and need every drop of water we have and 2) legislative Republicans are behind this bill, it may be a case of Arizona's future being sacrificed in order to benefit somebody's campaign contributors.
Yes, I'm a cynic. :)
On the Senate side of the Capitol -
It's getting late, so I will have to write up that half of the week on Monday night. The Senate's committee schedule is here. Monday's schedule includes meetings of the Rules, Judiciary, Education, and Natural Resources and Transportation Committees.
...
Actually, they've been back for a couple of weeks now, but I've been busy and the first couple of weeks are mostly dedicated to getting organized. Most of the bills that move through committee this early in the session tend to be pretty non-controversial (though that's not always true, it's close enough for now).
So for the first schedule post of the year:
On the House side of the Capitol -
...Monday, the Rules Committee is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. in HHR4. The agenda is a long one. It may take them all of five minutes to approve it en bloc. The long Rules agenda this early in the session may be an indication that the lege is planning on an early exit this year, mostly so they can ramp up their election campaigns as soon as possible.
...Monday at 2 p.m., the Ways and Means Committee will meet in HHR1. Highlights: HB2212, raising the revenue threshold that must be met before tax-exempt organizations are required to file a state income tax return; HB2123, Rep. Steve Court's proposal to establish a committee to study and recommend ways to end the state's income tax and go to a system where the government's revenue would be based almost totally on a regressive sales tax.
...Monday at 2 p.m., the Energy and Natural Resources Committee will meet in HHR4. There are two bills on the agenda currently. Both have Democrats as the lead prime, or originating, sponsor (Reps. Chad Campbell and Matt Heinz). As such, while the measures may pass this committee, they almost certainly won't go any further. In the AZ lege, most proposals from Democrats go nowhere fast - unless an R decides he/she likes it and proposes a duplicate proposal, with the R's name as the lead sponsor.
...Monday at 2 p.m., the Education Committee will meet in HHR3. On the agenda: HB2171, a plan to repeal the Public School Information Hot Line Program and the School Safety Clearinghouse Program; HB2180, creating a "pilot program" for basing school funding on student test scores and other criteria.
...Monday at 2 p.m., the Banking and Finance Committee will meet in HHR5. Highlight: Rep. Jack Harper's HB2079, proposing to make it easier for mortgage loan originators to obtain a mortgage broker's license. The measure looks to be a self-serving one. From Harper's Twitter page -
The other measures may qualify as "sneaky bad", but none are as entertaining as anything proposed by Harper.
...Tuesday at 2 p.m., Employment and Regulatory Affairs will meet in HHR3. On the agenda: HB2264, a proposal to return the employer/employee contribution percentages into the state government retirement fund to 50/50. It was changed to 47/53 last year, but now the Republicans want to change it back. Not sure why yet, but my cynicism is running wild on this one. This would be the decent and honorable thing to do, and the majority in this legislature doesn't do "decent and honorable." Waiting for the other shoe to drop here...
...Wednesday at 9 a.m, Military Affairs and Public Safety will meet in HHR3. Highlight (so to speak): HJR2001, a mish-mash of 2nd Amendment and anti-UN rhetoric from Jack Harper and Sen. Ron Gould.
...Wedneday at 9 a.m., Higher Education, Innovation will meet in HHR1. Highlights: HB2349, a move to add institutions of higher education to the list of places where possession and use of medical marijuana is barred. The voter-approved (and protected) medical marijuana mandate already lists pre-K to 12 schools as places where medical marijuana is barred but does NOT list higher education facilities; HB2383, Rep. Eddie Farnsworth's
...Wednesday at 9 a.m., Health and Human Services will meet in HHR4. The agenda is fairly long and filled with items that are either non-controversial or that I don't completely understand. If your area of interest is covered by this committee, examine the agenda and then look into an bills that interest you.
...Wednesday at 10 a.m., Commerce will meet in HHR5.
...Wednesday at 2 p.m., Appropriations will meet in HHR1. The agenda is short. Highlight: HCM2007, pleading with the US Congress that they pass a balanced budget amendment to the US Constitution.
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Transportation will meet in HHR3. Highlight: HB2512, a ban on texting while driving.
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Technology and Infrastructure will meet in HHR1. Highlight: HB2403, the now-annual proposal to end the requirement that public notices (articles of incorporation, etc.) be published in a newspaper by allowing the notices to be published on the internet.
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Judiciary will meet in HHR4. On the agenda: HB2385. a measure regarding campaign finance reporting for corporate "independent" expenditures; HB2386, a bill to limit the liability of corporations for asbestos-related claims.
...Thursday at 9 a.m., Agriculture and Water will meet in HHR5. For some reason, HCR2007, a proposed amendment to the AZ Constitution declaring state sovereignty over pretty much everything, has been assigned to this committee; HJR2002, a resolution to allow the state's director of water resources to "forbear" Arizona's rights to a certain part of its Colorado River water allocation. I freely admit that I don't understand this one, but given that 1) we live in a desert and need every drop of water we have and 2) legislative Republicans are behind this bill, it may be a case of Arizona's future being sacrificed in order to benefit somebody's campaign contributors.
Yes, I'm a cynic. :)
On the Senate side of the Capitol -
It's getting late, so I will have to write up that half of the week on Monday night. The Senate's committee schedule is here. Monday's schedule includes meetings of the Rules, Judiciary, Education, and Natural Resources and Transportation Committees.
...
Breaking: Giffords retiring
A year after she was was shot through the brain in an attack that claimed the lives of six people and wounded 13 other people, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has announced that she is stepping down from Congress this week.
Message from Giffords -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAetv47b-Eg
This will necessitate a special election to fill her seat for the remainder of her term. The winner of that special election will then have to run again in November for a full term.
More details on the candidates for the race(s) as they make themselves known. Expect a slew of former and current state legislators to look at the seat.
Let me say this:
We will miss her deeply, and I hope her stepping back from public life isn't for long.
Message from Giffords -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAetv47b-Eg
This will necessitate a special election to fill her seat for the remainder of her term. The winner of that special election will then have to run again in November for a full term.
More details on the candidates for the race(s) as they make themselves known. Expect a slew of former and current state legislators to look at the seat.
Let me say this:
We will miss her deeply, and I hope her stepping back from public life isn't for long.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
David Schapira makes it official: Next stop, Congress
State Senator David Schapira (D-LD17) ended weeks of speculation Tuesday when he announced that he is running for Congress in Arizona's new 9th Congressional District.
His focus, both personally and politically, has been, is, and will be on education and economic issues.
One of his motivations for running for a Congressional seat is to see that the coming reauthorization of the federal No Child Left Behind act is handled properly.
Schapira has been a legislator since 2007, serving two terms in the Arizona House before winning a seat in the Arizona State Senate in 2010. He is also now serving as thecaptain of the Senate Democrats' softball team Democratic caucus (hey - there's nine of them, and I'm not too proud to go for the obvious punch line :) ).
In addition to that, currently he is a member of the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board.
Even before his first election, Schapira was already a public servant, working as a high school teacher.
In addition to his legislative duties over the last few years, he has been a small business owner and an instructor at Arizona State University.
Schapira was born in west Mesa and lives in Tempe with his wife Rosemary and their two daughters.
His campaign website is here.
A few pics from his announcement event Tuesday night -
In case you're more of a visual learner.
Schapira greeting some supporters (OK, family :) )
Rosemary Schapira introducing her husband
The next Congressman from Arizona, and the first from Arizona's 9th District, speaking to the crowd of supporters (crowd's the right word, too - more than 150 people attended)
Schapira and his friend and colleague, Representative Ed Ableser
Schapira talking to Tim Palmer of Tempe
My favorite two pics from the night aren't of the people (though there were many great people there), but it is of the cake from Honeymoon Sweets in Tempe -
Before
After :))
His focus, both personally and politically, has been, is, and will be on education and economic issues.
One of his motivations for running for a Congressional seat is to see that the coming reauthorization of the federal No Child Left Behind act is handled properly.
Schapira has been a legislator since 2007, serving two terms in the Arizona House before winning a seat in the Arizona State Senate in 2010. He is also now serving as the
In addition to that, currently he is a member of the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board.
Even before his first election, Schapira was already a public servant, working as a high school teacher.
In addition to his legislative duties over the last few years, he has been a small business owner and an instructor at Arizona State University.
Schapira was born in west Mesa and lives in Tempe with his wife Rosemary and their two daughters.
His campaign website is here.
A few pics from his announcement event Tuesday night -
In case you're more of a visual learner.
Schapira greeting some supporters (OK, family :) )
Rosemary Schapira introducing her husband
Schapira and his friend and colleague, Representative Ed Ableser
Schapira talking to Tim Palmer of Tempe
My favorite two pics from the night aren't of the people (though there were many great people there), but it is of the cake from Honeymoon Sweets in Tempe -
Before
After :))
Friday, January 13, 2012
Candidate and committees update
Federal developments of note:
...In a totally unsurprising development, State Sen. Ron Gould (R-The South will rise again!) announced that he is running for Congress in the new CD4. It is pretty much a safe R district, so the interesting fight will be in the primary. He joins Congressman Paul Gosar and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu as officially in the race. There are also rumors swirling about Andy Tobin, the Speaker of the Arizona House, a Republican from Paulden.
State developments of note:
...Former Arizona Cardinal Michael Bankston has formed a committee to run as a Democrat for the State House.
...Krista at Democratic Diva has a report of the goings-on in the new LD24. Apparently, former state senator Ken Cheuvront and current state representative Katie Hobbs, both Democrats, are both interested in the senate seat, and there is already a rift developing between the two camps. Hobbs' camp includes current representatives Chad Campbell and Lela Alston. Cheuvront's includes his mom.
I'm not kidding.
...Current state representatives Judy Burges (R), Steve Farley (D) and Tom Chabin (D) have opened committees for senate runs in their respective districts (Burges - NW Maricopa County; Farley - Tucson; Chabin - Flagstaff).
...Tom Rawles of Carefree is running as "party - other" (or at least unspecified) for the state senate seat in the new LD1. I'm not absolutely positive, and it is too late on a Friday night for phone calls to strangers for this stuff, but I think this is the same Tom Rawles who, as a Mesa City Council member in 2007, created a national uproar when he declined to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to protest the US invasion of Iraq. He's one of the few Libertarians in AZ who could have a serious impact on a race.
...Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal, perhaps still basking in the glow of his recent "victory" over Tucson's ethnic studies program, has opened an "exploratory" committee for 2014. No office is specified, so he could intend for it to serve as a fund-raising conduit for a reelection campaign, or he could have his eyes on another office (both the Secretary of State and Governor's offices will be open because of term limits)
Maricopa county developments of note:
...Something must be going on with Lester Pearce, brother of Russell, the recalled former state senator, because yet another big name has opened a committee to run for Lester Pearce's spot as North Mesa Justice of the Peace. Now Romney has filed for the seat.
No, not former governor of Massachusetts and proud job cremator Mitt.
Nope, Jess Romney has filed for the seat. And before someone asks, I have absolutely no idea if Jess and Mitt are related.
...Manuel Burboa of Laveen has filed as an Independent to run for the District 5 seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors currently held by Democrat Mary Rose Wilcox.
...And with all due respect to the candidates named above and to the candidates I haven't listed in the interest of saving time and keeping the post readable, the big announcement of the week was that Democrat Paul Penzone, a retired Phoenix police officer, has filed to run for Maricopa County Sheriff.
In local level developments of note:
...Scottsdale City Council member Bob Littlefield has opened an exploratory committee for consideration of a run at the mayor's office. As he is not in the last year of his term on the council (he was reelected in 2010), he'll have to resign if he does actually get in the race. If the race comes down to a choice between Littlefield and incumbent Jim Lane, Littlefield will get my vote. He is far from the perfect choice, but at least Littlefield doesn't think that south Scottsdale exists for the sole purpose of concentrating liquor licenses.
...In Fountain Hills, there is only one candidate for mayor after the second candidate withdrew from the race. The remaining candidate is Linda Kavanagh, wife of State Representative John Kavanagh. Assuming that she gets the job *and* takes seriously the mayor's obligation to work for the best interests of the town, there could be some interesting conversations over dinner in the Kavanagh household.
Particularly around budget time, when Rep. Kavanagh will have to explain to Mayor Kavanagh the legislature's annual drive to screw over the cities and towns of Arizona.
Later...
...In a totally unsurprising development, State Sen. Ron Gould (R-The South will rise again!) announced that he is running for Congress in the new CD4. It is pretty much a safe R district, so the interesting fight will be in the primary. He joins Congressman Paul Gosar and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu as officially in the race. There are also rumors swirling about Andy Tobin, the Speaker of the Arizona House, a Republican from Paulden.
State developments of note:
...Former Arizona Cardinal Michael Bankston has formed a committee to run as a Democrat for the State House.
...Krista at Democratic Diva has a report of the goings-on in the new LD24. Apparently, former state senator Ken Cheuvront and current state representative Katie Hobbs, both Democrats, are both interested in the senate seat, and there is already a rift developing between the two camps. Hobbs' camp includes current representatives Chad Campbell and Lela Alston. Cheuvront's includes his mom.
I'm not kidding.
...Current state representatives Judy Burges (R), Steve Farley (D) and Tom Chabin (D) have opened committees for senate runs in their respective districts (Burges - NW Maricopa County; Farley - Tucson; Chabin - Flagstaff).
...Tom Rawles of Carefree is running as "party - other" (or at least unspecified) for the state senate seat in the new LD1. I'm not absolutely positive, and it is too late on a Friday night for phone calls to strangers for this stuff, but I think this is the same Tom Rawles who, as a Mesa City Council member in 2007, created a national uproar when he declined to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to protest the US invasion of Iraq. He's one of the few Libertarians in AZ who could have a serious impact on a race.
...Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal, perhaps still basking in the glow of his recent "victory" over Tucson's ethnic studies program, has opened an "exploratory" committee for 2014. No office is specified, so he could intend for it to serve as a fund-raising conduit for a reelection campaign, or he could have his eyes on another office (both the Secretary of State and Governor's offices will be open because of term limits)
Maricopa county developments of note:
...Something must be going on with Lester Pearce, brother of Russell, the recalled former state senator, because yet another big name has opened a committee to run for Lester Pearce's spot as North Mesa Justice of the Peace. Now Romney has filed for the seat.
No, not former governor of Massachusetts and proud job cremator Mitt.
Nope, Jess Romney has filed for the seat. And before someone asks, I have absolutely no idea if Jess and Mitt are related.
...Manuel Burboa of Laveen has filed as an Independent to run for the District 5 seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors currently held by Democrat Mary Rose Wilcox.
...And with all due respect to the candidates named above and to the candidates I haven't listed in the interest of saving time and keeping the post readable, the big announcement of the week was that Democrat Paul Penzone, a retired Phoenix police officer, has filed to run for Maricopa County Sheriff.
In local level developments of note:
...Scottsdale City Council member Bob Littlefield has opened an exploratory committee for consideration of a run at the mayor's office. As he is not in the last year of his term on the council (he was reelected in 2010), he'll have to resign if he does actually get in the race. If the race comes down to a choice between Littlefield and incumbent Jim Lane, Littlefield will get my vote. He is far from the perfect choice, but at least Littlefield doesn't think that south Scottsdale exists for the sole purpose of concentrating liquor licenses.
...In Fountain Hills, there is only one candidate for mayor after the second candidate withdrew from the race. The remaining candidate is Linda Kavanagh, wife of State Representative John Kavanagh. Assuming that she gets the job *and* takes seriously the mayor's obligation to work for the best interests of the town, there could be some interesting conversations over dinner in the Kavanagh household.
Particularly around budget time, when Rep. Kavanagh will have to explain to Mayor Kavanagh the legislature's annual drive to screw over the cities and towns of Arizona.
Later...
Thursday, January 12, 2012
818
818.
After one (1!) full week of the legislative session, that is how many bills, resolutions, and memorials have been introduced.
After *one* week.
Guess whoever took the "over" in this year's pool is smiling right now.
Anyway, most of the bills fall into one of four categories.
...Gems of good governance, like Sen. David Schapira's SB1071, banning racial profiling (easily the smallest category, and don't expect any of these to pass)
...Sneaky bad, like Rep. David Stevens' HCR2044, proposing to amend the AZ Constitution so that ballot questions referred there by the legislature would be voted on in primary elections, not general elections (guess they're sick and tired of those pesky independent voters turning aside some of the lege's nuggets of stinkiness, so they're looking to cut the independent voters out of the process
...Ugly bad, like Rep. Carl Seel's HB2582, mandating that anybody receiving any kind of welfare benefits carry a bright orange card with "Government Assistance Card" or "Government Food Stamp Card" printed in big black letters on it (this one was floated last year, and passed committee, but was amended to remove the petty clauses intended to arbitrarily humiliate poor people)
...Crazy bad, like (this is the biggest category, but I've got to pick one, so let's go with...) Sen. Sylvia Allen's SB1081, declaring an "emergency" and giving county boards of supervisors the authority to hire out the logging of federal forest lands under the guise of "thinning" the growth there
While most observers seem to think that this legislative session will be a short one because it's an election year, it's going to feel absolutely interminable.
After one (1!) full week of the legislative session, that is how many bills, resolutions, and memorials have been introduced.
After *one* week.
Guess whoever took the "over" in this year's pool is smiling right now.
Anyway, most of the bills fall into one of four categories.
...Gems of good governance, like Sen. David Schapira's SB1071, banning racial profiling (easily the smallest category, and don't expect any of these to pass)
...Sneaky bad, like Rep. David Stevens' HCR2044, proposing to amend the AZ Constitution so that ballot questions referred there by the legislature would be voted on in primary elections, not general elections (guess they're sick and tired of those pesky independent voters turning aside some of the lege's nuggets of stinkiness, so they're looking to cut the independent voters out of the process
...Ugly bad, like Rep. Carl Seel's HB2582, mandating that anybody receiving any kind of welfare benefits carry a bright orange card with "Government Assistance Card" or "Government Food Stamp Card" printed in big black letters on it (this one was floated last year, and passed committee, but was amended to remove the petty clauses intended to arbitrarily humiliate poor people)
...Crazy bad, like (this is the biggest category, but I've got to pick one, so let's go with...) Sen. Sylvia Allen's SB1081, declaring an "emergency" and giving county boards of supervisors the authority to hire out the logging of federal forest lands under the guise of "thinning" the growth there
While most observers seem to think that this legislative session will be a short one because it's an election year, it's going to feel absolutely interminable.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Underground mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Sen. John Nelson doesn't think it's dangerous enough
Underground mining has long been one of the most dangerous occupations in America. At the beginning of the 20th Century, thousands of miners died on the job every year. By the end of the century, that number was cut to "dozens" because of both heightened awareness and safety measures mandated by laws passed during the century.
In the latter part of the 20th Century and during the first decade of the 21st, some backsliding took place as the "Reagan Revolution" (followed by Bush I and Bush II, and, sad to say, Clinton) took place and corporate profit margins were allowed to grow at the cost of reduced miner safety margins.
In Arizona, the same pattern is being followed.
For instance, this state was so progressive at its inception that our constitution created the position of State Mine Inspector, who was supposed to help ensure miner safety by keeping an eye on mines in Arizona.
By the beginning of the 21st Century, that position had been turned into a sinecure for Republican legislators looking to pad their pensions. They got and kept the job by serving up miners' safety to mining companies.
Now, Sen. John Nelson (R-Litchfield Park) is working to make Arizona's mine and miners even less safe than they are.
While the measure is low-profile (so far), it may be one of the most deliberately reckless and dangerous bills to come along in decades, if not in Arizona's nearly century-long history.
Nelson's SB1054 would remove one of the basic safety measures accorded to underground miners - an eight hour work day.
Under current law, miners can spend no more than eight hours in a 24 hour period underground. Nelson would raise that limit by 50% to 12 hours.
Speaking as someone who has worked 12-hours shifts, in an environment far less stressful and hazardous than an underground mine (though one that was hardly hazard or stress-free), I can state unequivocally that the longer hours lead to fatigue and mistakes.
And if you don't believe me, read this report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. While the report focuses on the effects of fatigue on nurses, the concepts apply to miners, and the rest of us.
Interestingly, Nelson's measure would also change a previous legislature's finding that *declared* that underground mining is "injurious to health and dangerous to life and limb" to the people engaged in the activity. His bill would change the law to read that underground mining "can be" injurious to health and dangerous to life and limb of miners.
That's like saying that because guns are occasionally unloaded or misfire, that stepping in front of a gun only "can be" dangerous, not *is* dangerous.
In the latter part of the 20th Century and during the first decade of the 21st, some backsliding took place as the "Reagan Revolution" (followed by Bush I and Bush II, and, sad to say, Clinton) took place and corporate profit margins were allowed to grow at the cost of reduced miner safety margins.
In Arizona, the same pattern is being followed.
For instance, this state was so progressive at its inception that our constitution created the position of State Mine Inspector, who was supposed to help ensure miner safety by keeping an eye on mines in Arizona.
By the beginning of the 21st Century, that position had been turned into a sinecure for Republican legislators looking to pad their pensions. They got and kept the job by serving up miners' safety to mining companies.
Now, Sen. John Nelson (R-Litchfield Park) is working to make Arizona's mine and miners even less safe than they are.
While the measure is low-profile (so far), it may be one of the most deliberately reckless and dangerous bills to come along in decades, if not in Arizona's nearly century-long history.
Nelson's SB1054 would remove one of the basic safety measures accorded to underground miners - an eight hour work day.
Under current law, miners can spend no more than eight hours in a 24 hour period underground. Nelson would raise that limit by 50% to 12 hours.
Speaking as someone who has worked 12-hours shifts, in an environment far less stressful and hazardous than an underground mine (though one that was hardly hazard or stress-free), I can state unequivocally that the longer hours lead to fatigue and mistakes.
And if you don't believe me, read this report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. While the report focuses on the effects of fatigue on nurses, the concepts apply to miners, and the rest of us.
Interestingly, Nelson's measure would also change a previous legislature's finding that *declared* that underground mining is "injurious to health and dangerous to life and limb" to the people engaged in the activity. His bill would change the law to read that underground mining "can be" injurious to health and dangerous to life and limb of miners.
That's like saying that because guns are occasionally unloaded or misfire, that stepping in front of a gun only "can be" dangerous, not *is* dangerous.
Monday, January 09, 2012
Jack Harper wants a promotion
...He's leaving, but he's not leaving soon enough, and he's not going far enough, to benefit the state.
State Rep. Jack Harper (R-Surprise) today announced that he will not seek reelection in November. He sent out an email to supporters stating his desire to run for Arizona Secretary of State and then, perhaps, be an ambassador to a foreign country.
Not exactly being one of his supporters, I wasn't included on the email distribution list. (Shocking, that. :)) )
However, our Jack is a dedicated user of Twitter. From his Twitter feed -
Zeroing in -
For once, I'll leave the wiseass comments to you the reader. Mostly.
Realistically, Harper has almost no chance to get through a Republican primary, and for the second-highest elected office in the state, there surely will be one (he won't be challenging the current AZSOS, Ken Bennett. Bennett is term-limited and will be running for governor in 2014.)
For an open seat that is a heartbeat away from the 9th floor, Republicans of all stripes will be going for that office (that means that the SOS is next in line for the governorship, and given that it has been a quarter-century since Arizona had a governor who both entered and exited office as the result of an election, most recent AZSOS' have ascended to the governor's office. Which is on the ninth floor of the state capitol's Executive Tower.)
In fact, Harper has a better chance at becoming an ambassador. So long as he doesn't get too picky about his assignment.
Currently, the US has only a "Virtual Presence Post" in Somalia, but for someone of Harper's caliber,
I'm sure that the State Department will find the money in their budget to put up a new facility in Somalia.
If one considers a lean-to against the back of a broken-down Winnebago to be a "facility."
Note: I went with pics of the tweets in question instead of simply quoting them because if/when Harper's SOS campaign fails, those tweets could disappear.
State Rep. Jack Harper (R-Surprise) today announced that he will not seek reelection in November. He sent out an email to supporters stating his desire to run for Arizona Secretary of State and then, perhaps, be an ambassador to a foreign country.
Not exactly being one of his supporters, I wasn't included on the email distribution list. (Shocking, that. :)) )
However, our Jack is a dedicated user of Twitter. From his Twitter feed -
Zeroing in -
For once, I'll leave the wiseass comments to you the reader. Mostly.
Realistically, Harper has almost no chance to get through a Republican primary, and for the second-highest elected office in the state, there surely will be one (he won't be challenging the current AZSOS, Ken Bennett. Bennett is term-limited and will be running for governor in 2014.)
For an open seat that is a heartbeat away from the 9th floor, Republicans of all stripes will be going for that office (that means that the SOS is next in line for the governorship, and given that it has been a quarter-century since Arizona had a governor who both entered and exited office as the result of an election, most recent AZSOS' have ascended to the governor's office. Which is on the ninth floor of the state capitol's Executive Tower.)
In fact, Harper has a better chance at becoming an ambassador. So long as he doesn't get too picky about his assignment.
Currently, the US has only a "Virtual Presence Post" in Somalia, but for someone of Harper's caliber,
I'm sure that the State Department will find the money in their budget to put up a new facility in Somalia.
If one considers a lean-to against the back of a broken-down Winnebago to be a "facility."
Note: I went with pics of the tweets in question instead of simply quoting them because if/when Harper's SOS campaign fails, those tweets could disappear.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Bundgaard's out, but the fun at the lege never ends...
...It just reboots...
...The coda to the 2011 session of the Arizona legislature took place just three days before the convening of the 2012 session. The Senate Ethics Committee held its inquiry into the actions of Scott "Fists of Fury" Bundgaard relating to his February assault of his then-girlfriend.
After witness after witness gave damning testimony against him, Bundgaard chose to resign from the Arizona State Senate rather than take the stand himself. The resignation effectively ends any further inquiry into the events in February as the worst punishment that the Ethics Committee could have recommended was Bundgaard's expulsion from the Senate.
It should have happened months ago, but Bundgaard spent those months trying to blame everyone but himself for his actions when he had no one to blame but himself.
He never should have assaulted his girlfriend, and once he did, he should have stood up, 'fessed up, and then shut up.
He didn't.
Good riddance.
...On Monday, or "today" as many people will be reading this, the legislature will open its 2012 session to great pomp and circumstance...ok, a lot of handshaking and picture taking. And the Governor's annual state of the state address.
They won't get much work done this week, which may be a good thing, as Bundgaard's resignation leaves the Senate down two members, as Kyrsten Sinema submitted her resignation shortly after the beginning of the year. She left the Senate so the work there doesn't distract from her campaign for a seat in Congress.
Others who may join Bundgaard and Sinema in resigning in the near future include Sens. Frank Antenori and Ron Gould (likely, as both are "exploring" runs for Congress) and Paula Aboud and Rep. Matt Heinz (less likely, but they have been the subject of speculation regarding possible candidates if Gabrielle Giffords passes on running for reelection).
Of course, if Giffords doesn't run, *every* southern AZ legislator, past and present, will be the subject of rumors surrounding that seat.
And then there's northern AZ where incumbent Congressman Paul Gosar has chosen to move to Prescott to run for a different district than the one he currently represents. His current home of Flagstaff is now in a more competitive district and rather than face a stiff general election fight from Ann Kirkpatrick or Wenona Benally Baldenegro or any other Democrat, he has decided to move to a district that is safer for Rs. There he will face the above-mentioned Gould and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu (and possibly others, but those look to be the three big names in the race).
Gosar's relocation of his carpetbags to the south opens up that district's Republican race for legislators from northern and rural AZ, as well as perennial candidates like mining lobbyist Sydney Hay. Others, like Gary Pierce, current chair of the Arizona Corporation Commission, and Bill Konopnicki, a former legislator, are also rumored to be interested in the seat.
It's safe to expect more resignations before the session is done, perhaps even before the month is done.
Aside from the conjecture about which people who are members of the lege right now but won't be around when the session ends, there is also speculation about possible bill proposals this year.
Gould has already vowed to bring back "guns in schools" legislation, plus the Arizona Citizens Defense League is pushing a proposal to allow hunters to use silencers. More in this Arizona Republic story from Alia Beard Rau and Mary Jo Pitzl.
Bills that have already been filed for the 2012 session can be found here.
...The coda to the 2011 session of the Arizona legislature took place just three days before the convening of the 2012 session. The Senate Ethics Committee held its inquiry into the actions of Scott "Fists of Fury" Bundgaard relating to his February assault of his then-girlfriend.
After witness after witness gave damning testimony against him, Bundgaard chose to resign from the Arizona State Senate rather than take the stand himself. The resignation effectively ends any further inquiry into the events in February as the worst punishment that the Ethics Committee could have recommended was Bundgaard's expulsion from the Senate.
It should have happened months ago, but Bundgaard spent those months trying to blame everyone but himself for his actions when he had no one to blame but himself.
He never should have assaulted his girlfriend, and once he did, he should have stood up, 'fessed up, and then shut up.
He didn't.
Good riddance.
...On Monday, or "today" as many people will be reading this, the legislature will open its 2012 session to great pomp and circumstance...ok, a lot of handshaking and picture taking. And the Governor's annual state of the state address.
They won't get much work done this week, which may be a good thing, as Bundgaard's resignation leaves the Senate down two members, as Kyrsten Sinema submitted her resignation shortly after the beginning of the year. She left the Senate so the work there doesn't distract from her campaign for a seat in Congress.
Others who may join Bundgaard and Sinema in resigning in the near future include Sens. Frank Antenori and Ron Gould (likely, as both are "exploring" runs for Congress) and Paula Aboud and Rep. Matt Heinz (less likely, but they have been the subject of speculation regarding possible candidates if Gabrielle Giffords passes on running for reelection).
Of course, if Giffords doesn't run, *every* southern AZ legislator, past and present, will be the subject of rumors surrounding that seat.
And then there's northern AZ where incumbent Congressman Paul Gosar has chosen to move to Prescott to run for a different district than the one he currently represents. His current home of Flagstaff is now in a more competitive district and rather than face a stiff general election fight from Ann Kirkpatrick or Wenona Benally Baldenegro or any other Democrat, he has decided to move to a district that is safer for Rs. There he will face the above-mentioned Gould and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu (and possibly others, but those look to be the three big names in the race).
Gosar's relocation of his carpetbags to the south opens up that district's Republican race for legislators from northern and rural AZ, as well as perennial candidates like mining lobbyist Sydney Hay. Others, like Gary Pierce, current chair of the Arizona Corporation Commission, and Bill Konopnicki, a former legislator, are also rumored to be interested in the seat.
It's safe to expect more resignations before the session is done, perhaps even before the month is done.
Aside from the conjecture about which people who are members of the lege right now but won't be around when the session ends, there is also speculation about possible bill proposals this year.
Gould has already vowed to bring back "guns in schools" legislation, plus the Arizona Citizens Defense League is pushing a proposal to allow hunters to use silencers. More in this Arizona Republic story from Alia Beard Rau and Mary Jo Pitzl.
Bills that have already been filed for the 2012 session can be found here.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Russell Pearce trying for a political comeback
...and in at least this observer's opinion, that's a good thing...for Arizona's Democrats and Independents.
In November, former state senate president Russell Pearce became the first sitting legislator in Arizona history to be successfully recalled. Now, he is planning for a political comeback.
Donna at Democratic Diva has a report quoted from The Yellow Sheet, the Arizona Capitol Times' pricey political gossip rag, and other outlets (R blogs mostly) have copies of an email that support the Cap Times' story, Russell Pearce's next political move.
He's running for 1st Vice Chair of the Arizona Republican Party.
Now some will say that Pearce should just stay gone, and I understand that position. However, I respectfully disagree with it.
One of the down sides, perhaps the ONLY down side, of Pearce's recall was that Democratic candidates all over the state could run by making Pearce and his arrogance, abuse of office, and divisiveness the poster child of the AZGOP and all of its candidates. His ouster took that away, because politics is definitely an "out of sight, out of mind" enterprise.
His possible...ok, *probable*...return will serve to keep him in the public eye, and cause some of the contempt the voters have for him and his misdeeds to wash over onto all AZ Republican candidates.
As Donna speculated before me, this may just be a move to put himself in line for the chair of the AZGOP after this cycle, but that's only speculation on my part.
For some reason, I'm not on the "good Republican" email distribution lists. :)
To Russell Pearce: Please don't out of this race like you did when you (almost) ran against Jeff Flake in 2007/2008. The sane and reasonable majority in Arizona needs you...to serve as a negative example.
To AZGOP state committee members: Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease be blindly loyal to one of your past electeds, no matter how craven his misdeeds. We need you (and him) to remind voters of the true face of the GOP.
In November, former state senate president Russell Pearce became the first sitting legislator in Arizona history to be successfully recalled. Now, he is planning for a political comeback.
Donna at Democratic Diva has a report quoted from The Yellow Sheet, the Arizona Capitol Times' pricey political gossip rag, and other outlets (R blogs mostly) have copies of an email that support the Cap Times' story, Russell Pearce's next political move.
He's running for 1st Vice Chair of the Arizona Republican Party.
Now some will say that Pearce should just stay gone, and I understand that position. However, I respectfully disagree with it.
One of the down sides, perhaps the ONLY down side, of Pearce's recall was that Democratic candidates all over the state could run by making Pearce and his arrogance, abuse of office, and divisiveness the poster child of the AZGOP and all of its candidates. His ouster took that away, because politics is definitely an "out of sight, out of mind" enterprise.
His possible...ok, *probable*...return will serve to keep him in the public eye, and cause some of the contempt the voters have for him and his misdeeds to wash over onto all AZ Republican candidates.
As Donna speculated before me, this may just be a move to put himself in line for the chair of the AZGOP after this cycle, but that's only speculation on my part.
For some reason, I'm not on the "good Republican" email distribution lists. :)
To Russell Pearce: Please don't out of this race like you did when you (almost) ran against Jeff Flake in 2007/2008. The sane and reasonable majority in Arizona needs you...to serve as a negative example.
To AZGOP state committee members: Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease be blindly loyal to one of your past electeds, no matter how craven his misdeeds. We need you (and him) to remind voters of the true face of the GOP.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Candidate and campaign committees update
As expected, with the calendar turning to the new year, campaign season is heating up.
...As expected, Democratic state senator Kyrsten Sinema resigned her office and announced that she is running for Congress, most likely in the new 9th Congressional District. She doesn't live in the district, but under federal law, she only has to live in the state, not the district.
As of right now, she is the only official candidate in the race, though State Senator David Schapira is exploring a run, and AZ Dem chair Andrei Cherny and others are rumored to be considering a run for the seat also. Republicans who are rumored to be eyeing the seat include Hugh Hallman, the outgoing mayor of Tempe, and Steve Moak, who lost to Ben Quayle in the CD3 R primary last year.
...Also as expected, Republican Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu officially announced that he is running for Congress, probably in the new CD4. State Sen. Ron Gould is still officially exploring a run and will announce his decision soon.
Other potential candidates are expected to announce their intentions in the coming days and weeks.
On the legislative front, new candidates/committees include:
Scott Prior of Apache Junction, Libertarian
Matthew Cerra of Mesa, Democrat
Reginald Bolding of Laveen, Democrat
Ed Bunch of Scottsdale, Republican
Ken Cheuvront of Phoenix, Democrat (a former state senator, looking for a return to the Senate)
Douglas Coleman of Apache Junction, Republican
Jean Cheuvront McDermott of Phoenix, Democrat (between her middle/maiden name and the fact that Ken is the chair of her election committee, it's probably a safe guess that she is related to Ken Cheuvront)
Scott Morris of Peoria, Republican
Judy Novalsky of Apache Junction, Republican
Kelly Townsend of Gilbert, Republican (a tea party type, who went to many meetings of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission to berate the commissioners for not producing Republican-friendly maps)
More to come...
...As expected, Democratic state senator Kyrsten Sinema resigned her office and announced that she is running for Congress, most likely in the new 9th Congressional District. She doesn't live in the district, but under federal law, she only has to live in the state, not the district.
As of right now, she is the only official candidate in the race, though State Senator David Schapira is exploring a run, and AZ Dem chair Andrei Cherny and others are rumored to be considering a run for the seat also. Republicans who are rumored to be eyeing the seat include Hugh Hallman, the outgoing mayor of Tempe, and Steve Moak, who lost to Ben Quayle in the CD3 R primary last year.
...Also as expected, Republican Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu officially announced that he is running for Congress, probably in the new CD4. State Sen. Ron Gould is still officially exploring a run and will announce his decision soon.
Other potential candidates are expected to announce their intentions in the coming days and weeks.
On the legislative front, new candidates/committees include:
Scott Prior of Apache Junction, Libertarian
Matthew Cerra of Mesa, Democrat
Reginald Bolding of Laveen, Democrat
Ed Bunch of Scottsdale, Republican
Ken Cheuvront of Phoenix, Democrat (a former state senator, looking for a return to the Senate)
Douglas Coleman of Apache Junction, Republican
Jean Cheuvront McDermott of Phoenix, Democrat (between her middle/maiden name and the fact that Ken is the chair of her election committee, it's probably a safe guess that she is related to Ken Cheuvront)
Scott Morris of Peoria, Republican
Judy Novalsky of Apache Junction, Republican
Kelly Townsend of Gilbert, Republican (a tea party type, who went to many meetings of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission to berate the commissioners for not producing Republican-friendly maps)
More to come...
The Tucson shooting, one year later: memorials, dedications, and celebrations
It's been almost a year since the mass shooting in Tucson, when Jared Loughner shattered the peace of a quiet Saturday by taking a pistol with an extended ammo clip and shooting as many people as he was able to before he was tackled by bystanders while he reloaded.
When the smoke cleared, six of his victims lay dead or dying while 13 others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, were wounded.
As the anniversary approaches, different folks and organization are commemorating the anniversary in different ways.
...Tonight (Wednesday, January 4) at 7, Channel 12 (Phoenix) will be airing a program that includes retired Supreme Court Sandra Day O'Connor and a group of students discussing ways that the next generation can bring civility to public discourse. Inspired by and in honor of Christina Taylor Green, the youngest victim of the Tucson shooting.
...Earlier today, a trailhead east of Tucson was dedicated in honor of Gabe Zimmerman, one of the fatalities in Tucson and a staffer for Congresswoman Giffords. On a related note, on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. there will be hikes up South Mountain in Phoenix in honor of Zimmerman, a noted hiker. The event in Phoenix will also be a food drive for St. Mary's Food Bank.
...Saturday, there will be a candlelight vigil at the state capitol on West Washington in Phoenix, starting at 7 p.m.
...Sunday at 1 p.m., there will be an interfaith memorial service at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave., Tucson. The service will include Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Baha'i and Sikh prayers and rituals.
...Sunday at 3 p.m. at University of Arizona's Centennial Hall, The Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding will sponsor REFLECTIONS: Honoring the Lives of the January 8 Shooting Victims. A series of speakers, mostly colleagues or friends of the victims, will speak about the lives of the victims and survivors.
...Sunday at 6:30 p.m., there will be a vigil on the University of Arizona Mall. Hosted by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and The University of Arizona Medical Center, the vigil will feature a number of speakers, including Ron Barber, a survivor of the shooting, Jonathan Rothschild, mayor of Tucson, and Mark Kelly, husband of Gabrielle Giffords.
...and last, and certainly least appropriate, the gun-toters crowd iscelebrating ignoring (Really! The date is just a coincidence! Just ask the organizers!) the deaths and shattered lives by holding a gun show on the anniversary.
From KVOA -
Wonder if they will have a special on Glocks with extended clips at the show?
The website Remembering January 8th has a more complete list of events here. Reports are that Congresswoman Giffords will attend some events, but her schedule has not been announced.
When the smoke cleared, six of his victims lay dead or dying while 13 others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, were wounded.
As the anniversary approaches, different folks and organization are commemorating the anniversary in different ways.
...Tonight (Wednesday, January 4) at 7, Channel 12 (Phoenix) will be airing a program that includes retired Supreme Court Sandra Day O'Connor and a group of students discussing ways that the next generation can bring civility to public discourse. Inspired by and in honor of Christina Taylor Green, the youngest victim of the Tucson shooting.
...Earlier today, a trailhead east of Tucson was dedicated in honor of Gabe Zimmerman, one of the fatalities in Tucson and a staffer for Congresswoman Giffords. On a related note, on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. there will be hikes up South Mountain in Phoenix in honor of Zimmerman, a noted hiker. The event in Phoenix will also be a food drive for St. Mary's Food Bank.
...Saturday, there will be a candlelight vigil at the state capitol on West Washington in Phoenix, starting at 7 p.m.
...Sunday at 1 p.m., there will be an interfaith memorial service at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave., Tucson. The service will include Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Baha'i and Sikh prayers and rituals.
...Sunday at 3 p.m. at University of Arizona's Centennial Hall, The Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding will sponsor REFLECTIONS: Honoring the Lives of the January 8 Shooting Victims. A series of speakers, mostly colleagues or friends of the victims, will speak about the lives of the victims and survivors.
...Sunday at 6:30 p.m., there will be a vigil on the University of Arizona Mall. Hosted by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and The University of Arizona Medical Center, the vigil will feature a number of speakers, including Ron Barber, a survivor of the shooting, Jonathan Rothschild, mayor of Tucson, and Mark Kelly, husband of Gabrielle Giffords.
...and last, and certainly least appropriate, the gun-toters crowd is
From KVOA -
With the anniversary of the January 8th tragedy less than a week away, we've learned a gun show is coming to Tucson that very day.
"I don't understand why they would do it that day. Not the day that Gabrielle Giffords was shot," said Casandra Ridlinghafer.
Wonder if they will have a special on Glocks with extended clips at the show?
The website Remembering January 8th has a more complete list of events here. Reports are that Congresswoman Giffords will attend some events, but her schedule has not been announced.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
2011: The year in review in Arizona politics
2011 was a memorable year in Arizona politics, beginning with a horrific January Saturday in Tucson and culminating on a historic November Tuesday, with all sort of goings-on in between and after.
...The biggest story of the year was also the first major story of the year, the most shocking, and easily the most tragic.
On a quiet Saturday morning in early January, Tucsonans were going about their business, shopping at a Safeway and stopping to talk to their hometown Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
That quiet was shattered when a gunman opened fire, killing six people and wounding 13 others.
Among the wounded: Congresswoman Giffords, who was shot through the brain. She is still recovering from her wound, though she is making remarkable progress.
The fatalities (courtesy KVOA):
-John Roll, 63, a federal district court judge.
-Gabriel Zimmerman, 30, Giffords' director of community outreach
-Dorwan Stoddard, 76, a pastor at Mountain Ave. Church of Christ.
-Christina Green, 9, a student at Mesa Verde Elementary
-Dorothy Morris, 76
-Phyllis Schneck, 79
...In any other year, the most surprising story would also have been the biggest political story.
Russell Pearce, the (in)famous state senator from west Mesa, became the first sitting state legislator in Arizona history (and so far as anyone has found, the first sitting state senate president in US history) to be recalled. The recall effort was lead by Randy Parraz and powered by the energy of hundreds of volunteers. While its success was a surprise to many observers (including me), it shocked and infuriated Pearce, his friends, and his allies.
...Arizona's redistricting process was particularly acrimonious. When the voters created the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) in 2000, we actually wanted an *independent* and impartial commission to lay out the lines for Congressional and legislative districts. Ten years ago, the Republicans were able hijack the process by successfully planting a Republican into the position of chair of the commission, who is supposed to be independent (as in neither a D nor an R). They were able to get the maps that they wanted, ensuring control of Arizona's legislature and Congressional delegation all out of proportion to their actual voter registration percentage.
This time around, they were less prepared and an actual independent slipped through and on to the AIRC.
And the Republicans FREAKED.
They spent the summer sending out panicked calls to their tea party wing, and the TP'ers responded by haranguing the AIRC at most of the dozens of public meetings and hearings held by the Commission. When that didn't intimidate the AIRC into crafting maps that were lopsided in favor of Republican incumbents, they convinced Governor Jan Brewer to remove that independent, Colleen Mathis.
That removal was overturned by the Arizona Supreme Court. The AIRC then continued its work. Now, individual legislators are threatening lawsuits because they don't like their individual districts.
This one will definitely trickle over into 2012, and may make next year's "year in review" post.
...Another one that will trickle over into 2012 is the ongoing saga of State Sen. Scott "Fists of Fury" Bundgaard. He was involved in a February "domestic violence incident". That is a euphemism for "he beat up his girlfriend by the side of a Phoenix freeway."
Since that February Friday, Bundgaard and his supporters (amazingly enough, he still has a few), he has done everything he can to avoid being held accountable for his actions.
He's invoked legislative privilege against arrest to get out of being arrested, blamed his victim for his violent acts, sued the Senate Ethics committee twice to keep it from looking into his behavior, and pled no contest to a lesser charge.
The Ethics Committee investigation is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2012, so the next chapter of the Bundgaard saga will be written next year.
...In June, the lege held a special session, ostensibly to correct a couple of words in Arizona law so that the Arizona's long-term unemployed could collect some extended unemployment benefits. The Republicans in the lege ultimately refused to help their constituents, even though doing so would not have cost the state a dime. That wasn't surprising news.
What was surprising (though maybe it shouldn't have been) was the brazen contempt for the people of Arizona that many of the Rs displayed. The worst may have been Sen. Don Shooter (R-Yuma). He show up for the session dressed in a serape and sombrero and swigging from a bottle of tequila.
It was his idea of a joke.
...In yet another development that will continue over into 2012, the disciplinary proceeding against former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas is continuing. A final decision is due in February, but the State Bar of Arizona is pushing for Thomas' disbarment.
...On the Joe Arpaio front, after one of his biggest allies and closest friends Russell Pearce lost his job in November, Arpaio saw the change energy that had been directed at Pearce refocused on him. First came withering criticism of his department's sacrificing of sex crimes investigations and the victims of those crimes in order to move MCSO resources into his camera-friendly anti-immigrant sweeps. Then came a report from the US Department of Justice that detailed the mismanagement of MCSO and the mistreatment of Latinos by Arpaio and his underlings at MCSO. That has fueled widespread calls for Arpaio's resignation.
One of 2012's biggest stories will be the outcome of this - resignation, retirement (i.e. - not running for reelection), an electoral loss, or an outright win to salvage his political career.
Best guess at this point: Retirement, but it's only a guess.
If you have anything you think should be added, feel free to do so in a comment.
Have a great new year everybody!
...The biggest story of the year was also the first major story of the year, the most shocking, and easily the most tragic.
On a quiet Saturday morning in early January, Tucsonans were going about their business, shopping at a Safeway and stopping to talk to their hometown Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
That quiet was shattered when a gunman opened fire, killing six people and wounding 13 others.
Among the wounded: Congresswoman Giffords, who was shot through the brain. She is still recovering from her wound, though she is making remarkable progress.
The fatalities (courtesy KVOA):
-John Roll, 63, a federal district court judge.
-Gabriel Zimmerman, 30, Giffords' director of community outreach
-Dorwan Stoddard, 76, a pastor at Mountain Ave. Church of Christ.
-Christina Green, 9, a student at Mesa Verde Elementary
-Dorothy Morris, 76
-Phyllis Schneck, 79
...In any other year, the most surprising story would also have been the biggest political story.
Russell Pearce, the (in)famous state senator from west Mesa, became the first sitting state legislator in Arizona history (and so far as anyone has found, the first sitting state senate president in US history) to be recalled. The recall effort was lead by Randy Parraz and powered by the energy of hundreds of volunteers. While its success was a surprise to many observers (including me), it shocked and infuriated Pearce, his friends, and his allies.
...Arizona's redistricting process was particularly acrimonious. When the voters created the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) in 2000, we actually wanted an *independent* and impartial commission to lay out the lines for Congressional and legislative districts. Ten years ago, the Republicans were able hijack the process by successfully planting a Republican into the position of chair of the commission, who is supposed to be independent (as in neither a D nor an R). They were able to get the maps that they wanted, ensuring control of Arizona's legislature and Congressional delegation all out of proportion to their actual voter registration percentage.
This time around, they were less prepared and an actual independent slipped through and on to the AIRC.
And the Republicans FREAKED.
They spent the summer sending out panicked calls to their tea party wing, and the TP'ers responded by haranguing the AIRC at most of the dozens of public meetings and hearings held by the Commission. When that didn't intimidate the AIRC into crafting maps that were lopsided in favor of Republican incumbents, they convinced Governor Jan Brewer to remove that independent, Colleen Mathis.
That removal was overturned by the Arizona Supreme Court. The AIRC then continued its work. Now, individual legislators are threatening lawsuits because they don't like their individual districts.
This one will definitely trickle over into 2012, and may make next year's "year in review" post.
...Another one that will trickle over into 2012 is the ongoing saga of State Sen. Scott "Fists of Fury" Bundgaard. He was involved in a February "domestic violence incident". That is a euphemism for "he beat up his girlfriend by the side of a Phoenix freeway."
Since that February Friday, Bundgaard and his supporters (amazingly enough, he still has a few), he has done everything he can to avoid being held accountable for his actions.
He's invoked legislative privilege against arrest to get out of being arrested, blamed his victim for his violent acts, sued the Senate Ethics committee twice to keep it from looking into his behavior, and pled no contest to a lesser charge.
The Ethics Committee investigation is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2012, so the next chapter of the Bundgaard saga will be written next year.
...In June, the lege held a special session, ostensibly to correct a couple of words in Arizona law so that the Arizona's long-term unemployed could collect some extended unemployment benefits. The Republicans in the lege ultimately refused to help their constituents, even though doing so would not have cost the state a dime. That wasn't surprising news.
What was surprising (though maybe it shouldn't have been) was the brazen contempt for the people of Arizona that many of the Rs displayed. The worst may have been Sen. Don Shooter (R-Yuma). He show up for the session dressed in a serape and sombrero and swigging from a bottle of tequila.
It was his idea of a joke.
...In yet another development that will continue over into 2012, the disciplinary proceeding against former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas is continuing. A final decision is due in February, but the State Bar of Arizona is pushing for Thomas' disbarment.
...On the Joe Arpaio front, after one of his biggest allies and closest friends Russell Pearce lost his job in November, Arpaio saw the change energy that had been directed at Pearce refocused on him. First came withering criticism of his department's sacrificing of sex crimes investigations and the victims of those crimes in order to move MCSO resources into his camera-friendly anti-immigrant sweeps. Then came a report from the US Department of Justice that detailed the mismanagement of MCSO and the mistreatment of Latinos by Arpaio and his underlings at MCSO. That has fueled widespread calls for Arpaio's resignation.
One of 2012's biggest stories will be the outcome of this - resignation, retirement (i.e. - not running for reelection), an electoral loss, or an outright win to salvage his political career.
Best guess at this point: Retirement, but it's only a guess.
If you have anything you think should be added, feel free to do so in a comment.
Have a great new year everybody!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Some legislators are going district shopping
From the Arizona Republic, written by Mary Jo Pitzl -
Among the legislators listed as considering a move to another district, or just simply whining about not liking the voters that they'd have to deal with in their new districts:
Jerry Weiers (R-Glendale) - move and whine
Lori Klein (R-Anthem) - whine
Debbie Lesko (R-Glendale) - move and whine
David Smith (R-Cave Creek) - whine
Oliva Cajero Bedford (D-Tucson) - move
Matt Heinz (D-Tucson) - move
At least the Ds weren't whining, but I have to ask all of the legislators named in the article, as well as those with similar plans and thoughts but who weren't mentioned by name:
Given that the average citizen doesn't have the option of owning two homes or picking up everything and moving for a job, how can people who do own two homes or are in a position to move for a job that pays all of $24K (officially, anyway) per year claim to be "representative" of the voters in *any* district?
Also, even more to the point, Arizona's government is ideally supposed to be overseen by "citizen legislators" performing a temp job, and not "career politicians." The average person will consider moving for a career, but not for a temp job. Anybody have an explanation of the apparent disconnect here?
Personally, I find the whining the most unseemly. These people who are supposed to look out for the best interests of the Arizonans in their districts and neighborhoods (yes, I'm just a wild-eyed idealist) are showing that they place a higher priority on their own convenience than on their constituents' interests.
They also seem to have forgotten that the voters get to pick their representatives, not the other way around.
The new legislative district map is living up to its promise of promoting competition, but perhaps not in the way some lawmakers envisioned.
With its redrawn political boundaries, the map pits numerous incumbents against each other in potential party primaries. The speaker of the House and the president-elect of the Senate are among those facing likely primary challenges this year.
Because of the changes, lawmakers are checking real-estate listings, moving into a second residence and even threatening lawsuits as they try to figure out how to keep a seat in the Arizona Legislature after the 2012 elections.
Among the legislators listed as considering a move to another district, or just simply whining about not liking the voters that they'd have to deal with in their new districts:
Jerry Weiers (R-Glendale) - move and whine
Lori Klein (R-Anthem) - whine
Debbie Lesko (R-Glendale) - move and whine
David Smith (R-Cave Creek) - whine
Oliva Cajero Bedford (D-Tucson) - move
Matt Heinz (D-Tucson) - move
At least the Ds weren't whining, but I have to ask all of the legislators named in the article, as well as those with similar plans and thoughts but who weren't mentioned by name:
Given that the average citizen doesn't have the option of owning two homes or picking up everything and moving for a job, how can people who do own two homes or are in a position to move for a job that pays all of $24K (officially, anyway) per year claim to be "representative" of the voters in *any* district?
Also, even more to the point, Arizona's government is ideally supposed to be overseen by "citizen legislators" performing a temp job, and not "career politicians." The average person will consider moving for a career, but not for a temp job. Anybody have an explanation of the apparent disconnect here?
Personally, I find the whining the most unseemly. These people who are supposed to look out for the best interests of the Arizonans in their districts and neighborhoods (yes, I'm just a wild-eyed idealist) are showing that they place a higher priority on their own convenience than on their constituents' interests.
They also seem to have forgotten that the voters get to pick their representatives, not the other way around.
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