As usual, all committee agenda and schedules subject to change without notice...
I'm guessing that the stores in the area of the state capitol have experienced a run on lip balm due to an epidemic of chapped lips centered on 1700 West Washington.
The session of the legislature has reached the point where the only committee that can hear bills are the respective chambers' Appropriation committees, when means that every Republican legislator (Democrats need not apply) with a proposal that he or she would like to keep alive is kissing up to the chairs of the Appropriations committees, Rep. John Kavanagh and Sen. Don Shooter.
Hence the epidemic of chapped lips, and the run on lip balm. :)
This is the week when the appropriations committees begin to earn their pay. No, they aren't considering budget bills (and they don't even "work" on those, unless you think that rubberstamping whatever the Republican leadership of the lege puts in front of them to be "work") but the approps agendas this week are as long as that of all committee agendas combined during a normal week. This week's committee meetings will take hours.
Items of interest on the agenda for Wednesday's meeting of House Appropriations (HHR1, 2 p.m.):
- A striker to SB1153 with the subject of "rental cars; liability insurance; subrogation". No text available as yet, but Arizona's Republican legislators don't pull out all the stops for good governance measures.
- SB1231, giving a quarter million dollars to Tom Horne so that he can sue the US Forest Service (USFS) over forest thinning on USFS lands (the Rs want more logging of public lands for private profit)
- SB1333, creating a council empowered to mount legal challenges to any federal law or policy that it doesn't like, and authorizing appropriations for such purposes
- SB1495, mandating drug testing for applicants for and recipients of unemployment insurance payments. In a particularly vicious clause, it further mandates that the applicants/recipients pay for the drug tests. You know, the people who have no jobs and no income to use to pay for the drug tests.
- A striker to SCR1030 with the subject of "photo enforcement; speeding; prohibition". No text available as yet, but I don't think that they are proposing a measure to prohibit speeding.
Items of interest on the agenda of Tuesday's meeting of Senate Appropriations (SHR109, 10 a.m.):
- A striker to HCR2056, a proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution to "simplify" language regarding the state land fund.
- A striker to HB2127, regarding tax incentives for motion picture productions in Arizona
- A striker to HB2388, regarding the pharmacy board and rules regarding controlled substances
- A striker to HB2486, subject "minors; reporting duty; deceased; missing", no text available as yet
- A striker to HB2557, affecting the definition of "intersection" on Arizona's roads. Looks like a resurrection of Sen. Frank Antenori's SB1313, which was defeated in a House committee on Thursday. Antenori, ever accustomed to getting his way, expressed his displeasure at the defeat. Energetically.
- A striker to HB2493, creating another tax credit for big business (paired with SB1495 above, this two-step perfectly illustrates the Rs contempt for the average Arizonan and their adoration of the 1%)
- HB2571, turning the state's merit employment system into a spoils system benefitting Jan Brewer and her allies in the legislature...
- HB2815, creating a business tax credit for expenses incurred due to a government regulation, and docking the regulating entity for the amount of the credit
- A striker to HB2848, attacking public unions, including taking away the right to strike
- A striker to HB2410, expanding an already-existing business tax credit
The agendas of the Rules committees of each chamber serve as a good preview of upcoming floor activity - House Rules' agenda is here; Senate Rules' is here.
Speaking of floor action, on Monday, the Senate will consider HB2035 (undermining "clarifying" the voter-enacted (and voter protected) Medical Marijuana Act (this one needs a 3/4 vote to pass under the provisions of the Voter Protection Act, and it didn't receive that in the House, so I think this one will still have to go back to the House for a revote if it passes the Senate), HB2386 (an ALEC bill, lessening corporate liability on asbestos-related claims), and HB2640 (allowing "hunters" to use ammunition magazines of unlimited size), among others.
A couple of other Senate committees are scheduled to meet to consider executive branch nominations. The most notable of those, at least for regular readers, is the nomination of former State Senator Carolyn Allen (R-Scottsdale) to the Biomedical Research Commission. Her nomination will be heard on Wednesday by Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform.
All floor calendars can be found here.
All Senate committee agenda are here; House committee agendas are here.
The lege's Capitol Events calendar is here; the Arizona Capitol Times' Capitol Calendar is here.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Because the AZ Republic was afraid to...
Here are this week's Doonesbury comic strips, from GB Trudeau. The Arizona Republic refused to publish them, perhaps because of their support of the Republicans' attacks on women and health care freedom.
AZBlueMeanie at Blog for Arizona offers his assessment of the situation here.
AZBlueMeanie at Blog for Arizona offers his assessment of the situation here.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Some updates on Tuesday's election results...
...In a close race in Tempe, Mark Mitchell has pulled ahead of Michael Monti in the race for mayor. On Tuesday night, Monti was ahead by three votes; tonight, Mitchell is ahead by 277. Either way however, it's going to a May runoff election.
Also going to a runoff: Kolby Granville and Dick Foreman for a seat on the city council. Incumbents Corey Woods and Joel Navarro retained their seats outright, but neither Granville nor Foreman were named on more than 50% of the ballots cast.
...Regarding the ballot questions in Scottsdale, all passed except for the approval of the city's updated General Plan. It was defeated by 1064 votes.
...In Fountain Hills, incumbent Town Council member Henry Leger easily survived a recall election, receiving more than twice the number of votes of his tea party challenger.
...All results from Maricopa County are here.
Also going to a runoff: Kolby Granville and Dick Foreman for a seat on the city council. Incumbents Corey Woods and Joel Navarro retained their seats outright, but neither Granville nor Foreman were named on more than 50% of the ballots cast.
...Regarding the ballot questions in Scottsdale, all passed except for the approval of the city's updated General Plan. It was defeated by 1064 votes.
...In Fountain Hills, incumbent Town Council member Henry Leger easily survived a recall election, receiving more than twice the number of votes of his tea party challenger.
...All results from Maricopa County are here.
It's official: Limbaugh has jumped the shark
...Yes, I know that "jump the shark" is a very 90s phrase, but it fits...
From The Daily Mail (UK) -
Westboro Baptist Church's fundamental tenet is "we hate everything about civil society".
And when they're the biggest name potential sponsor left, it's time to pack it in.
Really.
Rush, it's been a fun and profitable ride for you, but it's over.
From The Daily Mail (UK) -
Rush Limbaugh is facing claims that he is considering sponsorship from the notorious Westboro Baptist Church as 140 advertisers pull out of his radio show.
The talk show host’s controversial remarks about a Georgetown law student have forced distributor Premiere Radio Networks to suspend national ads for two weeks.
Westboro Baptist Church's fundamental tenet is "we hate everything about civil society".
And when they're the biggest name potential sponsor left, it's time to pack it in.
Really.
Rush, it's been a fun and profitable ride for you, but it's over.
Legislative Republicans, like scorpions, are what they are...
...and expecting them to be any different is a waste of time and a waste of energy...
Among the things that the Rs in the Arizona lege have done just this week...
...Passed out of committee HB2664, a bill to allow debt collection agencies to scam consumers and courts in their quests to collect debts that the consumers may or may not actually owe...
...Passed out of the House and sent to the Senate HB2625, which would allow employers to question and even fire any female employees who use contraceptives...
...Passed out of the House and sent to the Senate HB2571, which seeks to turn Arizona's state government employment system into a patronage system where the winner of an election could fire any or all employees and install their sycophants/campaign contributors into government jobs...
...Gave House committee approval to SB1083, creating a state-sponsored vigilante force to hunt immigrants, legally answerable only to the governor...
...Gave Senate committee approval to the amended HB2480, turning it into yet another "birther" bill...
...Killed SB1462, an anti-bullying bill, because certain elected and unelected would-be theocrats are worried that it might impede their ability to "educate" students who are gay, have brown skin, come from poor families, are girls, or are otherwise part of a to-be-demonized group...
It goes on and on. The Republicans in the lege spend their days attacking women, poor people, civil servants, the president, consumers, minorities and more. What they don't do is something that nearly everyone can agree on - work on improving Arizona's economy (the Senate committee created for just such a purpose, Economic Development and Jobs Creation, has met once this session. It considered two bills.
One was a tax credit for big business, one weakens product liability law, making life a little more difficult for people injured by faulty products.
That's it.
Simply put, they've spent months engaged in ideologically-based attacks on groups that they don't like, but they haven't done anything that even has a faint whiff of public service.
The economy here is still tottering, and the recovery (such as it is) is weaker than in the rest of the country, yet the Rs in the lege are focused on inflicting damage to others, not in shoring up Arizona's weaknesses.
Given that this is an election year, most politicians, in other states anyway, are at least pretending to care about the status of their constituents, why aren't the Rs here putting up a better front of concern for the people of Arizona?
I think I've found a little insight...
From Snopes.com (there are countless variations on this parable, but they all make the same point) -
These people have enthusiastically embraced the role of society's scorpions. Whenever they see a situation that affects average Arizonans they work to make it worse, at least for average Arizonans. If they can be said to have character at all, innate viciousness is a major portion of it.
And while they certainly bear responsibility for their actions in office, we bear responsibility for letting them gain access to positions of public trust where they are able to inflict damage on society and the members of society that they don't like.
It is easy to be outraged at the depredations of the majority in the lege (and the executive branch Rs, as well as the Rs in DC, but we are talking about the lege here...), but the best response is to take the energy of that outrage and turn it into support for candidates that actually respect public service and public servants.
That means more than just supporting them with votes (though voting is important :)) ), it means supporting them with effort and money (start with the Arizona Democratic Party volunteer/donate or the Maricopa County Democratic Party volunteer/donate)
While I believe that means supporting Democratic candidates (partisan hack that I am :) ), I understand that some people won't be able to do that.
For them, I suggest supporting Republicans who have the ability and desire to be decent public servants.
Yes, there are a few. Unfortunately, in the current toxic political climate they have no chance of getting through a primary.
Either way, it's time for the voters to stop voting against their own best interests and the best interests of society, step up, and rein in the worst of the legislators.
Among the things that the Rs in the Arizona lege have done just this week...
...Passed out of committee HB2664, a bill to allow debt collection agencies to scam consumers and courts in their quests to collect debts that the consumers may or may not actually owe...
...Passed out of the House and sent to the Senate HB2625, which would allow employers to question and even fire any female employees who use contraceptives...
...Passed out of the House and sent to the Senate HB2571, which seeks to turn Arizona's state government employment system into a patronage system where the winner of an election could fire any or all employees and install their sycophants/campaign contributors into government jobs...
...Gave House committee approval to SB1083, creating a state-sponsored vigilante force to hunt immigrants, legally answerable only to the governor...
...Gave Senate committee approval to the amended HB2480, turning it into yet another "birther" bill...
...Killed SB1462, an anti-bullying bill, because certain elected and unelected would-be theocrats are worried that it might impede their ability to "educate" students who are gay, have brown skin, come from poor families, are girls, or are otherwise part of a to-be-demonized group...
It goes on and on. The Republicans in the lege spend their days attacking women, poor people, civil servants, the president, consumers, minorities and more. What they don't do is something that nearly everyone can agree on - work on improving Arizona's economy (the Senate committee created for just such a purpose, Economic Development and Jobs Creation, has met once this session. It considered two bills.
One was a tax credit for big business, one weakens product liability law, making life a little more difficult for people injured by faulty products.
That's it.
Simply put, they've spent months engaged in ideologically-based attacks on groups that they don't like, but they haven't done anything that even has a faint whiff of public service.
The economy here is still tottering, and the recovery (such as it is) is weaker than in the rest of the country, yet the Rs in the lege are focused on inflicting damage to others, not in shoring up Arizona's weaknesses.
Given that this is an election year, most politicians, in other states anyway, are at least pretending to care about the status of their constituents, why aren't the Rs here putting up a better front of concern for the people of Arizona?
I think I've found a little insight...
From Snopes.com (there are countless variations on this parable, but they all make the same point) -
A scorpion, being a very poor swimmer, asked a turtle to carry him on his back across a river. "Are you mad?" exclaimed the turtle. "You'll sting me while I'm swimming and I'll drown."
"My dear turtle," laughed the scorpion, "if I were to sting you, you would drown and I would go down with you. Now where is the logic in that?"
"You're right!" cried the turtle. "Hop on!" The scorpion climbed aboard and halfway across the river gave the turtle a might sting. As they both sank to the bottom, the turtle resignedly said:
"Do you mind if I ask you something? You said there'd be no logic in your stinging me. Why'd you do it?"
"It has nothing to do with logic," the drowning scorpion sadly replied. "It's just my character."
These people have enthusiastically embraced the role of society's scorpions. Whenever they see a situation that affects average Arizonans they work to make it worse, at least for average Arizonans. If they can be said to have character at all, innate viciousness is a major portion of it.
And while they certainly bear responsibility for their actions in office, we bear responsibility for letting them gain access to positions of public trust where they are able to inflict damage on society and the members of society that they don't like.
It is easy to be outraged at the depredations of the majority in the lege (and the executive branch Rs, as well as the Rs in DC, but we are talking about the lege here...), but the best response is to take the energy of that outrage and turn it into support for candidates that actually respect public service and public servants.
That means more than just supporting them with votes (though voting is important :)) ), it means supporting them with effort and money (start with the Arizona Democratic Party volunteer/donate or the Maricopa County Democratic Party volunteer/donate)
While I believe that means supporting Democratic candidates (partisan hack that I am :) ), I understand that some people won't be able to do that.
For them, I suggest supporting Republicans who have the ability and desire to be decent public servants.
Yes, there are a few. Unfortunately, in the current toxic political climate they have no chance of getting through a primary.
Either way, it's time for the voters to stop voting against their own best interests and the best interests of society, step up, and rein in the worst of the legislators.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Mail call...
Came home to find this package in the mailbox today...
"XXX"?
Who sent me some kind of obscene gem in the mail? (No fair enlarging the pic to read the return address :) )
Is it videos? Magazines? A journal of Rush Limbaugh's 2006 sex trip to the Dominican Republic?
What kind of the basest smut has entered my heretofore pristine household?
...Just the kind of thing that only Republicans would consider to be obscene...
Guess what I get to wear to Saturday's special meeting of the Democratic State Committee? You know, Saturday, March 17? :))
"XXX"?
Who sent me some kind of obscene gem in the mail? (No fair enlarging the pic to read the return address :) )
Is it videos? Magazines? A journal of Rush Limbaugh's 2006 sex trip to the Dominican Republic?
What kind of the basest smut has entered my heretofore pristine household?
...Just the kind of thing that only Republicans would consider to be obscene...
Guess what I get to wear to Saturday's special meeting of the Democratic State Committee? You know, Saturday, March 17? :))
Sunday, March 11, 2012
The coming week...
As usual, all agendas are subject to change without notice
This is the last week that bills can be heard in committee at the AZ lege, though exceptions can (and probably will) be made. As a result, most committee agendas are incredibly long, and there are a few strike-everything amendments of note as legislators try to salvage their pet bills (or to be more blunt, the pet bills of their favored lobbyists).
The highlight (so to speak) of the week isn't a matter going before a standing committee, it's Tuesday's meeting of the House Ethics Committee where they will consider the ethics complaint filed against Rep. Daniel Patterson. Patterson is facing assault charges related to a domestic violence incident with his now ex-girlfriend.
In regular committee work...
...on the House side of the Capitol -
- Ways and Means is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR1. On the agenda: many tax-related proposals, included SB1257, creating a tax credit for donations to charter schools; also, a striker to SB1195 that would remove the requirement in AZ law that "non-profit" organizations that sell donated used cars here have been in operation in AZ for at least five years. The striker is from Rep. Jack Harper (R-Fly by Night). Of course.
- Energy and Natural Resources is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR4.
- Education is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR3. On the agenda: SB1061, Sen. Rich Crandall's scheme to end the school lunch program for poor students in Arizona. Based on the already revised agenda, there was a striker proposed for this bill, and while the striker has been withdrawn from consideration, Crandall's measure has not.
- Banking and Insurance is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR5. The agenda is short (for now), but it includes a striker to SB1036. I'm not quite sure what the real effect of this would be, but it has something to do with eye medical care insurance coverage. Given that this is the Arizona legislature, it's probably bad for Arizonans and good for insurance companies.
- Government is meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m in HHR4. On the agenda: SB1433, a bill aimed at disbanding the police department in Hildale and Colorado City, which is less a police department and more a private militia for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). FLDS may lay claim to being a "fundamentalist" sect of the Mormon Church but it's more like a personal cult serving Warren Jeffs.
Note: That bill may be held until a special meeting of the Government committee on Thursday at 8 a.m in HHR4.
- Environment is meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. in HHR5.
- Military Affairs and Public Safety is meeting Wednesday at 8 a.m. in HHR3. One of the long agendas (which is, perhaps, the reason for the early start). Includes: SB1083, establishing and funding the Arizona Special Missions Unit, an anti-immigrant vigilante force under the direct control of the governor. No word on what shade of brown the shirts of their uniforms will be. The agenda also includes an indicator of the real priorites of the Republicans in the lege - a striker to SB1302 that would require a county to protect private property that the property owner states is subject to harm due to wildfire-related soil erosion.
- Health and Human Services is meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR4.
- Commerce is meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR5.
- Higher Education, Innovation and Reform is meeting Wednesday at 10 a.m in HHR1.
- Appropriations is meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m. in HHR1. On the agenda: SB1104, appropriating funding for a commission that is designated to oversee the building of a border fence; and SB1275, creating another artificially low limitation on state spending and imposing specific requirements for implementing any spending that exceeds that limit.
- Transportation is meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR3.
- Technology and Infrastructure is meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR1.
- Judiciary is meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR4. Short agenda, all bad: a striker to SB1087, turning it into a guns on campus bill; SB1311, expanding the jurisdiction of justice courts in civil matters (from Sen. Frank Antenori. Somebody close to him went forum shopping and found that he couldn't file before the friendliest judge because that judge was a JP and the matter had a value greater than a justice court can hear; and SB1359, a "tort reform" bill masquerading as an anti-choice bill. Has constitutional issues.
- Agriculture and Water is meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR5. On the agenda: a striker to SB1118 with the subject of "forest, historical and preservation funds". No text available as yet.
- Ways and Means is holding a special meeting on Thursday at 2 p.m. in HHR1. On the agenda: SB1301, establishing yet another tax credit for big business; SB1337, a move by Maricopa County Republicans to mess with Pima County's Rio Nuevo facilities district. Again.
...On the Senate side of the Capitol -
- Natural Resources and Transportation is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in SHR109.
- Judiciary is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in SHR1. The agenda is long, but makes up for that by being utterly horrible: HB2457, allowing hunters to carry any variety of "legal" weapon, so long as only weapons that are authorized for use while hunting are used to take game (wink, wink); a striker to HB2461, a very broadly written measure regarding online impersonation (from Sen. Ron "The South Will Rise Again!" Gould); HB2457, allowing the defendant in a wrongful death, personal injury, or destruction of private property lawsuit to introduce evidence that a plaintiff will receive other benefits related to the death/injury/damage in order to reduce the defendant's financial liability; a striker to HB2557, relating to "health; disability benefits; subgragation" (no text available as yet); HB2625, allowing employers affiliated with religious organizations to refuse to cover contraceptives in the health insurance they provide to employees; HB2719, barring gun-free zones around schools; a striker to HB2775, repealing energy efficiency standards for new pool pumps.
- Education is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in SHR3. Long agenda, the worst item being HB2770, barring institutions of higher education from basing certain adminstratives decisions regarding a faculty member (like hiring, firing, tenure) on the faculty member's religious beliefs. Not bad in concept, but this measure is so broadly written that it protects poor and unqualified instructors, who can just cite "religious belief" to protect themselves and to force schools to hire them and give them tenure.
- Veterans, Military, and Government Affairs is meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. in SHR3.
- Banking and Insurance is meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. in SHR3. The agenda contains HB2664, which would change law to presume that a bill showing a credit card debt proves the existence of a debt, and put the burden on the alleged debtor to prove otherwise. Such a bad bill that even many Rs are against it, but Rep. Jeff Dial (R-LD20) is fronting this one for the debt collectors lobby.
- Appropriations is meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. in SHR109. Long and ugly agenda. The one new measure is a striker to HB2071 making it a Class 1 misdemeanor to not cooperate/engage in passive resistance when a law enforcement officer is attempting to effect an arrest. From Sen Don "Tequila" Shooter. While it certainly affects all protesters, my guess is that this one is targeted specifically at Occupy protesters in particular.
- Government Reform is meeting Wednesday at 8 a.m. in SHR1. The agenda includes a striker to HB2503, subject "product liability" (no text available yet); HB2789, requiring that all rules passed by the Arizona Corporation Commission be approved by the lege before being implemented (some "minor" constitutional issues with this one); HB2807, making the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission subject to the state's Open Meeting Law (yes, the Rs are still pissed that the AIRC was actually independent this time around).
- Commerce and Energy is meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m. in SHR109. Includes a striker to HB2601, subject "filing; wage claims". No text available as yet, but I think this will become a measure to force applicants for unemployment insurance to submit to drug testing.
- Water, Land Use, and Rural Development is meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m. in SHR3.
- Public Safety and Human Services is meeting Wednesday at 10 a.m. in SHR3.
- Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform is meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m. in SHR1. The agenda contains HB2800, barring any kind of public family planning funds from going to Planned Parenthood.
- Finance is meeting Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in SHR1. Long agenda, and it's getting late; I'll look at it closer Tuesday evening.
- Border Security, Federalism, and States' Sovereignty is meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. Another in a long line of Sylvia Allen's dog-whistle agendas. Also will examine it more closely on Tuesday.
All legislative bill proposals can be found here.
All Senate committee agendas can be found here; House agendas can be found here.
Floor calendars can be found here.
This is the last week that bills can be heard in committee at the AZ lege, though exceptions can (and probably will) be made. As a result, most committee agendas are incredibly long, and there are a few strike-everything amendments of note as legislators try to salvage their pet bills (or to be more blunt, the pet bills of their favored lobbyists).
The highlight (so to speak) of the week isn't a matter going before a standing committee, it's Tuesday's meeting of the House Ethics Committee where they will consider the ethics complaint filed against Rep. Daniel Patterson. Patterson is facing assault charges related to a domestic violence incident with his now ex-girlfriend.
In regular committee work...
...on the House side of the Capitol -
- Ways and Means is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR1. On the agenda: many tax-related proposals, included SB1257, creating a tax credit for donations to charter schools; also, a striker to SB1195 that would remove the requirement in AZ law that "non-profit" organizations that sell donated used cars here have been in operation in AZ for at least five years. The striker is from Rep. Jack Harper (R-Fly by Night). Of course.
- Energy and Natural Resources is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR4.
- Education is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR3. On the agenda: SB1061, Sen. Rich Crandall's scheme to end the school lunch program for poor students in Arizona. Based on the already revised agenda, there was a striker proposed for this bill, and while the striker has been withdrawn from consideration, Crandall's measure has not.
- Banking and Insurance is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in HHR5. The agenda is short (for now), but it includes a striker to SB1036. I'm not quite sure what the real effect of this would be, but it has something to do with eye medical care insurance coverage. Given that this is the Arizona legislature, it's probably bad for Arizonans and good for insurance companies.
- Government is meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m in HHR4. On the agenda: SB1433, a bill aimed at disbanding the police department in Hildale and Colorado City, which is less a police department and more a private militia for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). FLDS may lay claim to being a "fundamentalist" sect of the Mormon Church but it's more like a personal cult serving Warren Jeffs.
Note: That bill may be held until a special meeting of the Government committee on Thursday at 8 a.m in HHR4.
- Environment is meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. in HHR5.
- Military Affairs and Public Safety is meeting Wednesday at 8 a.m. in HHR3. One of the long agendas (which is, perhaps, the reason for the early start). Includes: SB1083, establishing and funding the Arizona Special Missions Unit, an anti-immigrant vigilante force under the direct control of the governor. No word on what shade of brown the shirts of their uniforms will be. The agenda also includes an indicator of the real priorites of the Republicans in the lege - a striker to SB1302 that would require a county to protect private property that the property owner states is subject to harm due to wildfire-related soil erosion.
- Health and Human Services is meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR4.
- Commerce is meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m. in HHR5.
- Higher Education, Innovation and Reform is meeting Wednesday at 10 a.m in HHR1.
- Appropriations is meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m. in HHR1. On the agenda: SB1104, appropriating funding for a commission that is designated to oversee the building of a border fence; and SB1275, creating another artificially low limitation on state spending and imposing specific requirements for implementing any spending that exceeds that limit.
- Transportation is meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR3.
- Technology and Infrastructure is meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR1.
- Judiciary is meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR4. Short agenda, all bad: a striker to SB1087, turning it into a guns on campus bill; SB1311, expanding the jurisdiction of justice courts in civil matters (from Sen. Frank Antenori. Somebody close to him went forum shopping and found that he couldn't file before the friendliest judge because that judge was a JP and the matter had a value greater than a justice court can hear; and SB1359, a "tort reform" bill masquerading as an anti-choice bill. Has constitutional issues.
- Agriculture and Water is meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. in HHR5. On the agenda: a striker to SB1118 with the subject of "forest, historical and preservation funds". No text available as yet.
- Ways and Means is holding a special meeting on Thursday at 2 p.m. in HHR1. On the agenda: SB1301, establishing yet another tax credit for big business; SB1337, a move by Maricopa County Republicans to mess with Pima County's Rio Nuevo facilities district. Again.
...On the Senate side of the Capitol -
- Natural Resources and Transportation is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in SHR109.
- Judiciary is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in SHR1. The agenda is long, but makes up for that by being utterly horrible: HB2457, allowing hunters to carry any variety of "legal" weapon, so long as only weapons that are authorized for use while hunting are used to take game (wink, wink); a striker to HB2461, a very broadly written measure regarding online impersonation (from Sen. Ron "The South Will Rise Again!" Gould); HB2457, allowing the defendant in a wrongful death, personal injury, or destruction of private property lawsuit to introduce evidence that a plaintiff will receive other benefits related to the death/injury/damage in order to reduce the defendant's financial liability; a striker to HB2557, relating to "health; disability benefits; subgragation" (no text available as yet); HB2625, allowing employers affiliated with religious organizations to refuse to cover contraceptives in the health insurance they provide to employees; HB2719, barring gun-free zones around schools; a striker to HB2775, repealing energy efficiency standards for new pool pumps.
- Education is meeting Monday at 2 p.m. in SHR3. Long agenda, the worst item being HB2770, barring institutions of higher education from basing certain adminstratives decisions regarding a faculty member (like hiring, firing, tenure) on the faculty member's religious beliefs. Not bad in concept, but this measure is so broadly written that it protects poor and unqualified instructors, who can just cite "religious belief" to protect themselves and to force schools to hire them and give them tenure.
- Veterans, Military, and Government Affairs is meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. in SHR3.
- Banking and Insurance is meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. in SHR3. The agenda contains HB2664, which would change law to presume that a bill showing a credit card debt proves the existence of a debt, and put the burden on the alleged debtor to prove otherwise. Such a bad bill that even many Rs are against it, but Rep. Jeff Dial (R-LD20) is fronting this one for the debt collectors lobby.
- Appropriations is meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. in SHR109. Long and ugly agenda. The one new measure is a striker to HB2071 making it a Class 1 misdemeanor to not cooperate/engage in passive resistance when a law enforcement officer is attempting to effect an arrest. From Sen Don "Tequila" Shooter. While it certainly affects all protesters, my guess is that this one is targeted specifically at Occupy protesters in particular.
- Government Reform is meeting Wednesday at 8 a.m. in SHR1. The agenda includes a striker to HB2503, subject "product liability" (no text available yet); HB2789, requiring that all rules passed by the Arizona Corporation Commission be approved by the lege before being implemented (some "minor" constitutional issues with this one); HB2807, making the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission subject to the state's Open Meeting Law (yes, the Rs are still pissed that the AIRC was actually independent this time around).
- Commerce and Energy is meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m. in SHR109. Includes a striker to HB2601, subject "filing; wage claims". No text available as yet, but I think this will become a measure to force applicants for unemployment insurance to submit to drug testing.
- Water, Land Use, and Rural Development is meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m. in SHR3.
- Public Safety and Human Services is meeting Wednesday at 10 a.m. in SHR3.
- Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform is meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m. in SHR1. The agenda contains HB2800, barring any kind of public family planning funds from going to Planned Parenthood.
- Finance is meeting Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in SHR1. Long agenda, and it's getting late; I'll look at it closer Tuesday evening.
- Border Security, Federalism, and States' Sovereignty is meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. Another in a long line of Sylvia Allen's dog-whistle agendas. Also will examine it more closely on Tuesday.
All legislative bill proposals can be found here.
All Senate committee agendas can be found here; House agendas can be found here.
Floor calendars can be found here.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Short Attention Span Musing...
...Attended a public hearing of the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review on Wednesday. They were meeting to solicit public input/feedback on the judges who will be on the retention ballot in November. Full list appended to the end of this press release.
All of one member of the public showed up to speak about a specific judge. It was kind of disheartening.
Hope the turnout is better at the upcoming meetings in Pima and Pinal counties -
...Since the meeting was "noticed" as being an hour long, by law, the commissioners had to remain there for an hours. When the one speaker from the public was done, the commissioners and a few members of the general public who showed up simply to observe spent the rest of the time talking about some general issues involving judges and the judiciary.
One of the people who showed up to observe did speak briefly. She's associated with a campaign (SOS filer ID 201200392) to vote out the two members of the AZ Supreme Court who are up for retention this cycle.
Her main specific objection seemed to be over the decision in the case of the governor's move to fire the independent chair of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, Colleen Mathis. Mathis' biggest offense? She was and is actually independent, just as the voters intended when we created the independent redistricting process.
The AZ Supreme Court overturned Brewer's move and reinstated Mathis.
While the person who appeared at the meeting appeared to be a member of the lemming branch of the GOP (or the parrot branch, if you prefer), and this all appears to a continuation of the GOP's temper tantrum over a redistricting process that they didn't have absolute control over, it's worth keeping an eye on.
...In another example of "it's not what you know, it's who you know", the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the nomination of Paul Senseman to the Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments.
In case you've forgotten (or just weren't paying attention in the first place), Senseman was and is one of the private prison industry's primary lobbyists in AZ and used to be a senior staffer/handler for Governor Jan Brewer.
It'll be "Senseman Family Car Pool Day" at the lege - his wife Kathy's nomination to the State Board for Charter Schools will be heard at the same time in the meeting of the Senate Education Committee.
Like her husband, Kathryn Senseman is a professional industry lobbyist.
Note: this nomination was scheduled for committee consideration a couple of weeks ago. Not sure why it was delayed.
...If Tempeans need yet another reason to vote for Mark Mitchell for mayor, they need look no further than the endorsement of Michael Monti by Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane. Lane has turned Scottsdale City government into an ideological petri dish for the lobbyists at the Goldwater Institute. After three-plus years of Lane's administration, Scottsdale's hallmarks are a senior city staff whose job security depends more blind loyalty to Lane than on professionalism, a heavy concentration of liquor licenses near residential areas, and development standards that cater to the whims of deep-pocketed developers while ignoring the concerns of residents.
And Lane thinks Monti is a chip off of the ol' Lane/GI block. 'Nuff said.
...On the other hand, instead of seeking the endorsement of *mayor* Jim Lane, Monti should seek the help of *accountant* Jim Lane when filling out and filing his campaign finance reports. Monti *really* seems to have issues with campaign finance reporting. As the now-former lieutenant governor in South Carolina learned this week, campaign finance rules can be annoying, especially when they aren't followed.
...Wendy who? Wendy Rogers, failed 2010 candidate for state senate and a soon-to-be failed candidate for the R nomination in the new CD9, is claiming that "the Left" vandalized her house on the day she made her official announcement that she is a candidate for Congress.
Not to rain on her parade, but while *I* know who she is because of blogging, most of the Ds that I know, and for that matter, most of the Rs that I know, heard about the announcement and responded with "Wendy who?"
Which may be the entire point of her cries about "vandalism". She already an afterthought in the primary race, and it's still early enough for other candidates to jump in.
That's gotta rankle...
All of one member of the public showed up to speak about a specific judge. It was kind of disheartening.
Hope the turnout is better at the upcoming meetings in Pima and Pinal counties -
March 14, 2012 - Tucson
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
West Side Police Service Center
1310 West Miracle Mile
Rillito Room
March 21, 2012 – Florence
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Pinal County Justice Center
971 Jason Lopez Circle
Building A
...Since the meeting was "noticed" as being an hour long, by law, the commissioners had to remain there for an hours. When the one speaker from the public was done, the commissioners and a few members of the general public who showed up simply to observe spent the rest of the time talking about some general issues involving judges and the judiciary.
One of the people who showed up to observe did speak briefly. She's associated with a campaign (SOS filer ID 201200392) to vote out the two members of the AZ Supreme Court who are up for retention this cycle.
Her main specific objection seemed to be over the decision in the case of the governor's move to fire the independent chair of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, Colleen Mathis. Mathis' biggest offense? She was and is actually independent, just as the voters intended when we created the independent redistricting process.
The AZ Supreme Court overturned Brewer's move and reinstated Mathis.
While the person who appeared at the meeting appeared to be a member of the lemming branch of the GOP (or the parrot branch, if you prefer), and this all appears to a continuation of the GOP's temper tantrum over a redistricting process that they didn't have absolute control over, it's worth keeping an eye on.
...In another example of "it's not what you know, it's who you know", the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the nomination of Paul Senseman to the Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments.
In case you've forgotten (or just weren't paying attention in the first place), Senseman was and is one of the private prison industry's primary lobbyists in AZ and used to be a senior staffer/handler for Governor Jan Brewer.
It'll be "Senseman Family Car Pool Day" at the lege - his wife Kathy's nomination to the State Board for Charter Schools will be heard at the same time in the meeting of the Senate Education Committee.
Like her husband, Kathryn Senseman is a professional industry lobbyist.
Note: this nomination was scheduled for committee consideration a couple of weeks ago. Not sure why it was delayed.
...If Tempeans need yet another reason to vote for Mark Mitchell for mayor, they need look no further than the endorsement of Michael Monti by Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane. Lane has turned Scottsdale City government into an ideological petri dish for the lobbyists at the Goldwater Institute. After three-plus years of Lane's administration, Scottsdale's hallmarks are a senior city staff whose job security depends more blind loyalty to Lane than on professionalism, a heavy concentration of liquor licenses near residential areas, and development standards that cater to the whims of deep-pocketed developers while ignoring the concerns of residents.
And Lane thinks Monti is a chip off of the ol' Lane/GI block. 'Nuff said.
...On the other hand, instead of seeking the endorsement of *mayor* Jim Lane, Monti should seek the help of *accountant* Jim Lane when filling out and filing his campaign finance reports. Monti *really* seems to have issues with campaign finance reporting. As the now-former lieutenant governor in South Carolina learned this week, campaign finance rules can be annoying, especially when they aren't followed.
...Wendy who? Wendy Rogers, failed 2010 candidate for state senate and a soon-to-be failed candidate for the R nomination in the new CD9, is claiming that "the Left" vandalized her house on the day she made her official announcement that she is a candidate for Congress.
Not to rain on her parade, but while *I* know who she is because of blogging, most of the Ds that I know, and for that matter, most of the Rs that I know, heard about the announcement and responded with "Wendy who?"
Which may be the entire point of her cries about "vandalism". She already an afterthought in the primary race, and it's still early enough for other candidates to jump in.
That's gotta rankle...
Monday, March 05, 2012
Early ballot time - Scottsdale
Lost in the hubbub over Super Tuesday in many states on Tuesday and the jurisdictional elections in March in many of the state's municipalities is the fact that Scottsdale is holding a special election in March also.
"Special" meaning no candidates, just ballot questions.
There are nine questions, all placed on the ballot by the Scottsdale City Council.
Not having had time to follow local politics closely for the last few months, I didn't have a specific opinion on any of the measures, and was inclined to vote against them on general principle -
I don't trust that the mayor and city council of Scottsdale are working for the best interests of the people of Scottsdale. They spend wayyyyyyy too much time finding reasons to give deep-pocketed developers exactly what they want, even if that negatively impacts neighborhoods and the families that live in them.
But that's not the right way to approach voting, because...
1. While the Scottsdale Mayor and City Council is bad, they are nowhere near as bad as the Arizona Legislature (with the lege, vote against anything they send to the ballot. The next time the majority in the lege votes to put a measure on the ballot that actually benefits all Arizonans will be the very first time for most of them.)
2. It's the lazy way to do things.
The city-published election information booklet is here.
So, here is my take on the ballot questions.
Question 1 - relating to awarding a franchise to Southwest Gas "to maintain and operate a natural and artificial gas distribution system in the City of Scottsdale". Not sure yet. This may be a default "no".
Proposition 430, approving an update to the city's General Plan. This is the only question where people submitted "for" and "against" arguments. The supporters of the change could be best described as the people who see Scottsdale as only a profit center and not a home. The opponents could be best described as the "Change? I don't know what it is, but I know I don't like it" crowd.
One side wants the future of Scottsdale surrendered to the short-term interests of developers, which I believe is the reason that they support the new General Plan.
The other side wants Scottsdale to be the Scottsdale of the "good ol' days" when it was a small town swarming with tourists and the hitching rails outnumbered the permanent residents, not a growing mid-sized metropolis/suburb with growing families and the few remaining hitching rails are museum pieces.
Still, while I believe that the time has come for the people of Scottsdale to look at the calendar as it is, not as it was, this proposal isn't the way to move Scottsdale into the 21st century. I'm voting against it because it will be difficult to repair the damage it will cause, once the new GP is implemented.
No.
The remaining propositions are ostensibly "housekeeping" measures, polishing up outdated language and synching the city's charter to state law.
Proposition 431 - among its provisions, it would allow the city to cease publication of legal notices in newspapers or in fact, anywhere. This clause is written so broadly that the mayor and city council could order that legal notices be posted on the inside of the door on the outhouse in Jim Lane's back yard (in case you can't tell, that's a metaphor. I'm pretty sure Lane doesn't have an outhouse on his property. :) ). Another clause would take away the city's authority to *bar* development in a flood plain (yes, we have them in AZ), allowing it to only "limit" it.
No.
Proposition 432 - has some decent things in it, purely housekeeping bits, but it includes a clause matching the city charter's open meeting requirements to state law, whatever that may be. Given that the lege is trying to make government less open and accountable, that's a bad thing. In addition, there is nothing wrong with the city government being more open than state law requires. However, this one is mostly harmless, so I'm voting -
Yes.
Proposition 433 - seems to be purely housekeeping, moving language regarding one city commission into the section of the charter that relates to the rest of the city's boards and commissions.
Yes.
Proposition 434 - relating to the city's budget process. Again, the legal notice requirement will be only that which is required by state law and no more. And the other relevant budget process provisions will be synched up with state law. I've already stated what I think of what the lege is doing to government openness requirements and that the city should use state law only as a baseline for openness, not a target.
No.
Proposition 435 - allowing the city council and mayor to create an exception to the way the city executes contracts by simply passing an ordinance or resolution. Currently, that can only be done according to a charter provision or state law. Since it expands the power of the mayor and council,
No.
Proposition 436 - relating to utility franchise agreements. Again, changing notification requirements to match state law. Again,
No.
Proposition 437 - relating to city records. Again, changing openness requirements to match state law. Again,
No.
The next example of this type of post should be for the primary election in August...
"Special" meaning no candidates, just ballot questions.
There are nine questions, all placed on the ballot by the Scottsdale City Council.
Not having had time to follow local politics closely for the last few months, I didn't have a specific opinion on any of the measures, and was inclined to vote against them on general principle -
I don't trust that the mayor and city council of Scottsdale are working for the best interests of the people of Scottsdale. They spend wayyyyyyy too much time finding reasons to give deep-pocketed developers exactly what they want, even if that negatively impacts neighborhoods and the families that live in them.
But that's not the right way to approach voting, because...
1. While the Scottsdale Mayor and City Council is bad, they are nowhere near as bad as the Arizona Legislature (with the lege, vote against anything they send to the ballot. The next time the majority in the lege votes to put a measure on the ballot that actually benefits all Arizonans will be the very first time for most of them.)
2. It's the lazy way to do things.
The city-published election information booklet is here.
So, here is my take on the ballot questions.
Question 1 - relating to awarding a franchise to Southwest Gas "to maintain and operate a natural and artificial gas distribution system in the City of Scottsdale". Not sure yet. This may be a default "no".
Proposition 430, approving an update to the city's General Plan. This is the only question where people submitted "for" and "against" arguments. The supporters of the change could be best described as the people who see Scottsdale as only a profit center and not a home. The opponents could be best described as the "Change? I don't know what it is, but I know I don't like it" crowd.
One side wants the future of Scottsdale surrendered to the short-term interests of developers, which I believe is the reason that they support the new General Plan.
The other side wants Scottsdale to be the Scottsdale of the "good ol' days" when it was a small town swarming with tourists and the hitching rails outnumbered the permanent residents, not a growing mid-sized metropolis/suburb with growing families and the few remaining hitching rails are museum pieces.
Still, while I believe that the time has come for the people of Scottsdale to look at the calendar as it is, not as it was, this proposal isn't the way to move Scottsdale into the 21st century. I'm voting against it because it will be difficult to repair the damage it will cause, once the new GP is implemented.
No.
The remaining propositions are ostensibly "housekeeping" measures, polishing up outdated language and synching the city's charter to state law.
Proposition 431 - among its provisions, it would allow the city to cease publication of legal notices in newspapers or in fact, anywhere. This clause is written so broadly that the mayor and city council could order that legal notices be posted on the inside of the door on the outhouse in Jim Lane's back yard (in case you can't tell, that's a metaphor. I'm pretty sure Lane doesn't have an outhouse on his property. :) ). Another clause would take away the city's authority to *bar* development in a flood plain (yes, we have them in AZ), allowing it to only "limit" it.
No.
Proposition 432 - has some decent things in it, purely housekeeping bits, but it includes a clause matching the city charter's open meeting requirements to state law, whatever that may be. Given that the lege is trying to make government less open and accountable, that's a bad thing. In addition, there is nothing wrong with the city government being more open than state law requires. However, this one is mostly harmless, so I'm voting -
Yes.
Proposition 433 - seems to be purely housekeeping, moving language regarding one city commission into the section of the charter that relates to the rest of the city's boards and commissions.
Yes.
Proposition 434 - relating to the city's budget process. Again, the legal notice requirement will be only that which is required by state law and no more. And the other relevant budget process provisions will be synched up with state law. I've already stated what I think of what the lege is doing to government openness requirements and that the city should use state law only as a baseline for openness, not a target.
No.
Proposition 435 - allowing the city council and mayor to create an exception to the way the city executes contracts by simply passing an ordinance or resolution. Currently, that can only be done according to a charter provision or state law. Since it expands the power of the mayor and council,
No.
Proposition 436 - relating to utility franchise agreements. Again, changing notification requirements to match state law. Again,
No.
Proposition 437 - relating to city records. Again, changing openness requirements to match state law. Again,
No.
The next example of this type of post should be for the primary election in August...
Sunday, March 04, 2012
The coming week...
As usual, all committee agendas are subject to change without notice, and given that this is the Arizona legislature, many of them will change with as little notice as the lege can give.
The two biggest new items up for consideration this week are matching supplemental appropriations bills to continue funding for Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC). Some of the Republicans in the lege have made noises about not funding the AIRC, but it's required by the Arizona Constitution.
Still, they aren't known for letting little things like constitutional requirements get in the way of their temper tantrums, and they are still thoroughly peeved that the Independent Redistricting Commission was actually *independent* this time around. Look for more games.
Pertinent information: HB2862, House Appropriations, Wednesday, 2 p.m., HHR1; SB1533, Senate Appropriations, Tuesday, 2 p.m., SHR109.
The other items of interest up for consideration this week have already been seen before:
- HB2640, taking the limits off of the size of ammunition magazines used by "hunters" (think of the damage that Jared Loughner could have wreaked with an unending supply of bullets) and HB2728, allowing "hunters" to use silencers - Senate Judiciary, Monday, 2 p.m., SHR1
- HB2349, Rep. Kimberly Yee's move to add restrictions to the voter-approved Medical Marijuana Act - Senate Education, Monday, 2 p.m., SHR1. Even if it gets the requisite 3/4 vote needed to amend a voter-protected law, it may still run into the requirement that any amendments further the intent of the underlying measure.
- A striker to HB2062 with a subject of "DUI; incarceration reimbursement" will be heard in Senate Public Safety and Human Services, Wednesday, 10 a.m., SHR3. No text available as yet.
- A striker to HB2090 with a subject of "parity funding for Arizona universities" (Why am I hearing all sorts of alarms going off right now?) (no text available as yet) and HB2774, expanded the tax exemption for property owned by religiously-affiliated entities will be heard by Senate Finance, Thursday, 9 a.m., SHR1.
- HB2437, banning the appropriation of state monies "pursuant to a federal mandate without a federal report regarding the constitutionality of the mandate." (quoting the lege summary of the measure; basically it means that the lege will refuse to follow any federal law or rule that it doesn't like) will be heard by Senate Border Security, Federalism, and States' Sovereignty, Thursday, 9 a.m., SHR109. (Watch this agenda; it's chaired by Sylvia Allen and they usually slip in nuggets of ugly on Wednesdays).
- SB1237, allowing ADEQ to cite federal agencies for any pollutant discharges related to wildfires and wildfire suppression, will be heard by House Environment, Tuesday, 2 p.m., HHR5.
- SB1365, allowing people to breach contracts by citing religious beliefs, will be heard by House Employment and Regulatory Affairs, Tuesday, 2 p.m., HHR3.
Bills before the lege can be found here.
House committee agendas are here; Senate agendas are here.
Complete floor calendars are here. My "highlight" on Monday's Senate Third Read calendar (Third Read = Final Approval) is SCR1008, a declaration of a state of emergency in Arizona and telling the feds to buzz off, even in regards to federal lands here.
The lege's Capitol Events calendar is here; the Arizona Capitol Times' Capitol Calendar is here.
One non-lege related event:
The Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review will hold public hearings to solicit comment on Justices and Judges that will be on the 2012 retention election ballot.
This week, Maricopa County, followed by Pima and Pinal counties in the successive weeks (all hearings on Wednesdays). The schedule -
The two biggest new items up for consideration this week are matching supplemental appropriations bills to continue funding for Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC). Some of the Republicans in the lege have made noises about not funding the AIRC, but it's required by the Arizona Constitution.
Still, they aren't known for letting little things like constitutional requirements get in the way of their temper tantrums, and they are still thoroughly peeved that the Independent Redistricting Commission was actually *independent* this time around. Look for more games.
Pertinent information: HB2862, House Appropriations, Wednesday, 2 p.m., HHR1; SB1533, Senate Appropriations, Tuesday, 2 p.m., SHR109.
The other items of interest up for consideration this week have already been seen before:
- HB2640, taking the limits off of the size of ammunition magazines used by "hunters" (think of the damage that Jared Loughner could have wreaked with an unending supply of bullets) and HB2728, allowing "hunters" to use silencers - Senate Judiciary, Monday, 2 p.m., SHR1
- HB2349, Rep. Kimberly Yee's move to add restrictions to the voter-approved Medical Marijuana Act - Senate Education, Monday, 2 p.m., SHR1. Even if it gets the requisite 3/4 vote needed to amend a voter-protected law, it may still run into the requirement that any amendments further the intent of the underlying measure.
- A striker to HB2062 with a subject of "DUI; incarceration reimbursement" will be heard in Senate Public Safety and Human Services, Wednesday, 10 a.m., SHR3. No text available as yet.
- A striker to HB2090 with a subject of "parity funding for Arizona universities" (Why am I hearing all sorts of alarms going off right now?) (no text available as yet) and HB2774, expanded the tax exemption for property owned by religiously-affiliated entities will be heard by Senate Finance, Thursday, 9 a.m., SHR1.
- HB2437, banning the appropriation of state monies "pursuant to a federal mandate without a federal report regarding the constitutionality of the mandate." (quoting the lege summary of the measure; basically it means that the lege will refuse to follow any federal law or rule that it doesn't like) will be heard by Senate Border Security, Federalism, and States' Sovereignty, Thursday, 9 a.m., SHR109. (Watch this agenda; it's chaired by Sylvia Allen and they usually slip in nuggets of ugly on Wednesdays).
- SB1237, allowing ADEQ to cite federal agencies for any pollutant discharges related to wildfires and wildfire suppression, will be heard by House Environment, Tuesday, 2 p.m., HHR5.
- SB1365, allowing people to breach contracts by citing religious beliefs, will be heard by House Employment and Regulatory Affairs, Tuesday, 2 p.m., HHR3.
Bills before the lege can be found here.
House committee agendas are here; Senate agendas are here.
Complete floor calendars are here. My "highlight" on Monday's Senate Third Read calendar (Third Read = Final Approval) is SCR1008, a declaration of a state of emergency in Arizona and telling the feds to buzz off, even in regards to federal lands here.
The lege's Capitol Events calendar is here; the Arizona Capitol Times' Capitol Calendar is here.
One non-lege related event:
The Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review will hold public hearings to solicit comment on Justices and Judges that will be on the 2012 retention election ballot.
This week, Maricopa County, followed by Pima and Pinal counties in the successive weeks (all hearings on Wednesdays). The schedule -
March 7, 2012 - Phoenix
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Arizona State Courts Building
1501 W. Washington Street
Conference Room 345
March 14, 2012 - Tucson
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
West Side Police Service Center
1310 West Miracle Mile
Rillito Room
March 21, 2012 – Florence
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Pinal County Justice Center
971 Jason Lopez Circle
Building A
Quick update on Congressional races
This isn't meant to be a comprehensive listing of candidates, nor will there be any predictions. It's too early for the first, and I've got a poor track record on the second.
:)
In the most interesting races, in the new CD9 (Tempe, South Scottsdale, parts of east and central Phoenix)...
- On the Democratic side, David Schapira, the Democratic leader in the Arizona Senate, Kyrsten Sinema, former state legislator, and Andrei Cherny, former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party are all in the race. Schapira is still the only one who lives in the district, but other than that all are veteran campaigners and the race should be an interesting one. Sorry, but I have no better insight than that. So far... :))
Full disclosure time: I'm supporting David Schapira in the primary. While I personally like Kyrsten Sinema and Andrei Cherny, I believe that David is the best choice for the district. Having said that, I'll have no trouble supporting Sinema or Cherny in the general election in the event that one of them wins the nomination.
- On the Republican side, Don Stapley, Maricopa County Supervisor, and Martin Sepulveda, former Chandler City Council member, are the big names so far. However, there are rumors still circulating that Hugh Hallman, outgoing mayor of Tempe, and/or Sal DiCiccio, member of the Phoenix City Council may yet enter the race on that side.
In the next most interesting race (to me, anyway. I'm sure the folks in Tucson find it far more interesting than a race in Maricopa County. :) ) ...
- On the Democratic side in CD2 (Tucson), state legislators Steve Farley, Paula Aboud, and Matt Heinz, as well as Nan Walden, a former Congressional staffer (among many other things) and newcomer Nomiki Konst, are in the race (though not all have paperwork available on the FEC's website). As with CD9, it's too early to tell how this one will work out.
- On the Republican side, Frank Antenori, currently in the AZ state senate, Jesse Kelly, a 2010 candidate for Congress, and Dave Sitton, best known as a radio broadcaster, are in the race. As with the CD2 Ds, it's too soon to tell how this one will work out, and as with the CD9 Rs above, others may yet jump into the race.
Next up: CD1 (a very rural district that encompasses most of Northern AZ).
- On the Democratic side, the race (so far) is between Wenona Benally Baldenegro, a newcomer, and Ann Kirkpatrick, a former member of Congress. Kirkpatrick is getting a lot of support from the Democratic establishment, and Baldenegro is garnering a lot of grassroots support. Kirkpatrick is winning the money race, with her having approximately $465K cash on hand versus Baldenegro's ~$6400 (per their most recent campaign finance filings).
- On the Republican side, the cupboard is almost bare right now since the Republican incumbent Paul Gosar has chosen to go after a safe R district rather than this slightly D leaning competitive one. One Douglas Wade of Sedona has filed for a run here. Former state legislator Bill Konopnicki is among the Rs rumored to be eyeing this seat.
After the above districts, the interesting races are confined to the Republican side of the ballot, since the districts involved are safe Republican districts.
- In CD4 (a wide ranging, mostly rural district that includes Yuma and Pinal County), the race is between Paul Gosar, current member of Congress, Ron Gould, current AZ state senator, and Paul Babeu, current Pinal County Sheriff. Babeu's candidacy is on its last legs since the stories broke, stories about him being gay and the fact that the school he used to run in Massachusetts was closed due to allegations of abuse under his watch. Gould's candidacy is too new for there to be any campaign finance filings, however, Gosar reported $256K cash on hand in his most recent FEC filing.
- In CD6 (North Scottsdale and NE Maricopa County), freshman incumbents Ben Quayle and David Schweikert are facing off in what is shaping up to be the most contentious race. They're already taking potshots at each other. I said I wouldn't make any predictions, but I'll make one here: this one will easily be the most entertaining race in Arizona this year.
Note: In CD6, one Matthew Jette has filed to run as a Democrat. His filing indicates CD6, which under the new maps will cover most of Scottsdale, but his address is in Chandler, which is (mostly) in the current CD6. Either way, it will be a tough race for any D. In 2010, Jette ran for governor as a Republican. I don't know what kind of Democrat Jette is/will be, but based on his performance at a Republican forum in Tempe in 2010 held before Jan Brewer signed SB1070 and hitched her political future to the nativist train, he's intelligent and thoughtful and doesn't stand a snowball's chance of going anywhere in R circles.
- In CD5 (southeastern part of Maricopa County), the race is between Kirk Adams, former speaker of the Arizona House, and Matt Salmon, former member of Congress. Right now, the campaigns are in the "trolling for campaign contributions and endorsements" period, and Salmon appears to winning on both counts. However, both candidates are trying to claim the same turf within the GOP (pro-Big Business/Big Money) so this race could be very close.
The other races involve safe incumbents (Ds Ed Pastor and Raul Grijalva, and R Trent Franks). If any of those races becomes something other than automatic for the incumbents, I'll update...
:)
In the most interesting races, in the new CD9 (Tempe, South Scottsdale, parts of east and central Phoenix)...
- On the Democratic side, David Schapira, the Democratic leader in the Arizona Senate, Kyrsten Sinema, former state legislator, and Andrei Cherny, former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party are all in the race. Schapira is still the only one who lives in the district, but other than that all are veteran campaigners and the race should be an interesting one. Sorry, but I have no better insight than that. So far... :))
Full disclosure time: I'm supporting David Schapira in the primary. While I personally like Kyrsten Sinema and Andrei Cherny, I believe that David is the best choice for the district. Having said that, I'll have no trouble supporting Sinema or Cherny in the general election in the event that one of them wins the nomination.
- On the Republican side, Don Stapley, Maricopa County Supervisor, and Martin Sepulveda, former Chandler City Council member, are the big names so far. However, there are rumors still circulating that Hugh Hallman, outgoing mayor of Tempe, and/or Sal DiCiccio, member of the Phoenix City Council may yet enter the race on that side.
In the next most interesting race (to me, anyway. I'm sure the folks in Tucson find it far more interesting than a race in Maricopa County. :) ) ...
- On the Democratic side in CD2 (Tucson), state legislators Steve Farley, Paula Aboud, and Matt Heinz, as well as Nan Walden, a former Congressional staffer (among many other things) and newcomer Nomiki Konst, are in the race (though not all have paperwork available on the FEC's website). As with CD9, it's too early to tell how this one will work out.
- On the Republican side, Frank Antenori, currently in the AZ state senate, Jesse Kelly, a 2010 candidate for Congress, and Dave Sitton, best known as a radio broadcaster, are in the race. As with the CD2 Ds, it's too soon to tell how this one will work out, and as with the CD9 Rs above, others may yet jump into the race.
Next up: CD1 (a very rural district that encompasses most of Northern AZ).
- On the Democratic side, the race (so far) is between Wenona Benally Baldenegro, a newcomer, and Ann Kirkpatrick, a former member of Congress. Kirkpatrick is getting a lot of support from the Democratic establishment, and Baldenegro is garnering a lot of grassroots support. Kirkpatrick is winning the money race, with her having approximately $465K cash on hand versus Baldenegro's ~$6400 (per their most recent campaign finance filings).
- On the Republican side, the cupboard is almost bare right now since the Republican incumbent Paul Gosar has chosen to go after a safe R district rather than this slightly D leaning competitive one. One Douglas Wade of Sedona has filed for a run here. Former state legislator Bill Konopnicki is among the Rs rumored to be eyeing this seat.
After the above districts, the interesting races are confined to the Republican side of the ballot, since the districts involved are safe Republican districts.
- In CD4 (a wide ranging, mostly rural district that includes Yuma and Pinal County), the race is between Paul Gosar, current member of Congress, Ron Gould, current AZ state senator, and Paul Babeu, current Pinal County Sheriff. Babeu's candidacy is on its last legs since the stories broke, stories about him being gay and the fact that the school he used to run in Massachusetts was closed due to allegations of abuse under his watch. Gould's candidacy is too new for there to be any campaign finance filings, however, Gosar reported $256K cash on hand in his most recent FEC filing.
- In CD6 (North Scottsdale and NE Maricopa County), freshman incumbents Ben Quayle and David Schweikert are facing off in what is shaping up to be the most contentious race. They're already taking potshots at each other. I said I wouldn't make any predictions, but I'll make one here: this one will easily be the most entertaining race in Arizona this year.
Note: In CD6, one Matthew Jette has filed to run as a Democrat. His filing indicates CD6, which under the new maps will cover most of Scottsdale, but his address is in Chandler, which is (mostly) in the current CD6. Either way, it will be a tough race for any D. In 2010, Jette ran for governor as a Republican. I don't know what kind of Democrat Jette is/will be, but based on his performance at a Republican forum in Tempe in 2010 held before Jan Brewer signed SB1070 and hitched her political future to the nativist train, he's intelligent and thoughtful and doesn't stand a snowball's chance of going anywhere in R circles.
- In CD5 (southeastern part of Maricopa County), the race is between Kirk Adams, former speaker of the Arizona House, and Matt Salmon, former member of Congress. Right now, the campaigns are in the "trolling for campaign contributions and endorsements" period, and Salmon appears to winning on both counts. However, both candidates are trying to claim the same turf within the GOP (pro-Big Business/Big Money) so this race could be very close.
The other races involve safe incumbents (Ds Ed Pastor and Raul Grijalva, and R Trent Franks). If any of those races becomes something other than automatic for the incumbents, I'll update...
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Romney getting rather "efficient" about flip-flopping
It used to take years, or at least weeks, for Mitt Romney to change his positions on issues. Apparently, however, he's gotten so much practice at it he's gotten his cycle time down to mere hours.
From AP, via the Seattle Times -
In honor of Romney's campaign strategy of being for everything before he is against everything, or against everything before he is for it, I have a suggestion for his official campaign footwear.
From BornRich.com -
The world's most expensive flip-flops.
At only $18,000 per pair...
...his wife could afford a pair for each of her Cadillacs.
...his NASCAR friends, the team owners, can keep a few spare pairs on hand in their sky boxes.
...he can afford to give a pair to each of the people that he likes to fire as a severance payment (OK, he probably wouldn't do that. But not because he can't afford to...)
Personally, I hope the Rs hold one more nationally televised primary debate.
I want to see if Romney can get his flip-flop cycle time down to one sentence.
I'm confident in his ability to pull it off.
From AP, via the Seattle Times -
Republican Mitt Romney says he doesn't support a Senate Republican effort that would allow employers to deny insurance coverage based on moral objections and that critics say could limit birth control. Romney's campaign immediately reversed his position.
In honor of Romney's campaign strategy of being for everything before he is against everything, or against everything before he is for it, I have a suggestion for his official campaign footwear.
From BornRich.com -
At only $18,000 per pair...
...his wife could afford a pair for each of her Cadillacs.
...his NASCAR friends, the team owners, can keep a few spare pairs on hand in their sky boxes.
...he can afford to give a pair to each of the people that he likes to fire as a severance payment (OK, he probably wouldn't do that. But not because he can't afford to...)
Personally, I hope the Rs hold one more nationally televised primary debate.
I want to see if Romney can get his flip-flop cycle time down to one sentence.
I'm confident in his ability to pull it off.
There must be something in the waters here...
The definition of "carpetbagger" from Merriam-Webster.com -
Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley (R-Mesa) has announced that he is a candidate for Congress in the new CD9.
He joins (at least) state senator David Schapira (D), former state senator Kyrsten Sinema (D), former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party Andrei Cherny (D), and Travis Grantham (R) as candidates for the same office.
Should be a fun race. The best part? The posts are going to be easy to write.
Only Schapira actually lives in CD9.
2 : outsider; especially: a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics
Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley (R-Mesa) has announced that he is a candidate for Congress in the new CD9.
He joins (at least) state senator David Schapira (D), former state senator Kyrsten Sinema (D), former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party Andrei Cherny (D), and Travis Grantham (R) as candidates for the same office.
Should be a fun race. The best part? The posts are going to be easy to write.
Only Schapira actually lives in CD9.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sometimes the best way to step up is to step down
State Representative Daniel Patterson has become the Democratic version of former State Sen. Scott Bundgaard.
Patterson, like Bundgaard before him, has been dogged by rumors and allegations of domestic violence for years, first involving ex-wives and more recently, girlfriends.
Bundgaard hung on for months but finally gave up his seat when it became clear that the Republican-led Senate Ethics Committee wasn't going to let him slide on his "non-arrest" for an incident by the side of a Phoenix freeway (I may never say anything complimentary about State Sen Ron Gould of "flies a Confederate flag on the 4th of July" fame, but have to give credit where it is due - he didn't let go of this).
Patterson has been accused of domestic violence in the past, first by his ex-wife and now by his girlfriend/campaign manager. (h/t to DA Morales at Three Sonorans; once you get past the over-the-top editorializing, he's spot on).
Like Bundgaard before him, Patterson's first reaction has been to hunker down and hope it will all go away.
Like Bundgaard before him, Patterson has blamed his victim.
Unlike Bundgaard before him, his colleagues aren't joining him in hoping it will all blow over. Democrats all over the state are calling for Patterson to step down from his position in the House of Representatives. The chorus isn't just one voice, and it isn't just Joe or Jane Average Democrat calling for his resignation.
House Democratic Leader Rep. Chad Campbell and Luis Heredia, Executive Director of the Arizona Democratic Party have called for Patterson to resign.
Rep. Katie Hobbs (D) has filed an ethics complaint, signed by 15 other Democratic members of the House, against Patterson over the domestic violence allegations (and I'm proud to say that both of my state reps, Ben Arredondo and Ed Ableser, are among the signers).
My fellow bloggers David Safier (Blog for Arizona) and Eli Blake (Deep Thought) have also called on Patterson to resign, as has the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
It's time to add another voice to the chorus.
Patterson needs to step up and accept responsibility for his actions and to step down from the legislature and take the time to address the issues in his life.
Maybe that means anger management counseling, maybe it means cranio-rectal dislodgement surgery, maybe it means something else, but for the sake of his constituents, his family, and himself, it's time for Daniel Patterson to step away from public life until he straightens out his private life.
Patterson, like Bundgaard before him, has been dogged by rumors and allegations of domestic violence for years, first involving ex-wives and more recently, girlfriends.
Bundgaard hung on for months but finally gave up his seat when it became clear that the Republican-led Senate Ethics Committee wasn't going to let him slide on his "non-arrest" for an incident by the side of a Phoenix freeway (I may never say anything complimentary about State Sen Ron Gould of "flies a Confederate flag on the 4th of July" fame, but have to give credit where it is due - he didn't let go of this).
Patterson has been accused of domestic violence in the past, first by his ex-wife and now by his girlfriend/campaign manager. (h/t to DA Morales at Three Sonorans; once you get past the over-the-top editorializing, he's spot on).
Like Bundgaard before him, Patterson's first reaction has been to hunker down and hope it will all go away.
Like Bundgaard before him, Patterson has blamed his victim.
Unlike Bundgaard before him, his colleagues aren't joining him in hoping it will all blow over. Democrats all over the state are calling for Patterson to step down from his position in the House of Representatives. The chorus isn't just one voice, and it isn't just Joe or Jane Average Democrat calling for his resignation.
House Democratic Leader Rep. Chad Campbell and Luis Heredia, Executive Director of the Arizona Democratic Party have called for Patterson to resign.
Rep. Katie Hobbs (D) has filed an ethics complaint, signed by 15 other Democratic members of the House, against Patterson over the domestic violence allegations (and I'm proud to say that both of my state reps, Ben Arredondo and Ed Ableser, are among the signers).
My fellow bloggers David Safier (Blog for Arizona) and Eli Blake (Deep Thought) have also called on Patterson to resign, as has the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
It's time to add another voice to the chorus.
Patterson needs to step up and accept responsibility for his actions and to step down from the legislature and take the time to address the issues in his life.
Maybe that means anger management counseling, maybe it means cranio-rectal dislodgement surgery, maybe it means something else, but for the sake of his constituents, his family, and himself, it's time for Daniel Patterson to step away from public life until he straightens out his private life.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
The coming week...
I said this last week and was thoroughly blown out of the water when the Rs dropped a budget proposal on us, but this coming week is shaping up to be a relatively quiet one on the committee front.
Guess that it's a good thing that each of the posts includes a disclaimer that committee agendas and schedules can change without notice. And consider that disclaimer given for this post. :)
As of right now, the most interesting bill going before committee this week is a striker to HB2036. More complete coverage on the measure is here, Basically, it an anti-abortion measure with every single punitive and petty idea that the Rs have come up with over the last few years, with the exception of the "trans-vaginal" ultrasound mandate that has cropped up in other places.
The measure will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday at 2 p.m. in SHR1.
While there are a couple of individual measures that are controversial, right now they're all measures that have been heard in committee at least once in the other chamber (lowlights: HB2035, Rep. Kimberly Yee's attempt to undermine the voters' approval of medical marijuana; HB2563, Rep. Terri Proud's move to add the Bible to public school curriculums; .
That makes the second "highlight" of the week, as currently scheduled, some of the executive nominations up for committee consideration. Such as...
Not to say that the Capitol world is a small one, or to imply that the operating rule down there is "it's not what you know, it's who you know", but Kathryn Senseman, wife of former Brewer communications person and private prison lobbyist Paul Senseman (and a professional lobbyist herself), is up for consideration for a "public member" spot on the State Board for Charter Schools.
"Public member"? Only technically. As a professional lobbyist, she's not officially part of the state government or any of the industries she works for, but she's hardly an outsider.
To sum up: things look quiet right now, but as we learned last week, that can change at a moment's notice (or less).
The complete House committee schedule is available here; the Senate's schedule is available here.
The lege's floor calendars are here.
The lege's Capitol Events calendar is here; the Arizona Capitol Times' Capitol Calendar is here.
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee's (JLBC) monthly fiscal highlights report for February is here.
Guess that it's a good thing that each of the posts includes a disclaimer that committee agendas and schedules can change without notice. And consider that disclaimer given for this post. :)
As of right now, the most interesting bill going before committee this week is a striker to HB2036. More complete coverage on the measure is here, Basically, it an anti-abortion measure with every single punitive and petty idea that the Rs have come up with over the last few years, with the exception of the "trans-vaginal" ultrasound mandate that has cropped up in other places.
The measure will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday at 2 p.m. in SHR1.
While there are a couple of individual measures that are controversial, right now they're all measures that have been heard in committee at least once in the other chamber (lowlights: HB2035, Rep. Kimberly Yee's attempt to undermine the voters' approval of medical marijuana; HB2563, Rep. Terri Proud's move to add the Bible to public school curriculums; .
That makes the second "highlight" of the week, as currently scheduled, some of the executive nominations up for committee consideration. Such as...
Not to say that the Capitol world is a small one, or to imply that the operating rule down there is "it's not what you know, it's who you know", but Kathryn Senseman, wife of former Brewer communications person and private prison lobbyist Paul Senseman (and a professional lobbyist herself), is up for consideration for a "public member" spot on the State Board for Charter Schools.
"Public member"? Only technically. As a professional lobbyist, she's not officially part of the state government or any of the industries she works for, but she's hardly an outsider.
To sum up: things look quiet right now, but as we learned last week, that can change at a moment's notice (or less).
The complete House committee schedule is available here; the Senate's schedule is available here.
The lege's floor calendars are here.
The lege's Capitol Events calendar is here; the Arizona Capitol Times' Capitol Calendar is here.
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee's (JLBC) monthly fiscal highlights report for February is here.
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