Short Attention Span Musing: "What They Shouldn't Have Said" Edition

AKA "The Dumb, The Bad, and The Ugly"...

...First up: The Dumb -

From the Arizona Capitol Times, written by Evan Wyloge -

One of Andrei Cherny’s top campaign volunteers took to Twitter on Thursday to criticize the Democratic congressional hopeful’s opponents for running in a district where they don’t live.

From the Twitter feed of Dennis Kavanagh, a Cherny campaign co-chair -

The problem?  Kavanagh's candidate, Cherny, is like Parker, Sinema, and most of the major candidates in CD9.  With the exception of State Sen. David Schapira (D-Tempe), none of the major candidates, and few of the minor candidates, actually live in the district.

Oopsie.


...Still, that one is only "dumb".  Falling well into the "ugly" category is State Rep. Debbie Lesko's assertion that the religious values of people who own businesses carry more weight than the civil rights of people who don't.  It's not a direct quote, but it's the end result of her anti-contraception bill in the lege and her statements and efforts in support of it.

From AP, via the Arizona Republic, written Michelle L. Price -

A state representative who introduced legislation that would let more Arizona employers drop coverage for contraceptives defended her proposal at a rally Friday in Phoenix, responding to critics who say it intrudes on women's private lives.

Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko says her bill protects the religious rights of employers who do not wish to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives because it violates their religious or moral beliefs.

"I am proud to stand up and fight for the millions of Catholics and other faiths across this nation to protect our religious freedoms," Lesko said at the rally.

Lesko's bill, HB2625, would allow employers to refuse to pay for contraceptive medication/medical procedures that are intended to be contraceptive in effect.

It also requires employees to inform to inform their employers why the employee is receiving contraceptive-related medical treatment.  I'm not a lawyer, but I'm guessing that there's a HIPAA violation in there somewhere.

That's just a guess though. 

Of course, the cynic in me wonders if Lesko's game is less about protecting the religious freedom of a few and more about protecting the ability of those few to impose their personal religious beliefs on others.


...However, Fox News' Geraldo Rivera has claimed the Ugly category all for himself.

From Media Matters for America, written by Solange Uwimana -

Fox News contributor Geraldo Rivera is standing by remarks he made today regarding the killing of 17-year-old black teen Trayvon Martin. On Fox & Friends this morning, Rivera claimed that "the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as George Zimmerman."

An unarmed kid who wasn't threatening anybody is gunned down by a self-appointed vigilante, and all Rivera can do is blame the victim?  Rivera has always been more of a performer than a journalist, but he never seemed to be evil.

Apparently however, he's been drinking the Fox News Kool-Aid for too long.

However2, the effects of that Kool-Aid don't seem to be genetic - even his own son is "ashamed" of Rivera's remarks.

Still, I can almost understand Rivera's attitude.  There have been documented instances of some rather scary people wearing hoodies -

This pic is rather popular on the internet right now.  Not sure who originally had it, but it's a perfect illustration of the ludicrous nature of Rivera's attitude.

Frank Antenori: just serving it up

Southern AZ bloggers have been needling state Sen. Frank "Don't Make Me Mad" Antenori over his efforts to outlaw photo radar traffic enforcement in light of his penchant for getting caught by photo radar cameras committing one or another violation.

Michael Bryan at Blog for Arizona has one jab here, and Tedski at Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion has a jab here, and here, and here.  OK, that last one isn't about photo radar or Antenori's driving, but it is metaphorically about radar, and it's definitely a needle.  Tedski's been on a roll.  :)

Anyway, I was going to pass on this one, content to let my colleagues from southern AZ work their magic on one of their own (Antenori represents part of Tucson), but after watching a little video, I saw that Antenori has been bringing his scofflaw ways to my part of the desert, Scottsdale.

The Tucson Weekly has video of Antenori consciously running a red light in Scottsdale ("consciously" because he slowed down at the intersection, saw the other stopped traffic, and rolled right through the intersection).

Antenori exhibits a pattern of disregard for the traffic laws that apply to the rest of us, a pattern that goes far beyond his running of a red light in Scottsdale (the above video).

...He just "cleared up" a photo radar speeding ticket in the Pima County justice court system.  He failed to appear, resulting in the Court ordering the suspension of his driver's license.  However, the state Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) claimed that they were never notified and so never suspended the license. 

They say it was an honest mistake, but the cynic in me wonders if it is more an exercise is spineless geography - the judge's office is 100+ miles and a couple of hours away from MVD; Antenori's office is 100+ steps and a couple of minutes away from MVD.

And Antenori exercises some influence over their budget.

I've been told I'm being too cynical on this one, that this sort of thing happens far more often than it should, but I don't believe in coincidence.

Anyway, I digress...

...He also has the ticket from the violation documented in the linked video, pending in Scottsdale Municipal Court (R-0751-PR-2012005658)

...In 2006, he received a parking ticket in Tucson (Tucson Municipal Court, M-1041-PK-400661180)

...In 2007, he received a traffic ticket in Tucson (Tucson Municipal Court, M-1041-TR-7054839), and cleared it with a defensive driving course

...In 2008, he received another traffic ticket in Tucson (Tucson Municipal Court, M-1041-TR-8041742), and paid a fine

That's what I could find with a quick online search.  Many courts in AZ and elsewhere don't have an online presence, but even this is more than enough to establish the pattern.

Frank Antenori is running for Congress, and apparently he puts "scofflaw" in the job description for his senior campaign staff.

He's hired Brett Mecum, the disgraced former executive director of the AZGOP, for his campaign staff.

Mecum is the one who was arrested at AZGOP headquarters after photo radar caught him driving more than 40 mph over the speed limit on a Phoenix freeway (I think that mug shot photographers hone their skills by taking driver's license photos) 






Mecum also ran into trouble for his use of the GOP's "Voter Vault" (info on registered voters to aid in targeted campaigning) to find out information about a woman he was stalking.

...Given all this, will anybody really be surprised if Antenori makes the song "Working on the Chain Gang" his campaign theme song?  Now, the estate of Sam Cooke may object, but that's never stopped R candidates from ripping off musical artists...

Republican War On Women: AZ Republicans hijack Democratic press conference

Apparently feeling the pressure of the nationwide criticism over her "employers get to decide whether or not women have access to birth control" bill, a clearly agitated State Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-The Dark Ages), with her Center for Arizona Theocracy Policy handler/ally in tow, hijacked a Democratic press conference that was critical of her bill.

From the AZCentral.com's Political Insider, written by Alia Beard Rau -

A Democratic news conference to decry legislation allowing employers to opt out of providing contraception degraded into name-calling from both parties Wednesday morning.

Democrat lawmakers from both the House and Senate organized the news conference to talk about House Bill 2625.

Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, called the bill "asinine" and described Republican lawmakers supporting the bill as "Rush Limbaugh Republicans" with "fundamentalist, Taliban-like religious beliefs."

"Tea party Republicans are launching an all-out attack on women's health and women's rights," Lopez said. "We need to quit wasting time legislating their version of morality."

{snip}

"The most disturbing part of this is having to get permission and give personal medical information to your employer," said Rep. Matt Heinz, D-Tucson, a physician.

But bill sponsor Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Glendale, standing at the back of the news conference, called them "liars."

After the Democrats were done with their media conference, Lesko and Center for Arizona Policy attorney Deborah Sheasby hijacked the microphone. The Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative lobby and education group, is behind the bill.

I don't have much to add to this (face it, nothing I write can top the sheer insanity that *is* the Republican caucus in the Arizona legislature), but a friend who is wiser than I am made a suggestion:

If this bill becomes law, someone from her district should make a request to see her medical records to find out if she is using any sort of birth control and if so, verify that it isn't being taken to prevent pregnancy.

They'll (meaning the Rs) will argue about it, but the bottom line is that they are hired/fired by their constituents, they are paid out of their constituents' (and all of our) tax money, and their authority to make laws is derived from their constituents' consent.  The bottom line is that state legislators work for their constituents, whether or not they choose to acknowledge that fact after taking office.

Of course, they could argue that they are above the laws that apply to the rest of society.

Which might be even more fun than watching them and their law getting slapped down in court.

Channel 12 video of the presser is here.

The bill in question is HB2625, and the section of the bill that has created the national uproar is thus -

A corporation, employer, sponsor, issuer or other entity offering the plan may state religious beliefs or moral convictions in its affidavit that require the subscriber to first pay for the prescription and then submit a claim to the corporation along with evidence that the prescription is not in whole or in part for a purpose covered by the objection. A corporation may charge an administrative fee for handling these claims.

Lesko, CATP, and the other Rs have been saying that Democrats and the media have been lying about the bill and what it does.  Read the text and use your own judgement.

Romney campaign already planning ahead for the general election

I freely admit, I'm not someone who holds it against an elected official/candidate who changes his (or her) position on an issue...when that change is due to learning new facts related to the issue or something similar, and the elected/candidate has the spine and the principle to stand up in front of people and stand by the change.

Pandering to a specific audience, espousing one position in front of one crowd and then espousing a different, even opposing, position in front of a different crowd is both unprincipled and spineless.

Announcing to the world that the candidate is going to flip-flop on positions months ahead of time, and just because the candidate will be tailoring his message to a different audience is manna from heaven for each of that candidate's opponents.

And making that announcement in a way that lends itself to visuals is manna from heaven for wiseasses with access to computers.

First, the quote from Eric Fehrnstrom, a senior advisor to Mitt Romney, uttered during an interview on CNN.  It is all over the internet, but I have to pick one source.

From Taegan Goddard's PoliticalWire -

"Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It's almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again."

Some of the visuals, found on the internet (OK, mostly on my Facebook feed) (and none of the images is meant to imply the endorsement of Etch-A-Sketch, its manufacturer, its retailers, or Romney himself) -

Not an exact quote, but it sure as hell makes a good paraphrase.

 Just one in a long line of flip flops...

Straight to the point...

Romney's day, summarized

 The Real Romney

Programs! Get yer programs here! Ya can't tell the candidates without a program!

The last couple of days have seen some significant shakeups in the fields of candidates for some of the offices up for election this fall.

...In the new LD25 (East and Central Mesa), Russell Pearce, the recently ousted former senate president, surprised almost no one by announcing that he will run for the Senate again.  What did surprise a few people was how quickly Sen. Rich Crandall announced that he would not run (he lives in the new LD25) and threw his support behind newcomer Bob Worsley, a businessman who is highly regarded in Mesa and the Mormon Church.

...In the old CD8/new CD2, Ron Barber announced that he will run for a full term in the new CD2.  This came as a bit of a surprise, particularly to the Democrats who cleared the field so he could run to serve out the remainder of Giffords' term in the current CD8.  Of the "name" Democrats who were candidates for the new CD2 under the understanding that Barber was just running in CD8 as a sentimental placeholder, State Sen. Paula Aboud and State Rep.Matt Heinz have basically said that they will be staying in, Rep. Steve Farley has already dropped his bid for Congress and will be running for the state senate, and Nan Walden, a former US Senate staffer (and lots of other well-connected things) has announced that she won't be running.

...Mike Sunnucks of the Phoenix Business Journal is reporting that Vernon Parker, a former mayor of Paradise Valley and an also-ran in the 2010 primary in CD3, is going to run in CD9, and that Lisa Borowsky, currently a member of the Scottsdale City Council is looking into the race. Borowsky had been rumored to be interested in a run at the mayor's job in Scottsdale.

Parker won a seat on the PV Town Council last week, but resign to run doesn't apply because I think that positions on the PV council are unpaid.

...Former Scottsdale City Council member and Democrat David Ortega has entered the race for the District 2 seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.  The "big" name in that race right now is Lester Pearce, currently the embatttled Justice of the Peace for North Mesa and brother to former senator (and always bigoted) Russell Pearce.

Arizona graded as below average in the area of legislative integrity? Color me as not shocked.

From a story in the Arizona Daily Star, written by Wayne Parry of the AP -

State governments lack transparency and accountability to citizens, and remain at high risk for corruption, according to a new study of all 50 statehouses.

Not a single state received an A in the State Integrity Investigation ranking, a product of the Center for Public Integrity, Public Radio International and Global Integrity.

Arizona received a D-plus.

The actual study is available here, but the upshot is that grades were issued in a number of sub-areas, and combined into an overall grade, and that the areas with the highest grades were those that have the least legislative influence.  The report card -

Yes, you read that report card correctly.  The only "A" grade is in an area that the lege has no real control over, redistricting, an area that the voters kicked the lege out of more than a decade ago when it created the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC).

And the lege has been trying to usurp the AIRC and the will of the voters ever since.

...In a bit of (apparently) fortuitous timing, at the same time this report on legislative integrity is making the rounds, so is the story of how Sen. Frank "Don't Make Me Mad" Antenori had his driver's license suspended by a Pima County justice court but MVD (Motor Vehicle Division) claims that it never was notified and therefore hasn't actually suspended Antenori's license.

Not saying there is anything untoward going on here, but MVD's HQ is a short golf shot away from the Senate building, and there have been occasions in the past when political influence swayed the way that MVD did its job...

Short Attention Span Musing...

OK, so this one is mostly about picking on AZ Republicans...mostly.

...In case one was sure that the Rs in the lege hadn't regressed to a third-grade mentality, what with their recent fascination with/fear of "girl parts", comes a mature and intellectually incisive tweet from your favorite and mine, Rep. Jack Harper (R-Surprise!) -

"Arlene"??  Time to grow up Jack.

...Remember Jerry Walker?  The former member of the Maricopa County Community College District was well-known for his bigoted comments, arrogant attitude, and his bullying demeanor in office before he was defeated in 2010.

He's basically Russell Pearce without the pretense of affability, a man so extreme in his worldview and absolutely sure of his rightness that he frightens even other Republicans.

Well, he's baaaaaaaaack...

He's formed a committee to run for the North Mesa Justice of the Peace office.  Not sure if he has been hand-picked by Lester Pearce, the incumbent who is looking at a run for a seat on the Board of Supervisors, but he may be the one candidate who could burnish Pearce's legacy as JP.

Pearce is known as pretty extreme himself (going around the country lecturing that women's suffrage, aka right to vote, is a violation of states' rights, will earn that reputation), but compared to Walker, he's a voice of enlightened reason.

...Former state senator Jonathan Paton is making another run at a seat in Congress.  I won't say he is *completely* in the pocket of the payday loan/legalized loan shark industry, but I admit to being a little surprised that his campaign paperwork didn't list his campaign bank accounts as being at The National Money Store or similar operation (he reports his bank as the Bank of Tucson).

...Normally the Twitter feed for GS Elevator Gossip (GS = Goldman Sachs) documents a fount of 1% arrogance, but it turns out that even the GSers get one right on occasion -

I don't know if the Congressional pension plan is quite that good, but it is much better than that offered to members of the armed services, and that's not right.

Period.

Road Closures In North and Northeastern AZ

Due to the brief visit by winter to our state, there are road closures affecting much of the state.  They'll probably be lifted as the storm passes, but be careful - another storm system is forecasted for the state later today.

Edit on 3/19 to add: 

Based on emails from ADOT and various news reports, most major roads seem to be re-opened.  However, call ahead to learn about specific destinations and areas.

Some of the remaining road closures (courtesy Channel 12) -

Eastbound Interstate 40 closed between the SR 89 junction (near Ash Fork) and Williams. Westbound I-40 is open to traffic.

A 30-mile stretch of State Route 87 closed in both directions north of Payson.
...
Tire chains are required along State Route between Star Valley and Heber (an area east of Payson).

US 180 closed northwest of the Snow Bowl turnoff to the State Route 64 junction.

End edit...

From an email from ADOT (Arizona Department of Transportation) -

Update 10:40 a.m. - Westbound Interstate 40 has reopened at Winslow. Eastbound I-40 remains closed at US 93, as tractor trailers are backed up at Ash Fork Hill west of Flagstaff. Northbound Interstate 17 remains closed at the junction of SR 179, though crews are making progress on clearing the snow and ice from the roadway. Southbound Interstate 17 remains open from Flagstaff.

Update 10:15 a.m. – State Route 87 is closed from the junction of State Route 260 at Cinch Hook Hill (milepost 278) to Winslow (milepost 341) State Route 260 is closed from east of Camp Verde (milepost 228) to State Route 87.

Update 9:40 a.m. - State Route 87 is closed from Clint’s Well (milepost 285) to Winslow (milepost 341).

Arizona Department of Transportation crews are fully deployed in response to the winter storm that developed overnight. Heavy snow is still falling from Flagstaff to the White Mountains, causing hazardous driving conditions.

The following closures are in place as of 8 a.m.

Northbound Interstate-17 is closed at the junction of State Route 179. I-17 southbound remains open at this time.

Interstate-40 is closed in both directions from US 93 to Winslow.

US 180 is closed north of the Arizona Snowbowl to State Route 64 at Valle.

State Route 87 is closed north of Pine near Clint’s Well.

The coming week...

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.

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.

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.

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) -

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) -

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.

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?  :))

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.