Gotta love the selective outrage

From CNN -

John Roberts calls Supreme Court leak 'absolutely appalling'

Chief Justice John Roberts said Thursday that the leak of a draft opinion that would strike down Roe v. Wade is "absolutely appalling" and stressed that he hopes "one bad apple" would not change "people's perception" of the nation's highest court and workforce.

In his first public appearance since the leak on Monday, Roberts also said that if "the person" or "people" behind the leak think it will affect the work of the Supreme Court, they are "foolish."

Was Roberts publicly "appalled" when a sexual predator was appointed to the court?  No.

Was he publicly "appalled" when one nominee was railroaded out of an appointment to the court out of partisan tactics?  No.

Was he publicly "appalled" when a secretive partisan hack was appointed to the court?  No.

Was he publicly "appalled" when it turns out that one of his justices is married to an (alleged) traitor?

No.

There's more than one "bad apple" on the court, and the "people's perception" of the court is that while they are paid by society at large, the majority of them absolutely despise that society.

Gotta love hypocrisy

Ever notice that the people most in favor of court packing and railroading through judicial nominations are conservative.

At least, they favor it as long as they're the ones doing the packing and railroading.

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe vs. Wade, I just donated some money to Planned Parenthood.  Like most of us, I don't have much to give, but gave what I could, and recommend that all do the same.

Water?!? Why would the AZLege address AZ's water crisis when there are "red meat for the base" issues to address?

From KJZZ, written by Ron Dungan -

Rural Arizona groundwater bill languishes in the Legislature

A bill to help rural Arizona manage its groundwater has stalled in the Arizona House.

For most of rural Arizona, groundwater use remains much as it did in the frontier — unmanaged, a race to the bottom in which the person who drills the deepest well wins.

[snip]

“You know once the Legislature kind of gets through some of the stuff it’s working on right now hopefully they’ll turn their attention back to water, and we may see movement, and we’re hopeful that people are having those discussions on how we can do this. Because we need it. Communities are crying out for help,” {Audubon Southwest's Haley} Paul said.

She says that {Representative Regina} Cobb has introduced the legislation in the past but it has yet to gain traction.

Given that Cobb has already updated her LinkedIn profile to reflect her new gig as ED of the AZ Dental Association and that her water bill, HB2661 (I think), died without a hearing, I'm guessing that water isn't her highest priority.

The bill (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) could come back as a striker or could be heard in her committee, which can still meet with the permission of the speaker, but Paul (and the rest of Arizona) shouldn't count on any members of the legislative majority doing their jobs - I expect this legislature to adjourn soon, if not this week, and any such measure would still have to go through the entire process in the State Senate.

In other words, probably not gonna happen.

Did Putin learn to lie from Cheeto or did he know that already?

Pointed to this by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

From the Telegraph (UK) -

Vladimir Putin 'poised to declare all-out war on Ukraine'

Army chiefs want the president to drop the term ‘special operation’ and declare war which would enable mass mobilisation of Russians

The rest of the piece is behind a paywall.

Funny, I thought attacking hospitals, schools, and civilian targets already qualified as "all-out war"

Oh, and Russian use of land mines doesn't change the idea that Putin and the Russians are already waging an all out war against the Ukraine,

Alister Adel dead. Wow.

From Peter Valencia at Arizona's Family -

Former Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel dies from ‘health complications,’ family says

Former Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel died Saturday morning from “health complications,” according to a family spokesperson. She was 45.

“This May we would have celebrated 20 years of marriage. My family and I are utterly heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. We are so very proud to call Allister wife and mom,” said her husband, David DeNitto. “We are asking that the press and the public honor her, her legacy, and our family by respecting our privacy at this difficult time,” he concluded. Funeral arrangements have not yet been publicly announced. Adel is survived by her husband and two children. Arizona’s Family is working on learning more information.

My deepest condolences go out to both her family and friends.  This sucks, and nothing that I, or any other observer of AZ's political scene, will change that, or their pain.

Legislative schedule - week starting 5/1/2022

Another relatively quiet week at the Arizona Legislature.  "Relatively" being the important word here.

On Monday, 5/2, the Senate Ethics Committee meets at 1:45 p.m. in SHR1 to discuss an ethics complaint brought against Senator Lisa Otondo.. I don't what that's about.

Om Tuesday, 5/3. Senate Education meets at 1 p.m. in SHR1 to consider/rubber stamp some executive nominations.

At least one of the nominees, Chad Heinrich, is an active lobbyist.

Note: HHR refers to a hearing room in the House building; SHR refers to one in the Senate building.

Note2: Generally, I'll only specify bills that look to propagate propaganda.  Other bills may be more conventionally bad (think: corrupt or other misuses of public monies and/or authority.  My recommendation is that if an agenda covers an area of interest to you, read the entire agenda.

Note3: Each chamber's respective Rules Committee meets on Monday, the House's in HHR4 at 1 p.m. and the Senate's in Senate Caucus Room 1, also at 1 p.m.  Both committees serve as rubber stamps for bills leadership wants to be advanced and gatekeepers for measures that leadership wants stopped.

Note4: Meeting start times may be listed, but are flexible.  Before journeying to the Capitol or viewing the meeting online, verify the start time.

Note5: Watch for strikers, or strike everything amendments.  Those involve inserting language into the entirety of a bill.  Those can be introduced at any time and can make a previously harmless bill into a very bad one. 

Commit voter fraud? If you want your wrists slapped over it, be a Republican

From AP, via Arizona's Family (emphasis added by me) -

Scottsdale woman avoids jail for voting dead mom’s ballot

A Scottsdale woman charged with illegal voting for casting her dead mother’s mail ballot in the November 2020 election has avoided jail time but will serve two years probation. Tracey Kay McKee was sentenced on Friday. In February, she had pleaded guilty to a reduced felony charge of attempted illegal voting. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office dropped an additional perjury charge. Prosecutors wanted at least 30 days in county jail because she lied to investigators and railed about the need to prosecute voter fraud.

In January, McKee appeared in court and admitted signing her mother’s name to an early ballot envelope and mailing it to Maricopa County during the 2020 election. McKee’s mother had died a month before the November 2020 general election.

The 64-year-old registered Republican sobbed as she apologized for committing the crime. She’s one of 10 Arizonans charged so far with illegally voting in the 2020 general election that then-President Donald Trump lost.

In the Maricopa County Superior Court, the case number is CR2021001430; the case summary is here.

What?!? Mark Brnovich sacrificing the interests of Arizonans on the altar of his political interests?

I'm shocked!  Shocked, I say!

For you newbys, that's sarcasm.  I'm not really shocked. :)

Pointed to this by a story at KJZZ by Lauren Gilger.

From Arizona's Family by Morgan Loew -

Arizona Attorney General using consumer fraud funds for politically charged legal fights

Consumer fraud complaints are rising dramatically across Arizona and around the country. In Arizona, defending consumers from scams and rip-offs falls to the office of Arizona’s Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Arizona’s Family investigators poured through years of budget records for the Attorney General’s office. The investigation found that Brnovich’s office has increasingly diverted funds earmarked for consumer protection to pay for legal battles that have nothing to do with consumer fraud.

“The Arizona Attorney General is the top cop,” said attorney Robert Rutila who’s submitted cases to the Attorney General’s Office on behalf of his clients on several occasions but says the AG’s office declined to take action. “It really doesn’t give a reason for declining the action,” said Rutila, reading the most recent letter from Brnovich’s office.

[snip]

However, in budget requests submitted by the Attorney General since 2018, the office has increasingly diverted money in the Consumer Protection and Fraud Revolving Fund to pay for other operations. Analysis of the operations shows they have little or no connection to protecting Arizona consumers.

[snip]

Brnovich, also running in the Arizona Republican primary for US Senate, has extensively touted the Federalism Unit’s work while on the campaign trail, including in several interviews on FOX News.

The unit’s current docket includes several lawsuits against President Joe Biden, including the decision to stop border wall construction. Earlier this week, a federal judge granted Brnovich a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) request after President Biden announced his decision to end Title 42 immigration restrictions. Brnovich also used the unit to file briefs in New York City and New Jersey gun rights cases.

Brnovich’s office said the Attorney General was busy when we repeatedly requested an interview. Instead, they offered to allow Sciarrotta to address questions about the budget.

Brnovich works against, not protects, the interests of Arizonans and now wants a promotion based on that?

Well, it looks like that he is adding "shameless" to go with his "hypocrite" status.

Federal Committee update

From the website of the Federal Election Commission -

Democrat Garcia Ramos is running for a seat in Congress -

Biggs and Gosar, Arizona's version of Beavis and Butthead, bring shame upon Arizona. Again.

From The Hill -

Here are the 10 Republicans who voted ‘no’ on the Ukraine lend-lease bill

Ten House Republicans voted against a bill on Thursday that seeks to create a lend-lease program that would make it easier for the U.S. to send military aid to Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion.

The legislation, titled the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, passed the House in a 417-10 vote. Three Republicans did not vote on the measure.

[snip]

GOP Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Dan Bishop (N.C.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Scott Perry (Pa.) and Tom Tiffany (Wis.) voted against the bill, and Reps. Rick Allen (Wis.), Troy Nehls (Texas) and Chris Stewart (Utah) did not vote on it at all.

Book banning = Book burning in the estimation of certain GOPers

From The Nashville Tennessean -

'Burn them': GOP lawmaker sparks ire over Tennessee school library book bill

A last-minute amendment to give a politically appointed textbook commission final approval over books in Tennessee school libraries sparked a Capitol protest and heated debate in the General Assembly on Wednesday. 

The legislation, HB 2666, passed the Senate earlier this month as a relatively straightforward bill to add members to the state's textbook commission and task the commission with providing guidance for schools when reviewing materials to ensure they are "appropriate for the age and maturity levels" of students. 

[snip]

Legislative leadership has repeatedly argued this session they are not supporting broad book bans or censorship, instead offering increased parental oversight for "age appropriate" materials in school libraries.

[snip]

But in the House debate on Wednesday, Sexton suggested he would take things a step further. 

"I would burn them," Sexton said of books he considers inappropriate. 

Republican lawmaker says he would 'burn' books he considers inappropriate

To some, the amendment felt like a last-minute power grab as the legislature intends to wrap its session this week. Republican leadership this year have supported multiple measures to increase oversight over school libraries amid repeated lobbying from conservative groups on the issue.

One doesn't have to look too far to something similar here in AZ: HB2439 is on the governor's desk.

The sponsors claim the AZ bill is all about "parental rights", too.

One summary of Ray Bradbury's novel "Fahrenheit 451"  describes it a 'dystopian' -

However, based on the SparkNotes summary, I would characterize it as "GOP utopia".(emphasis added by me)

Guy Montag is a fireman who burns books in a futuristic American city. In Montag’s world, firemen start fires rather than putting them out. The people in this society do not read books, enjoy nature, spend time by themselves, think independently, or have meaningful conversations. Instead, they drive very fast, watch excessive amounts of television on wall-size sets, and listen to the radio on “Seashell Radio” sets attached to their ears

New York judge gets to where the majority of us are - he holds Cheeto in contempt

From CNN -

Judge holds former President Trump in civil contempt for failing to comply with document subpoenas from New York attorney general

A New York judge is holding Donald Trump in civil contempt after the state's attorney general's office said he did not comply with a subpoena for documents as part of its investigation into the former President's company.

Judge Arthur Engoron said Trump failed to abide by his order to comply with the subpoena, and that his attorneys failed to show how a search of materials held by Trump was conducted. Engoron said Trump would be fined $10,000 a day until he complies.

Statewide candidate reports are in

Only candidates who have submitted signatures to be on the ballot appear here.

The numbers below are based on candidate-reported numbers only from their Q1 reports).

All candidates for Corporation Commission are running as Clean Elections candidates, though only Lauren Kuby has received CE funding so far (not to worry Republicans - I'm sure that Pinnacle West/APS will fall back on their old habits and spend lots of money to get the R candidates elected).

Two candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction, incumbent Democrat Kathy Hoffman and Republican Shiry Sapir,  are running as CE candidates and have received funding.

Republican Michelle Udall has yet to file a Q1 report.

Many candidates have loans to themselves; while not all such candidates are Republicans, the vast majority are, and *all* candidates who have loaned their campaigns more than $400K are.

Well, Brnovich has the "hypocrite" part of being an R down pat...

...of course, being a good hypocrite may make him a lousy AZAG.

From Ben Giles of the Associated Press, published at KJZZ (emphasis added by me) -

Brnovich sues Hobbs in dispute over election procedures

Republican Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is joining with Republican Party officials to sue Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in an escalation of a dispute over the election procedures manual she is required to complete.

The two have been at odds for months over the manual that tells county officials how to run elections, and have tangled in other fights as well. Brnovich threatened to investigate Hobbs for temporarily taking down an online signature collection system used by candidates in order to update it with new congressional and legislative district maps approved early this year.

[snip]

Hobbs submitted the manual as required on Oct. 1, but Brnovich refused to approve it. That left the one she completed two years before as the guidelines for the 2020 elections. A contract lawyer Brnovich hired to review the manual sent her a letter in early December where he said large parts of it did not meet legal requirements.

In a Dec. 17 response, Hobbs told Brnovich much of the rejected material had been approved just two years earlier by him and Gov. Doug Ducey.

[snip]

Brnovich’s decision to sue Hobbs stands in contrast to his handling of the previous secretary of state, Republican Michele Reagan, who never completed an election procedures manual during her four years in office — during one election cycle, she didn’t even bother to write one.

At the time, Brnovich rejected a complaint by attorney Tom Ryan seeking the attorney general’s prosecution of Reagan.

You just know that the leadership of the NRA is weeping with pride over this

Of course, the rest of us are just weeping.

From NPR -

Firearms overtook auto accidents as the leading cause of death in children

For decades, auto accidents have been the leading cause of death among children, but in 2020 guns were the No. 1 cause, researchers say.

Overall firearm-related deaths increased 13.5% between 2019 and 2020, but such fatalities for those 1 to 19 years old jumped nearly 30%, according to a research letter in New England Journal of Medicine.