Remember when Paul Gosar and Trent Franks pushed to open up the Grand Canyon to uranium mining? Here's yet another reason why that's a bad idea.

Earlier this summer, Arizona congressmen Paul Gosar and Trent Franks worked to overturn the ban on mining uranium near the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona.

They failed, at least for now, and a press release that came across my inbox this morning serves as a reminder of why their failure is a good thing for the residents of Arizona and the millions of visitors to the Canyon.

From the EPA -

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached an agreement with Chevron USA Inc. to investigate radium-contaminated soil at the Mariano Lake Mine site, a former uranium mine located on the Navajo Nation near Gallup, New Mexico. The agreement is the latest result of an ongoing effort by EPA and Navajo Nation to address contamination from the legacy of uranium mining in the Navajo Nation.

Under the agreement, Chevron will conduct a radiological survey and sample radium-contaminated soil throughout the 31-acre Mariano Lake Mine site and surrounding area, including 10 residences and two nearby water wells. Chevron also agreed to pay EPA's oversight costs.

“This investigation is part of EPA's commitment to help the Navajo Nation deal with the significant impacts of historic uranium mining,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Administrator for the Pacific Southwest Region. “We are working to make sure that every responsible party takes the steps needed to protect Navajo families from radioactive contamination.”

Ben Shelly, Navajo Nation President, said, "On behalf of the communities in and around Mariano Lake, I extend my sincere appreciation for the agreement today between the U.S. EPA and Chevron. I look forward to the data that will be generated in this investigation, and I respectfully request U.S. EPA to understand our desires for the most protective clean up plans that will help restore harmony in our communities and homes. This type of agreement will continue to help us as we work to correct the harmful legacy of past uranium mining and milling on the Navajo Nation.

EPA and the Navajo EPA will oversee field work, which will include construction of a fence and application of a sealant to contaminated soils where people live, work and play while the investigation is carried out. The order also requires Chevron to post signs, lock gates and prevent livestock from getting into areas of known contamination prior to cleanup.

The Mariano Lake Mine site operated as a uranium ore mine from approximately 1977 to 1982, and includes one 500-foot deep shaft, waste piles, and several surface ponds. Exposure to elevated levels of radium over a long period of time can result in anemia, cataracts, fractured teeth, and cancer, especially bone cancer.

Chevron is the fifth responsible party that EPA has required to take actions at former uranium mines on the Navajo Nation. EPA’s work with Navajo Nation to identify and enforce against responsible parties is part of a 5-year plan to address the problem, which can be found at http://www.epa.gov/region9/superfund/navajo-nation/ .

I don't expect this to change the attitudes of Gosar and Franks - they always favor corporate profits over constituents' safety.  However, they aren't the only people with something to say on the subject.

Note:  The districts of both Franks and Gosar encompass parts of northern Arizona, including the areas that would be affected by any uranium mining, and Gosar's includes the parts of the Navajo reservation that are in Arizona.

Jan Brewer: moonlighting as a corporate shill?

From the governor's public schedule for Thursday -

• 9:00 a.m. -
Governor to Speak at the BASIS Chandler Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

BASIS Chandler
1800 East Chandler Boulevard, Chandler

• 12:00 p.m. -
Governor to Speak at the BASIS Peoria Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
BASIS Peoria
25950 North Lake Pleasant Parkway, Peoria

• 4:00 p.m. -
Governor to Speak at the BASIS Flagstaff Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
BASIS Flagstaff
1700 North Gemini Drive, Flagstaff

I'm sure that BASIS will be reimbursing the state's taxpayers for the costs of schlepping the governor and her entourage around the state to shill for them...actually, I'm sure that they won't. 

Why do that, which would only reduce the corporate bottom line, when they can get the taxpayers to pick up the tab?

Stage one of the latest mugging of America complete: House passes debt ceiling deal

Edited on August 2 to correct an error.  I initially wrote that Paul Gosar voted against the measure, when in fact, he voted for it.  Thanks go out to reader Robert Leger for spotting the mistake.

Monday, the House passed the debt ceiling mugging "compromise" by a 269 - 161 vote.  The vote did have the unexpected effect of uniting the usually-divided-along-partisan-lines Arizona delegation, where all but two members voted against the measure (Democrats Pastor and Gijalva were no votes because it was such a horrific deal, Republicans Quayle, Schweikert, Franks, and Flake voted no because it isn't horrific enough).  The members of the Arizona delegation who voted in favor: Republican Paul Gosar and...

Democrat Gabby Giffords, who returned from her long rehab following the January mass shooting in Tucson.

Pic of the one true highlight of the day -

Pic courtesy Laura McGann of Politico

She may have voted the wrong way today, but it was still great to see her back at work.

....As a related aside, look for whoever stage managed the moment for the White House to move to Hollywood after the 2012 elections.  He or she is obviously good enough to make some serious money there and just as obviously, he or she will be looking for a job by the end of next year.

Latest possible debt ceiling deal emerges; screwing of America pending

...When the best hope for the country is if the tea-publicans get arrogant and oppose the deal in the belief that they can squeeze even more out of the stone that is what remains of the American economy and the American people, we're in deep trouble...fortunately, we can probably count on the tea party types reaching for more...unfortunately, we can probably count on Barack Obama, Harry Reid and the rest of the DC Dems to give it to them.

From the San Francisco Chronicle -

Congressional leaders and the Obama administration negotiated to finish the details of an agreement to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, paving the way for possible votes in the Senate tonight and the House tomorrow on a plan to avert a U.S. default and calm market concerns.

"We're really, really close to an agreement, and we'll let you know when we get it," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters as he left the Senate chamber today.

{snip}

Under the emerging plan, a bipartisan congressional super- committee would be charged with coming up with the savings by late November, and its recommendations would receive expedited consideration and a certain vote by Christmas.

{snip}

Socially liberal groups and lawmakers expressed anger at the emerging package because it omits tax increases while cutting deeply into government spending and threatening still more reductions to safety-net programs such as Medicare.

"This deal does not even attempt to strike a balance between more cuts for the working people of America and a fairer contribution from millionaires and corporations," Representative Raul Grijalva, the Arizona Democrat who leads the Progressive Caucus, said in a statement. "I will not be a part of it."

Tedski at Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion has Congressman Grijalva's full statement here.

Bottom line:  Decimation of the social safety net is on the table; tax increases on corporations and the wealthy are off of the table.

This week's schedule for redistricting hearings

The AIRC road show is travelling to northern Arizona, southern Arizona, central Arizona, and southeastern Arizona.  Wonder if any of the commissioners bring their cameras with them to take tourist-y pics of some of the spectacular scenery?

Schedule courtesy the website of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission:

Monday, August 1, 6 p.m. - Coconino Community College - Lone Tree Campus, 2800 S. Lone Tree Rd., Flagstaff; remote locations:  Coconino Community College - Page, 475 S. Lake Powell Rd., Page, Room D10; Coconino Community College/Diné College, 600 Edgewater Dr., Tuba City.

Tuesday, August 2, 6 p.m. - South Tucson City Council Chambers, 1601 S. 6th Ave., South Tucson
Wednesday, August 3, 6 p.m. - Glendale City Council Chambers, 5850 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale
Thursday, August 4, 6 p.m. - City Hall - Main Building, 1011 N. Coronado Dr., Sierra Vista; remote location: Cochise County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing Room, Building G, 1415 Melody Lane, Bisbee
Friday, August 5, 6 p.m. - Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.  Pulliam Auditorium
Saturday, August 6, 1 p.m. - Abrams Public Health Building, 3950 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson. Room 1106

PSA time: Haboobs

Much has been made of the rise of the use of the word "haboob" to describe certain recent dust storms in the Valley (see recent letters to the editor).

While some people are offended by the Arabic origin of the word and some others because the word reminds them of a female body part, I believe the word is here to stay.

If only because TV weather reporters can't say "big ass dust storm" on the air.  :)

As such, as a public service, I've taken it upon myself to lend a little insight into the various types of haboobs (and here you were, thinking there was just one :) ).

Like hurricanes and tornadoes, also weather phenomena marked by high winds, haboobs are differentiated by level.  While the force scales for tornadoes and hurricanes have numerals in them, the haboob scale is made up only of letters.

Level A - the haboob barely rises above surface level.  However, the appearance of even small haboobs have been known to distract drivers and cause fender benders, and they should be handled with the care and appreciation they deserve.

Level B - possibly the most common haboob, they rise more than 1 kilometer above the surface.  Most drivers are comfortable with them and handle them with ease.  Like the "A" haboobs however, they can be distractions have been known to cause accidents when spotted by drivers.

Level C - now we are getting into noteworthy territory.  Cs rise more than 2 km above the surface and have been known to cause medium-sized traffic snarls and marital discord because of drivers ogling them taking their eyes of the road.  Inexperienced drivers are usually the most vulnerable to these.

Level D - now entering "this could be dangerous to everyone" territory.  D-level haboobs rise more than 3 km above the surface.  Young drivers have been known to become slack-jawed and glassy-eyed when spying one or more D-level haboobs.  Even experienced drivers have, on occasion,  totally lost focus on their lives, often losing their homes and families because of them.  Appreciated by most, but most appreciated by divorce lawyers because they frequently lead to lucrative retainers.

Level DD - Rising more than 4 km above the surface, DD haboobs are much like Category 5 hurricanes and EF5 tornadoes.  Experienced drivers are the slack-jawed and glassy-eyed ones while young drivers simply go blind to all else around them.  When these make their presence known, lives are damaged to the extent that attempting to rebuild isn't advised.  Just call in the bulldozers/bankruptcy attorneys and start from scratch, because there won't be enough left to build a dog house, much less something to house a family.  On the other hand, these usually lead to being disowned by the family anyway.

Above DD - these have rarely been known to occur naturally.  Instead, in general, they are created by the artificial infusion of a saline or silicone factor.  While still rare, they are most often spotted in isolated areas in the Valley - near strip clubs, Charlie Sheen, famous athletes, infamous politicians and north Scottsdale.  Paradoxically, these do NOT cause the same traffic problems as the other haboobs - mostly because they are usually whirling around poles in clubs or are in the backs of limousines behind tinted glass.

...And so ends this non-political PSA, perhaps mildly crass and crude, and I hope, a little funny.  And even if one doesn't find it funny, I hope one appreciates that this is what one gets when people start whining about words like "haboob."

Keep whining about it, and I may just keep writing about it.  :)

Update: Schweikert's foreclosure "prevention" event moved

Update to the update on 7/28 -

A call to Schweikert's office brought forth a statement that the event will be held in the Tempe library.  However, a call to the history museum brought forth a statement that their facility has been booked for the event on Saturday.

Advice:  plan to show up early (8:30 or 8:45 a.m.) and be prepared to move.  Fortunately, the Museum and Library are part of the same complex, so it won't be a long walk if one is necessary.

End 7/28 update...

...and there are rumors that it may have been moved again already, but this is the latest verifiable info...

Congressman "Foreclosure Dave" Schweikert is holding a foreclosure prevention workshop this coming Saturday, July 30.

Originally scheduled for the Pyle Center in Tempe, the latest information, courtesy the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, is that it will now be held in the lower level of the Tempe Public Library.  The scheduled time is still 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

There was a rumor going around tonight that the event will actually be held at the Tempe History Museum, but while I will check it out tomorrow (by calling Schweikert's district office), I am going with the taxk force's info because it was uploaded to their Facebook page just a few hours ago.

Of course, Schweikert's Congressional website still shows the event location as the Pyle Center.

That's in keeping with an apparent nationwide pattern - Republican elected officials moving events or just generating confusion about them to reduce public attendance.  That way they can claim to have met with their constituents but can better control which constituents they meet with.

We'll see how Saturday turns out...

A (Very) Brief History of Arizona's Legislative District 17

Monday's hearing of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, held in Mesa, has been covered in depth by Steve at Arizona Eagletarian here.

While it went much the same as last week's hearing at South Mountain Community College (tea party types saying "boo! on the AIRC and most everyone else supporting the independence of the AIRC), one speaker stood out, and not in a good way.

From Steve's post -

The most remarkable comments, in my mind, came from former LD17 Republican candidate for state senate, Wendy Rogers. A retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and pilot, Rogers told us she does not believe the Tempe legislative district is at all competitive. Despite having biked to thousands of homes, raised four times as much money privately as her Clean Elections funded Democratic opponent, and had plenty of signs out, she could not get elected.


The ONLY valid conclusion, in light of her gargantuan effort, of course, is that LD17 had been made a safe district for Democratic candidates in the last redistricting.

She also stated that the district has elected all Democrats for at least 10 years.

Minor problem - that's not true -

- In 2000 (when it was LD27), the district elected Harry Mitchell (D), Meg Burton-Cahill (D) and Laura Knaperek (R).

- In 2002 (now LD17), the district elected Harry Mitchell (D), Meg Burton-Cahill (D), and Mark Thompson (R).

- In 2004, the district elected Harry Mitchell (D), Meg Burton-Cahill (D) and Laura Knaperek (R).

- In 2006 (all of five years ago), the district elected all Democrats for the first time - Meg Burton Cahill, Ed Ableser, and David Schapira.

- In 2008, the same trio were reelected.

- In 2010, the district elected Democrats David Schapira, Ed Ableser, and Ben Arredondo (a former Republican and long-time community icon).

That last may be what has Mrs. Rogers the most torqued, since she was a candidate in 2010.  She doesn't seem to have learned that a campaign platform that consists of "I'm a Republican and it's a Republican wave year" doesn't help a candidate win in LD17.

Tempe, which makes up the largest part of LD17, is a community in a way that most of the other cities in metro Phoenix are *not.*

It's an "old" community (by AZ standards, anyway), having been established in 1879.  Many of the families in Tempe can trace their roots in the city back for generations.

In addition, it's a college town.  Besides attracting a lot of students, that has helped engender a local populace that tends toward being both educated and intelligent.  Yes, even the Republicans.

In other words, Tempe isn't the kind of place a candidate can successfully campaign on "you MUST elect me.  I deserve it by right of being a Republican."

That's something Mrs. Rogers should consider when mounting her next campaign (it's one of the worst-kept secrets in local politics that Rogers is going to run for office again).

This week's redistricting hearings

This week will be an incredibly busy one for the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC).

They have hearings every day this week, as well as next Saturday, ranging from Mesa in central Arizona to Bullhead City in the northwestern part of the state to Window Rock and Pinetop in the northern and eastern reaches of the state.  In addition, they'll be visiting Pinal County.

From the schedule of hearings -

Monday, July 25, 6 p.m. - Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St., Mesa. Palo Verde III - Building B
Tuesday, July 26, 6 p.m. - Bullhead City Council Chambers, 1255 Marina Blvd., Bullhead City
Wednesday, July 27, 6 p.m. - Casa Grande City Council Chambers, 510 E. Florence Blvd., Casa Grande; remote location: (City of) Maricopa Unified School District Office Administration Building, 44150 W. Maricopa/Casa Grande Hwy, Maricopa. Board Room
Thursday, July 28, 6 p.m. - Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Board Hearing Room, 1015 Fair St., Prescott; remote location: Yavapai County Cottonwood Annex, 10 S. 6th St., Cottonwood
Friday, July 29, 1 p.m. - Navajoland Inn & Suites (formerly Days Inn) Conference Room, 392 W. Hwy 264, St. Michaels
Saturday, July 30, 1 p.m. - Hon Dah Resort - Casino, 777 Hwy 260, Pinetop. Mt. Baldy Room; remote locations: Holbrook City Council Chambers, 465 1st Ave., Holbrook and Winslow City Council Chambers, 115 E. 2nd St., Winslow


As a special added bonus for die-hard political geeks based in Maricopa County, here is a list of this week's hearings for Maricopa County redistricting -

July 25, 2011

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Scottsdale Community College
Peridot Room
9000 East Chaparral Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85256

July 26, 2011

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Chandler/Gilbert Community College, Pecos Campus
Chandler Room SC140
2626 East Pecos Road
Chandler, Arizona 85225


Since the county supes control the county-level redistricting process, I feel confident in making some predictions on the end product - there will be one absolutely bulletproof Democratic district, centered on south Phoenix and southwestern Maricopa County.  The other four districts will have strong Republican majorities.

Of course, I have to be honest - that is less a "prediction" than  statement of "the way it always is."

It might be time for an initiative petition to amend state law to create an independent redistricting process for the counties.  Not that it will make much difference in Maricopa County until there are more Democrats (or at least, more Independents) here.

While the latest Arizona voter registration count shows that the Republicans have an advantage of 134,921 over the Democrats  statewide, the R advantage in Maricopa County alone is 164,217.

Hmmmm...maybe that "Baja Arizona as the 51st state" idea has some merit.  :)

Journalistic stretches: A question

Sunday, the Arizona Republic published a column written by Doug MacEachern where he blamed the political mess in Quartzsite in La Paz County on Clarence Dupnik.

The sheriff of Pima County.

Since Tucson, the county seat of Pima County, is roughly 240 miles from Quartzsite, this seems to be a bit of a stretch.  However, if this is an accepted journalistic practice, does that mean that I can blame the biker rally killings in Coconino County this weekend on the gun nuts in the Arizona legislature?  Perhaps making Rep. Jerry Weiers (R-Glendale), the lege's resident biker advocate/lobbyist, the poster child of the blamefest?

It wouldn't be any more accurate than MacEachern's diatribe, but apparently, "accuracy" isn't a requirement for Arizona journalists, at least not for those who are senior staffers at the Republic.

Interesting pattern to the sounds emanating from the state Attorney General's office

Tom Horne, Arizona's Republican Attorney General (and a likely candidate for governor in 2014) has established a rather interesting pattern when determining what matters are worthy of his office's attention -

- In response to Republican AZ Senate president Russell Pearce creating a "blacklist" barring certain political dissenters from the Capitol, infringing upon the rights of those individuals to express their opinions or even to meet with their own elected representatives - silence.

- In response proposed EPA rules regarding the emission of greenhouse gases, he ordered Arizona's withdrawal from a lawsuit supporting the new rules - “I am passionate about protecting the rights of individual states under the 10th Amendment. And I am equally passionate about limiting government intrusion into the ability of employers to reasonably operate their businesses."

- In response to Republican state senator Scott Bundgaard beating up his girlfriend by the side of a freeway in Phoenix, and using his position in the state senate to block his arrest by the police, instead watching as the now ex-girlfriend is hauled off in handcuffs (she was later released with no charges as more facts came to light) - the sound of crickets chirping.

- In response to public criticism of his own jihad against the ethnic studies program in Tucson - outrage.  He called his critics "thugs."

- In response to the growing evidence that his political ally Russell Pearce was heavily involved in the Fiesta Bowl ticket/gifts to legislators scandal - the sound of snakes slithering across the desert.

- In response to the widening criticisms of his non-investigation into the scandal - feigned outraged, calling the criticisms "partisan" (as if the fact that he is trying to make the scandal go away isn't rooted in partisanship), and passing the buck...errr..."investigation"... to someone else to not investigate the matter.

- In response to Republican John Huppenthal, Arizona's nativist Superintendent of Public Instruction, finding that Tucson's ethnic studies program violates state law in direct contradiction to an independent study commissioned by Huppenthal himself (possibly a violation of ARS 38-423 - no link due to the fact that the lege's website is unavailable for some reason) - nada.

- In response to Republican senator Lori Klein pointing a pistol at Arizona Republic writer Richard Ruelas in the members lounge of the State Senate building - the sound of cacti growing.

Even if Horne (and the rest of us) accept Klein's excuse/story that the incident was Ruelas' fault - she has claimed that she was just harmlessly pointing the weapon at a wall and Ruelas sat in front of her - the Republic article linked above was accompanied by a picture taken by Mark Henle of the Republic.

The pic clearly shows Klein possessing the weapon in a public building, specifically the building housing the Arizona State Senate.  That's a violation of state law, and no self-serving press releases (or combination of winks and nods) change that.

- In response to an elected official hiring an unqualified female "friend" to a highly paid position for which she is apparently utterly unqualified - bupkes.

To be fair to Horne, the elected official in question is Horne himself and the woman is a long-time "associate."  Nobody expects him to investigate himself; when there are questions about the integrity of a high-ranking law enforcement official, it usually falls upon someone further up the law enforcement org chart to handle those duties.

- In response to complaints from Republicans and their tea party associates that the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission might actually be "independent" - an investigation is immediately launched, looking for possible criminal activity. 

Hmmm...what's the pattern?  Oh yeah -

Apparently, in Tom Horne's Arizona anyway, everyone has to follow the law...except for him and his friends and allies...or when not following the law benefits him and his friends and allies.

Thursday Redistricting Hearing

Thursday, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission held a public hearing at South Mountain Community College.  Prior to the meeting, there were rumors that tea party types planned a big turnout for the meeting.  While there were a number of them there, they were mostly well-behaved.

Perhaps the facts that 24th Street and Baseline (the location of SMCC) isn't exactly home turf for them (too many folks with skin darker than a golfer's tan) and the unobtrusive but unsubtle presence of a number of police officers and other visible security personnel contributed to their desire to avoid significant confrontations or disruptions of the meeting.  They applauded their own speakers and hooted and hollered a couple of times at pro-competitive districts speakers, but other than that, the chair of the meeting only had to issue one warning to the audience about the police presence.

The next hearing in Maricopa County will be Monday at 6 p.m. at the Mesa Convention Center.  The complete list of upcoming hearings is here.

Steve at The Arizona Eagletarian has a full write-up of the meeting here, but here are a few pics -


A pre-meeting shot of the crowd.  Estimates were that as many as 200 people attended.

Dave Wells of Tempe, a political science professor from ASU

State Senators John McComish (R) and Leah Landrum Taylor (D) speaking before the meeting.  Both addressed the Commission to support the protection of "communities of interest" (aka - their own districts)

Randall Holmes of Tempe addressing the Commission in support of competitive districts
















Kelly Townsend of Gilbert, a Republican PC and tea party type, calling for the resignation of AIRC chair Colleen Mathis.  She was poised and polished...except for the fact that the commissioner she was calling out was not Mathis, it was Linda McNulty.  Oops.  Townsend had a game plan to follow, and follow it she did.  Even if it had nothing to do with reality.  Still, she did better than another tea party type who took the mike to criticize the selection of Strategic Telemetry as the mapping consultant.  That one didn't obviously didn't write the words she was reading - she couldn't pronounce "telemetry."  Oops2.

Some tea party types greeted arrivals in the hallway outside the meeting room.  The guy in the red, white, and blue shirt is actually wearing a copy of the Declaration of Independence.  I don't think he understands the irony of displaying that document while working against the independence of the Independent Redistricting Commission.

The crowd...



Why don't they just pass a d@mn budget?

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2560, the Republican posturing bill that sets an arbitrary cap on federal spending and mandates immediate cuts to spending on discretionary spending (mostly social programs and infrastructure spending).  In addition, H.R. 2560 mandates that the House and Senate approve a "balanced budget" amendment to the US Constitution before the debt ceiling can be raised. 

The bill passed by a vote that was almost completely along party lines.  All five AZ Republicans voted for the bill (all five were also cosponsors), while AZ Democrats Raul Grijalva and Ed Pastor opposed it, and Gabrielle Giffords was absent).

The "balanced budget" amendment measures mentioned are H.J. Res. 56, S.J. Res 10, and H.J. Res. 1.  All have a budget IMbalance clause in them - a requirement that measures that raise taxes or otherwise increase revenue need a 2/3 majority to pass each chamber of Congress.

That's the same clause that has destroyed fiscal stability in Arizona, California, and a number of other states.  It has very effectively blocked any moves to increase revenues, whether through tax rate hikes or through simple closure of loopholes, yet allows for the passage of practically permanent tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy.

All of this, including the brinkmanship over increasing the federal debt limit, is geared toward forcing a showdown over federal spending.

Except that the Republicans in the House are already in a position to cut spending any way they want, and have been since January.

Under Article 1, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution, the House controls the purse strings, and the Republicans control the House.

If they want to cut federal spending and decrease taxes, then they can just pass a budget with less spending and more tax cuts.

Of course, that would mean standing up and explaining why tax breaks for owners of corporate jets are more important than education, or why massive tax credits for oil companies are needed more than the infrastructure need to clean up the messes that oil companies leave wherever they go (like all over the Gulf Coast).

They don't want to do that - they've been getting their butts handed to them in special elections since they made it clear that their intent was to leverage their majority status in the US House into a complete dismantling of the country's social safety net.  They want to funnel  the public treasury away from the public and into corporate coffers, but they know if they are up front about that fact, they'll lose their jobs (and probably undercut the chances of a Republican winning the White House in 2012).

Hence, the scheme to distract people into swallowing cuts to Social Security (which has nothing to do with the budget, other than the annual siphoning of money from Social Security's trust fund into the general fund), Medicaid (which is funded by a special payroll tax) and education (which only secures the country's future, which is something that any government of any country is supposed to protect and nurture).

They're hoping to use the threat of economic armageddon brought on by a failure to increase the debt ceiling (something that even Ronald Reagan, the late Republican icon, thought was the responsible thig to do) to keep people focused on that issue instead of the gutting of America's social safety net and physical infrastructure.

I have no idea if the debt ceiling will actually be raised, but if it is, they'll wait until the last possible moment to do so.

And if it isn't, they'll blame President Obama for the Republican-engineered destruction of the economy.

Schweikert to hold foreclosure prevention workshop

Edited on 7/27 to reflect a change in location.  There are rumors that it may change again before the event takes place.  Check the latest entries in this blog before going out to the event...

...which would be fine in a "constituent services" sort of way, except no one is sure if the priority will be helping CD5 residents keep their homes, or helping "Foreclosure Dave" scope out future targets...

Courtesy the Republican site Intellectual Conservative Arizona, the details of the event -

When: Saturday, July 30, 2011
Time: 9:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Where:
Tempe Public Library
3500 S. Rural Rd.
Tempe, Arizona 85282

...While the pace of acquisitions and dispositions of foreclosd properties by Schweikert and his partners (through corporate entities Swartz and Brough, Sheridan Equities, and MasFundAZ) has slowed somewhat since the election, it *has* continued.

As have the neighborhood-blighting code violations at some of the properties they've grabbed up.

If you go, be cautious with how much information you give to the staffers at the event...

Time to support the independence of the "Independent" Redistricting Commission

With the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) starting its series of public hearings around the state, look for the Republicans in the legislature to redouble their attempts to hijack the Commission, either through intimidation by tea party proxies or by direct legislative action.

There are at least a couple of things that people can do to combat the moves to subvert the independence of the AIRC -

1.  Go to a hearing.  Stand up and speak in support of the AIRC's independence, a fair, honest, and open process, and competitive districts.  And thank the members of the AIRC for their efforts and sacrifices on behalf of the future of the state.

2.  Talk to people.  Let your friends and neighbors know what is going on and why they should keep and eye on the goings-on with redistricting.  Write letters, to the editor of your local newspaper in order to reach out to a wider group of people, and to elected officials, in order to let them know that people are watching and they should just cut the crap*.

* = You probably shouldn't use the phrase "cut the crap."  That may reduce your credibility with the electeds.  Just sayin'... :)

I recently submitted a letter to the editors of the Arizona Republic.  Hopefully, they'll accept it for publication and do so this week.

I also sent a letter to Governor Brewer.  I doubt she'll be publishing it anytime soon, so here it is -

Governor Brewer,

I am writing to you today to urge you to respect in independence of the Independent Redistricting Commission. In addition, I urge you to use your influence to convince the members of the legislature to do the same.


When the voters passed Proposition 106 in November of 2000, they sent an overwhelming message that they want a fair, transparent, and nonpartisan process for Congressional and legislative redistricting, and a process that is NOT under the control of the partisan officeholders whose districts are being designed.


The recent attempts to both physically and politically intimidate the IRC by certain members of the state government clearly run counter to the voters' will.


Beside threatening the viability and effectiveness of the redistricting process (something that obviously doesn't bother certain people), these attempts to subvert the process will have another effect, one that those same people may not like - it will almost certainly contribute to Arizona remaining a "pre-clearance" state.


Some of the members of the Republican caucus in the legislature are pushing for a special session of the legislature be called so that they can remove the independent chair of the IRC, Colleen Mathis. I would remind you (and them) that there are clear and specific grounds for removal listed in the Arizona Constitution, and the chair hasn't even come close to violating any of them. However, I'm not naive. I undertand that considerations of practical politics hold greater sway at the Capitol than the simple ideals of fair play or respect for the will of the voters.


When those certain legislators pressure you to call a special session to serve their partisan interests, remind them that when you called a special session to change a single word in Arizona law that would have allowed thousands of Arizonans who have been most adversely affected by the current recession to collect a few more weeks of federally-funded unemployment benefits, they balked.

And they were rather shameless about it to boot.

Holding a special session now to railroad someone who has done nothing wrong would generate a PR nightmare of a magnitude that most of them have never witnessed, much less been a part of.

Whether it's for idealistic or practical reasons, standing up for the independence of the IRC is the politically wise thing to do.


Thank you for your time and consideration.


Regards,

[cpmaz]

Later...