Month: October 2013

The Referendum (‘citizens veto’) of the Voter Suppression Act – HB 2305 – headed to the ballot

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Posted  by AzBlueMeanie:

2305hb11Good job people! Petition signature verification typically has a "bad signature" failure rate in excess of 40 percent. But even with the "strict compliance" standard in effect for a referendum of a legislative act, you managed a signature verification rate in excess of 80 percent! This is unheard of. Give yourself a pat on the back and an "attaboy!"

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Referendum
effort against HB2305 has enough signatures to make the 2014 ballot:

The referendum effort against HB 2305, the
law making sweeping changes to Arizona’s elections, has the necessary
valid signatures to force a referendum election on the law during the
2014 election.

Though three counties are still validating signatures, the effort
already has more than 100,000 signatures validated – well over the
86,405 necessary to force a referendum election.

According to figures provided to by the secretary of state’s office,
5,242 signatures have been deemed valid by county recorders’ offices
across the state. By law, that figure is multiplied by 20 – the
signatures sent to county recorders were a random sample totaling 5
percent of the total – giving the referendum effort 104,840 valid
signatures, far more than the 86,405 needed to put the law on hold until
voters weigh in on the 2014 ballot.

Red light runnners and illegal campaign signs

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

TrafficCamThe Tucson Weekly today explores a dead-letter issue in the Tucson City Council race now that Tucson's political gadfly, John Kromko, and his political committee Tucson Traffic Justice failed to qualify a ballot measure banning traffic cameras for the November ballot.

The report itself is relatively innocuous, pointing out that Democratic city council members support the red-light cameras at designated intersections because they have substantailly reduced the number of accidents (the number of collisions at the monitored intersections has decreased from 188 in 2006 to 74 in 2012) and prevented injuries. It's fair to say the cameras have probably saved lives. The Tea-Publican candidates have doubts about the red-light cameras because "freedom!" to run red lights and to jeopardize other motorists on the road, or some such nonsense. Candid Camera Conflict.

One comment from Tea-Publican candidate Mike Polak jumps out:

"How do you know it didn't malfunction?" Polak asked. "They do malfunction, because our roads are in such poor condition here."

Polak's initial question is fair. I have challenged the cameras in court, to no avail (Arizona's courts treat the calibration of the cameras as proprietary and a trade secret not subject to discovery).

But Polak's statement that cameras malfunction because our roads are in poor condition? Damn, Dude. "Mr. Science" you are not. There is no cause and effect between a malfunctioning camera and poor road conditions. And by the way, our roads are in such poor condition because your Tea-Publican friends in the Arizona Legislature have been sweeping stealing HURF funds and state revenue sharing from the City of Tucson for years to "balance" the state budget with gimmicks. Maybe you should demand that your friends in the Arizona Legislature give back the money they stole from the City of Tucson.

Why you cannot appease economic terrorists

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Arizona congress critters Ron Barber and Kyrsten Sinema are targeted by the RNCC in 2014, and this has led them to accept some really bad advice from Democratic pols and consultants on how they need to position themselves on votes in the House.

This led Congressman Ron Barber to twice vote with the Republicans for a delay in the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act aka "ObamaCare," and to vote for a series of "mini-CR" funding bills for government agencies that the Tea-Publican economic terrorists did as political theater (it was never going to become law). Congressman Barber in his press releases explained that he did this to "keep the government open." Congresswoman Sinema did the same.

If they thought that voting with the Tea-Publican economic terrorists on these political theater bills would somehow insulate them from political attacks or give them political cover, they were naively mistaken. The billionaire bastard Koch brothers were always going to attack them anyway. Tea Party Group Begins Anti-Health Care Law Blitz in Four House Districts:

KochBrothersAmericans for Prosperity, the Tea Party group that has made rolling
back the health care law one of its priorities, is starting a $2 million
campaign of television, radio and Internet advertisements aimed at
lawmakers facing tough re-election battles in four House swing
districts.

The group, backed by the billionaire industrialist brothers Charles
and David Koch, is focusing on two Democrats — Representatives Ron
Barber of Arizona and Scott Peters of California — about the
problem-plagued rollout of the program’s online health insurance
exchanges.

And it is using the ads to thank two vulnerable Republicans —
Representatives Mike Coffman of Colorado and Steve Southerland of
Florida — for ‘’fighting back’’ and voting to repeal the law.

The Star editorial board loves vouchers. Loves ’em.

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by David Safier I don't have time this morning to go into details about today's Star editorial, GEICO donation a boon to tax credit program. Maybe this afternoon. But I can't let it go completely. The Star editorial says GEICO's $8 million 100%-reimbursed-by-the-state tuition tax credit is a wonderful thing, as is the entire tuition … Read more

New Mexico Supreme Court hears arguments in Marriage Equality case

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Albuqurque Journal reports on today's arguments before the New Mexico Supreme Court. NM Supreme Court: No immediate ruling on same-sex marriage, but plenty of tough questions:

EqualThe New Mexico Supreme Court has wrapped up a landmark two-hour
hearing on whether gay marriage should be legalized in the state.

Nearly 170 people crammed into the court’s chambers and several
overflow rooms for the hearing, while others had to be turned away due
to a lack of space.

While the state’s highest court did not issue an immediate
ruling on the issue, same-sex marriage advocates said after the hearing
they like their chances.

“I thought it went very well,” said Monica Leaming of
Farmington, who attended the proceedings with her wife, Cecilia Taulbee.
“I’m optimistic about the outcome, because there’s a strong indication
that most New Mexicans support same-sex marriage.”

Meanwhile, gay marriage opponents suggested they would
pursue a statewide election — via a constitutional amendment — on the
issue of gay marriage if the Supreme Court rules to sanction it.

“I think the most important thing here is no matter what
their decision is, the issue will not be settled until the people
speak,” said Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington.