Month: September 2015

SCOTUS ‘Long Conference’ this week

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SupremeCourtThe “First Monday in October” — October 5 — marks the beginning of the U.S. Supreme Court’s new term for 2015-16.

On Monday, the Justices will meet for the “Long Conference” – their first Conference since the end of June, at which they will consider roughly two thousand petitions for review. Based on past practice, grants from that Conference are likely to be released beginning later this week.

SCOTUSblog has a summary of the pending petitions that merit watching.

Petitions to watch | Conference of September 28, Part I

Petitions to watch | Conference of September 28, Part II

Petitions to watch | Conference of September 28, Part III

The Hill today reports, Five Supreme Court cases to watch:

The U.S. Supreme Court’s justices return to the bench next week to hear a slate of new cases with sweeping implications on race, the criminal justice system, public sector unions and, many experts expect, another rendezvous with ObamaCare.

Following a momentous term producing a landmark decision to legalize gay marriage and another major win for the president’s signature healthcare law, the justices will return to another full docket, and court watchers say more blockbuster cases could be added.

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California passes universal (automatic) voter registration bill, awaits governor’s signature

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The California legislature just passed a bill for universal (automatic) voter registration that has the potential to add millions of new voters to the voter rolls. Governor Jerry Brown has 30 days to decide whether to sign the bill.

The Brennan Center for Justice reports, A Watershed Moment for Voter Registration:

Voting-RightsIf Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signs the bill into law, the plan would dramatically modernize voter registration in the Golden State by replacing old-fashioned, ink-and-paper cards with a system that automatically registers eligible citizens when they visit the DMV. Automatic registration in the most populous state in the country is a watershed moment in the effort to fix our broken election system: California will be putting the responsibility for ensuring eligible citizens can vote where it should be — on the government, not the individual.

The Brennan Center explains why California’s automatic registration bill is so important, as the bill makes two very small but transformative changes. California’s legislature is one of many that have considered automatic registration, based on a Brennan Center proposal, and is the third state legislature to pass such monumental reform.

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Tucson Metro Chamber endorses the Democratic incumbents, finds two Republican challengers unqualified

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TucsonCarolyn Classen posted a thumbnail sketch of the endorsements of the GOP-friendly Tucson Metro Chamber’s Southern Arizona Business Political Action Committee in an earlier post, but this does not really do justice to the import of these endorsements.

The GOP-friendly Chamber finds that two of the Republican challengers are unqualified, and co-endorsed the Democratic incumbent with her Republican challenger (to keep their Republican members happy) on specious grounds, based upon the past actions of a previous GOP-majority City Council.

Jim Nintzel of the Tucson Weekly reported, Tucson Metro Chamber Endorses Cunningham, Scott and Burkholder in Council Races:

City of Tucson Council Race Ward 1

The Southern Arizona Business PAC has decided to make no endorsement in this race this year.

The Chamber has always had a jones on for incumbent Regina Romero, not for the reasons stated, but because she is associated with the Raúl Grijalva wing of the Democratic Party, and Republicans really hate Grijalva. Well get over it.

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Rep. Martha McSally trying to have it both ways on GOP’s ‘Planned’ government shutdown

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McSallyRep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) consistently votes with the rest of the Arizona GOP congressional delegation who are members of the farther-far-right GOP House Freedom Caucus. She recently voted for the 20 week abortion ban and to defund Planned Parenthood as part of the GOP House Freedom Caucus aka the “Shutdown Caucus” plan to shut down the federal government this week over defunding Planned Parenthood.

This past week the GOP-friendly media in Arizona announced that Rep. McSally would not vote for a continuing resolution (CR) appropriation bill that defunds Planned Parenthood because it would result in a government shutdown. She is trying to have it both ways after enabling the GOP crazy base with her votes on abortion and defunding Planned Parenthood, but stopping just short of  supporting a government shutdown, McSally: Don’t shutter government over Planned Parenthood funding, as if she should receive praise for doing what is the baseline expectation of most Americans, that their member of Congress will act responsibly and not shut down the government.

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Cheryl Cage resigns as Chair of Pima County Democratic Party

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Consultant Cheryl Cage who served as Chair of Pima County Democratic Party since January, 2015 has resigned. Here is her letter:

former Chair Cheryl Cage
former Chair Cheryl Cage

“September 24, 2015

Dear PCDP Executive Committee members: Since 2006 I have devoted my energies toward Democratic efforts in southern Arizona. I accepted the position of chair because I believed that my campaign management experience and passion for Democratic ideals would serve the party well. During the first six months I am extremely proud that we established, and fully funded, a capital fund to renovate the Pima County Democratic Party headquarters. We also established a Democratic ‘Bench’ Training program while raising the visibility of the party throughout the district. However, it appears that others within the leadership of the party disagree with my approach. Although I was willing to work and address our differences others were not. It is with great sadness, and great personal disappointment that I resign as Chair of Pima County Democratic Party effectively immediately.

With greatest respect and good wishes for the future, Cheryl A. Cage”

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