War on Women: AZ Legislature fuels the fire
April 25, 2012
by Pamela Powers Hannley In 2010 and 2011, the Arizona Legislature led the way for crazy extremist laws against immigrants and brown people in general. Changing their focus slightly, the Arizona Legislature decided to victimize women during the 2012 session. Not to be left out of the nationwide War on Women, legislators proposed multiple bills … Read more
The Farley Report – April 24, 2012
April 25, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Time once again for The Farley Report from Rep. Steve Farley (D-LD 28):
And now, the news…
–> Budget: Talks continue in earnest among Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature and between Republicans and the Governor's staff. I wish we could add talks between the Democrats and the Governor so we score a budget trifecta, but there is no sign of that happening yet. No decisions are likely to happen this week while the Governor is celebrating SB1070 Week in Washington DC, so we are now looking at remaining in session at least until late next week or beyond.
In the meantime, the Governor's ultimatum is still in effect — she will veto any bill that is sent to her before the existence of what she deems adequate progress on the budget. That means our workload is shrinking while final votes are backing up because no sponsor wants to send their bill to certain death on the Governor's desk this week. As soon as the veto threat is lifted, the dam bursts and we will be doing a whole lot of final votes all at once.
This week's News in Bills:
–> Today the House by a vote of 33-17 passed Senator Al Melvin's (R-Saddlebrooke) "postcard to Congress", SCM1004, which "prays" that the U.S. Government send nuclear waste to Arizona as the solution to our economic crisis. I'm sure THAT won't get us on the Daily Show again.
–> Senator Sylvia Allen (R-Snowflake) has a bill (SB1182) that would make it a state crime for state, county, or local law enforcement officers to enforce federal law, thus putting them in a double-bind — if they obey their oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, they will be charged with a state crime. It passed the Senate 20-8, and will head to the Governor as soon as she rescinds her threat to veto all bills, although I hope she continues the veto threat for this one. Too bad certain legislators feel the ideologically driven need to punish our first responders for doing their jobs.
–> Senator Frank Antenori (R-NotTucson) resurrected his bill to widen the definition of intersections — the one which we killed in House Transportation Committee in March with only three votes in favor. You may recall that a Phoenix police commander with 26 years in the Traffic Division testified that the bill would dramatically increase injuries and fatalities all over the state. After the bill was killed, Sen. Antenori was witnessed getting in the commander's face and cursing him out in the hallway outside the committee room. A few days later, media reports broadcast video of Sen. Antenori running a red light in Scottsdale, which you can see here: http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/politics/state_politics/state-senator-miffed-at-red-light-violation-question-3-26-2012
The intersection redefinition came back as a Senate strike-everything amendment to a Rep. Ted Vogt (R-Tucson) bill (HB2557) that formerly involved cell phone companies giving call location information to law enforcement. Last Thursday, we had a final read in the House where it gained the required 31 votes before I stood up to speak and give some background on the bill so that members knew the public safety risks. I acknowledged that we need to help solve the problem of people getting unfair tickets for making late left turns after being caught in the intersection by traffic cameras. But this bill would apply to ALL signalized intersections, potentially making all of them more deadly. After my speech, the bill went down to defeat 27-29. Rep. Vogt asked for the bill to be reconsidered tomorrow, and I hope that common sense and public safety will again prevail.
The Cap’n Al Melvin Memorial Nuclear Waste Dump in Saddlebrooke, AZ
April 25, 2012
Posted by azBlueMeanie: "Elections have consequences." Well, the right-wing lunatics in Saddlebrooke elect Sen. Cap'n Al Melvin to office, so they should pay the consequences. "Atomic Al" as he is otherwise known, actually convinced the Tea-Publicans in the Arizona legislature to pass his resolution to Congress asking for a nuclear waste dump facility in Arizona. … Read more
SB1070 Senate Hearings
April 24, 2012
By Michael Bryan
As we near the time for arguments before the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of Arizona's SB1070, the Senate has held a hearing on the law.
Testifying about the bill were recalled former Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce (pro at 19:56), retired U.S. Senator Dennis DiConcini (con at 25:30), Arizona State Senator Steve Gallardo (con at 35:27), and Todd Landfried of Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform (con at 42:15). Questions begin at 49:05 with Schumer questioning Pearce.
Tellingly, Republican Senators Jon Kyl and John Cornyn both ducked out of the hearing leaving Pearce the sole supporter of the law in the hearing room. He was a bit sore about it, whining to the press, "I didn't get a phone call… I was disappointed. It's not just about supporting me, it's about supporting Arizona."
Kyl released a statement explaining his boycott of the hearing and labeling the hearing "strictly political theater." Governor Brewer also declined to attend and testify. One wonders why, if Kyl and Brewer considered the hearing political theater, they failed to make a curtain call: political theater is their profession, so given a chance to strut the boards before a national audience, why would they refuse the chance at a soliloquy?
UPDATE: (h/t to Bess1919) Apparently, one of Pearce's posse falsely accused Randy Parraz of shoving him after the hearing and was questioned by capitol police. Stay classy, Mr. Pearce.
UPDATE: Listening to Pearce's pressers following the hearing he made some claims that are wholly unjustified by the facts. He claimed that up to 9,000 Americans are killed per year by undocumented aliens. This clearly implies that a murder spree is on. The facts is that there are generally about 15,000 murders in the U.S. per year: Pearce is claiming that 3 out of every 5 murders are perpetrated by undocumented aliens? Bullshit. He also claimed that undocumented aliens commit crimes at three times the rate of "any other demographic". That's simply not true, either. Immigrant populations generally, and Mexican immigrants, including undocumented, commit crimes at a rate lower than any native-born demographic. Finally, Pearce claims to have met with DREAM students personally. I find that claim doubtful. Any DREAM students out there who can support Pearce's claim to have met with your personally, or even in a group?
Watch the hearing after the click…
Reminder: Unite Against the War on Women March This Saturday
April 24, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The job interview to which no woman should ever be subjected. Unite Against the War on Women March Saturday, April 28, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: The national "Unite Against the War on Women" March, sponsored by UniteWomen.org at the AZ State Capitol Building – House Lawn, 1700 W. Washington. Help defend women's rights … Read more
Reminder: March for Justice against SB 1070 in Phoenix on Wednesday
April 24, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Announcement from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network: Phoenix to March Against SB1070 and Federal Deportation ProgramsDuring SCOTUS Hearing Who: A Wide Coalition of Organizations [including Somos America and the American Civil Liberties Union] When: April 25th. March to begin at 3:00 pm Arizona Time. Where: Opening Rally at Civic Space Park, 424 N. Central … Read more
Hey Guv, about your veto threat: time for you to step up to the plate
April 24, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: When budget negotiations broke down last week between the Tea-Publican legislative leaders and Governor Jan Brewer, she issued a veto threat: "I will veto any bills you send to me until I get my budget!" (sniff). Hey Guv, about your veto threat, time for you to step up to the plate and prove you … Read more
The Daniel Patterson soap opera is over
April 24, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: ICYMI, the Daniel Patterson soap opera is over. The Pima County Board of Supervisors on Monday seelcted a Democrat independent to fill the unexpired term of Rep. Patterson. Fontana to fill Patterson vacancy: Attorney Nicholas Fontana will replace former state Rep. Daniel Patterson, who resigned earlier this month. Fontana said he was … Read more
