by David Safier As I posted earlier, SB1365, the bill that would take automatic payroll deductions that might be used for political purposes from unionized workers (every member would have to give express written permission) was amended to take "public safety employees" out to the mix. If you're a union member who works in policing, … Read more

By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings For lege-watchers, it was a colorful week, with a LOT of bad bills gaining passage in one of the chambers, and one going to the governor… …State Sen. Scott Bundgaard's domestic violence incident kept him in the news all week, as did the fact that he used legislative … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Well now we know for certain that our de facto governor, "King" Russell Pearce, really is the governor of Arizona because our lame-duck governor Jan Brewer is off to Alaska on a northern exposure vacation — in the middle of the legislative session, leaving the lunatics to run the asylum, and no … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: To get you in the mood for Mardis Gras, here is Mary Chapin Carpenter singing Down At The Twist and Shout. (For a friend of mine from New Orleans who is homesick). Well I never have wandered down to New Orleans Never have drifted down a bayou stream But I heard that … Read more

By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings As usual, all info gathered from the website of the Arizona Legislature, and subject to change without notice. The "highlight" of the week, if you want to call it that, came this past week when Senate President Russell Pearce announced that he was "holding" all immigration bills until the … Read more

by David Safier The whole Scott Bundgaard episode where he was involved in a physical confrontation with his girlfriend on the freeway is seamy and semi-scandalous enough all by itself. But Russell Pearce injected a whole new dimension when he offered his analysis of the situation: "I know what is going on," Pearce said Wednesday. … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Press release from the Arizona Democratic Party: AZ Dems unveil redistricting watchdog project Drawing a New Arizona Project will monitor process crucial to future of state PHOENIX — The Arizona Democratic Party is launching the Drawing a New Arizona Project to monitor and protect the integrity of the redistricting process, which is … Read more