by David Safier The ill-conceived, poorly executed gun running operation Fast and Furious is over but for the shouting of Republicans who want to turn it into a political issue. But the ongoing problem of guns crossing the border into Mexico continues at a pace both fast and furious. Mayors Against Illegal Guns has written … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

While we're on the subject of our colonial overlords in the Arizona legislature disenfranchising the citizens of Baja Arizona and usurping our rights of local control, the Arizona Daily Star today has an editorial opinion taking our colonial overlords to task. GOP bill sidelining Huckelberry unfair to 89% of voters:

In their efforts to take power from Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry – a man they truly, deeply don't like – nine Southern Arizona Republican legislators have proposed a law that is grossly unfair to taxpayers in the city of Tucson and unincorporated Pima County.

The county currently has a 25-member bond advisory committee. Each of the five elected county supervisors appoints three members; the five incorporated cities each name one; the two Indian nations each select one; and administrator Huckelberry chooses three.

The committee makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors about what bond projects it should ask voters to approve.

The proposed legislation would replace this 25-member group with a six-person committee: one each representing the city of Tucson, unincorporated Pima County, Oro Valley, Marana, Sahuarita and South Tucson.

A majority would give proposed bond projects a thumb's up or down. If it said "yes," voters would still have the final say.

A huge problem with the legislation is that it would give equal power to the representative from South Tucson, which has 5,000 residents, and the member from Tucson, which has 520,000 people.

Indeed, the four small jurisdictions – South Tucson, Sahuarita, Marana and Oro Valley – with a combined population of 105,000, could form a majority and outvote the two people who represent the 870,000 residents of Tucson and unincorporated Pima County.

That's hugely unfair.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Craig McDermott included in his "This Week" post at the legislature this heads up:

"Thursday at 9 a.m., Technology and Infrastructure will meet in HHR1. On the agenda: HB2647, a Rio Nuevo bill…"

Here is the explanation. A group of Downtown Tucson developers and business interests wants the Arizona legislature to make big changes to Rio Nuevo, including a change that could guarantee them financial relief for future projects. Businesses press lawmakers to make Rio Nuevo changes:

Fletcher McCusker, one of the key promoters of downtown redevelopment, is unofficially calling the effort the "Downtown Tucson Initiative."

* * *

Backers said the key to righting the scandal-ridden project hinges on several items:

• Creating incentives for developers to build within the district – potentially waiving development fees, eliminating impact fees, abating property taxes or allowing developers to keep sales taxes collected by their business for five to 10 years.

• Expanding the authority of the Rio Nuevo Board, which can only spend money on a convention center and the as-yet-economically-infeasible convention hotel.

• Streamlining the regulatory burden on developers, to provide more clarity in obtaining building permits.

• Building more accountability and standardization into procurement.

McCusker, whose backers include Jim Horvath, Buzz Isaacson, Kevin Madden, Don Martin and Scott Stiteler, said he fears that with the Rio Nuevo Board and city of Tucson at an impasse and threatening to meet in court, some legislators might decide to pull the plug on the project altogether. This would be a way to show the project still retains support and could get back on track, he said.

* * *

McCusker said he doesn't believe the effort is stepping on any toes, since it's going to need backing from both the Rio Nuevo Board and the city to get through the legislative process.

by David Safier E. J. Montini begins with satire, then leaves it to simply tell the truth. Here's how his column begins. An Arizona legislative committee last week approved a bill to create an elective high-school class called "The Bible and its Influence on Western Culture," a divinely inspired proposal that needs only two minor … Read more

By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings   First: an apology to readers for not finishing last week's legislative schedule post. My personal schedule got tight, and these posts take 6 – 8 hours to put together when the lege's committees are going full speed. Hence, the early start on this is meant to ensure … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

First the Democratic side of the ledger, because really folks, that's what matters.

Friend of Blog for Arizona Carolyn Classen was kind enough to forward a copy of a Yellow Sheet Report (ungodly expensive subscription gossip rag), captioned: Giffords Set to Endorse Barber:

Multiple sources say that Giffords’ advisors held a conference call this afternoon to discuss what role she would play in the special election to replace her, and one source with knowledge of the conversation said Giffords is prepared to throw her support behind longtime aide Ron Barber to fill out her term.

However, her endorsement hinges on Barber entering the race, a decision the source said he will make by Monday. “If he decides to run, [Giffords and her team] will endorse him,” the source said.

If Barber, who reportedly is still unable to work full days because of his recovery from being shot in the same attack that wounded Giffords, opts not to run, the source said there is “no backup plan” and the congresswoman would not issue an endorsement.

I just came from a meeting of Legislative District 30 Democrats at which Rep. Steve Farley (D-LD 28) was the featured speaker. Rep. Farley informed Democrats that the report above is the current status for Democrats — Ron Barber is considering whether to run as a caretaker for the Giffords seat in the CD 8 special election.