Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Speaking of the Voter Protection Act, Prop. 105 (1998), the Tea-Publicans are assaulting this provision, and your rights also. They really don't like citizens passing initiatives telling them what to do. (That's reserved for lobbyists who contribute to their campaigns). Now they want to "sunset" review all citizen initiatives since 1998. Lawmaker: … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The bills assaulting the AIRC that I told you about yesterday breezed through the Senate Government Reform Committee. You're shocked, I'm sure. Redistricting commission repeal clears committee - Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required): A proposed referral that would ask voters whether they wanted to eliminate the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission took its first step toward … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Email announcement from Andrei Cherny for U.S. Congress:

The promise of America is that if you work hard, you can get ahead.  But today that promise is at risk with families working longer hours and spending less time with their kids, yet still finding themselves stuck in place or falling behind.

That’s why I’m announcing my candidacy for the United States Congress – to save our trampled middle class and renew America’s promise.

We have a Congress that has betrayed the values that have made America great.  We’re not investing enough in education and innovation, we’re rewarding recklessness and greed, and we’re letting irresponsibility in Washington subsidize irresponsibility on Wall Street.  For all the talk that Washington is broken, the truth is that it works great for those with the right connections.  The problem isn’t that Washington’s not working – it’s that it’s not working for us.

If you’ve been waiting to be part of a new kind of politics, and a crusade to save our middle class, I hope you’ll join our people-powered campaign by signing up to volunteer or making a contribution today.  And please watch my short announcement video [below the fold] and forward it on to all those you know who care about America’s future:

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Last week some legal observers thought the 44 50 state mortgage fraud settlement negotiations between the states attorney generals and the banksters of Wall Street might be unraveling.

On Friday, "In the latest of a flurry of under-the-wire lawsuits that seem to conflict with an imminent foreclosure fraud settlement, Eric Schneiderman, the Attorney General of New York and a co-chair of the federal task force looking into the residential mortgage-backed securities market, sued three banks for their use of the MERS electronic registry which resulted in fraudulent foreclosure filings." Schneiderman Sues Three Big Banks, MERS for Deceptive Practices, Illegal Foreclosures | FDL News Desk:

While the foreclosure fraud settlement is not supposed to release MERS claims, this is a significant lawsuit that I don’t think can square with any agreement on a settlement. Schneiderman, like Beau Biden before him, is suing MERS for deceptive practices. Those practices resulted in the creation of falsified foreclosure documents. And he’s suing the banks over the use of those documents. This is the ENTIRE point of a settlement in the foreclosure fraud case. I don’t see how you could bring this case and also agree to a settlement[.]

Today, every state but Oklahoma signed off on the foreclosure fraud settlement agreement letting the banksters of Wall Street off with a slap on the wrist. The amount of the settlement is pennies on the dollar compared to the fraud perpetrated; the settlement does not require disgorgement of ill-gotten gains. It is even fewer pennies on the dollar for the amount of fraud that still exists in the system, i.e., mortgage-backed securities in the derivates "shadow market." Paying a fine is just the "opportunity cost" of doing business. Most offensive, under the settlement "nobody's going to emergency, nobody's going to jail." The banksters of Wall Street win again.

Of course, the corporate media is reporting this story quite differenty. The Washington Post reports Landmark settlement announced on foreclosure, mortgage fraud:

State and federal officials on Thursday announced a settlement of more than $25 billion with five of the nation’s banks over flawed and fraudulent foreclosure practices that affected several million homeowners and became commonplace after the housing boom turned to bust in recent years. It is the largest government-industry settlement in more than a decade.

It aims to help troubled borrowers by requiring the banks to reduce the amount borrowers owe on their mortgages, lowering their interest rates and paying restitution to homeowners who suffered mortgage-related abuses. It will force lenders to revamp how they interact with struggling mortgage holders and bar them from trying to foreclose on borrowers while simultaneously negotiating mortgage modifications.

In addition, firms will have to make sure borrowers have a single point of contact with a lender, rather than being shuttled to different employees with each interaction.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the deal–which he called the largest joint federal-state civil settlement in history[.]

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Ron Barber announced to the media that he is running for the Giffords seat in the special congressional election.

Press conference from Ron Barber announcement (highlights):

Congresswoman Giffords asked him to run and he has the full support of Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly.

Barber resigned his congressional staff position on Tuesday and made the commitment to run in the special election on Wednesday.

Barber said there were no preconditions to his entering the race. Barber said that he has made no decision regarding the CD 2 general election race, his focus is only on the special election right now. He said that he would make his decision regarding CD 2 known in the near future.

Some reporters pressed Barber on Matt Heinz having said that he would clear the field if Barber was only running in the special election. Barber was also asked if he ran for the CD 2 general election, did he expect that other Democrats would enter the race to primary him. Barber said that "I am not trying to dodge your questions, but my focus is only on the special election right now." Barber said he would be working events and getting petitions signed this weekend.

Barber was asked about the Giffords "war chest" and whether those funds would be available to him. Barber indicated that he is new at this and did not know all the legal requirements, including FEC regulations involved, but that is something which is being looked at.

Barber was asked about his health. Barber said that his strength and energy have returned and he feels that he is fully capable of performing  the job. He was pressed by a reporter about working half days in his congressional position until he resigned on Tuesday. Barber explained that this did not mean he was not putting in full days with the several other projects to which he is committed, such as the Arizona Centennial and the Fund for Civility.

Barber was asked about the contentiousness of the 2010 race and what he thought this race portends. Barber said he would run a civil campaign. "I believe it was Barry Goldwater who said that we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable."

Barber indicated that he and his family have deep roots here in Southern Arizona. In running for Congress, he would continue Rep. Giffords' commitment to border issues and to veterans issues. He would be a moderate voice in Congress.

David Safier made an audio recording of the press conference and will fill in any details I may have glossed over in these abbreviated highlights.

As the press conference was just getting underway, this email announcement from Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly was received, as I am sure many of you received as well: