Jan Brewer gets one wrong, one right

April 3, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Last week Governor Jan Brewer signed special legislation by Rep Terri Proud, R-Tucson, before the ink was even dry on the engrossed bill. The law requires a forensic audit of Pima County bond projects because the Town of Marana felt it is not getting its "fair share" of Pima County taxpayer property without having to pay for it, such as the waste water treatment facility our Tea-Publican legislature handed over to the Town of Marana last year. Brewer OKs Pima County audit.

"Brewer sees nothing wrong with singling out one county for special treatment." That's known as special legislation, and it is unconstitutional. Pima County should consider suing.

One would think that Governor Brewer would jump at the chance to diss the City of Tucson as well. So it was somewhat of a surprise that Governor Brewer vetoed a bill drafted by Fletcher McCusker, one of the key promoters of downtown Tucson redevelopment, in an effort known as the "Downtown Tucson Initiative." Brewer vetoes bill to revitalize Rio Nuevo plans:

Changes proposed to revitalize Tucson's Rio Nuevo redevelopment project were shot down Monday by Gov. Jan Brewer, an apparent victim of the standoff between her and lawmakers on a new state budget.

In an extensive rejection letter, Brewer said HB 2647 would have created more opportunities for businesses willing to invest in the area because they would be able to recover some of their costs by keeping some of the state and local sales taxes they generate. [This is an abatement of the transaction privilege tax (sales tax) "incentive" allowing developers of new development in the Rio Nuevo District to keep sales taxes collected by their business.] The change was designed to get businesses to locate and expand in Rio Nuevo's downtown redevelopment zone.

But the governor said she was not interested – at least not now.

The Tea-Publican Crazy Train Has Left The Station

April 3, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Birthers-Birchers-Secessionists of the Tea-Publican Party crazy train have left the station and are hurtling down the track.

Last week Rep. Carl "barking mad" Seel and Crazy Uncle Joe Arpaio tried to revive Seel's "Birther" bill in the Arizona legislature. Birther Madness. Their efforts did not appear to revive his bill.

Also last week, Rep. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, would require employees of federal agencies to first notify the sheriff of the county "before taking any official law enforcement action in a county in this state." 'States' Rights' Tea-Publicans run amok. His "strike everything" amendment to HB 2434 passed the "Border Security, Federalism and States Sovereignty" Committee (they don't even try to hide the crazy any more), and the bill is awaiting a committee of the whole (COW) vote in the Senate. It is expected to pass the Senate and be sent to the House. The federal government will ignore this unconstitutional bill.

Sen. "Cap'n Al" Melvin, R-Saddlebrook, is the sponsor of SCR 1008, a resolution that would declare an emergency and allow Arizona to invoke its sovereignty ("States' rights!"). The resolution has passed the Senate and is awaiting final action in the House.

Not to be outdone, some rich guy who wants to piss away his money on the Neoconfederate "nullification" theory has filed the "Checks and Balances in Government" Initiative (demonstrating that he does not understand this term). Power to override US laws sought in new initiative:

A Phoenix business owner launched an initiative drive Monday designed to let Arizona voters override federal laws.

And John Biltis said he's prepared to spend millions of dollars of his own money to put the issue on the November ballot and persuade Arizonans to approve it.

The initiative would leave in place a provision in Arizona's Constitution that says the federal Constitution "is the supreme law of the land." But it proposes to add language saying the federal document may not be violated by any government – including the federal government.

More to the point, it would allow Arizonans "to reject any federal action that they determine violates the United States Constitution." And they would be able to do this either through a vote of the state House and Senate with consent of the governor, or through a popular vote on a ballot measure.

Dude, spend your millions getting an education. The Supremacy Clause, Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution and the 14th Amendment following the American Civil War put an end to the nullification theory forever. What you propose is unconstitutional. The Civil War is over Johnny Reb, get over it.

Rove: Super PAC is the new Black

April 2, 2012

by David Safier The left keeps on bringing up race to divide us, Republicans love to say. But when it comes to claiming minority group status, there's no race-based stretch too far for Karl Rove & Co. You know what making hedge funds disclose donations to Super PACs is like, according to Rove? It's like … Read more

Tom ‘banned for life by the SEC’ Horne under investigation by the FBI

April 2, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Another day, another political scandal in Arizona. Maybe we should build a prison for our politicians and the corporate lobbyists they serve.

The chief law enforcement officer of the state of Arizona, our Attorney General Tom "banned for life by the SEC" Horne, is under investigation by the FBI for campaign finance law violations. Oh, like nobody saw this coming — a leopard doesn't change his spots. Attorney General Tom Horne under investigation:

The FBI is investigating whether Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne illegally worked with an independent expenditure committee that raised and spent more than $500,000 in 2010 to run negative ads against his Democratic challenger.

The Republic learned that Horne was under investigation by federal officials about two months ago, but could only determine that it was tied to Horne's possible illegal involvement in an independent expenditure committee created in 2010.

* * *

A complaint was filed in February by a whistle-blower, who worked for Horne. Former prosecutor Don Dybus — who also worked on Horne's campaign — alleged Horne worked with the committee and later hired the chairwoman.

The complaint was filed in February, and the Arizona Secretary of State's Office released it Monday.

The complaint http://www.azcentral.com/ic/pdf/0402-horne-complaint.pdf

A spokesman for the Secretary of State's Office said the complaint was forwarded to a law-enforcement agency, but would not specify which. The Republic has learned the complaint was forwarded to the FBI.

The complaint alleges that Horne coordinated with Business Leaders for Arizona, which raised thousands of dollars from Horne's brother-in-law Richard Newman.

The complaint also alleges that Horne and his campaign were actively engaged with the independent expenditure committee and once elected, that he rewarded its director, Kathleen Winn, by naming her director of community outreach for the Tucson office. Winn earns $98,134 a year.

Dybus alleges that Horne, Winn, Newman and Republican political consultant Nathan Sproul, who raised money for the committee, colluded to raise money for the committee and Horne's consulting group "provided active and regular campaign advice directly to Horne throughout the election cycle."