Arrrgh! There be a Tea-Publican mutiny against the Red Queen

April 20, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Last week the smart money on the sine die pool was that the Arizona legislature would adjourn sine die by this Friday, April 20. That was then, this is now.

The Tea-Publican leadership of the Arizona legislature and the Red Queen, er, Gov. Jan Brewer, reportedly were close to a compromise agreement on the budget. But then the Tea-Publican leadership got a report from their Finance Advisory Committee that they read to be a clear message to be cautious about increased spending over the next three budget years. Report impairs Arizona budget talks Last week's report, a consensus of four economic forecasts, lowered the state's revenue growth for the 2013 fiscal year to 3.4 percent from 5 percent.

"The deal's off!" said the Tea-Publican leaders. "Oh yeah?" said the Red Queen. "Then I will veto any bill you send me until I get the budget I want!" Brewer insisting on budget deal.

The Arizona Republic reported that the real reason for the hold up is that the Tea-Publican legislature will not fund the 5% pay raise for state workers that the Red Queen wants to use as a bribe to state workers to forgo their civil service protection under her bill to destroy the civil service merit selection system and return to the halcion days of Tammany Hall and the spoils system of political patronage. Brewer insisting on budget deal. This is the Red Queen's number one legislative priority.

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports today that the Red Queen has a Tea-Publican mutiny on her hands. Ninth Floor: Pierce, Tobin went back on agreement | Arizona Capitol Times:

Gov. Jan Brewer’s decision to not sign any new bills until she gets a budget came only after Senate President Steve Pierce and House Speaker Andy Tobin backtracked on agreements they made with the governor on a handful of spending items, according to a Brewer spokesman.

Matthew Benson said Pierce and Tobin had agreed to several of Brewer’s key spending proposals, including new funding for K-12 education, public safety and the Department of Economic Security. But the two chamber leaders informed her during an April 17 meeting that they were reverting to legislative Republicans’ earlier budget proposal that ignored many of Brewer’s spending priories.

In response, Brewer said she would veto any bill that reached her desk before an acceptable budget was passed, Benson said.

As the political gossip rag The Yellow Sheet Report (subscription required) adds Brewer facing budget mutiny? | Arizona Capitol Times:

McCain on Romney

April 20, 2012

by David Safier

Here's the latest DNC ad featuring . . . John McCain. No Democratic voices. Just McCain talking about, and laughing at, Mitt Romney.

Watch it below the fold.

The three finalists for Daniel Patterson’s seat

April 20, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Not the choices I expected, but I don't have a vote. The Arizona Daily Star reports on the three finalists for Daniel Patterson's seat. 3 finalists for District 29 job are new to politics: Three finalists have been selected in the process to replace former state Rep. Daniel Patterson, who resigned last week. … Read more

AIRC Update: They’re baaaack! GOP Fair Trust threatens to sue the AIRC

April 20, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Arizona Republic reports today that the secretive GOP redistricting organization FAIR Trust and its lawyer/lobbyist David Cantelme has sent "a letter" to Attorney General Tom Horne indicating FAIR Trust is "contemplating" a lawsuit over the new maps. Lawsuits over Arizona redistrict map possible.

Apparently this was not a Notice of Claim pursuant to A.R.S. Section 12-821.01 sent to the state of Arizona, but a request for waiver of conflict of interest from Mr. Cantelme (see below).

The Arizona Republic also reports that House Speaker Andy Tobin on Thursday said he is still working on plans to ask the Legislature to sue over the new legislative map. We've been over this — Tobin cannot use state money to pursue purely partisan litigation. If Tea-Publicans want to litigate over redistricting, they are going to have to spend their own money. Damn deadbeats! Always looking for taxpayer handouts.

Steve Muratore has more at The Arizona Eagletarian: Redistricting — UNfair Trust rears it's ugly head again:

[Y]esterday Attorney General Tom Horne's office wrote to the AIRC to notify the agency that David Cantelme is considering, on behalf of UNfair Trust, suing over the Congressional and legislative maps. Last week, Cantelme had asked for a waiver of conflict of interest since he is listed as outside counsel for the State in two cases. As authorized outside counsel for the State of Arizona, he is currently precluded from suing the state, due to conflict of interest.

We already know what Cantelme's likely claim will be in the event such a lawsuit is filed. While it may not be his only claim, he will focus on how minority voting rights (Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act) were not given enough weight in the final maps.

Stay tuned.

Ron Barber Comes Out Swinging

April 19, 2012

By Michael Bryan For those who I have heard express concern that Ron Barber's lack of campaign experience as a candidate might cause him to be too gentlemanly in running against a bomb-thrower like Kelly, his campaign's first salvo should provide some comfort that civility doesn't mean a failure to draw strong contrasts for voters. … Read more

Cancel Ted Nugent’s performance at the Pima County Fair

April 19, 2012

by David Safier You can go to the bank on this: Ted Nugent's scheduled concert at Fort Knox has been canceled "because of recent remarks he made about President Obama." How bad were Nugent's remarks? The NRA scrubbed them from its website, and the Secret Service had a talk with the madman. That's how bad. … Read more