AIRC Update: Action Alert

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Last night the Governor's office announced that it would not call for a Special Session on Tuesday, but the governor's spokesperson said that she was keeping her options open. The political gossip rag The Yellow Sheet Report (suscription required) has a post about the Tea-Publican leadership making a last ditch effort today for a Special Session. Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs has been quoted saying that the Senate does not need a Special Session, but that it would add credibility to their action (not!)

There may be some breaking news on this front. I do not have any details, but I have received this action alert from Andy Barr at the Arizona Democratic Party for those of you in proximity to the State Capitol — there may be legislative action of some sort taking place at 1:00 p.m. today: 

The task: Stop Brewer from impeaching Independent Redistricting Commission

There's simply no other way to put this — we need as many of you as we can get at the state capitol right now.

Reports are coming in that Jan Brewer is about to call for a special session today at 1 p.m. to impeach the Independent Redistricting Commission.

* * *

Here's what I'm asking:

1) If you can, show up at the east side of the state capitol as soon as possible. Bring signs or anything else that conveys our message that Brewer is overstepping with a blatant political power grab that only benefits the governor's allies at the expense of the state.

2) Call Republican state senators and let them know that voting to impeach the commission is a vote that is going to cost them. The numbers for each senator's office is here.

3) Get in touch with any media contacts you have. Tell them Brewer's decision is ridiculous and unfounded. Talking points are below for you to use in any interaction with the media — I also ask that you use them as a guide in social media and e-mail.

4) Voice your objection to Brewer's power grab via every form of communication you have. E-mail your lists, call your friends, tweet it out, post on Facebook — do whatever you can to make sure that we're heard in every possible way.

As I said yesterday, it may be time to Occupy the Capitol. Go Wisconsin on their ass! It is time to defend democracy against this Tea-Publican tyranny.

UPDATE: Steve Muratore has a little mote information. The Arizona Eagletarian: Redistricting — extreme short notice (emphasis added):

Legislative staffers are still expecting to hear that the governor will call the legislature into special session today. Expectation is STILL for a 1pm (today) start time — now less than an hour away.

Several questions must naturally be asked about why this is so urgently important.

However, one of the more poignant questions has to be what can be so doggone urgent as to issue a call without giving adequate time for members from outside of Maricopa County or the Phoenix metro area time to travel and arrive on time.

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According to The Yellow Sheet, a complicating factor for the senate GOP arises from the illustrious Frank Antenori:

…Antenori told our reporter he has the votes needed to kill any attempt to remove commissioners if the special session call doesn’t include language allowing for the referral of a measure to the February presidential preference primary ballot to either amend or repeal the IRC – something he said Brewer is unwilling to do. “I’m not going to let this freaking governor push me around. This is pure, stupid, stubborn Jan Brewer,” he said. Antenori placed the blame for Brewer’s position on the GOP congressional delegation and FAIR Trust, and said they prefer dismantling the IRC via removal and sending the maps to a three-judge panel because they believe they can persuade them to draw favorable lines. After a flurry of phone calls last night and this morning, Antenori said he now has the backing of four other caucus members and expects to peel another two or three off from leadership before the closed caucus ends: “If I go into this caucus room at 12:30, this thing goes down. I’m not playing around…. This is the line in the sand. We’re referring it to the ballot, whether we’re amending (prop 106), scrapping it, fixing it. I don’t care. It cannot stand as is.”

This is related to my earlier post on "Don't make me angry" Frank Antenori's lame idea rejected by the Sierra Vista Herald as "ludicrous" and "irresponsible." I'd like to hear what the editors are saying now. Our little totalitarian is suffering from a God complex today.

By the way, the GOP Caucus was meeting in secret — while being critical of the AIRC for an alleged violation of the Open Meetings Law – and if Gov. Brewer calls for a simultaneous Special Session without adequate notice to members of the legislature and the public, I believe that violates state law as well. At this point this lawless legislature no longer cares about the Constitution and the rule of law. They have become a law unto themselves.

UPDATE: Gov. Brewer is in New York City today hawking the release of her book "Scorpions for Breakfast." Like her gal pal Sarah Palin, she has her priorities — making money. This means that any call for a Special Session today will come from Secretary of State Ken Bennett as acting governor in the absence of the governor from the state. What a craven act by Jan Brewer. You can call Ken Bennett at his number, (602) 542-4285.

Call him and voice your opposition to this outrageous power grab, and tell him he doesn't have to be Brewer's errand boy.

Bennett has said that he's waiting on language from Brewer's office before making the official call for a special session, and he doesn't seem eager to carry out Brewer's task. If you can't make it down to the capitol, we ask that you call Ken Bennett as well as the Republican senators who want to take redistricting out of the hands of Arizonans.