AIRC Update: Tea-Publicans plan legislative interference with the ‘independent’ commission

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

What part of "independent" do Tea-Publicans not understand? Arizona voters enacted the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) to take redistricting out of the hands of legislators.

After waging a campaign of threats and intimidation against the AIRC through lawsuits, a politically motivated AG investigation, and the GOP front group FAIR Trust lawyer-lobbyists and teabaggers insulting commissioners at commission hearings, now the Tea-Publican controlled Arizona Legislature wants to appoint a committee of legislators to "scrutinize" the draft maps.

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports GOP lawmakers create panel to scrutinize redistricting maps:

House and Senate Republican leaders announced [Tuesday] evening that they have each appointed three lawmakers to a committee charged with scrutinizing the maps created by the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission.

The [bipartisan] committee is expected to take public testimony, and its final report will serve as the basis for the Republican-led Legislature’s “public comment” on the draft maps.

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The panel includes Rep. Jim Weiers, R-Phoenix and Sen. Steve Pierce, R-Prescott as co-chairs. Reps. Doris Goodale, R-Kingman and Lynne Pancrazi, D-Yuma will also serve on the panel with Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert and Sen. Robert Meza, D-Phoenix.

The panel will meet on Friday, but has not determined the time or specific agenda items.

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At least one Democrat may be pulled from the committee in protest of the way it was formed.

House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, said that Tobin went back on his word to open the lines of communication between the two parties, appointing Pancrazi to the committee without first consulting Campbell.

“He gave me his word that this would not happen again, not two months ago,” Campbell said. “The fact that we have not been consulted on this is an absolute joke. It’s becoming a dictatorship over at the House.”

Besides anger at what he sees as the speaker going behind his back, Campbell said that while he had concerns about the maps as well, he disagreed with the idea of the Legislature trying to influence the IRC’s work.

“Individual legislators can do what they want,” he said. “But the voters said they wanted to have an independent commission to take the politics out of the process… And here we go again, now the Legislature as a whole is going to change the maps. This is not what the voters wanted.”

Here is the House Democratic Caucus press release from House Minority Leader Chad Campbell:

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Minority Leader Chad Campbell released the following statement today on Republicans’ divisive partisan games with Arizona voters:

“Republicans’ move to form a committee to prevent a fair redistricting process for voters is another partisan stunt to undermine the Independent Redistricting Commission and the will of the voters.

“First, state Attorney General Tom Horne launches a bogus investigation on the IRC, then Congressional and state Republicans, along with Gov. Jan Brewer whine in chorus when the IRC attempts to level the playing field for Congress with four Republican districts, two Democratic districts and three as toss ups. Now Speaker Andy Tobin forms a committee to thwart the independent redistricting process.

“Clearly, Republicans are unreasonably threatened by a fair voting process after holding control for more than 40 years. They know Arizona voters want and deserve better, and they’re scared because they’ve produced partisan bickering, not results.

“Democrats also were never informed about this committee, and Tobin appointed the Democratic member without consultation from Democratic Leadership, a complete violation of protocol. This is the third time he has done this.

“I guess Arizonans shouldn’t be surprised by Tobin’s actions, given that in August he asked for citizens’ opinions on banning special interests’ gifts to legislators but then called their suggestions “silly.” (See story: Arizonans want legislators to reject gifts)

“Since when did protecting political parties become more important than protecting our Democratic principles that Arizona and our nation were founded upon? What a shame.”