AZDems Must Not Normalize the Abnormal by Attending a Special Session

When Governor Ducey (and if, but, really, it’s certain he will…) calls a special session to repeal and replace their massive flat income tax cuts for the wealthiest that voters worked in good faith to refer to the ballot, AZDems should not show up.

Today the Democratic House Leader Reginald Bolding tweeted:

Expect a fierce floor debate if Ducey & Republicans in the leg try to game the system to repeal & replace a law from last yr (which gave massive tax cuts to the wealthiest Arizonans) that has been referred to the ’22 ballot.

We’re hearing they want to give even MORE away!

— Reginald Bolding (@reginaldbolding) March 16, 2022

Sorry, Leader Bolding, but a “fierce floor debate” won’t meet the moment, and doesn’t scare the AZGOP even a little bit. You know very well that the rules of the legislature constrain what one can say that might even imply impugnment of another member’s motives. And we MUST impugn them. Debate on the floor of this matter is wholly fruitless.

By agreeing to even attend such a special session, AZDems would be normalizing deeply abnormal and abhorrent political behavior. Let’s face reality, the press might do some reporting about the ensuing debate, but ultimately the average citizen will barely even notice what the AZGOP is attempting to do. Because the proceedings will be normal and orderly and polite, they will assume that what the AZGOP is doing is normal.

Far better to make our protest as protracted, continuous, public, and abnormal as possible. Dem members can instead spread out across the state holding events, vigils, sleep-ins, marches, and rallies protesting what the AZGOP is doing to the sovereign rights of Arizona voters to legislate for themselves. Blockade the state legislature with a human wall. Get arrested. Get mad. We need spectacle and action – not polite words in a legislative debate – to express our outrage and anger at the AZGOP’s contempt for Arizona citizens’ priorities and rights.

[bctt tweet=”Arizona State legislative members: don’t acquiesce to the #AZGOP’s abuse of power in a special session to nullify the rights of AZ citizens: walk out, practice non-violent non-cooperation, and make a big noise.” username=”BlogForArizona”]