Civil & Human Rights

GOP war on voting: Kansas Federal Judge orders EAC to enforce proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration

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gavelJudge Eric Melgren for the U.S. District Court of Kansas ruled today that the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) lacks the authority to deny the states of Kansas and Arizona ther request to modify the federal motor-voter voter registration form, and has ordered the EAC to enforce the proof-of-citizenship requirement to register to vote under Kansas and Arizona law. Kansas, Arizona prevail in voter citizenship suit:

A judge in Wichita has ordered a federal commission to enforce Kansas and Arizona laws requiring documents proving citizenship for new voters.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren ordered the Election Assistance Commission to immediately add Kansas- and Arizona-specific instructions to the federal voter registration form.

Those instructions will say that new registrants will have to provide documents proving citizenship before being allowed to vote, as required by state law.

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GOP war on voting: rejecting your constitutional right to legislate by citizens initiative and referendum

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Tea-Publicans in the Arizona House have already voted along party lines to refer HCR 2018 (.pdf) to the ballot in November which, if approved by the voters, would add a “sunset” provision to any citizens initiative or referendum which “authorizes or requires the expenditure of state money,” referring the matter back to the voters in another referendum every eight (8) years.

The Senate version of the bill, SCR 1003 (.pdf), actually failed on a tie vote of 14-14 in the Senate last week. Evil never sleeps, however, and this bill is back on a motion for reconsideration on the Third read Calendar of the Senate for Monday. Call your state senator now.

I have previously posted about this bill:

Note that this reauthorization is not for all citizens initiative and referendum measures, just the ones the legislature does not like — the ones that require the legislature to spend money on priorities decided by the voters, like heath care and education. This is the teabaggers’ “I hate the Voter Protection Act” (Prop. 105 -1998) measure to undermine Prop. 105.

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AZ Speaker of the House doesn’t know the difference between emergency contraception and the abortion pill

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Crossposted at DemocraticDiva.com

ICYMI, the March 10 Legislative Update on Phoenix Channel 8’s Horizon featured Speaker of the House Andy Tobin (R) and Senate Majority Whip John McComish (R) pontificating on a number of timely topics, one of which was recent abortion legislation. The whole episode is below and at about 7:30 in you can listen to two men – well, three if you include host Ted Simons – opine on the proper restraining of the female chattel as we audaciously insist on making reproductive decisions for ourselves. Watch Senator McComish defend surprise abortion clinic inspections because he and his barber discussed the matter and his barber’s shop is subject to surprise inspections and, by gum, that’s good enough for abortion clinics and their patients too!

http://www.azpbs.org/arizonahorizon/play.php?vidId=6611

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John Nichols of ‘The Nation’ Returns to Tucson for Progressive Politics & Book Signing (video)

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John Nichols
John Nichols speaking in Tucson in 2013

Author, historian, and humorist John Nichols of The Nation and MSNBC returns to Tucson on Saturday, March 15, 2014. This is the third year in a row that the PDA Tucson and the Pima Area Labor Federation have hosted an evening with Nichols at the IBEW Hall.

Nichols mixes political commentary with snippets of history and calls for progressive action. Join Progressive Democrats of America’s Tucson Chapter and PALF for an inspiring evening with a national figure. I guarantee that you will come away from this event inspired, informed, and maybe just pissed off enough to fight the forces of greed who are trying to destroy our country. [Video after the jump.]

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Teapublican Legislative Update: Guns, Gays, God, & Greed

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It’s so stressful when the Arizona Legislature is in session. It’s like living with an abusive parents because you never know when or where they will strike next– so, we live under a veil of paranoia, waiting for the old grizzled old farts to leave Phoenix and go back to their bunkers.

My head is spinning from all of the crazy bills they considering this spring. One thing predictable is that they are sticking with their long-time playbook: Guns, Gays, God, and Greed. Reading the list below makes me wonder what they have against children, wolves, and the unemployed. Brace yourself.

Thanks to the Pima Dems for compiling this list of bills that are in play. (I have highlighted a few key words to make this easier to sort through.)

In the Senate–

SB 1100: would requiring that school districts lease or sell unused/underutilized buildings to charter schools or private schools. Had its first floor reading Monday.

SB 1227: inspired by the conspiracy theory that the United Nations will order the U.S. government to raze housing developments that don’t meet U.N. environmental standards, this bill would prohibit counties and municipalities statewide from implementing “green” building codes. Had a first reading on the Senate Floor last week, no second reading scheduled yet.

SB 1281: Sponsored by LD-3 Sen. Olivia Cajero Bedford and LD-10 Sen. David Bradley, this bill would provide a back-to-work program for unemployed people needing a career change, including internships while still getting unemployment checks. Passed by a 22-6 vote Tuesday in the Senate and transmitted to the House. 

SB 1351: would allow residents of Pima County who do not live within the Tucson city limits to serve on the Rio Nuevo Board. Also removes the requirement for construction of a hotel at the Tucson Convention Center. Approved by the Senate Monday by a 25-0 vote.

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