Civil & Human Rights

Attorney demands federal investigation into Latino voter suppression in Arizona during the 2012 election

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Press release from Arizona attorney Vince Rabago pertaining to a Voting Rights Act complaint to the U.S. Department of Justice regarding voter suppression of Latino voters in Arizona during the 2012 election.

MEDIA RELEASE

ARIZONA ATTORNEY DEMANDS FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO LATINO VOTER SUPPRESSION IN 2012 ELECTION: PROVIDES EVIDENCE OF MISLEADING CALLS TO SPANISH SPEAKERS, AND ELECTION OFFICE MISCONDUCT IN ARIZONA

Media Contact: Vince Rabago • (520) 955-9038 • Vince@VinceRabagoLaw.com

(Tucson, Ariz. – June 14th, 2013) Today, Arizona attorney Vince Rabago filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice requesting that the agency investigate apparent efforts to unlawfully suppress and intimidate Latino voters in Arizona during the 2012 election.

Rabago, a former state prosecutor, submitted two affidavits signed by voters under penalty of perjury who
received misleading “robo calls”. These Spanish speaking calls told voters to bring their identification documents with them to the polls in order to exercise their right to vote. Both voters receiving these calls are fluent in Spanish and immediately knew the statements were false and misleading. One voter, William Risner, is an election law attorney with extensive experience. The other voter, Dr. Ted Downing, is a former elected state legislator who participated in legislative election law reform efforts in Arizona.

(Update) ‘Omnibus’ voter suppression bill HB 2305 passes the Senate on reconsideration

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

How many times have I told you that it's never over until sine die?

In a late-night final act of betrayal before saying goodbye, the Senate reconsidered the "omnibus" voter suppression bil, HB 2305, and Republican Sens. Steve Pierce, John McComish and Rich Crandall — who had earlier voted with the Democrats to defeat the bill — changed their votes to pass this bill on a straight party-line vote, and to transmit the bill to the governor.

Here is the vote detail on the Motion for Reconsideration:

Member Name Vote Member Name Vote Member Name Vote
Ed Ableser N Nancy Barto Y David Bradley N
Judy Burges Y Olivia Cajero Bedford N Rich Crandall Y
Chester Crandell Y Adam Driggs Y Steve Farley N
Steve Gallardo N Gail Griffin Y Katie Hobbs N
Jack Jackson Jr. N Leah Landrum Taylor N Linda Lopez N
John McComish Y Barbara McGuire N Al Melvin Y
Robert Meza N Rick Murphy NV Lynne Pancrazi N
Steve Pierce Y Michele Reagan Y Don Shooter Y
Anna Tovar N Kelli Ward Y Bob Worsley Y
Steve Yarbrough Y Kimberly Yee Y Andy Biggs Y

 

AYES: 16   NAYS: 13   NOT VOTING: 1   EXCUSED: 0   VACANT: 0

If you read the newspaper this morning, you read that this bill was defeated. Both Howard Fischer at Capitol Media Services AZ
legislature closes out session in flurry, approve sales tax overhaul and The Arizona Republic Rancorous
session ends with Medicaid and budget approved reported that HB 2305 was defeated in the Senate.

‘Omnibus’ voter suppression bill HB 2305 defeated in Senate

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie: This "omnibus" voter suppression bill has had several iterations over the past few weeks as members tried to settle their differences and piece together a bill they could support, but in the waning hours of this legislative session they decided to go with HB 2305 (initiatives; filings; circulators) and fold SB 1003 … Read more

Not a good day for Arizona’s Planned Parenthood defunding law in the 9th Circuit

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The San Francico Chronicle reports on today's action in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Judges grill Arizona lawyer over anti-abortion law:

Two
federal appeals court judges expressed skepticism Wednesday about an
Arizona law [HB 2800] that disqualified Planned Parenthood and other health
providers that perform abortions from receiving public funds for other
medical services.

Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judges Marsha Berzon and Jay Bybee grilled attorney Steven Aden during a hearing about the law. Aden, an attorney with the Alliance
Defending Freedom, argued that Arizona had a broad power to determine
that Planned Parenthood, and other organizations targeted by the law,
were not qualified Medicaid providers, allowing the state to withhold
from them Medicaid funds.

According
to the Medicaid statute, anybody eligible for medical assistance can
get it from an organization or person "qualified to perform the service
or services required."

Aden
said since the Medicaid statute does not further define "qualified,"
the state should have broad powers to determine its meaning.

Rep. Trent Franks channels Todd Akin

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

They just can't help themselves. Despite GOP attempts to 'rebrand" after the 2012 election, their Tea Party radical extremists keep shooting off their mouths pursuing their misogynist war on women. Arizona's right-wing anti-abortion zealot, Rep. Trent Franks, was channeling Todd Akin (legitimate rape) in a committee hearing today. Rep. Trent Franks: Rate of pregnancies from rape ‘very low’:

Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), whose measure banning abortions after 20
weeks was being considered in the House Judiciary Committee, argued
against a Democratic amendment to make exceptions for rape and incest by
suggesting that pregnancy from rape is rare.

“Before, when my friends on the left side of the aisle here tried to
make rape and incest the subject — because, you know, the incidence of
rape resulting in pregnancy are very low,” Franks said.

* * *

Democrats on the committee, including Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.),
responded by pointing to similar comments made by then-Rep. Todd Akin
(R-Mo.) in his 2012 Senate campaign. Akin suggested that the female body
can prevent pregnancy from occurring after a “legitimate rape” — a claim that is not backed up by scientific research and for which Akin apologized.