Tea Party Recall Hijinks
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Rep. Steve "Secession" Smith (R-Maricopa), an acolyte of disgraced recalled Senate President Russell Pearce and crazy Uncle Joe Arpaio, led an evil plot to legislatively "amend" the constitutional provision for recall in Arizona's constitution without voter approval. Stevie Secession actually got his evil plot approved by a vote of the Tea-Publican House. But it thankfully has died — for now — in the Senate (it's never over until sine die). GOP defections kill bill to change recall elections:
A plan to revamp the state's recall laws for all future elections fell apart Thursday when some Republican senators broke party ranks.
On an 18-10 vote, the Senate killed a House-passed measure that would have required both a primary and a general election in the event of a recall. Foes said they saw no reason to alter a system that has been in place since the early days of Arizona statehood.
Its fate may have been sealed by a late alteration that created an even more convoluted system – a provision where a recalled official could lose his or her own partisan primary and still be on the general election ballot.
UPDATE: On Monday, the Senate approved a motion for reconsideration by voice vote. A reconsideration of this bill has not yet been scheduled for a vote (while threats and intimidation to get the 16 votes needed is occurring behind closed doors).