Don ‘Tequila’ Shooter: ‘We don’t need no stinkin’ testimony on the budget’

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Just how authoritarian is our Tea-Publican legislature? This authoritarian. Shooter considering banning public testimony on budget bills – Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required):

The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said Tuesday he is considering banning all public testimony when lawmakers take up the state budget later this year.

Sen. Don Shooter told the Arizona Capitol Times that he was weighing that decision on the same day he took criticism for not taking public testimony during presentations by two government agencies.

“I’m not saying they will or won’t (testify). That decision hasn’t been made yet,” the Yuma Republican said. “It’s possible there’s no public testimony. It’s possible there will be some limited testimony or whatever.”

His decision not to hear public testimony during budget presentations by government agencies isn’t entirely unprecedented, but banning testimony during budget-bill debates is.

If he takes the more restrictive route, it will surely invite criticisms from Democrats and groups who expect to at least be heard in committee.

* * *

Shooter told the Capitol Times he wants to avoid “14-hour” hearings.

He added it’s not the most efficient use of time and it doesn’t serve anybody well, particularly if people are making decisions in the wee hours of the morning.

He also said he’s already hearing from the public even now.

“I get so much public input every day that I can’t keep up with it,” he said.

Well, maybe you should look for more suitable work.

Don "Tequila" Shooter is in the new LD 4 which now takes in parts of West Tucson and Western Pima County into Southern Yuma County (San Luis, Somerton, Yuma), largely an Hispanic Voting Rights Act district. If this guy can't be defeated, I don't know who can. Time for Democratic candidates to step up.

UPDATE: Mary Jo Pitzl at the Arizona Republic has more. Insider: Budget hearing won't have comments. Public comment? "I heard it last year," Shooter said.

UPDATE: More authoritarianism from Don "Tequila" Shooter. Republicans want IRC?to explain ‘overspending’ - Arizona Capitol Times:

The Arizona Constitution states, “The Legislature shall make the necessary appropriations” for the IRC. But some GOP lawmakers are wondering how much latitude they have in setting the IRC’s budget, especially when it comes to the supplemental funding request the IRC plans to make.

Sen. Don Shooter, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said that constitutional provision is subjective and vague.

“We decide what we think’s appropriate,” said Shooter, R-Yuma. “And since we seem to be the ones that are given the constitutional duties of appropriations, I think that would be our decision, not the activist courts and other clowns who like to interfere.”