G.I. to jump into legislature?

by David Safier

ANOTHER OOPS UPDATE: Looks like I have another correction to make, again relating to the Goldwater Institute. According to Craig, Clint's wife, Shawna Bolick, is the one running, and Clint is her treasurer. Once again, I regret the error.

For some reason, Craig didn't cross-post this from Random Musings, so I'll do it for him.

Goldwater Institute, not satisfied with playing the Arizona legislature like a cheap violin, is making plans to work from the inside with the candidacy of G.I.'s Clint Bolick.

Here is Craig's post:

Goldwater Institute: just cutting out the middle man

Apparently, using most of the Republican caucus of the legislature as surrogates is too slow – now they're going for direct control (can't call it a "hostile" takeover since GI's operatives are so warmly welcomed there now).

On February 5, 2010, one Clint Bolick registered a campaign committee (filer ID 201000453) to enter the Republican primary for State Representative in LD11. He joins Jon Altmann, Bev Kraft, Dusti Morris, and Kate McGee in that race. The incumbents are Dr. Eric Meyer (D) and Adam Driggs (R). Meyer has a reelection committee opened; Driggs is "exploring" a run for the Senate seat from LD11 and has been rumored to be eyeing the CD3 race.

Bolick is a senior member of GI, heading up their "constitutional litigation" arm, which basically means suing various levels of governments until they give him what he wants (school tuition tax credits) or stop what he doesn't want (Clean Elections – too numerous to link to just one. Google "Bolick" and "Clean Elections"). He also leads the charge against any government regulations of business that he considers unfairly burdensome.

Which is pretty much *all* regulation.

In short, he is already a member of the GOP caucus of the lege in everything but title. Winning an election will just be a formality, and losing one won't change the reality of the situation.

If Bolick's run is successful, look for more GI operatives to try to take over government positions (i.e. – Matthew Ladner as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, etc.).

Frying pan, get ready to meet fire.