Legislation coming fast and furious as sine die approaches

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Things get crazy during the mad rush to sine die, so let me try to summarize the latest news from the Capitol.

You have all heard by now that Gov. Jan Brewer is slightly less crazy than our Tea-Publican legislature; she vetoed the "Birther bill," HB 2177, because of the "ick factor." "I never imagined being presented with a bill that could require candidates for president of the greatest and most powerful nation on Earth to submit their 'early baptismal or circumcision certificates,' among other records, to the Arizona Secretary of State," Brewer said in her letter. "This is a bridge too far."

In a rare moment of lucidity, Gov. Brewer also vetoed the "guns on campus" bill, SB 1467. All three of Arizona's public universities passed resolutions opposing SB 1467, and campus law enforcement testified against it. Brewer has until midnight Thursday to act on SB 1201, also known as the firearms "omnibus" bill. That bill would require state and local governments to either allow guns in public facilities or secure those buildings with metal detectors and armed guards. The measure applies to government-owned pools, libraries, community centers and offices. Call the governor's office today.

Brewer also vetoed the Neoconfederate insurrectionists' "state compacts" bill, which is an end-run around federal Medicaid (i.e., "Obamacare"). Brewer vetoes guns on campus, 'birther' bill, and anti-federal health care legislation.

Brewer signed into law the discriminatory adoption preference bill, SB 1188, which gives preference to married heterosexual couples. Singles (read same-sex couples) and unmarried couples need not apply. The measure applies to both state-funded and private adoption agencies. Adoption bill is signed into law. I would expect a lawsuit to challenge the law on equal protection grounds.

Brewer signed yet another abortion bill, this one providing that the state Board of Nursing has no authority to say whether allowed medical duties for nurse-practitioners include performing surgical abortions. "Brewer this year has signed several other anti-abortion bills. Those include ones to ban abortions for gender or race selection and to apply state clinic regulations to facilities where only medical abortions are performed." Arizona Capitol Times » Brewer signs another anti-abortion bill.

Brewer signed into law a bill limiting Home Owner's Association restrictions on political activities, in particular, flying the symbol of the anti-government insurrectionists and militias, er, the Gadsden flag ("Don't tread On me"). Let your freak flag fly! New law: HOAs can't keep out campaigns. HOAs can no longer regulate door-to-door political activity, but can limit such activity to normal areas of access and daylight hours. It also expands the right of homeowners to political campaign signs (the signs no longer have to be commercially produced).

The Arizona Legislature has approved a ballot measure to defund Arizona's Citizens Clean Elections under the purposefully deceptive name of “Stop Public Money for Political Candidates’ Campaigns Act.” This is essentially the same bill that Sen. Jonathan "Payday" Paton failed to enact in the last legislature – the purposefully deceptive name was his idea. Arizona Capitol Times » Senate passes ballot referral that aims to dismantle Clean Elections system. It is now up to the voters to decide the fate of Citizens Clean Elections.

The Arizona Legislature approved another ballot measure to amend Arizona's model law for judicial merit selection in Arizona's most populous counties (Maricopa, Pima, and now Pinal). Arizona voters will decide whether to lengthen the terms of judges and to reduce the State Bar of Arizona’s voice in appointing judges. Arizona Capitol Times » Arizona voters to get ballot measure on picking judges. This is one of those slippery slope measures designed to eventually do away with judicial merit selection and return to partisan election of judges. The system works fine just the way it is. if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The unconstitutional "public pension reform" bill, SB 1609, has been approved and is headed to the governor's desk. My sources say a legal challenge will be filed. That didn't stop the anti-union Arizona Republic today from publishing a "news" report that was in actuality an editorial opinion patting itself on the back for being the driving force behind this bill (in conjunction with research provided by the Goldwater Institute). Arizona Senate sends pension-reform effort to governor. Even the Arizona Republic had to concede that the Arizona Constitution, Article 29, prohibits public pensions from being diminished or reduced, "but we hate unions, damnit! This feels good!" (OK, I added that commentary).

The Arizona Legislature also approved a resolution asking the federal Interior Department to lift a ban on uranium mining in the Grand Canyon. Lawmakers pass a radioactive resolution. Yeah, not going to happen.

The Senate approved lowering property taxes for a select classification of businesses, SB 1041. Arizona Capitol Times » Bill providing property tax break to businesses sails through.This special interest property tax cut is for a small number of businesses in a select classification and is not offered to all businesses. Business as usual at the Capitol.

The House approved a bill that would give the governor more authority to use a state military force aside from the National Guard. Arizona Capitol Times » House OKs bill on state guard. Let me guess, the "Republican Guard"?

In other action in the House on Monday, Legislators act on final, wide-ranging bills:

Senate Bill 1200 would cut in half, to six months, the amount of time a person convicted of driving under the influence must have an ignition-interlock device on his or her car… The bill returns to the Senate for final action.

Senate Bill 1398 repeals the state's photo-enforcement rules, building on Brewer's decision last year not to renew the state's photo-enforcement contract.

An amendment adds Pima County to the list of other counties that can apply for immigration- and gang-enforcement dollars. The county had been excluded from that pot of money as punishment for lawmakers' disagreement with Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik's opposition to last year's SB 1070… The bill returns to the Seante for final action.

Senate Bill 1379 prevents cities from regulating fireworks sales in the periods around July 4 and New Year's Eve… The bill returns to the Senate for final action.

Senate Bill 1402 authorized creation of a "Don't Tread on Me" special license plate, which would support the Arizona Tea Party Committee. It passed the House with the minimum 31 votes… The bill returns to the Senate for final action.

Think about this last one for a moment. The Arizona Legislature has time to provide government financial assistance to the anti-government Tea Party that claims it wants to eliminate unnecessary government spending — this would be a classic example — but the Arizona Legislature cannot find time to make a "one word amendment" to the unemployment compensation statute to extend federal funding for unemployment compensation. How f#&ked-up is that?