Reminder: Petition Drive to Recall Sen. Russell Pearce – Saturday, March 5, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: A message from the Committee to Recall Russell Pearce: We are gearing up for a caravan from Tucson to Mesa, Arizona. Our next walk will begin on Saturday, March 5th at 10:00 AM at the Mesa public library. Our goal is to recruit at least 50 volunteers to canvass District 18. Please … Read more
Update: Jon Stewart on the scapegoating of teachers
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: FAUX News Fraudcasting cries for the banksters of Wall Street and the two percenters to get their tax cuts and to not limit CEO salaries for those companies suckling at the teat of a taxpayer-funded bailout — after they nearly destroyed the world's economy — but then maliciously demands wage and benefit … Read more
Wisconsin Republicans hiring bounty hunters and ordering the arrest of the Wisconsin 14
By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings Just a few weeks ago, the 14 members of the Democratic caucus of the Wisconsin State Senate left Wisconsin in order to block a vote on a bill to strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights. And since then, Republican Governor Scott Walker and the Republicans in … Read more
Well, that didn’t take long: Nullification bill returns, one day after defeat
By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings Wednesday, SB1433, creating a legislative committee to oversee the "nullification" of federal laws that they don't like, was defeated in a bit of a surprise. Thursday, Sen. Lori Klein (R-Armed and Dangerous), the original sponsor of the bill, moved to reconsider the measure. The motion passed on a … Read more
Senator Bundgaard’s Breach of the Peace
by Michael Bryan Following the Bundgaard domestic violence allegations in the media, and having reviewed the police report, one aspect of this incident confuses me: why was Bundagaard released pursuant to legislative immunity? The Arizona Constitution provides for legislative immunity from arrest for state lawmakers "except treason, felony, and breach of the peace." According to … Read more
AZ Senate Republicans add the “Wisconsin exemption” to anti-union bill
by David Safier You may have read about SB1365, the bill that forbids any automatic salary deductions for union members that can be used for political purposes without the members' express, written permission. It's another obvious attempt to cripple unions' political clout so Republican big money interests can have an unobstructed path to buying power … Read more
Melvin slams home mortgages, car payments, credit cards
by David Safier I think Al Melvin's next bill will be to ban families from spending more than they make. Because he said state budgets have to be like family budgets. “These are difficult times,” said Sen. Al Melvin, R-Tucson. “The state budget is not different than a family budget; you can’t spend more than … Read more
