Rep. Patterson stripped of committee posts

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

On Sunday, House Speaker Any Tobin stripped Rep. Daniel Patterson of his committee posts. Patterson loses his positions on 2 House committees:

House Speaker Andy Tobin has stripped embattled state Rep. Daniel Patterson, D-Tucson, of his right to serve on legislative committees – at least for the time being.

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The suspension will last until the ethics complaint stemming from allegations of domestic violence is resolved, Tobin said.

The action may be largely symbolic.

This is the last week in this session committees are scheduled to consider legislation. And only one of the two committees on which Patterson serves is set to meet this week.

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[Patterson] was not aware of the suspension until contacted Sunday by Capitol Media Services.

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Tobin acknowledged that the ethics charges, related to an allegation of domestic violence, are unproven. And he said that lawmakers are entitled to a presumption of innocence everyone gets.

But the speaker was unapologetic for his decision. The functioning of the House is his responsibility, Tobin said.

He also brushed aside questions of whether that leaves Patterson's constituents without representation, at least at the committee level.

Despite losing his committee voting rights, Patterson said he does not intend to quit.

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The Ethics Committee takes its first steps Tuesday by deciding how to proceed with the complaint against Patterson filed by fellow Democrats who say there is enough evidence in the domestic-violence allegations to merit action by the full House, regardless of the outcome of the criminal case.

If the committee concludes Patterson acted unethically, it can recommend any penalty from reprimand to expulsion, with the final decision up to the full House.

Given that charges were just filed last week, the Ethics Committee typically delays taking any action so as not to interfere in any ongoing judicial proceeding. But House rules are separate and distinct from the charges filed, so the Ethics Committee technically is not acting on those charges but on the House rules, which is in its exclusive jurisdiction. Since the entire Democratic Caucus has called on Rep. Patterson to resign, I would not be surprised to see the Ethics Committee move forward in this case.

UPDATE: Rep. Patterson has requested a "correction" to this last paragraph:

"[House Minority Leader Chad] Campbell did, but all House Dems have NOT called on me to resign. Signing a complaint is not the same as calling for resignation. Please correct this now. Thanks."

This is a distinction without a difference, Daniel. It is unprecedented that an entire Caucus would request an ethics investigation. And the leader speaks for the Caucus. This is your colleagues' signal to you that they want you to resign. I don't know how they can make this any clearer to you.

And speaking of corrections, it has been brought to my attention that you have been telling anyone who will listen to you in the state of Maricopa that you still have Democratic support in Pima County. You do not have the support of Democratic leadership in Pima County, I can assure you. If it takes a formal resolution of the Pima County Democratic Party calling for your resignation or removal from office, that can be accomplished rather quickly.

My best advice to you is to address the Ethics Committee and to resign. Get your life in order. Your legislative job is not worth this in the big picture of life.