Senator Eddie Farnsworth

Boyer Lashes Out at GOP Substitute Bill on Child Sexual Abuse

For the past few years, Senator Paul Boyer has been trying to pass legislation that would lengthen the time that people can come forward to make complaints about past child sexual abuse. Currently, Arizona’s laws favor the sexual predators, not the victims, according to Boyer. Boyer introduced SB1255 to lengthen the time to complain about … Read more

AZ State Rep. Eddie Farnsworth is stonewalling gun safety legislation.

Why is Farnsworth Blocking Support for Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors?

This week, the Arizona legislature passed its 120th day of session, which, as this article from KJZZ, points out, means the legislators might have to start having to start skipping their afternoon lattes, as their per diems have been cut from $60 to $20 for out-of-county legislators and $35 to $10 for those from Maricopa. The per diem cut is meant to be an incentive for legislators to get things wrapped up quickly, but as it stands right now there is no definite end in sight as June is coming quickly on the horizon.

What is causing the holdup? Well, with slim majorities in both houses and a firm commitment to not working in a bipartisan manner and letting Democrats in on negotiations, the Republicans have little margin for disagreement within their own caucus and several Republicans in both houses are unhappy right now and unwilling to sign on to a budget from their leadership.

According to an anonymous source with knowledge of the negotiations, some Senate Republicans are reportedly backing the “Bradley Budget” proposed by Democrat and Senate minority leader David Bradley, while many House Republicans are complaining about being shut out of the process by the small and secretive group working on the House Republican proposal.

In the Senate, one of the Republicans who has been most vocal in his refusal to sign on to the budget is Paul Boyer of LD 20. Boyer has said he won’t vote for any budget until the Senate allows a vote on his bill, SB 1255, which extends the statute of limitations for civil suits by survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Why is this seemingly uncontroversial piece of legislation now threatening the entire budget?

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Vape pens

#AZLeg Hears Competing Bills on Vaping (video)

Vaping is a hot topic in the Arizona Legislature this session. E-cigarettes (also known as nicotine vape pens) are unregulated in Arizona. Nicotine vaping is widespread, and usage is increasing, particularly among youth. Many adults use nicotine vape pens as a way to stop smoking real cigarettes. E-cigarettes don’t have the particulates that tobacco cigarettes … Read more

AZ House vote SB1154

SB1154: Is It a Good Idea to Move #AZ Primary Date? (video)

Voter suppression and unnecessary tinkering with elections have been themes in the Legislature this session. SB1154 was defeated last week but passed the House today on reconsideration. This bill changes the primary date from the end of August to the beginning of August. At first blush, this doesn’t seem to be a very big deal. … Read more