What part did they not understand?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Are you kidding me? The publication by lobbyists and for lobbyists, the Arizona Capitol Times, essentially republished the same trial balloon Constitutional provision raises question of recall reimbursement for Pearce – Arizona Capitol Times first floated by "King" Russell Pearce's buddy Howard Fischer from Capitol Media Services.

I have already posted a full legal analysis shooting down this trial balloon in What the hell is wrong with Howard Fischer?

Stepehen Lemons of the Phoenix New Times picks up my legal analysis in his post, Russell Pearce's Sycophants Try to Score Him Some Free Money from the Taxpayers:

Uncle Russ needs him some free gub'mint cheese. He ain't got a job no more because of them dang liberals, and that cheese will only cost y'all taxpayers $230,000. Plus, the Constitution promises it to him.

Such are the pathetic trial balloons being floated by ex-state Senate President Russell Pearce's sycophants in the media and in the state Legislature.

Such local hacks as Howard Fischer and Republican Legislators like Jack Harper are entertaining the notion that Pearce — having just suffered a humiliating 12-point loss in the Legislative District 18 recall race — is now entitled to recoup personal expenses from his failed campaign.

Um, even though Pearce has incurred no personal expenses: No tabs not picked up by his slavish supporters.

See, Fischer, Harper and other fawning Pearce-worshippers would have us believe that the following passage from the Arizona Constitution translates into Pearce scoring a giganto unearned severance check from the taxpayers:

"The general election laws shall apply to recall elections in so far as applicable. Laws necessary to facilitate the operation of the provisions of this article shall be enacted, including provision for payment by the public treasury of the reasonable special election campaign expenses of such officer."

What does this language actually mean? Though the stewards of our elections have so far been clueless when asked, the pro-Democrat Blog for Arizona applies this Occam's razor:

"If you want to know what it means, look to the implementing statutes at Title 19, Chapter 2, Recall and Advisory Recall, A.R.S. §§19-201 to 19-234.

"A.R.S. §19-208.05 provides for a Special Fund for Reimbursement of County Recorders which covers the expense of validation of signatures and certification of a recall by County Recorders under A.R.S. §19-208.02.

"A.R.S. §19-210 provides for Reimbursement for County Expenses in Conducting Special Recall Election: The political subdivision or district in which a public officer subject to recall serves shall reimburse the county for all expenses incurred in conducting the special recall election.

"Since Legislative District 18 is a state political subdivision, the state of Arizona is to reimburse Maricopa County for "the reasonable special election campaign expenses of such officer," i.e., the Maricopa County Elections Director, not the elected official recalled."

For idiots like Harper and Fischer, however, it means that because Pearce's campaign committee Patriots for Pearce raised nearly $230K, Pearce should be awarded the same amount for being such a lousy state Senate President that he was kicked out of office by the voters of his own district.

I also pointed out that "There is no statutory provision in Title 19 that provides for the award of "campaign expenses" to an elected official who has been subject to a recall. If this was the intent of the legislature, it would have expressly provided for it in the implementing statutes in Title 19. It did not."

Thanks for the shout out Mr. Lemons. You are a far better reporter than these Capitol railbirds who are the guardians of the GOP status quo.

"Occam's razor" — I like it. I prefer to think of it as cutting through the crap to get to the facts of the matter.