This site aggregates Arizona's political blogs. If you would like to have your blog added to the list, contact site administrator Mark B. Evans at mevans@tucsoncitizen.com.
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For a list of all the blogs aggregated, see below.
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Democrats released today a list of the worst, most extremist bills this session, pointing out where Tea Party lawmakers’ priorities lie.
The bills include the Birther Bill (again), repealing the voter-approved Independent Redistricting Committee, guns on campus, putting a heavily-armed, untrained group of volunteers like the Minutemen on the border, taking money from kids and giving it to millionaires and much more.
IRC SUBMISSION SHORT ON DETAILS OF LEGAL STRUGGLES Nearly one month after adopting final maps, the IRC formally submitted its congressional maps to DOJ late Thursday evening. The submission begins with a 62-page synopsis of the congressional districts, the process used to create the maps and explanations on how the plan and the process satisfy the legal requirements for the commission. The summary paints a more serene picture of the redistricting process than some might reme...
While corporate media minces words, I feel compelled to spell out a bit more of the who, what, when, where, how and why for you. This is nothing less than a complete attack on merit system protections that were enacted to minimize political influence. Merit system personnel rules, for example, minimize risk of regulatory capture.
Consider a hypothetical employee of the state liquor board or the health services or environmental quality departments. She knows her job is t...
In an apparent rules violation, majority Republicans in the Arizona Senate got a closed-door briefing Tuesday on Gov. Jan Brewer’s proposal to change the state government’s personnel system.
Senate President Steve Pierce said the private session was intended partly to reassure Brewer about the status of her plan, which would make it easier to fire workers and have more agency directors serve at the pleasure of the governor.(emphasis mine)
"I blame it on the Independent Redistricting Commission," said House Speaker Andy Tobin tonight when asked by Horizon host Ted Simons about wanting to spend more than $8 million for a special election hoping to have voters ratify his ANDYMANDERING. The epitome of avoiding personal responsibility, Republican Tobin BLAMES his decisions on someone other than himself.
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Tobin's own taxpayer funded political operative John Mills drew the maps in secret -- at Tobin's instruction and with UNfa...
The power of Americans to have a say in how our government conducts itself should not be taken for granted and should not be underestimated.
Consider the following infographic. The need for citizen action is not over and done with. The rights of Arizona workers in every sector are being attacked. ALEC model legislation and ALEC inspired bills are running rampant this year at in this year's regular legislative session.
Ninth Congressional District. No specific information on Cherny's plans is yet available, however. I left him a message this morning to look into the situation.
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The Arizona Democratic Party posted the following letter on its website and facebook page moments ago:
Dear friend:
A year ago, I had the great honor of being elected to lead Arizona’s Democrats. At the urging of many of our state leaders, I agreed to serve for at least a year because a Democratic Party that was flat on its b...
So, apparently acting on his own, keeping his Senate counterpart (and LD1 seat mate) Steve Pierce in the dark, Speaker Andy Tobin introduced a series of bills today to undermine the AIRC maps as well as the commission and process itself.
According to the Yellow Sheet (Jan 27), The IRC has asked for more money to continue operations in the wake of a series of expensive legal battles, but instead received a package of legislation that includes an effort to seek a special election aimed at nulli...
Karyn Lathan will become a Democratic candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives from Chandler.
Right now, Lathan's run is targeted for the existing LD 21 but when the new maps approved by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission are given preclearance by DOJ, her aim will be to represent the voters of the new LD 17.
Says Lathan, "Arizona has been in the grasp of extremism for too long. It is time to bring our legislature back to mainstream."
Kelly's address as listed on DexKnows is in Marana, in what is CD1 on the final Congressional map, but would have been in CD2 pursuant to the changes Stertz try to get.
Kelly, Stertz said, had moved out of state -- because of death threats the FBI considered credible -- and would NOT be running for Congress from Arizona.
This afternoon, two days after Tucson Congresswoman Gabby Giffords announced on YouTube that she would resign her seat, Roll Call reported
Mary Jo Pitzl reported that state Sen. Don Shooter -- chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee -- has decided he would rather not have to deal with those pesky people called citizens, advocates, and voters.
The Senate Appropriations Committee begins work Tuesday on the fiscal 2013 budget, but no public need bother to speak up.
So says committee Chairman Don Shooter, R-Yuma, who is predicting a lickety-split hearing for the hearing that begins at 2 p.m.
Here's some model legislation for you, business lobbyists (and 99 percent-ers)!
Arizona state Rep. Steve Farley (D-LD28) said today:
“This bill keeps our elected officials in line and focused on getting results for Arizona’s families, not for special interests,” said Assistant House Minority Leader Steve Farley, the sponsor of the bill. “It’s high time that transparency becomes a priority down here, and lawmakers work to get the job done, not carry the water for out-of-state corporatio...
Before even sinking one's teeth into the implications and ramifications of the maps, we can start by considering some interesting numbers. On the AIRC website, you'll be able to review statistics on website traffic, email newsletter sign ups, streaming video traffic and miles driven on state motor pool vehicles. These figures give an idea of the amount of interest and citizen participation in the process since it began to gear up in late 2010 (it was a LOT).
In the KPHO CBS 5 video clip, Brewer mouthpiece Matt Benson says it is "important that the people of the State of Arizona own their house of government and that is the Arizona State Capitol..."
I have to wonder, however, which people Mr. Benson is thinking about. First, we now know that early buy b...
Thanks to all from Arizona's 5th who have voiced their concerns over SOPA and PIPA. I oppose this legislation and believe the Internet should remain open.
Comments from Schweikert supporters seem to be over the top, but I'm still glad he has declared, in writing, his opposition to these incredibly dang...
And former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas filed a 91-page closing argument in his disciplinary hearing case, hoping not to get disbarred. Co-defendants in that disciplinary matter, Lisa Aubuchon and Rachel Alexander also filed closing arguments. Each of those documents is (or will shortly be) available for review on the sta...
Partisan sniping as #AIRC nears final vote on maps. Freeman: "This is a Democratic Party map." Stertz: "I feel joy and disgust."
That was a pretty good Stertz quote. Anyway, both of the Republican commissioners spent a good bit of time today putting their partisan perspectives on the record one last time -- at least the last time before they expect the maps to be sent off (to DOJ) for preclearance. To listen to them, one would think they were filled with animosity ...
