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June 30, 2015
Report: 51st Legislative Session
Arizona State 2014 Legislative Session by the Numbers First Day of Session: January 13, 2014 Last Day of Session: April 24 at 1:46 a.m. Total Days of Session: 101 days Bills Posted: 1,205 Bills Passed: 303 Bills Vetoed: 25 Bills Signed: 278 Memorials/Resolutions Posted: 113 Memorials/Resolutions Passed: 35 House Demographics: 36 Republicans/24 Democrats Senate Demographics: 17 Republicans/13 Democrats *In the 1st Regular Session, 37 members were either new to the Legislature, changed chambers or returned to the Legislature after having served in the past. Session Statistics: As mentioned above, there were 1,205 bills introduced this session. The legislator with the most bills signed into law was Representative Karen Fann with 16 bills. Representative John Kavanagh, Senator Nancy Barto and Senator Gail Griffin all came in second with 15 bills each being signed into law. A total of 41 legislators had no bills signed into law. In the First Regular Session the Governor Brewer vetoed 26 bills (five of those bills were vetoed during the moratorium the Governor imposed which lasted until Medicaid expansion was passed); this session she has vetoed 25. The more notable vetoes include: SB1062 (exercise of religion; state action) and SB1211 (Mexican wolf; taking; reporting). SB1062, vetoed in February, received international attention and clamor. Signed into law were measures that include making: “revenge porn” a felony; increasing the penalty for pointing a laser at an aircraft from a Class 1 Misdemeanor to a Class 5 Felony. Additionally, optometrists can now prescribe, dispense and administer certain drugs; and trampoline courts must now register with the Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety, have annual inspections and procure insurance of at least $1 million for bodily injury. Regarding attendance, 25 legislators had perfect attendance on the floor. Senator Ed Ableser missed the most days of session – missing 37 of 59 days, with Representative Doris Goodale right behind him missing 38 days. Members Term Limited 2014: Senator Leah Landrum Taylor Representative Chad Campbell Representative John Kavanagh Speaker Andy Tobin And, Governor Jan Brewer Changes in the Chambers: Carlyle Begay filled Senator Jack Jackson, Jr.’s Senate Seat, after Jackson was nominated to become the State Department’s first liaison for Native American affairs. Begay’s appointment to the seat was surrounded by controversy regarding his residency. Albert Hale, a rival for the seat, claimed Begay was actually a resident of Gilbert, AZ, therefore not eligible to fill the District 7 seat. Begay’s attorney argued that the state Constitution does require a candidate to live in the county for a year before being elected, but that does not apply to individuals who are appointed. David Farnsworth filled Rich Crandall’s vacated LD16 Senate seat. Amid controversy and requests from his constituents to do so, Crandall resigned in order to move to Wyoming and become the Director of Department of Education. There was also controversy surrounding Senator Linda Lopez’s resignation. Many of her colleagues accused her of holding onto her seat too long, to gain another year of service in order to pad her retirement benefits. Her resignation was effective on January 13; the first day of the 2nd Regular Session. Her seat was filled […]
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June 30, 2015
Protect Our Water, Our Future
Dear Neighbors, Friends, and Colleagues, We have heard from several members of the community asking for an update on our efforts to stop the risky Florence Copper Project. Please know that although we haven’t had the resources to conduct any community meetings, we have been quite busy with important action items and activities that we hope will stop the mine from moving forward. Most recently, we spent months preparing factual arguments, testimony, and detailed exhibits outlining the incompatibility of the mine with the existing and future residential plans for an administrative legal hearing. We finished the trial in May and submitted our closing arguments this past month opposing the mine and specifically requesting the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) repeal the temporary permit from the state. Thank you to those of you who were able to attend some of the hearing proceedings and others who have requested the transcripts in order to keep up with this complicated process. Now that all arguments have been heard and submitted, we believe we will have another summary due in September, with the expectation that an ultimate decision will be made on the permit in October. This is subject to change, so we will keep you updated with any information we may receive between now and the Fall. We sincerely appreciate the overwhelming opposition to the mine, and all that you have done -and continue to do – to stay engaged in opposing the mine and repealing the temporary permit from the state. We strongly believe that your letters, phone calls, and arguments for the permit to be revoked have made a tremendous impact in this process. Many of you have also contacted us regarding the permit with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We continue to keep the pressure up, requesting EPA’s denial, and we are in contact with key representatives of the department on a weekly basis in order to keep them up to speed and informed. Again, we are hopeful that your numerous calls and letters expressing opposition are making an impact. Thus far, the agency has not made a decision, and unfortunately, we still have no indication as to when they may release an answer. To the best of our ability, we will keep you aware of any movement or answers as we are notified. Finally, we’ve discussed with many of you the latest newsletter released by proponents of the mine. They claim they are addressing “Myths” and “Facts” on the project. Unfortunately, they continue to avoid addressing the FACT that billions of pounds of sulfuric acid that will be injected into the ground; the FACT that the property has never been successfully commercially mined; and the FACT that no in-situ project has never restored groundwater to pre-mining conditions. THESE ARE THE FACTS, no matter what propaganda they choose to distribute. Thank you again for your willingness to support and stand up for the facts, and all of the time and help you’ve extended in our collective efforts to defeat a proposal that is not good for the community, the environment, or our economy. 09/12/2014
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June 30, 2015
A billion tax dollars for one hospital?
There is a stealth campaign afoot in Maricopa County to raise your property taxes. While you have been lulled asleep watching gubernatorial candidates beat the tar out of each other and legislative candidates exclaiming they are the “mostest in the whole wide world” conservative, Maricopa County voters haven’t noticed the BILLION dollar property tax coming their way for Maricopa Integrated Health System. Proposition 480 asks the voters for a 935 million dollar bond. Once you count interest that is roughly around 1.4 billion dollars that only the taxpayers of Maricopa County get to pay over 27 years for one hospital. Although many of my friends are getting paid to pass this bond election, allow me to point to just a few reasons this is a bad idea. One, Arizona just expanded its Medicaid population which was pushed by all the hospitals in Arizona and brings significant revenue to hospitals. Perhaps we should wait until all the evidence is in on how much more money Maricopa Integrated Health Systems has gained before we give them a billion dollars for more government healthcare. Which brings me to point two. Have you seen government run healthcare lately? Ask a veteran how it is working out for them. Three, part of the bond election is to completely demolish the old hospital and build a hospital with less beds. So you want me to spend a billion dollars on a smaller operation? Are you going to reduce the property tax you charge me now since the maintenance and operation of a newer facility should be at a lower cost? Oh, you didn’t know they are already taxing you for the hospital? Yes, that is in addition to the Medicaid expansion money going to them and the disproportionate share (more tax money) already going to them. Four, Maricopa County is the only county in Arizona with a public hospital. Every other county has closed their hospital. Did they know something we didn’t? Are they sending their patients to us and having Maricopa County taxpayers pick up their tab? Look folks, this is a BILLION dollars. The third largest tax increase in Arizona history. Maybe this is worth a little discussion? Interestingly enough, they have been working on this proposal for a year, but reached out to the business community AFTER the language was put on the November ballot. So much for wanting input. Luckily I get to give my input when I vote on Prop 480. 09/12/2014
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