Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Despite the Fiesta Bowl scandal that ensnared over 30 members of the legislature who had to amend their financial disclosures to report trips and tickets for sporting events, no lessons have been learned. There is no mea culpa, no act of contrition. No sense of remorse. No ethics reforms. Tea-Publicans are addicted to lobbyist perks.
The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports AZ Senate rejects new bans on meals, donations | Arizona Capitol Times:
The Arizona Senate is rejecting a series of ethics measures proposed in the wake of the 2011 Fiesta Bowl scandal.
One of the proposals voted down Thursday would have banned lobbyists from giving free meals to legislators. Others would have prohibited campaign contributions by lobbyists to legislators or candidates for the Legislature and barred legislators from accepting free trips or tickets to sports or entertainment events.
The ethics-related proposals were offered by Sen. Steve Gallardo as amendments to an elections bill.
Separate bills on some of the proposals are bottled-up in the Tea-Publican controlled legislature.
UPDATE: The Arizona Republic reports Proposals on Fiesta Bowl issues shot down in Arizona Senate:
Although lawmakers from both parties introduced bills to address some of the problems unearthed by the Fiesta Bowl probe, legislative leaders have not brought any of them forward for a vote. With the Legislature moving toward adjournment soon, Democrats seized on House Bill 2379 to try to tack on their reform measures.
Some of the senators took the Fiesta Bowl sponsored trips and later reimbursed the bowl fully or partially for their game tickets. Here's how the Senate voted on the Gallardo amendment to ban free tickets to special events:
Yes (in support of a ban):
Democrats: Paula Aboud, Tucson;* Olivia Cajero Bedford, Tucson; Steve Gallardo, Phoenix;* Jack Jackson Jr., Window Rock; Leah Landrum Taylor, Phoenix; Linda Lopez, Tucson;* David Lujan, Phoenix;* Robert Meza, Phoenix;* David Schapira, Tempe.
Republicans: Ron Gould, Lake Havasu City; Gail Griffin, Hereford; Michele Reagan, Scottsdale;* Steve Smith, Maricopa.
No (against a ban):
Republicans: Sylvia Allen, Snowflake; Frank Antenori, Tucson; Nancy Barto, Phoenix; Andy Biggs, Gilbert; Judy Burges, Sun City West; Rich Crandall, Mesa; Adam Driggs, Phoenix;* Linda Gray, Glendale; Lori Klein, Anthem; John McComish, Phoenix;* Al Melvin, Tucson; Rick Murphy, Peoria; John Nelson, Litchfield Park; Steve Pierce, Prescott; Don Shooter, Yuma; Steve Yarbrough, Gilbert.
Not voting:
Republican: Jerry Lewis, Mesa.
*Denotes senators who took Fiesta Bowl sponsored trips.
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