Blog For Arizona

Boss Tweed's plan to do away with the civil service merit selection system

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Apparently Jeremy Duda at the Arizona Capitol Times thinks I am overstating the case by giving Jan Brewer the moniker the "Scott Walker of the West" (See The GOP war on organized labor: Jan Brewer's bid to be the Scott Walker of the West begins Wednesday) for the reasons that she has not endorsed the package of anti-union bills, and that the Arizona Police Association, Arizona Fraternal Order of Police and Phoenix Law Enforcement Association endorsed Brewer in 2010, while the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona stayed neutral. Brewer precedent may spell doom for union bills - Arizona Capitol Times.

First, Brewer rarely discloses her position on a bill before the legislature completes its work. Her spokesman's statement on the package of anti-union bills was about laying down a marker for her priority, her so-called "personnel reform," not any opposition to union busting. Boss Tweed: destroy civil service system before destroying public employee unions.

Second, Brewer may show favoritism towards corrections officers, police officers, and firefighters - just as Scott Walker did by exempting them from his collective bargaining bill in Wisconsin - but when push comes to shove against other public sector employee unions the public safety unions will come to the aid of their brothers and sisters just as they did in Wisconsin. They fully understand that if they do not defend these unions they will be next.

As pastor Martin Niemöller observed in "First They Came"..."Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist... Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me."

So if the "Scott Walker of the West" moniker is only a bit premature, there should be no disagreement that the "Boss Tweed" moniker aptly applies to Jan Brewer's so-called "personnel reforms."

Brewer wants to do away with civil service merit selection system protection and return to the political Spoils system of political patronage and the days of Tamanny Hall. Brewer’s personnel plan seeks to ease firing, hiring state workers - Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required):

Gov. Jan Brewer is seeking to fundamentally alter the way state employees are hired, fired and managed.

In short, the governor wants to make it easier for administrators to hire and fire workers.

AIRC Update: The clock is running on new congressional districts

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) says its submission of the congressional map and supporting documentation will start the 60-day period for the Justice Department to either approve or reject the map or request more information. Arizona submits congressional map to US for review - Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required).

The commission says its staff now will focus on preparing the equivalent submission for the state’s new legislative districts. That map will be the subject of its own Department of Justice review.

Update: Downtown developers, 'crony capitalism' and the Arizona legislature's Rio Nuevo Board

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I provided a breakdown of HB2647, a "Rio Nuevo bill" in Downtown developers, 'crony capitalism' and the Arizona legislature's Rio Nuevo Board. It is essentially tax abatement subsidies (incentives) for favored developers in Downtown Tucson.

As I alluded to in the post, the Arizona legislature banned tax abatement subsidies (incentives) for retail development in Maricopa and Pinal counties in July 2007. "Arizona adopted the following law, A.R.S. Sec. 42-6210, which bars municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan region from providing tax breaks or incentives to retail development. The penalty for cities that violate the law is a reduction in the revenue that they receive from the state equal to the amount of the incentive." Bans on Tax Abatements - Arizona | The New Rules Project.

So if our Arizona legislature, a wholly owned subsidiary of business interest lobbyists, felt compelled to ban tax abatement subsidies (incentives) in 2007, why did a House committee of the Arizona legislature approve tax abatement subsidies (incentives) for favored developers in Downtown Tucson? Panel OKs downtown development incentive.

Because, boys and girls, the legislature seized control of the Rio Nuevo Board from the City of Tucson several years ago. This is only different in kind and degree from the state of Michigan's authoritarian "financial martial law" statute under which the state of Michigan has seized control of school boards and towns, and dismissed the duly elected government representatives and replaced them with a state appointed financial manager who exercises absoute power.

Since the Rio Nuevo Board is the only improvement district in Arizona directly under the control of the Arizona legislature, this is special legislation that favors the Arizona legislature's political subdivision, the Rio Nuevo Board, over similarly situated governmental entities,for which the benefits inure to the Board's favored developers in Dowtown Tucson over other similarly situated developers and business owners. The Arizona legislature and favored Downtown Tucson developers are engaged in crony capitalism. This presents a colorable claim for a violation of constitutional equal protection.

And as I said in my previous post:

The problem, however, is that a handful of wealthy Tucson developers can run to our colonial overlords in the Arizona legislature to get what they want, and to disenfranchise the citizens of the colony of Tucson by usurping their right of local control to make these decisions for themselves. Some might call this "crony capitalism." Some might call this "picking winners and losers" in a free market economy. Some might call this a "regulatory burden" and micromanagement of "matters of purely local control."

And they would be the very same Tea-Publican conservatives who level these charges against the federal government asserting "states' rights." It is a different story, however, when Tea-Publicans are engaged in authoritarianism towards the "liberal blue island" of the City of Tucson. Shameless hypocrites.

UPDATE: Moreover the The GOP 'troika' behind Rio Nuevo, Jonathan "Payday" Paton, Jodi Bain and John Munger, have done nothing more than incur millions of dollars in attorneys fees and litigation costs. Rio Nuevo wants talks with Tucson kept secret.

Reminder: Saguaro Eastside Democrats 8th annual 'I Love Liberty Party' Saturday

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

This is the first "must attend" event of the campaign season for candidates running for office in Pima County. This meet & greet is your chance to introduce yourself to Democratic Party activists and donors.

Congressman Grijalva's campaign kickoff announcements

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Arizona: Together We Stand

Friday, February 10th, 6:00pm
San Miguel High School Gymnasium
6601 S. San Fernando Rd.

Stand for families, stand for justice stand for Arizona.

Special Guests: Rep. Grijalva (AZ), Rep. Gutierrez (IL), Rep. Honda (CA)

Sponsored by: Border Action Network, BorderLinks, Coalicion Derechos Humanos, Samaritans, Southside Presbyterian Church

A Whole Lot of People for Grijalva present:

2012 Campaign Kickoff

Sunday, February 19th, 5:30pm
El Casino Ballroom
featuring live music by Los Gallegos!

Join us, and bring your friends and family for a night of FUN, FOOD and FRIENDSHIP in celebration of Raúl Grijalva’s ongoing service to US and our communities.

We can’t kick off Raul’s re-election without you!!

One of our goals this election year is to re-energize and grow our Progressive Democratic base here in Arizona. Through your help and promotion of this event and Raúl’s campaign, you can be instrumental in helping us achieve that goal.

The community and our opponents will be watching. Let’s be loud and clear and send them an unmistakable message. We need your presence to show the depth and strength of Raúl’s support as we launch our next campaign.

Ron Barber for Congress petition walks this weekend

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

It's time to go to work, people! All hands on deck.

Announcement from the Ron Barber for Congress campaign:

Lifelong Tucsonan and longtime staffer to Congresswoman Giffords,Ron Barber has announced that he will run in the special election for Gabby's seat! This is great news for all of us in Southern Arizona and we are excited to help!

We will be meeting at Pima Dems HQ on Saturday at 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturday and then again at 1:00 pm on Sunday to walk neighborhoods throughout the district, collecting signatures to place Ron’s name on the ballot. We will provide food, water and all of the materials you will need – WE JUST NEED YOU!

If you can help us this weekend, please email Ron's campaign at rsvp@ronbarberforcongress.com and let us know:

• Your Name
• Phone Number
• What shifts you're committing to so that we will know how many packets to have ready.

If you cannot make it to one of these walks, you can come by Pima Dems HQ to sign a petition or even to pick up blank petitions to circulate yourself.

We thank Ron for running and we thank YOU for helping out! Please call Pima Dems HQ at 520-326-3716 if you have any questions.

Saturday, February 11th - 9:00am & 1:00pm
Sunday, February 12th - 1:00pm

Pima County Democratic Headquarters
4639 East First Street
520-326-3716

RSVP: rsvp@ronbarberforcongress.com

Tea-Publicans assault the Voter Protection Act

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Speaking of the Voter Protection Act, Prop. 105 (1998), the Tea-Publicans are assaulting this provision, and your rights also. They really don't like citizens passing initiatives telling them what to do. (That's reserved for lobbyists who contribute to their campaigns). Now they want to "sunset" review all citizen initiatives since 1998. Lawmaker: Have voter-approved measures face reauthorization - Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required):

In 1998, Arizona voters decided to bar the Legislature from making changes to initiatives and referendums without a three–quarters vote in each house.

Rep. Chester Crandell, R–Heber has proposed that any voter-approved measure using public funds later face reauthorization votes by the public.

HCR 2005, which would refer the matter to the general election ballot, was scheduled for a hearing Thursday [at 9:00 am.] before the House Judiciary Committee.

* * *

The resolution would require that all voter–approved statewide measures involving money be returned to the ballot after five fiscal years. If voters reauthorize a measure, it would face another vote after six years.

An independent audit report with recommendations would be issued to voters at least 60 days before an election.

Crandell’s measure would cover initiatives and referendums back to 1998. Those already on the books would face reauthorization votes in stages beginning in 2014.

* * *

Zachary A. Smith, a regents’ professor at Northern Arizona University’s Department of Politics and International Affairs, said the underlying purpose of the resolution is persuading voters to overturn measures. It also would hurt the original supporters of a measure because they would have to mount another campaign to defend it, he said.

“The public has voted and decided what they want,” he said. “Now they have to go back and look at it again just because the Legislature doesn’t like it.”

If you have been paying attention, our Tea-Publican legislature is in the process of referring to the ballot this November a repeal of just about every citizens initiative enacted by Arizona voters in the past 20-30 years. They will also refer to the ballot measures making citizens initiatives more difficult to bring in the future.

Under Arizona's Constitution the citizens are a "super legislature" superior to our elected representatives in the state legislature. The citizens have the power to enact their own laws. Our Tea-Publican legislators hate this. This is a power grab by lobbyist-owned legislators that the voters should not enable by sacrificing your rights as citizens of Arizona.

Bills assaulting the AIRC pass senate committee

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The bills assaulting the AIRC that I told you about yesterday breezed through the Senate Government Reform Committee. You're shocked, I'm sure. Redistricting commission repeal clears committee - Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required):

A proposed referral that would ask voters whether they wanted to eliminate the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission took its first step toward the November ballot Wednesday.

The Senate Government Reform Committee approved SCR1035 on a 4-2 party-line vote[.]

* * *

Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs, who sponsored the measure, said . . . “My remedy, what I believe, is you’ve got to blow it up.”

Hmmm, given his testimony before the AIRC last year I am pretty sure he meant this quite literally, not figuratively.

The committee also approved SB1489, which would require the IRC to also draw district lines for counties, cities, school districts and other political subdivisions. [Committee Chairman] Rick Murphy, the bill’s sponsor, said the bill wasn’t entirely symbolic, despite the logistical problems with having the five-member IRC draw lines for hundreds of cities, counties and other entities.

But Murphy said the bill was mostly meant to make a point about the arguments that legislators shouldn’t draw their own districts because they’re driven by self-interest.

“Why do we want that at the city and county level if we don’t want it at the state level? It seems to me if that’s really a problem, if that’s the real reason, either it’s a problem or it’s not. If it’s a problem then we should fix it universally and if it’s not then we should leave it alone universally,” Murphy said after the hearing.

Of course, Lori Klein said “I find it hard to stomach, but given the interesting wisdom in this, I will pass it out of committee.” Interesting wisdom? This guy is throwing a childish temper-tantrum.

SB1489 passed on a 5-1 vote, with Gallardo joining the Republicans. [Whaaa..?] Sen. David Lujan, D-Phoenix, was the only vote against the bill.

But the bill may not get past the full Senate. Because of the Voter Protection Act [Prop. 105 (1998)], the bill will need a three-fourths vote in the Legislature and will have to “further the intent of the voters.”

Ain't gonna happen, making this waste of time an "entirely symbolic" exercise in Tea-Publicans venting about the AIRC again. I do not think Rick Murphy understands the meaning of "entirely symbolic."

Andrei Cherny announces for CD 9

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Email announcement from Andrei Cherny for U.S. Congress:

The promise of America is that if you work hard, you can get ahead.  But today that promise is at risk with families working longer hours and spending less time with their kids, yet still finding themselves stuck in place or falling behind.

That’s why I’m announcing my candidacy for the United States Congress – to save our trampled middle class and renew America’s promise.

We have a Congress that has betrayed the values that have made America great.  We’re not investing enough in education and innovation, we’re rewarding recklessness and greed, and we’re letting irresponsibility in Washington subsidize irresponsibility on Wall Street.  For all the talk that Washington is broken, the truth is that it works great for those with the right connections.  The problem isn’t that Washington’s not working – it’s that it’s not working for us.

If you’ve been waiting to be part of a new kind of politics, and a crusade to save our middle class, I hope you’ll join our people-powered campaign by signing up to volunteer or making a contribution today.  And please watch my short announcement video [below the fold] and forward it on to all those you know who care about America’s future:

Foreclosuregate Update: The banksters of Wall Street win again

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Last week some legal observers thought the 44 50 state mortgage fraud settlement negotiations between the states attorney generals and the banksters of Wall Street might be unraveling.

On Friday, "In the latest of a flurry of under-the-wire lawsuits that seem to conflict with an imminent foreclosure fraud settlement, Eric Schneiderman, the Attorney General of New York and a co-chair of the federal task force looking into the residential mortgage-backed securities market, sued three banks for their use of the MERS electronic registry which resulted in fraudulent foreclosure filings." Schneiderman Sues Three Big Banks, MERS for Deceptive Practices, Illegal Foreclosures | FDL News Desk:

While the foreclosure fraud settlement is not supposed to release MERS claims, this is a significant lawsuit that I don’t think can square with any agreement on a settlement. Schneiderman, like Beau Biden before him, is suing MERS for deceptive practices. Those practices resulted in the creation of falsified foreclosure documents. And he’s suing the banks over the use of those documents. This is the ENTIRE point of a settlement in the foreclosure fraud case. I don’t see how you could bring this case and also agree to a settlement[.]

Today, every state but Oklahoma signed off on the foreclosure fraud settlement agreement letting the banksters of Wall Street off with a slap on the wrist. The amount of the settlement is pennies on the dollar compared to the fraud perpetrated; the settlement does not require disgorgement of ill-gotten gains. It is even fewer pennies on the dollar for the amount of fraud that still exists in the system, i.e., mortgage-backed securities in the derivates "shadow market." Paying a fine is just the "opportunity cost" of doing business. Most offensive, under the settlement "nobody's going to emergency, nobody's going to jail." The banksters of Wall Street win again.

Of course, the corporate media is reporting this story quite differenty. The Washington Post reports Landmark settlement announced on foreclosure, mortgage fraud:

State and federal officials on Thursday announced a settlement of more than $25 billion with five of the nation’s banks over flawed and fraudulent foreclosure practices that affected several million homeowners and became commonplace after the housing boom turned to bust in recent years. It is the largest government-industry settlement in more than a decade.

It aims to help troubled borrowers by requiring the banks to reduce the amount borrowers owe on their mortgages, lowering their interest rates and paying restitution to homeowners who suffered mortgage-related abuses. It will force lenders to revamp how they interact with struggling mortgage holders and bar them from trying to foreclose on borrowers while simultaneously negotiating mortgage modifications.

In addition, firms will have to make sure borrowers have a single point of contact with a lender, rather than being shuttled to different employees with each interaction.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the deal--which he called the largest joint federal-state civil settlement in history[.]

Ron Barber to run in special congressional election for the Giffords seat

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Ron Barber announced to the media that he is running for the Giffords seat in the special congressional election.

Press conference from Ron Barber announcement (highlights):

Congresswoman Giffords asked him to run and he has the full support of Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly.

Barber resigned his congressional staff position on Tuesday and made the commitment to run in the special election on Wednesday.

Barber said there were no preconditions to his entering the race. Barber said that he has made no decision regarding the CD 2 general election race, his focus is only on the special election right now. He said that he would make his decision regarding CD 2 known in the near future.

Some reporters pressed Barber on Matt Heinz having said that he would clear the field if Barber was only running in the special election. Barber was also asked if he ran for the CD 2 general election, did he expect that other Democrats would enter the race to primary him. Barber said that "I am not trying to dodge your questions, but my focus is only on the special election right now." Barber said he would be working events and getting petitions signed this weekend.

Barber was asked about the Giffords "war chest" and whether those funds would be available to him. Barber indicated that he is new at this and did not know all the legal requirements, including FEC regulations involved, but that is something which is being looked at.

Barber was asked about his health. Barber said that his strength and energy have returned and he feels that he is fully capable of performing  the job. He was pressed by a reporter about working half days in his congressional position until he resigned on Tuesday. Barber explained that this did not mean he was not putting in full days with the several other projects to which he is committed, such as the Arizona Centennial and the Fund for Civility.

Barber was asked about the contentiousness of the 2010 race and what he thought this race portends. Barber said he would run a civil campaign. "I believe it was Barry Goldwater who said that we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable."

Barber indicated that he and his family have deep roots here in Southern Arizona. In running for Congress, he would continue Rep. Giffords' commitment to border issues and to veterans issues. He would be a moderate voice in Congress.

David Safier made an audio recording of the press conference and will fill in any details I may have glossed over in these abbreviated highlights.

As the press conference was just getting underway, this email announcement from Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly was received, as I am sure many of you received as well:

First web ad for Matt Heinz

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I happened to catch Rep. Matt Heinz (D-LD 29) in an interview on Wednesday's "MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts," talking about his campaign for the Giffords seat, among other topics. I cannot find the video of this interview to post.

But the first web ad for Matt Heinz is up on YouTube, and is posted below the fold.

Press Conference/Rally For the Recall of Jan Brewer

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I have been hesitant to post about the latest effort to recall our Red Queen, Jan Brewer, not because I disagree with the sentiment but because such a massive undertaking has to be led by a strong organization with a proven track record of success and the ability to raise tons of money in short order for what will be a costly effort. Last year's recall effort was not serious because it entirely lacked this capacity.

A recall is also a distraction that takes volunteers and money away from what I see as far more criticial at this juncture: winning legislative seats, a senate seat, congressional seats, and defeating right-wing measures headed for the ballot in November. Randy Parraz at Citizens for a Better Arizona independently came to the same conclusion.

Nothing personal, but Leonard Clark, a Phoenix area activist, is not the person to be leading a recall effort against Jan Brewer. Mr. Clark has a bad habit of filing recalls against politicians with whom he disagrees that never amount to anything but a statement of protest. (He has also filed a recall against U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, who is not subject to recall and is out the door in January 2013).

That being said, last Friday Leonard Clark filed a recall initiative against Governor Jan Brewer, RC-01-2012. The Committee to Recall Jan Brewer will have until June 2, 2012 to collect 432,021 valid signatures to force a recall election. Click here for full text of initiative: PDF.

A Press conference and rally to recall Jan Brewer is scheduled for this Saturday, February 11, at 10:00 a.m. at Wesley Bolin Plaza (state capitol grounds). The Facebook event announcement is below the fold:

Santorum sweep shatters Romney's 'electability'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Following his win in the Florida primary, the conventional wisdom of the media villagers and Beltway bloviators was that Willard "Mittens" Romney now had a clear path through GOP primaries and caucuses in February on his way to "Super Tuesday" in March, and the GOP nomination.

This is the problem with a corporate media that parrots GOP establishment talking points. Saying it over and over again doesn't make it so. The corporate media's "conventional wisdom" is almost always wrong.

On Tuesday, Rick "man on dog" Santorum swept caucuses in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado (albeit non-binding caucuses). Even without committed delegates, however, Santorum's sweep of caucuses that "front-runner" Romney had been expected to win shatters his "electability" as the GOP nominee.

Romney won Minnesota four years ago. He even had his vanquished opponent, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty "of nuthin'," working the state for him and he got creamed. Pawlenty is finished as a politician. It was another embarrassing loss for "Mittens" in Missouri. And every political pundit had given Romney Colorado in advance based upon the strength of a supposed "Mormon vote," yet he lost Colorado as well. Triple victory for Santorum again upends GOP presidential race - The Washington Post.

"Electability" was the only selling point that Romney had throughout the GOP primary process, that he could claim he is the most electable against President Obama. That is now gone after losing five primary contests, four to Santorum and one to Gingrich. Romney has nothing else to offer Tea-Publican voters who always questioned his conservative credentials in the first place. 

As I have said before, the more voters get to know "Mittens" Romney, the more they do not like him. Greg Sargent has Romney's upside-down negative numbers in Thumbs down for Romney. (See Update below).

Tea-Publicans may now feel liberated to turn to conservative "purity" between Santorum and Gingrich. The GOP establishment is about to go into full panic mode as GOP strategist Steve Schmidt predicted a couple of weeks ago.

Our colonial overlords are trying to subjugate Pima County and steal our water

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

This is the West. Wars are fought over water, even reclaimed water from sewage treatment plants. Every drop of water is more precious than gold.

Which is why the Town of Marana, represented by lobbyist Jonathan "Payday" Paton, has been trying to steal a Pima County sewage treatment plant from Pima County without paying for it. In the old West, this would be a hanging offense.

Today, we are supposed to accept colonial oppression of Baja Arizona by our colonial overlords from the state of Maricopa. Marana gets help from Senate leader in sewer-plant dispute:

State lawmakers' attempts to force Pima County to turn over a sewer plant to Marana are getting more aggressive.

Senate President Steve Pierce has asked Gov. Jan Brewer to issue necessary permits the town has been unable to obtain on its own.

Under what legal authority does our Red Queen, Jan Brewer, have any ability to issue a permit? This is new to me. Executive fiat is not lawful authority.

Pierce has also asked the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to investigate whether the county has the legal authority to operate a sewer system.

Pima county handed over the plant at 14393 W. Luckett Road to Marana last month, but did so under protest, only because the town persuaded the Legislature to pass a new state law that empowered its takeover of the plant. [thanks to lobbying by Jonathan "Payday" Paton]

Pima County has refused to transfer its state and federal permits to the town, saying it cannot because Marana is not a designated management authority under the Clean Water Act. The county is also challenging the constitutionality of the new state law in court.

Pima County is threatening additional legal actions against the town and the state.

Pierce sent a letter to Brewer last week asking her to issue the permits the town needs to run the plant, which serves 1,800 customers on Marana's north side.

* * *

Marana has not signed a contract to pay the county for the outstanding debt on the facility.

"We are very skeptical as to whether Marana will agree to compensate the county for the plant as is required by the very state law that allowed them to take the facility," Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry wrote.

The county spent $23.9 million to build and equip the plant, he said. Under the new state law, Marana needs to pay only the remaining debt, about $18.2 million, over 15 years. A $540,000 principal payment is due July 1.

This matter will be decided in court. The governor and ADEQ should stay the hell out of this, as should Sen. Pierce.

Action Alert: AIRC under assault today in the Senate

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Senate Committee on Government Reform has a long agenda beginning at 9:00 a.m. today, but among the bills under consideration are two bills that are part of the Tea-Publican assault on the Arizona Independent Redistricitng Commission.

SB 1489 would Increase the scope of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission to require the AIRC to draw district lines for all political subdivisions of the state (county, municipal, school districts, etc.) The purpose of this is to create more animosity towards the AIRC by involving it in local redistricitng so that the public is more inclined to repeal the AIRC.

Which is what SCR 1035 proposes to do. Sen. Andy Biggs, who has been an unhinged opponent of the AIRC, is the sponsor. Subject to voter approval of a ballot measure, it would repeal Article IV, Part 2, Section 1 of the Constitution of Arizona relating to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Committee.

The committee hearing begins at 9:00 a.m. in Senate Hearing Room 1, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix.

Purposefully deceptively titled ballot measure to kill Citizens Clean Elections passed in Senate committee

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Jonathan "Payday" Paton is no longer in the legislature, but his No Taxpayer Money for Politicians Group continues his purposefully deceptive attempts to repeal Citizens Clean Elections that began in 2010. Paton thinks the voters are just a bunch of rubes for ever enacting Citizens Clean Elections, and he wants you to repeal it.

On Monday, the latest water-carrier for Paton's jihad against Citizens Clean Elections, Sen. John McComish, introduced SCR1021, a proposed constitutional amendment backed by business interests (Arizona Chamber of Commerce) and influential conservative advocacy groups (Goldwater Institute), purposefully deceptively titled the “No Taxpayer Subsidies for Political Campaigns Act” (remarkably similar to Paton's group). Measure to dismantle Clean Elections moves forward - Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required):

The measure, if sent to the ballot and approved by the public, bans the state or any of its political subdivisions from spending money to fund candidates’ campaigns.

The proposed constitutional amendment additionally prohibits any tax credit or deduction to do the same.

Finally, it precludes governments from assessing taxes, fees or surcharges if they’re used to provide money to candidates.

But much of the debate Monday centered on what the ballot measure should be called.

* * *

[S]upporters of the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Act, which voters approved in 1998, said the proposal to gut it should be called what it seeks to do — a repeal of Arizona’s “clean elections” system.

The public knows the program by that name and giving the proposal another title would be “deceptive,” they said.

But the system’s opponents said taking “clean elections” out of the title would provide a much truer sense of what the system is about.

To them, the program is about subsidizing candidates’ campaigns with taxpayer dollars and calling it “clean elections” is deceptive.

The fight over the measure’s title is important.

It is effectively the start of a public relations war over the 14-year old system, which is widely used by Republicans and Democrats alike.

The ballot measure’s title could spell the difference between success and failure at the ballot box.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the referral by a vote of 6-2.

As expected, the lawmakers on the panel split along party lines. Republicans backed the measure while Democrats opposed it.

The full Senate still needs to debate and vote on the measure. It will pass. The voters need to educate themselves on what this is really all about. Do not be deceived by these charlatans.

California's anti-marriage equality Prop. 8 unconstitutional

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

A 2-1 decision by a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals today held that Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that limited marriage to one man and one woman, violates the U.S. Constitution. Prop. 8: Gay-marriage ban unconstitutional, court rules - latimes.com:

“Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California,” the court said.

The ruling upheld a decision by retired Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who struck down the ballot measure in 2010 after holding an unprecedented trial on the nature of sexual orientation and the history of marriage.

In a separate decision,  the appeals court refused to invalidate Walker’s ruling on the grounds that he should have disclosed he was in a long term same-sex relationship.  Walker, a Republican appointee who is openly gay, said after his ruling  that he had been in a relationship with another man for 10 years. He has never said whether he and partner wished to marry.

DOCUMENT: Read the court's decision

Santa Clara University constitutional law Professor Margaret M. Russell said the ruling overturned Proposition 8 on “the narrowest grounds possible,” which makes it less likely that the U.S. Supreme Court would review it. Prop. 8: Ruling to have limited effect outside California - latimes.com:

“It is very much anchored in the role of Proposition 8 in California’s history,” the professor said, adding that it would have little effect outside of California.

The ruling was based on a 1996 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a Colorado initiative that prevented local governments from passing anti-discrimination ordinances to protect gays and lesbians. Romer v. Evans (1996).

The high court in that case said the federal constitution prevents states from taking away rights from minorities because of moral disapproval.

Don't make any wedding plans just yet. Prop. 8: Gay marriages won’t resume immediately in California - latimes.com:

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals left in place a stay on the ruling, which had been issued by a lower federal court, to prevent the resumption of same-sex marriages as the case works its way through the appeals process.

ProtectMarriage, the group that sponsored Proposition 8, said it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Yet another example of lobbyists and legislators restricting the rights of citizens

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Founding Fathers of Arizona were progressive populists. They included in the Arizona Constitution three progressive era rights of citizens: initiative, referendum, and recall. These rights were to protect the citizens against the abuses by state legislators controled by powerful lobbyist interests.

There are a number of bills in the legislature this session which seek to restrict and limit these rights of citizens in favor of legislators controled by powerful lobbyist interests. In this, our Centennial year as a state, our Tea-Publican legislature rejects and seeks to reverse Arizona's progressive populist heritage.

One such bill is a legislative proposed referendum to severely limit the ability of Arizona citizens to enact new revenue sources for such things as education and health care that our ideological Tea-Publican legislature routinely underfunds in their desire to shred the "socialist" safety net of the "entitlement society."

Arizonans have routinely approved new taxes and spending for education and health care by citizen initiatives every time such initiatives have appeared on the ballot. It is how the citizens of Arizona correct the ideological extremism of our Tea-Publican legislature.

So now our Tea-Publican legislature wants to impose a two-thirds super-majority requirement on citizen initiatives which seek to enact new revenue sources for such things as education and health care. Because a simple majority vote, the foundation of our democratic Republic, apparently no longer is good enough when it comes to taxes.

"The first principle of republicanism is that the lex majoris partis is the fundamental law of every society of individuals of equal rights; to consider the will of the society enounced by the majority of a single vote as sacred as if unanimous is the first of all lessons in importance, yet the last which is thoroughly learnt. This law once disregarded, no other remains but that of force, which ends necessarily in military despotism." --Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, 1817.

Rep. David Stevens, R-Sierra Vista, is sponsoring legislation that would require any sort of tax hike to receive the approval of two-thirds of voters in order to be enacted. Referendum would raise the bar on raising taxes - Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required):

He says the change proposed by HCR2043 is necessary to keep a small minority of voters influenced by special interest groups from rubber-stamping a tax hike on everyone.

Really? What Rep. Stevens actually proposes is a minority veto power, a "tyranny of the minority."

Guns at swimming pools? Seriously?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

"Is that a handgun tucked in your Speedo? Or are you just really happy to see me big boy!"

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday passed a bill that would loosen restrictions on carrying guns in public buildings, including city halls, libraries and municipal swimming pools.

Jaws was just a movie you idiot. That's not a shark, it's just a fat kid with a snorkel. Geezus! What kind of "afraid of his own shadow" freak needs to pack heat in his Speedo at the swimming pool? Get some psychiatric help already for your irrational fears and phobias, will ya?

Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, who sponsored one of the other bills, admitted the gun bills still need some work. "There are government facilities that need to be secured, but does the swimming pool need to be secured?" Gould asked. "I would argue probably not."

Behind every silver lining is a dark cloud

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

If you listen to Willard "Mittens" Romney and the rest of the GOP presidential field, their talking points are that the economic recovery would be doing better if not for President Obama's interventionist economic policies (which began under George W. Bush in late 2008 by the way).

It is important to keep in mind that these Tea-Publicans are all true believers in the "invisible hand" of the freee market place. What they are really saying is that the economy should have been left alone to sink into a Great Depression and the "creative destruction" of a depression would have cleaned out the inefficiencies in our economy. The human cost and destruction of lives be damned.

This is not new. It is as old as Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon's "liquidationist thesis": Andrew Mellon advised President Hoover to “Liquidate labor, liquidate stocks, liquidate the farmers, liquidate real estate.”

Here's the full quote from President Herbert Hoover on the advice given to him by Mellon:

...the “leave it alone liquidationists” headed by [my] Secretary of the Treasury Mellon, who felt that government must keep its hands off and let the slump liquidate itself. Mr. Mellon had only one formula: “Liquidate labor, liquidate stocks, liquidate the farmers, liquidate real estate.” He insisted that, when the people get an inflation brainstorm, the only way to get it out of their blood is to let it collapse. He held that even a panic was not altogether a bad thing. He said: “It will purge the rottenness out of the system. High costs of living and high living will come down. People will work harder, live a more moral life. Values will be adjusted, and enterprising people will pick up the wrecks from less competent people”... (Source: U.C. Berkeley Economist Brad De Long).

* * *

In some ways Andrew Mellon's failed approach resembles the IMF austerity programmes after the 1997 Asian economic crisis that economist Joseph Stiglitz criticized so vehemently in his book Globalization and its Discontents (2002).

It is also the IMF and European Union austerity programmes being put in place today in response to the Euro Crisis that will lead to recession this year -- some warn depression -- in Europe.

Best Superbowl Ad

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

My team was not playing in the Superbowl once again this year, so I was not emotionally invested in either team. Despite a close game I thought the game was a little boring, at least until late in the fourth quarter.

Congratulations to Eli Manning and the New York Giants. Giants fans will be insufferable at least until next September.

Madonna is always worth the price of admission, she knows how to put on a show and she delivered with her Cecil B. DeMille cast of thousands Hollywood extravaganza halftime show.

But what about the battle of the Superbowl ads? No contest. Best Superbowl ad goes to Clint Eastwood and Chrysler for its "imported from Detroit" ad, "It's Halftime in America" (below the fold. The NFL is pulling down YouTube posts of this ad for copyright, so catch it while you can). I stood up and cheered. Well done, sir.

And for true sports fans, "pitchers and catchers report" (the four sweetest words in the English language) on February 17 for the Oakland A's and Seattle Mariners, and February 19 for all other teams. Full squads report on February 24.

It's 'Guns on Campus - and Everywhere Else Week' at the Lege

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Our Tea-Publican legislature has been using "theme" weeks for legislative initiatives. Last week it was "Destroy Public Employee Unions Week." And as Craig McDermott pointed out in his "This Week" post, this week is "Guns on Campus - and Everywhere Else Week":

Monday at 2 p.m. or upon adjournment of the floor session, Judiciary will meet in SHR1. The nastiest agenda of the week. Up for consideration: SB1304, removing the ability of counties and municipalities to pass laws restricting or barring the discharge of firearms within a quarter mile of an occupied structure (you know, like a house); SB1448, making is OK to pack heat in a public building if access to that building is not restricted by a cop or security guard; SB1474, the annual "guns in schools" bill; SB1479, a bill with too many provisions to summarize quickly here, but it's another in the pro-gun/anti-society group of gun bills this year[.]

* * *

Wednesday at 9 a.m., Military Affairs and Public Safety will meet in HHR3. Up for consideration: HB2728, allowing the use of silencers while hunting. I'd make another "jackrabbits" wisecrack, but combined with the "limitless" magazines bill above, the cynic in me thinks that the intended prey for these hunters is a little browner and a lot taller than the average jackrabbit. And that isn't something to joke about.

Tucson has had enough of crazy people with easy access to guns. 4 Dead In Univ. Of Arizona Shooting (October 2002), and of course the mass shooting on January 8, 2011. Is making these kinds of incidents more likely to occur a rational, responsible policy? I think not.

The president of the University of Arizona is voicing opposition to a bill allowing guns on state university campuses. Eugene Sander says bringing guns on campus creates enormous problems for law enforcement. UA president opposes campus guns bill - Arizona Capitol Times

Sander added the Tucson school would be required to spend thousands of dollars to install gun lockers in buildings, an expenditure that Sander says is misguided.

Hmmm, sounds an awful lot like those "unecessary government regulations" that drive up the cost of doing business that Tea-Publicans are always whining about, doesn't it? And this would cost taxpayers money just to humor the "happiness is a warm gun" crowd. Why not charge gunowners a user fee and let them pay for it? Typical Tea-Publicans: always making demands without having to pay for it (unfunded mandates). Deadbeats!

Comedian Daniel Tosh of Tosh.0 on Comedy Central offered a unique perspective on this issue recently in this video "Web Redemption - I Just Shot Myself - Uncensored" (NWS) below the fold: "Anything Arizona is in favor of is probably bad for America."

Terri Proud and 'tyranny of the minority'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

While we're on the subject of our colonial overlords in the Arizona legislature disenfranchising the citizens of Baja Arizona and usurping our rights of local control, the Arizona Daily Star today has an editorial opinion taking our colonial overlords to task. GOP bill sidelining Huckelberry unfair to 89% of voters:

In their efforts to take power from Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry - a man they truly, deeply don't like - nine Southern Arizona Republican legislators have proposed a law that is grossly unfair to taxpayers in the city of Tucson and unincorporated Pima County.

The county currently has a 25-member bond advisory committee. Each of the five elected county supervisors appoints three members; the five incorporated cities each name one; the two Indian nations each select one; and administrator Huckelberry chooses three.

The committee makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors about what bond projects it should ask voters to approve.

The proposed legislation would replace this 25-member group with a six-person committee: one each representing the city of Tucson, unincorporated Pima County, Oro Valley, Marana, Sahuarita and South Tucson.

A majority would give proposed bond projects a thumb's up or down. If it said "yes," voters would still have the final say.

A huge problem with the legislation is that it would give equal power to the representative from South Tucson, which has 5,000 residents, and the member from Tucson, which has 520,000 people.

Indeed, the four small jurisdictions - South Tucson, Sahuarita, Marana and Oro Valley - with a combined population of 105,000, could form a majority and outvote the two people who represent the 870,000 residents of Tucson and unincorporated Pima County.

That's hugely unfair.

Downtown developers, 'crony capitalism' and the Arizona legislature's Rio Nuevo Board

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Craig McDermott included in his "This Week" post at the legislature this heads up:

"Thursday at 9 a.m., Technology and Infrastructure will meet in HHR1. On the agenda: HB2647, a Rio Nuevo bill..."

Here is the explanation. A group of Downtown Tucson developers and business interests wants the Arizona legislature to make big changes to Rio Nuevo, including a change that could guarantee them financial relief for future projects. Businesses press lawmakers to make Rio Nuevo changes:

Fletcher McCusker, one of the key promoters of downtown redevelopment, is unofficially calling the effort the "Downtown Tucson Initiative."

* * *

Backers said the key to righting the scandal-ridden project hinges on several items:

• Creating incentives for developers to build within the district - potentially waiving development fees, eliminating impact fees, abating property taxes or allowing developers to keep sales taxes collected by their business for five to 10 years.

• Expanding the authority of the Rio Nuevo Board, which can only spend money on a convention center and the as-yet-economically-infeasible convention hotel.

• Streamlining the regulatory burden on developers, to provide more clarity in obtaining building permits.

• Building more accountability and standardization into procurement.

McCusker, whose backers include Jim Horvath, Buzz Isaacson, Kevin Madden, Don Martin and Scott Stiteler, said he fears that with the Rio Nuevo Board and city of Tucson at an impasse and threatening to meet in court, some legislators might decide to pull the plug on the project altogether. This would be a way to show the project still retains support and could get back on track, he said.

* * *

McCusker said he doesn't believe the effort is stepping on any toes, since it's going to need backing from both the Rio Nuevo Board and the city to get through the legislative process.

Political Calendar: Week of February 5, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Political Calendar is posted on Sundays. Please send us notice of your political events prior to the Sunday before your event (7 days would be most helpful). See the calendar icon in the right-hand column of the blog page for easy access to the calendar.

SPECIAL ELECTION DEADLINES

• Candidate nomination petitions are due Monday, February 27, 2012 by 5:00 p.m.
• Legal challenges to candidate nomination petitions must be filed by Monday, March 5, 2012.
• Early ballot voting begins Monday, April 2, 2012. (15 days)
• Party primaries Primary Day is Tuesday, April 17, 2012.
• Early ballot voting begins Tuesday, May 29 , 2012. (15 days)
• Candidate nomination petitions for the general election are due Wednesday, May 30, 2012 by 5:00 p.m. (prior to the Special Election)
• Normal statutory rules for legal challenges to candidate nomination petitions apply to general election.
• 'Special' Election Day is Tuesday, June 12, 2012.

We Are Listening in 2012! Campaigns are encouraged to submit notices of campaign events to BforAZ at BlogForArizona@gmail.com.

Political Calendar For The Week of February 5, 2012

Sundays, 6:00 p.m.: Drinking Liberally, at The Shanty, 401 E. 9th Street (at 4th Avenue). An informal, inclusive progressive social group, and lively discussion. Contact: www.livingliberallytucson.org.

Sunday, February 5, 3:00 p.m.: Tanque Verde Valley Democrats meeting, at the Kirk-Bear Canyon Library, 8959 E. Tanque Verde Road (Tucson). Featured speaker is U.S. Senate candidate former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona. The Club invites our fellow Democrats to join us for this occasion. For more information please contact info@tanqueverdedems.org or visit our website. They promise you will be home in time for kickoff of the Superbowl.

Monday, February 6, Noon: Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon, Dragon's View Restaurant (400 N. Bonita, South of St. Mary's Road between the Freeway and Grande Avenue, turn South at Furr's Cafeteria), buffet lunch costs $8.50. Featured speakers are Pat Fleming, candidate for LD 25 (New LD 14) Senate, and Mohur Sarah Sidhwa, candidate for LD 28 (new LD 9) House. Visit DGT's web site at www.tucsondemocrats.org. Next Week: David Bradley, candidate for LD 28 (new LD 10) Senate.

Cartoon of The Week

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Ann Richards, Governor of Texas, in her 1988 Democratic National Convention keynote address: "Poor George, he can't help it — he was born with a silver foot in his mouth." (said with a smile as big as Texas and a twinkle in her eye). I miss her and Miss Molly Ivins. We could use their wit and wisdom today.

The latest on the Giffords seat special election

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

First the Democratic side of the ledger, because really folks, that's what matters.

Friend of Blog for Arizona Carolyn Classen was kind enough to forward a copy of a Yellow Sheet Report (ungodly expensive subscription gossip rag), captioned: Giffords Set to Endorse Barber:

Multiple sources say that Giffords’ advisors held a conference call this afternoon to discuss what role she would play in the special election to replace her, and one source with knowledge of the conversation said Giffords is prepared to throw her support behind longtime aide Ron Barber to fill out her term.

However, her endorsement hinges on Barber entering the race, a decision the source said he will make by Monday. “If he decides to run, [Giffords and her team] will endorse him,” the source said.

If Barber, who reportedly is still unable to work full days because of his recovery from being shot in the same attack that wounded Giffords, opts not to run, the source said there is “no backup plan” and the congresswoman would not issue an endorsement.

I just came from a meeting of Legislative District 30 Democrats at which Rep. Steve Farley (D-LD 28) was the featured speaker. Rep. Farley informed Democrats that the report above is the current status for Democrats -- Ron Barber is considering whether to run as a caretaker for the Giffords seat in the CD 8 special election.

Saguaro Eastside Democrats 8th Annual 'I Love Liberty' Party

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

This is the first "must attend" event of the campaign season for candidates running for office in Pima County. This meet & greet is your chance to introduce yourself to Democratic Party activists and donors.

Time for unions to stand united against this assault on working people

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Police and fire unions have, for various reasons, supported and endorsed Republican candidates and causes over the years. This often put them at odds with other public sector unions and trade unions.

Some of the teachers unions have endorsed Republican candidates on the specious grounds that it is a Republican dominated district and they wanted to establish good will with some Republicans in the legislature. How has that plan worked out for you?

All of these public sector unions should take note of the condescension towards you from Sen. Rick Murphy, the lead sponsor of the four anti-union bills passed in the committee he chairs this week. Anti-union Sen. Rick Murphy and his union ties (subscription required):

A review of Murphy’s campaign finance records shows he started accepting union contributions in 2005, which was his first year at the state Capitol.

Murphy, who unveiled a package of anti-union bills this week, said Thursday that he takes donations from most groups because, “it always takes money to get elected.”

“If my opponents are willing to waste their money on me then why should I stop them,” Murphy said. “If anything, this demonstrates good ethics because if I took the money and sabotaged these bills that would be questionable.”

Time for Police, Fire and Teacher unions to lock arms with your brothers and sisters in other unions and to stand united against this assault on working people and the American middle-class.

h/t graphic The Arizona Capitol Times

SCOTUS to hear SB 1070 appeal on April 25

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

From SCOTUSblog.com April arguments:

The Supreme Court will conclude its oral arguments for the current Term with the major case on a state’s power to pass laws to control undocumented immigrants living in the state — Arizona v. United States (docket 11-182) — on April 25.  

11-182 — Arizona v. United States  — constitutionality of state laws seeking to control the everyday work and movement of undocumented immigrants living within the state.

The case will be heard by eight Justices. Justice Elena Kagan has recused herself due to her work as Solicitor General of the U.S. when this case was in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mark your calendars. A decision is likely to be announced the last week of June.

Court strikes down the Arizona Republic's pension reforms as unconstitutional

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

This week our Tea-Publican Arizona legislature launched an assault to destroy public sector unions in Arizona, led by the Goldwater Institute.

But before this assault on working people and the American middle-class came the "softening up" phase, the assault on state employee pensions.

The assault began with a series of "investigative" reports in the Arizona Republic in the fall of 2010 that relied heavily on the biased research of the Goldwater Institute and quoted liberally from Goldwater spokesmen. The Republic has a long and sordid history of anti-unionism. The editorial staff of the Arizona Republic pressed the legislature for state pension reforms.

The Tea-Publican legislature, citing the Arizona Republic's "Investigative" (sic) report, which was really nothing more than restated Goldwater Insititute research, took up state pension reforms in 2011.

Both our Tea-Publican legislators and editors of the Arizona Republic continued to press for pension reforms even in the face of well-reasoned legal arguments that it violated an express provision of the Arizona Constitution and contract law (impairment of contracts), and I would argue violated the fiduciary obligations of the pension fund manager (Arizona) to the fund beneficiaries. Our Tea-Publican legislature adopted the state pension reforms argued for by the Arizona Republic as proxy for the Goldwater Institute.

Multiple lawsuits were filed and immediately things did not go as planned for our Tea-Publican legislature.

LD 30 Boot Stompin' Red Hot Chili Lovers Cook-Off!

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

  

 You are cordially invited to the AZ LD 30

  

"Boot Stompin' Red Hot 

Chili Lovers Cook-off!"
   

Saturday, February 25^th

12:00 - 2:00 PM

Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson

4831 E. 22^nd St.

Tucson, AZ 85711

 

Master of Ceremonies:

Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild

 

Celebrity judging panel:

Cheryl Cage, Linda McNulty, Jeff Rogers, John C. Scott

 

 Prices awarded for:

 Best Beef or Pork Chili, Best Turkey or Chicken Chili, Best Vegetarian Chili

 

Ticket Prices - includes chili samples and soft drinks:

Contestant $10

Attendee $20 in advance, $25 at the door

Kids under 12 free admission

 

To purchase tickets contact:

Paul Olson at 520.358.9779 or paul@vantagepointrealty.com

 

To obtain tickets, entry form and contest rules contact:

Jen Prileson at 520.299.2317 or jenprileson@earthlink.net

 

 

Best monthly jobs report since the Great Recession began four years ago

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Steve Benen has left the Political Animal blog at the Washington Monthly for a gig as a producer of the Rachel Maddow Show. He is still blogging at the Rachel Maddow Blog. And that's a good thing because I rely on him for the monthly jobs charts. Despite ominous signs of recession in Europe due to misguided "austerity" economics, the American economy continues to show signs of recovery. The Maddow Blog - Job growth picks up steam, reaches 2-year high:

Expectations for today's new jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics were modest, at best.

The nation did much better than that, adding 243,000 jobs in January, as the overall unemployment rate dropped to 8.3%. The job totals are the best we've seen in two years, and the jobless rate has reached its lowest level in three years.

As is always the case, there was a gap between the private and public sectors. Businesses added 257,000 jobs last month, while [state and local] budget cuts forced the public sector to shed another 14,000 jobs.

[I]t's hard not to feel good about the surprising strength of this new report. After years of jobs reports that were only considered encouraging when compared to where we've been, January's total is objectively good news. Indeed, this is one of the best -- if not the very best -- jobs reports since the recession began four years ago.

In terms of revisions, the job numbers for November and December were better than previously reported. Today, the BLS also released revised totals for every month in the previous calendar year, and those revisions are reflected below.

We now know, in 2011, the economy added 1.8 million jobs, which obviously isn't good enough, but it was still the strongest year for job creation since 2006. We've also seen the economy add over 900,000 jobs in just the last five months.

And with that, here's the homemade chart I run on the first Friday of every month, showing monthly job losses since the start of the Great Recession.

Here's another chart, this one showing monthly job losses/gains in just the private sector since the start of the Great Recession. Note: these reflect the revised BLS data for all of 2011.

Note that this chart demonstrates 23 consecutive months of private sector job growth.

One has to suspend reality and live in an alternate universe to believe the GOP candidates for president, in particular Willard "mittens" Romney who continues to insist that President Obama's economic policies have "made it worse."

Here's another Benen chart showing economic growth by quarter since the start of the Great Recession.

The question reporters should pose to "Mittens" Romney is simple: In what universe did Obama make the recession "worse"?

The Scott Walker and Goldwater Institute connection: the 'Kochtopus'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

John Nichols of The Nation was a guest on MSNBC's The Ed Show Thursday night to discuss his report on the connection between the Goldwater Institute, ALEC, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, Arizona Tea-Publicans and the billionaire bastard Koch brothers. How Scott Walker and ALEC Plotted the Attack on Arizona's Unions | The Nation:

Two days after Ohio voters overwhelmingly rejected Governor John Kasich’s anti-labor agenda by a sixty-one to thirty-nine margin in a statewide referendum, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker jetted to Arizona to launch the next front in the national campaign to attack union rights.

After meeting with former Vice President Dan Quayle, Walker was whisked over to the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, where he briefed a thousand Arizona conservatives on how they could attack “the big-government union bosses.”

“We need to make big, fundamental, permanent structural changes. It’s why we did what we did in Wisconsin,” declared Walker, who at the annual dinner of the right-wing Goldwater Institute said that compromising with unions was “bogus.”

Comparing governors who have been attacking the collective-bargaining rights of public employees with the founders of the American experiment—“just like that group that gathered in Philadelphia”—Walker told his listeners: “We need to have leaders not just in Wisconsin but here in Arizona…”

If anyone missed the point, Walker said: “Tonight, you might say I’m preaching to the choir with a bunch of fellow conservatives.… I preach to the choir because I want the choir to sing. So tonight I’m asking you to sing. Tell the message in Arizona and all across America that we can do things better.”

Action Alert: Rally Against Anti-Worker Bills Today!

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Please join the Pima Area Labor Federation (PALF), AFSCME, CWA Local 7000 and community supporters to stand up to the attacks on union members and their families.

WHAT: Rally Against Anti-Worker Bills
WHEN: Friday, February 3, 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: In front of the AZ State Building in downtown Tucson, 400 W. Congress Street
SPONSOR: Pima Area Labor Federation

Friends of the Pima Area Labor Federation

Boss Tweed: destroy civil service system before destroying public employee unions

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Senate Committee on Government Reform approved four anti-worker bills on Wednesday on a party-line vote, bills that were introduced only on Monday by its chair, Sen. Rick Murphy, R-Glendale, and fast-tracked for swift passage in the Senate to limit public testimony and to not leave enough time for public opposition to build against these bills as occurred in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.

The four bills approved are:

SB 1484   Paycheck Deductions

SB 1485  Unions; Public Employees; Prohibitions

SB 1486  Public Employees; Activities; Unions; Compensation

SB 1487  Government Employees; Union Dues; Withholding

These bills were to be fast-tracked for a full Senate vote next week.

But Gov. Jan Brewer, aka "Boss Tweed," wants her bill to destroy the civil service merit selection system acted upon first before our Tea-Publican legislature destroys public employee unions. And for this we are to be grateful? Brewer's ultimatum: State personnel reform or no union-busting bills - East Valley Tribune:

Gov. Jan Brewer is threatening to veto some union-busting bills unless lawmakers first give her what she wants: reform of the state personnel system.

And even then, she's not promising to sign anything.

President Obama on his housing plan

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

President Obama has a "My Turn" guest opinion in the Arizona Republic today, Obama: Housing plan will boost economy:

In my State of the Union Address, I laid out a blueprint for an economy that's built to last -- an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers and a renewal of American values of fairness and responsibility.

Over the past decade we strayed from those values and we saw what happened. Millions of families who did the right thing were hurt when the massive housing bubble burst. Folks who shopped for a home they could afford, secured a mortgage and made their payments each month were hurt by those who weren't playing by the same rules.

Lenders who sold loans to people who couldn't afford them, buyers who bought homes they knew they couldn't afford and banks that packaged and traded bad mortgages to reap phantom profits.

These actions triggered the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes and the housing crisis remains the single biggest drag on our recovery.

It will take more time than any of us would like for the housing market to fully recover from this crisis, and government certainly can't fix the entire problem on its own.

However, it is wrong for anybody to suggest that the only option for struggling, responsible homeowners is to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom. I refuse to accept that, and so do the American people.

This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class and this housing crisis struck right at the heart of what it means to be middle class in America: owning a home. Homes are where we invest our nest egg, where we raise our family, where we plant roots in a community and build our memories.

The housing plan we launched a couple years ago has helped nearly 1 million responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages and save an average of $300 each month. But even with rates at historic lows, too many families are underwater and unable to refinance.

There are more than 10 million homeowners across the country right now who, because of an unprecedented decline in home prices, owe more on their mortgage than their homes are worth.

For those responsible homeowners, there are actions we can take right now to provide some relief.

President Obama unveils the Homeowner Bill of Rights housing plan

Posted By azBlueMeanie:

President Obama on Wednesday proposed a "Homeowner Bill of Rights" that would fundamentally change the way houses are bought, sold and refinanced in an effort to stabilize the nation's ailing housing system. Obama unveils plan on housing:

One immediate goal of the so-called Homeowner Bill of Rights is to enable more borrowers to refinance, reduce their monthly payments or pay off their loans sooner, rebuilding equity lost in the housing crash.

The legislation announced Wednesday also would create a standardized system for mortgage applications and would expand bulk sales of government-owned foreclosure homes to investors, with the goal of decreasing the number of empty homes.

The bill would expand on a refinancing plan announced in October. That plan directed federal mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to allow refinancing for mortgage-holders even if their homes are underwater by any amount. But the plan could not be offered to homeowners with mortgages privately held by banks. The new legislation would allow those homeowners to refinance as well, with the associated costs covered by a fee on major lenders.

Nearly 3.5 million U.S. homeowners with private mortgages, who owe more than their houses are now worth, could be eligible if the legislation passes.

Romney's 'Mr. Potter Plan' to get rich on foreclosures (reposted/updated)

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Last week Willard "Mittens" Romney told underwater homeowners in Florida, "Well, the banks aren't bad people. They're just overwhelmed right now." "The banks are scared to death, of course," he said. "They're feeling the same thing that you're feeling..." Daily Kos: Mitt Romney wants you to know that banks are 'feeling the same thing that you're feeling'.

This comment is not only wrong – it’s wildly out of touch with the millions of hardworking Americans who are struggling to hold onto their homes.  If you’re a homeowner in this country trying to make ends meet, "Mittens" Romney has four simple words for you: "you’re on your own" (George W. Bush's "ownership society").

The "Survivor - GOP Presidential Primary" now turns to the GOP caucus in Nevada, the state with the nation's highest foreclosure rate. So I will repost what "Mittens" Romney told the Las Vegas Review-Journal last October in an interview regarding his solution to the Foreclosuregate scandal.

(Repost)

December 2007: Solving the Mortgage Crisis May Require a Guardian Angel - New York Times:

I knew it was the Christmas season. There on television was Henry F. Potter, the mean banker, quizzing Pa Bailey, the idealist from the building and loan society.

“Have you put any real pressure on these people of yours to pay those mortgages?”

“Times are bad, Mr. Potter. A lot of these people are out of work.”

“Then foreclose!”

“I can’t do that. These families have children.”

“They’re not my children.”

September 2011: Willard "Mittens" Romney channels the spirit of Mr. Potter. Romney told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the problem in housing is that banks haven't been allowed to foreclose on enough people, making it more difficult for investors, i.e., creditors - the rentier class in classic usage (see Robert Kuttner, Debtors' Prison) - to buy up underpriced properties and rent them back to the former owners. Daily Kos: Romney’s housing plan: 'Allow investors to buy up homes' by accelerating foreclosure process:

Arizona: Worse than Wisconsin - Fight Back!

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Senate Minority Leader David Shapira was a guest on The Ed Show on Wednesday night, discussing Governor Jan Brewer and her Tea-Publican legislature's full-scale assault on public employee unions and workers rights in the Arizona legislature this week. These bills would make Arizona the most anti-union, anti-worker's rights state in the union. And it is all being coordinated by the Goldwater institute, the corporate funded ALEC partner.

Sen. Shapira has set up the web page solidarity.az.org at Stand up for the Middle Class - David Schapira for Congress for a petition (look for the logo below) that you can sign and to receive updates on these draconian bills to allow you to make public comments on these bills -- not that our super-majority Tea-Publican legislature gives a damn what you or anyone else thinks. This is Tea-Publican tyranny, and they must all be removed from office.

I have never seen a people more apathetic and resigned to accepting abuse than Arizonans. What the hell is wrong with you people? Our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana have stood up and turned out hundreds of thousands of protestors into the streets to fight back against the Tea-Publican tyranny. They have defeated Gov. Kasich in Ohio and they are about to recall Gov. Walker and Tea-Publican senators in Wisconsin. What's it going to take for Arizonans to slip off your shackles and to stop bowing your heads in defeat and to stand up and Fight Back! Take back our state!

Video below the fold.

Lies, damn lies, and the Goldwater Institute

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The lobbyists from the Golwater Institute will testify on Thursday about how public sector employees are paid more than their private sector counterparts. This is something that FAUX News Fraudcasting has been laying the groundwork for since early 2011. This claim has been refuted by several studies over the past year.

Just last week, the Arizona Republic reported Study compares pay, benefits of workers in Phoenix sectors:

A study Phoenix commissioned to settle disputes over public-employee compensation shows city workers earn slightly more in total pay and benefits than a combined average of competitive peers in both the public and private sectors.

But when benefits are stripped from the equation, Phoenix workers make far less in base pay compared with private sector entities and about the same as local public-sector peers.

The findings are contained in a study from the Segal Group that the Phoenix City Council will review today. Phoenix paid $430,000 for the 300-plus page report, and there is already disagreement about what the report says.

* * *

The study, released recently, based its findings on data averaging information from both the private and public sector. Cities used in the study for comparison included San Diego, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Houston.

Locally, most major cities in Maricopa County were included along with data on state employees. Private-sector information came from published databases and a survey of seven local companies or utilities.

The study shows Phoenix is roughly competitive with the public sector and 19 percentage points below market compared with the private sector when it comes to base salary. The report based its findings on the city's current labor contracts, which included a 1 percent wage cut that has been in place for two consecutive fiscal years.

[Compared with the private sector alone, total compensation for Phoenix employees is barely at market.]

'Mittens' Romney: 'I'm not concerned about the very poor'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

"Mr .006 percent," vulture capitalist Willard "Mittens" Romney, told CNN today that "I'm not concerned about the very poor." Well, no shit, Sherlock. I doubt you even know a poor person "in the real streets of America." Mitt Romney: 'I'm Not Concerned About The Very Poor':

Gov. Mitt Romney said on Wednesday that he's "not concerned about the very poor," citing the social safety net in place for that segment of the populace and adding that he's focused on the middle class.

"I'm in this race because I care about Americans. I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it," the Republican front-runner said Wednesday on CNN, following his victory in the Florida primary. "I'm not concerned about the very rich, they're doing just fine. I'm concerned about the very heart of the America, the 90 percent, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling."

Let's unpack this out-of-touch statement. The social safety net is being shredded by state governments run by Tea-Publicans who see the social safety net, as "Mittens" himself calls it, "an entitlement society."

Medicaid, for example faces cuts as states attempt to balance budgets at a time when more people are using the program. GOP lawmakers have also eyed cuts in food stamps as food prices rise, even though more Americans are using the the program as a consequence of the economic recession.

Romney's policies call for cutting federal spending and reconfiguring the social safety net. He calls for an immediate five-percent cut to non-discretionary spending, which would hit the safety net hard. He proposes turning Medicaid into a block grant program and undertaking a "fundamental restructuring of government programs and services." He also calls for capping spending at 20 percent of GDP -- a significant cut -- and adds that he "will pursue further cuts" as spending comes "under control."

 "Mittens" Romney has endorsed Rep. Paul Ryan's "Roadmap to America's Ruin" GOP budget plan that would end Medicare as we know it and turn it into a voucher system that will leave seniors vulnerable to rising medical costs. Romney Plan Endorses Radical Ryan Budget | The Nation.

Newt Gingrich's 'People's Campaign' - the coming 'GOPocalypse'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Let's be honest. Disgraced former House Speaker and preeminent housing historian Newt Gingrich is a megalomaniac. Newt frames every issue in apocalyptic terms: this is the end of civilization as we know it unless we follow him, the great thinker of big ideas.

Newt is an historian only because it allows him to cast himself among the pantheon of great historical figures. Newt sounds like the ominous voice-over trailer to every action movie ever made: "Only one man can save the world..." Newt. That is seriously delusional.

Newt Gingrich lost badly in the GOP primary in Florida on Tuesday night. But you would never know it from his speech to supporters last night. There was no gracious concession to the winner, Willard "Mittens" Romney. Oh no, not after "Mr. .006 percent" used his substantial financial advantage to savage Newt Gingrich in a blizzard of negative advertisements, using "the politics of personal destruction" that Newt Gingrich himself perfected at GOPAC.

Newt Gingrich used his speech last night to declare "uncivil" war against Mittens. As the ominous voice-over trailer to the action movie always intones, "This time it's personal."

Democrat wins special election for Congress in Oregon CD 1

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

You might not have heard that a Democrat won a special election for Congress last night with the media villagers falling all over themselves to talk about the GOP primary in Florida.

Suzanne Bonamici continued the Democratic Party's nearly four-decade-long hold on the seat covering the northwestern corner of the state, replacing David Wu who resigned from Congress after a sex scandal. Suzanne Bonamici wins Oregon seat in Congress, says she is 'humbled by this awesome responsibility' :

A former state legislator, Bonamici becomes the only woman in the seven-member Oregon congressional delegation. Her campaign expects that she will be sworn in within the next week.

* * *

Bonamici was defeating Republican Rob Cornilles by about 15 percentage points in the special election to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Democrat David Wu in August.

* * *

Besides becoming accustomed to Congress, Bonamici also has to get ready for another election. To earn a full two-year term starting next year, she needs to run in the May primary and November general elections.

* * *

The House Democratic leadership -- through the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the House Majority PAC -- also had Bonamici's financial back. Those committees spent at least $1.5 million on television ads that attacked Cornilles and far out-weighed the advertising buys of either candidate.

The Democrats also put major resources into making sure Bonamici supporters voted; early ballot return statistics showed that Democrats cast thousands more ballots than Republicans.

Let's hope Baja Arizona gets this kind of support from the Democratic Party for our special election for the Giffords seat in Arizona CD 8.

Mr. Smith opposed to breathing while brown

Posted by AzblueMeanie:

Anti-abortion jihadist Sen. Steve Smith (R-Maricopa) is also an anti-immigrant extremist who wants to fill the shoes of disgraced recalled Sen. Russell Pearce. Smith is bringing back anti-immigrant measures that the business community helped to kill in the last legislature. Will the business community step up again?

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Two anti-illegal immigration measures are back:

Sen. Steve Smith (R-Maricopa) is proposing laws that would require school districts to count the number of students who are in the country illegally and to require hospitals to report patients who cannot prove their lawful status.

The two bills were defeated last year, when the Senate also balked at legislation that supporters hoped would get the U.S. Supreme Court to ultimately discontinue the granting of automatic U.S. citizenship to children of illegal immigrants.

* * *

One of the two measures that Smith submitted Monday, SB1444, would require the Department of Education to collect data from school districts on the population of students who cannot prove citizenship or lawful residence in the U.S.

The legislation also requires the education department to submit a report to the governor and lawmakers about the information it has collected.

Under the bill, the report must include research into on those students’ “adverse impact,” as well as an estimate of the cost of educating them.

They're baaack! The Christian Taliban: Reducing women to second class citizens who are property of the state one law at a time

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Christian Taliban is back again, seeking to impose its religious dogma on all Americans of all religious faiths or no religious faith, by force of law. It is a clear violation of constitutional separation of church and state, which I am sure those sponsoring this bill will argue does not exist under their Christian Reconstructionist and Dominionionist theology. These are people I like to call "wrong."

Sen. Steve Smith (R-Maricopa) freely admits that he is seeking to impose his own religious dogma on everyone else by force of law. Abortion bill would alter Arizona law to define life as beginning at conception - East Valley Tribune:

The first-term lawmaker said if it were up to him, all abortions would be illegal.

"I guess I'm a purist," he said. "It's easy for me as a man to say that because I'll never be in that situation."

Smith said his reasons go back more to his religious beliefs.

"God doesn't make mistakes," he said. "I believe that God is still on the throne and that's happening for a reason, whether we get it or not."

Smith acknowledged his goal in imposing new requirements is to impose his religious dogma on everyone else:

[T]he most significant part of SB 1494 is that it would alter Arizona law to define human life as beginning at conception. And that could pave the way for abortion foes to use the Arizona statute to mount a head-on challenge to the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring that women have a constitutional right to an abortion.

* * *

"It clearly tells the woman that what they're aborting is a human being," he said.

His legislation hammers that point home with a requirement that a woman be told, at least 24 hours in advance, that the abortion "will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being." And a pregnant woman also would have to be informed she "has an existing relationship with that unborn human being" which is protected by the U.S. Constitution and state laws.

* * *

Smith's legislation would apply in both cases of surgical and medical abortions, the latter involving the use of RU-486 which induces a woman to miscarry.

Less clear is how a law defining life as beginning at conception might affect the legal use of the "morning-after pill."

The Farley Report - January 31, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Time once again for the Farley report from Rep. Steve Farley (D-Tucson):

There are many caucuses in the Arizona Legislature besides the Republican and Democratic caucuses, including the Children's Caucus, Native American Caucus, Tourism Caucus, Animal Caucus, and others organized around important issues.

There is one glaring omission, especially for a state with as many older citizens as Arizona -- a Senior Caucus. So I set out to create one and find members of both parties to help. 

Living with my mother's four-year struggle with dementia (which ended in her death last April) made very clear to me that we need to work together in a bipartisan way to educate ourselves and develop policies that confront the very real issues associated with aging.

The first expression of this nascent caucus is a trio of bills I introduced yesterday, each of which was co-sponsored by Republicans Kimberly Yee (Phoenix), Rick Gray (Sun City), and Cecil Ash (Mesa):

HB2713 establishes the Arizona Long-Term Care Trust, a program whereby taxpayers can set aside funds from their paycheck into a savings account that can accrue tax-free interest and be withdrawn for long-term care expenses when needed. Increasing numbers of us are needing long-term care of some kind, and we are going to face a major financial crisis as a society due to increasing costs unless we find a way to pay for it. This trust makes saving for long-term care more attractive to all of us.

HB2714 requires that financial institutions with reasonable suspicion that an elder is a victim of financial abuse must report that suspicion to the Attorney General's office for possible investigation. Elder financial abuse has become an increasing problem across the country as more vulnerable adults are depending on others for their financial decisions, some of whom do not have the elders' best interests in mind. Door-to-door and other financial scams that take advantage of trusting seniors would especially be targeted.

HB2715 establishes a registry of caregivers of seniors and the developmentally disabled in both institutional and at-home settings who have a substantiated history of abuse toward their clients. Currently abusive caregivers are hard to track in a business that has high employee turnover rates. This would enable seniors and care facilities to find out any past history of abuse before any hire.

These are strong, bipartisan bills that help seniors and those who love them. They deserve a fair hearing. Sadly, the Speaker of the House Andy Tobin (R-Paulden) appears to be making Democratic bills' road to passage very difficult this year through unfavorable committee assignments. 

The GOP war on organized labor: Jan Brewer's bid to be the Scott Walker of the West begins Wednesday

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Heads up people! This is the bid by Jan Brewer to be the Scott Walker of the West that I have been warning you about for months. Jan Brewer seeks to go well beyond the assault on collective bargaining rights that led to the pending recall election of Scott Walker in Wisconsin. She wants to do away with more than 100 years of civil service merit selection system protection to return to the spoils system of political patronage and the days of Tamanny Hall.

And once again, it the evil bastards at the Goldwater Institute, a partner of ALEC, that has drafted the model legislation. You can bet that their media arm at the anti-union Arizona Republic will be all for this.

Brahm Resnik from Channel 12 news reports Brahm Resnik blog - Sweeping bills attack public employee unions:

Arizona's Republican Legislature could virtually wipe out public employee unions in a sweeping new package of legislation far broader than the collective-bargaining bills that shut down Wisconsin's Capitol last spring. 

The bills would:

-Make it illegal for government bodies to collectively bargain with employee groups. Public safety unions would be included in the ban.

--End the practice of automatic payroll deductions for union dues. 

--Ban compensation of public employees for union work.

Wisconsin's collective bargaining law enacted last year made unions effectively irrelevant by limiting issues that could be bargained by a government and an employee group. Arizona's bills would do away with collective bargaining entirely and also go beyond Wisconsin law by including public safety unions.

Coupled with Gov. Jan Brewer's plan to do away with civil-service protections  for state employees, the new legislation could make Arizona ground zero for union protests during this election year.

The Goldwater Institute  worked with state lawmakers to draw up the bills. The libertarian think tank has churned out research and reports over the past few years highlighting what it views as excesses in public-sector employment.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was the guest of honor at Goldwater's annual dinner last November. Walker had some advice for Arizona legislators when I interviewed him on "Sunday Square Off."

The package of bills is scheduled for a hearing at 9 a.m. Wednesday before the Senate Government Reform Committee.

Watch for more on this story on 12 News at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

I don't know what the Occupy movement has been doing of late, but this is your call to action. The Madison Revolution in Wisconsin needs to be brought to bear on the Capitol in Phoenix. This assault on the working people of the American middle-class cannot be allowed to stand. It's time to take a stand against the radical extremists of the right. They want Arizona to be ground zero? Bring it! Everyone to the Capitol on Wednesday.

Action Alert from the Arizona AFL-CIO below the fold.

David Crowe to primary Congressman Raúl Grijalva

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

David Crowe, the Republican-turned-Democrat who was running for the U.S. Senate, has now decided to primary Congressman Raúl Grijalva for the new CD 3 congressional seat.

I have had a chance to speak with Mr. Crowe a few times. He is personable and well-spoken, but he has more ambition than common sense. One does not seek a U.S. Senate seat as their first public office. Mr. Crowe thinks mighty highly of himself.

He could not adequately explain to Democrats from whom he was seeking support for his senate bid why he endorsed "Rocket Girl" Ruth McClung over Grijalva. He gave Democrats a lame excuse that it was really the the Arizona Technology Council that endorsed Rocket Girl, not him specifically. I didn't find his answer credible then, and even less so now.

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Crowe officially switches races, will challenge Grijalva in primary :

Former U.S. Senate hopeful David Crowe has officially switched races and will challenge U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva in the Democratic primary.

Crowe, a Tucson defense contractor, filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Jan. 12, according to FEC records.

* * *

Spokeswoman Charla Bailey said Crowe would officially launch his campaign in Tucson on Feb. 8.

Crowe is the president and co-founder of Tucson Embedded Systems, which provides hardware and software to the aerospace and defense industries. [like Raytheon in Tucson]

* * *

Crowe will likely face problems with the party base due to his recent past as a Republican. Crowe was registered as a Republican for 15 years before re-registering as a Democrat in Dec. 2010. He also backed McClung in her 2010 campaign against Grijalva, writing in the Arizona Technology Council’s endorsement that she has the “background, training and practical experience to actually find solutions and solve problems.”

Crowe contributed $500 to Grijalva in May, but the money was refunded about a week later.

Grijalva is the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and he enjoys a loyal and passionate following among the party’s base.

Former "conservadem" Sen. Amanda Aguirre of Yuma is also considering challenging Grijalva in the Democratic primary. A spokesman said she will decide her plans within the next two weeks.

The new CD 3 is even more favorable to Congressman Raúl Grijalva than the current CD 7. It is Democratic base voters who vote in party primaries. These challengers would be competing for the same small block of anti-Grijalva conservadem voters. They are toast in a Democratic primary.

"Yeah, toast!"