Blog For Arizona

PCDP Fundraiser at The Gaslight Theater - 'The Incredible Spider-Guy'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Announcement from the Pima County Democratic Party:

Saguaro Eastside Democrats 2nd Annual Miniature Golf Tournament

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Event announcement from the Saguaro Eastside Democrats:

SAGUARO EASTSIDE DEMOCRATS

present

2nd ANNUAL MINIATURE GOLF TOURNAMENT

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 8-10 AM

at

GOLF N’ STUFF, 6503 E. TANQUE VERDE Rd.

Tickets $20 / $25 at the door

Children under 12 $5
Must be accompanied by an adult – No drop-offs!

Tickets include one round 18 holes of miniature golf, continental breakfast
and awards trophies!!!

For tickets send your check made payable to Saguaro Eastside Democrats to: Saguaro Eastside Democrats, c/o Pima County Democratic Party, PO Box 40211, Tucson AZ 85717.

Or pay online at
https://secure.actblue.com/page/summerminigolf

For more information please contact Jan Kalthoff (520) 885-9005

Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption - additional dates and locations

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

If you missed "Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption" in Tucson on Saturday, The Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation has several more opportunities. http://www.azadvocacy.org/forums-a-events/upcoming-event-details

WHAT: Join Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation to expose how lobbyists and Big Money buy favor with officials at the our expense. We begin with a special showing of Bill Moyers’ United States of ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), exposing how Big Money uses campaign cash and freebies to buy access to OUR tax dollars for greater profit at the expense of jobs and voter priorities. We then highlight important bills being voted on by the legislature and Congress on Clean Elections, other political anti-corruption/conflict of interests bills, voting rights and election administration. Learn more about our March 18, 2013 U.S. Supreme Court hearing to defend every eligible citizen’s right to register to vote without the barriers Arizona politicians keep in place.

Jun 18, 2013 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption	AFSCME Local 2384	Phoenix
Jun 21, 2013 02:00 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corrupton	Joyner-Green Valley Library	Green Valley
Jul 10, 2013 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption	Gourmet House of Hong Kong	Phoenix
Jul 18, 2013 06:15 PM - 08:00 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption	SEIU Arizona	Mesa
Jul 30, 2013 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption	Starfire Golf Club	Scottsdale
Aug 06, 2013 06:00 PM - 06:30 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption	Via Linda Senior Center	Scottsdale
Oct 14, 2013 07:00 PM	Exposing Arizona’s Political Corruption	Sun Lakes Country Club	Sun Lakes

 

Tucson 43rd Annual Juneteenth Festival

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Nuns on The Bus in Arizona

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Nuns On The Bus Tour for comprehensive immigration reform is coming to Arizona. Go to Nuns on the Bus - Network for more tour information and to RSVP.

Date	Type of Visit	Place
Jun 11, 2013 (10:00 AM)	Voices from Annunciation House	Casa Vides 325 Leon St, El Paso, TX 79901	RSVP
Jun 11, 2013 (Noon)	Lobby Visit	Office of Congressman Steve Pearce 570 N Telshor Blvd, Las Cruces, NM 88011	RSVP
Jun 11, 2013 (6:00 PM)	Event Sponsored by Rep. Grijalva's Office	Albert D. Garcia Justice Center/Building C, Pascua Yaqui Nation 7777 S Camino Huivism, Tucson, AZ 85746	RSVP
Jun 12, 2013 (9:30 AM)	Kino Border Initiative Event	On the Border West Street and International Street, Nogales, AZ	RSVP	More Info
Jun 12, 2013 (3:00 PM)	Lobby Visit	Offices of Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake 2200 and 2201 E Camelback Rd (meet at the corner of 22nd St & Camelback Rd.), Phoenix, AZ 85016	RSVP	More Info
Jun 12, 2013 (6:00 PM)	Friendraiser	St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Sonntag Pavillion 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85013	RSVP	More Info

*All events are open to press, unless otherwise noted.

State of The State, A Democratic Perspective - Today

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Announcement from the Democrats of the Red Rocks in Sedona:

Political Calendar: Week of June 9, 2013

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.

Political Calendar For The Week of June 9, 2013:

State of The State, A Democratic Perspective

Sunday, June 9, 3:00 p.m.: Democrats of the Red Rocks present State of The State, a Democratic Perspective, at the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, Hwy. 179 and Meadowlark Drive, Sedona (just South of Chapel Road roundabout). State Sen. Katie Hobbs, and Reps. Martin Quezada, Jamescita Peshlakai, and Stephanie Mach will participate. Mike Cosantino and Steve Williamson will moderate. Light refreshments will be served. For more information please contact (928) 203-5858.

Monday, June 10, 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 speaker is Eric Holler, Program Manager, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, on “What the Colorado River Basin Study says about Tucson's future” Next Week: Michelle Steinberg, Director of Public Policy, Arizona Planned Parenthood on “What has the Arizona Legislature done with our reproductive rights?”

Cartoon of The Week

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Update: The surveillance society that Americans chose to live in

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

There has been quite a bit of discussion today about a New York Times editorial in which the editors declare "The administration has now lost all credibility" as a result of the NSA data mining program(s). President Obama’s Dragnet.

I would point out that the New York Times lost all credibility on this subject years ago when it withheld publication of a report on the Bush-Cheney administration's unconstitutional and illegal Terrorist Surveillance Program for over a year until 2005 -- after the presidential election had passed -- when this report might have affected the outcome of the 2004 election.

And Judith Miller, the Times reporter who peddled the bogus weapons of mass destruction to justify the unnecessary and illegal war in Iraq, and who went to jail for her role in the outing of Valerie Plame as a CIA covert operative.

That's pretty much "hello pot, meet kettle." The Times is in no position to judge anyone's credibility.

Decent May Jobs Report

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Steven Benen provides the monthly jobs report, Job growth improves, 175k jobs added in May:

Expectations going into this morning's jobs report were that the economy added about 160,000 jobs in May, which would be a slight decrease from April. The new figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics were actually a little more encouraging than that.

The U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs in May, slightly better than expected, though the overall unemployment rate inched higher to 7.6%. (Update: Remember that these minor increases aren't always bad news, and occasionally, they're sign of an improving jobs landscape.) As is usually the case, there was a gap between the two major sectors -- America's private sector added 178,000 jobs last month, while spending cuts caused the public sector lose 3,000 jobs.

One key figure to keep in mind, however, was local-government hiring, where 13,000 jobs were created. We've grown accustomed to municipalities doing the opposite, and if this holds up (and continues), it will strengthen the overall job market. (Update: On the other hand, federal hiring declined by 45,000 over the last three months, suggesting that Congress' sequestration budget cuts are doing what they were intended to do -- hurting the economy.)

Action Alert: House Appropriations Committee takes up Medicaid (AHCCCS) restoration/expansion on Monday - and a poison pill from CAP

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday, June 10 at 10:00 a.m. in Room HHR 1 to take up the appropriations bill which includes Governor Jan Brewer's Medicaid (AHCCCS) restoration/expansion plan, SB 1492.

The Committee Chairman, John Kavanaugh, R-Fountain Hills, the man who sponsored the "show me your papers before you pee" bill, has also agreed to take up a "strike everything amendment" to SB 1069 (CPS; psychological assessments and services) as a vehicle for Mullah Cathi Herrod and her Christian Taliban at the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP) to insert a poison pill amendment to limit abortion providers’ ability to participate in Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan that Governor Brewer earlier rejected as unnecessary.

Your presence at this critical committee hearing is requested. It is time for a show of force against the opponents of Medicaid (AHCCCS) restoration/expansion who dare to call themselves "Christians." WWJD? (Matthew 25:31-46).

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Medicaid anti-abortion language returns in House Approps:

A pro-life forced birth bill scheduled for a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee includes language that is nearly identical to a proposal from a leading evangelical Christian group that sought to limit abortion providers’ ability to participate in Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan.

The strike-everything amendment to SB1069 would prohibit funds from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System from being used to “directly or indirectly” subsidize abortions, including the use of Medicaid money on administrative expenses such as building rent, employee salaries and utility costs by abortion providers. House Appropriations Chairman Rep. John Kavanagh, who sponsored the amendment, said the language was requested by the Center for Arizona Policy.

Action Alert: Kill This Bill - HB 2305 Voter Suppression

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Yesterday the Arizona legislature took up the so-called election "reform" bills designed to restrict your constitutional rights as an Arizona citizen to citizen initiatives and referendums and to make it more difficult to submit petitions, and to make it more difficult for some people to vote (aka voter suppression). The conference committee approved it in five minutes without any public testimony.

Once again, these so-called election "reform" bills have now been grouped together under HB 2305 pertaining to "Initiatives; filings; circulators," House Engrossed Version and Senate Engrossed Version (the conference committee bill is not yet available).

The Arizona Republic reports, Arizona lawmakers forward bill on election changes:

Lawmakers broke a stalemate over wide-ranging changes to Arizona election procedures Thursday, bundling several hotly disputed proposals into one bill and triggering warnings of potential lawsuits over voter suppression.

The changes, if approved by the House and Senate, would tighten procedures for citizen initiatives and referenda, limit who can return a voter’s ballot to the polls, and drop people from the permanent early-voting list if they fail to vote by mail in consecutive elections.

“The one commonality in the bill is inhibiting people’s ability to exercise the right to vote,” said state Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix.

Gallardo attended the brief conference committee on House Bill 2305, which ran less than five minutes, did not provide any explanation of the proposed changes to the public in attendance, and passed without any comment from the four Republicans and two Democrats on the committee.

The surveillance society that Americans chose to live in

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

So everyone is having a freak-out today over Glenn Greenwald and Spencer Ackerman’s big scoop in The Guardian on the secret court order compelling Verizon to turn over to the NSA basically all of its call record data (as do other communications networks).  NSA collecting phone records of millions of Verizon customers daily.

I don't know what everyone is so excited about. Congress overwhelmingly approved the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and Americans terrified of terrorist attacks after 9-11 overwhelmingly approved surrendering their liberty for a false sense of security. Have you all forgotten that?

I fought the USA Patriot Act, and I have fought every extension of the Act -- which the American people and Congress also overwhelmingly supported. You all got what you wanted. There is no surprise here. The government has been doing exactly what you asked for since 2001.

As the Senate Intelligence Committee co-chairs said today, ‘It’s Called Protecting America’: Senators Defend NSA On Phone Records:

The top two senators on the Intelligence Committee on Thursday defended the National Security Agency’s collection of Americans’ phone records after it was reported in The Guardian.

“It is lawful. It has been briefed to Congress,” Senate Intelligence Chair Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) told reporters at an impromptu news conference in the Capitol. “This is just meta data. There is no content involved. In other words, no content of a communication. … The records can only be accessed under heightened standards.”

“I read intelligence carefully. And I know that people are trying to get to us,” Feinstein said. “This is the reason we keep TSA doing what it’s doing. This the reason the FBI now has 10,000 people doing intelligence on counter-terrorism. This is the reason for the national counter-terrorism center that’s been set up in the time we’ve been active.”

“And it’s to ferret this out before it happens,” she said. “It’s called protecting America.”

Tea-Publican Congress votes to deport the DREAMers

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

All that talk earlier this year about the GOP rebranding and learning its lesson from the 2012 election by reaching out to Latino voters was just that -- talk. Actions speak louder than words. And today, the Tea-Publican Congress voted to deport the DREAMers. House Republicans Booed As They Vote To Deport DREAMers:

To a chorus of boos from the gallery, House Republicans voted 224-201 on Thursday to approve an amendment that defunds the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The amendment, from Rep. Steve King (R-IA), undercuts the flexibility that allows the Department of Homeland Security to halt deporting DREAMers and instead focus on people convicted of crimes.

After the vote, the House Hispanic Caucus tweeted,”House Republicans just voted to treat DREAMers and undocumented spouses of servicemembers in the same way as violent criminals.” Only six Republicans voted against the measure.

King, a virulently anti-immigrant [nativist] congressman, has already announced his intention to undermine any immigration reform effort. When Republicans last held a vote on a similar King amendment, it passed 238-175, with four Republicans voting against it.

But this time, the vote occurred at exactly the same time the House means to march forward on an immigration reform bill that would give DREAMers permanent legal status.

Out-of-state right-wing organization behind public employee pension initiative in Tucson

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Back in March of this year, the City of Phoenix referred two ballot measures to the city election ballot pertaining to the City of Phoenix Employee Retirement System (COPERS). City of Phoenix Pension Reform, Propositions 201 and 202 - Ballotpedia:

Two City of Phoenix Pension Reform Questions, Propositions 201 and 202, were on the March 12, 2013 ballot for voters in the City of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona. Both propositions were overwhelmingly approved.

Proposition 201 amended the Phoenix City Charter to make five changes in the City of Phoenix Employee Retirement System (COPERS). The most important of these changes requires any member of the Plan to contribute half of the funds for his or her retirement and establish that retirement eligibility occurs when the sum of the employee's age and years of service equals 87 instead of 80, which was the rule before Proposition 201 was enacted. Proposition 201 left intact the previous retirement eligibility rules of 60 years of age with 10 years of service and 62 years of age with 5 years of service. Proposition 201 also established certain multiplier benefits to increase over time instead of decrease in order to encourage later retirement.

Proposition 202 puts in place what is known as a "prudent investor rule". It also ensures that the city's Retirement Plan remains tax-exempt and makes the amended plan compatible with all applicable federal tax laws.

Proposition 201 applies only to those employees hired on or after July 1, 2013. The provisions do not apply to any employees who were hired by the city prior to July 1, 2013, nor do the provisions apply to any now-retired former city employees. Police and fire employees, and elected officials, are exempt from the changes in Propositions 201 and 202.

With the enactment of Proposition 201, the city's contribution to COPERS is expected to decrease by 51%, yielding an approximate cumulative savings of $596 million by year 2037, while the highest employee contribution rate is estimated to be 13.6 percent of salary.

Propositions 201 and 202 were referred to the March 12, 2013 ballot on October 31, 2012 through a unanimous (9-0) vote of the Phoenix City Council.

The 'show me your papers before you pee' bill is dead, for now

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The "show me your papers before you pee" bill is dead, for now. Arizona transgender bathroom bill won’t move:

The sponsor of an Arizona bill targeting transgendered people who want to use bathrooms of the gender they identify with says he’s giving up on the issue this Legislative session.

Republican Rep. John Kavanagh said Wednesday there’s concern in his caucus about some of his proposal’s definitions, so it will have to be shelved until next year. Kavanagh caused a national uproar in March when he proposed the bathroom privacy language.

The original bill would have made it a crime for a transgendered person to use a bathroom other than the one designated for his or her birth sex.

After an outcry from advocacy groups, Kavanagh changed the measure to instead shield businesses from civil or criminal liability if they ban people from restrooms that don’t match their birth sex.

Shelved until next year? Seriously, Dude? Just stop the hate, and stop being afraid.

Action Alert: Election 'Reform' Bills being heard today

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The AP reports that Arizona Republican lawmakers are again working to revive a series of divisive election bills that opponents say will limit Democratic and Hispanic voter turnout. Arizona lawmakers move to revive election bills - Fox 10:

Lawmakers are slated to debate the election bills Thursday and opponents are asking their supporters to lobby lawmakers against the provisions.

Democrats who support Gov. Jan Brewer's Medicaid expansion plan opposed by conservative Republicans say the GOP-leadership wants to revive the election bills to stall the budget approval process.

Some Senate Democrats have said they won't support the proposed Medicaid expansion plan in the state budget if it also includes the election bills. Brewer needs Democratic votes to get the Medicaid overhaul passed.

The election bills seek to trim the state's permanent early voting list, among other measures.

REVISED 2 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SCHEDULE 6-6-13 (Senate)

Thursday, June 6, 2013

 

Time	Room	Bill Number On Agenda	Short/Now Title	Type	Senators	Representatives
11:00 AM	HHR 4	2305	initiatives; filings; circulators	FCC	*MCCOMISH, DRIGGS, HOBBS BURGESS, WARD	FARNSWORTH, MESNARD, QUEZADA

*McComish replaced by Burgess and Driggs replaced by Ward

REVISED 2 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SCHEDULE 6-6-13 (House)

Thursday, June 6, 2013

 

Time	Room	Bill Number On Agenda	Short/Now Title	Type	Representatives	Senators
11:00 AM	HHR 4	2305	initiatives; filings; circulators	FCC	FARNSWORTH, MESNARD, QUEZADA	*MCCOMISH, **DRIGGS, HOBBS, BURGES, WARD

*  McComish is being replaced by Burges

** Driggs is being replaced by Ward

REVISED CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SCHEDULE 6-6-13 (House)

Thursday, June 6, 2013

 

Time	Room	Bill Number On Agenda	Short/Now Title	Type	Representatives	Senators
11:00 AM	HHR 4	2305	initiatives; filings; circulators	FCC	FARNSWORTH, MESNARD, QUEZADA	*MCCOMISH, DRIGGS, HOBBS, BURGES

* McComish has been replaced by Burges

Annexation and incorporation mean more revenue sharing for Pima County

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Pima County has long suffered from a lack of state revenue sharing for one simple reason: state revenue sharing goes to incorporated cities and towns.

Pima County has large areas of developed unincorporated land adjacent to the City of Tucson, which means that Pima County residents have long been subsidizing the state of Maricopa, nearly fully incorporated decades ago, with their tax dollars.

For as long as I have lived in Tucson, mayors of Tucson have promoted the concept of "mountain to mountain annexation" of the Tucson valley. This has always been met with opposition from the unincorporated areas adjacent to the City of Tucson, which has cost Pima County residents millions of dollars in state revenue sharing over the years for infrastructure investments.

The City of Tucson is not blameless. Back in the 1990s, Casas Adobes and Tortolita held incorporation votes, but state law at the time permitted an incorporated city to prevent incorporation within 10 miles of its city boundary. Tucson sued, and Casas Adobes and Tortolita lost in court. Again, this has cost Pima County residents millions of dollars in state revenue sharing over the years for infrastructure investments.

Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild brings a new vision to this state revenue sharing problem: he continues to support annexation to Tucson but also the city will not oppose incorporation of unincorporated areas adjacent to City of Tucson boundaries.

Bisbee and Tucson advance civil union registries

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

After the City of Bisbee and interested parties got together with Attorney General Tom "banned for life by the SEC" Horne to discuss the city's attempt to set up a civil union registry, they appear to have worked out their differences and come to an agreemment on the scope of that program to avoid unnecessary litigation.

This week, the Bisbee council approved civil unions measure:

The Bisbee City Council voted Tuesday night to approve a new version of a proposed local law allowing civil unions for same-sex couples.

The 5-2 vote makes Bisbee the first Arizona town to recognize civil unions.

The council had voted May 21 to formally propose a scaled-back version of the ordinance that would legalize civil unions for same-sex couples.

In April, council members approved an earlier version of the measure that sought to give people in civil unions the same benefits as those in marriages.

But city officials decided to rewrite the measure after Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne threatened to sue over provisions that Horne said were in conflict with state law or went beyond the city's authority.

Horne's office said he approves of Bisbee's new version of the ordinance and won't sue to try to block it.

The Farley Report: 6-4-13

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Time once again for The Farley Report from Senator Steve Farley (D-LD 9):

This will be another short Report, but at least we know that --unlike last week -- the budget and Medicaid are starting to move in the House. 

Progress looked pretty slow today until Speaker Tobin casually announced a first reading of all the Senate budget bills, and assigned them all to the Appropriations Committee.  

Where they go from there is less certain.  

We do know that the Speaker met with the Governor on the topic yesterday, clearing the way for action, so his moving the bills is a hopeful sign that he will support them or at least not stand in their way, a classy move on his part. 

The Approps Chair, John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) is no fan of the Medicaid restoration, so he may well try to gut the bills in committee, but I am hearing that there will be enough bipartisan votes on the floor to strip off the Approps amendments, returning them to their original state, which would mean that passage would send them straight to the Governor's desk, not back to the uncertain fate of a Senate conference committee.  

Sen. Marco Rubio prepared to blow up comprehensive immigration reform

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I have said before my theory is that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) wanted on the "Gang og Eight" so that the GOP could have a Latino blow up the negotiations on comprehensive immigration reform. This way the GOP can say "See! A Latino is opposed to the legislation, not just us old white guys," as if using a token Cuban-American is going to insulate the lily white GOP from the electoral backlash of Latino voters nationwide.

It appears that we may now have arrived at the point Marco Rubio is preapred to blow up the negotiations on comprehensive immigration reform. Marco Rubio: I will vote against my own immigration bill unless changes are made:

Sen. Marco Rubio, the leading Republican behind the Gang of Eight comprehensive immigration reform bill, says he will not vote for the legislation he helped write and has staked his political future on, unless substantial changes are made before final Senate consideration.

Chris Christie's narcissism: 'It's all about me, baby!'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

New Jersey bad boy Governor Chris Christie was faced with a no-win situation following the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Due to conflicting state laws, Christie could appoint a Republican to fill this Democratic seat and give this Republican appointee a little more than a year to build a base of support before standing for election in 2014. This would have been blatantly partisan and hurt Christie's voter turnout with moderates and Democratic cross-over voters who have bought into his recent bipartisan shtick in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Or Christie could appoint a Republican to temporarily fill this Democratic seat and call for a special election this year, to coincide with his own reelection effort this November. While the GOP senate nominee might benefit from running with Christie on the same ballot, there is a risk that the GOP nominee might be a Tea Party crazy whom Christie would have to distance himself from, and the Democratic nominee is likely to be popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker, whose base of supporters may turn out to vote for his Democratic challenger. This would also jeopardize down ballot Republicans in state legislative races.

So what did New Jersey's bad boy do? Apparently Christie is a Star Trek fan. Like Captain James T. Kirk who cheated on the no-win Kobayashi Maru scenario, Christie reprogrammed his options to create a third outcome that works to his benefit because, for this narcissist, "It's all about me, baby!"

The latest faux scandal of the day

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I find it difficult to engender any sympathy for the AP when it has for years been a GOPropoganda echo chamber. When you engage in propaganda, you have forfeited any claim to being a legitimate news organization. Propaganda is illegal, and is not protected speech.

The latest faux scandal of the day comes from the AP (All Propaganda) via the Washington Post, AP Exclusive: Some Obama top political appointees using secret US government email accounts:

Some of President Barack Obama’s political appointees, including the Health and Human Services secretary, are using secret government email accounts they say are necessary to prevent their inboxes from being overwhelmed with unwanted messages, according to a review by The Associated Press.

* * *

The AP asked for the addresses following last year’s disclosures that the former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency had used separate email accounts at work. The practice is separate from officials who use personal, non-government email accounts for work, which generally is discouraged — but often happens anyway — due to laws requiring that most federal records be preserved.

The secret email accounts complicate an agency’s legal responsibilities to find and turn over emails in response to congressional or internal investigations, civil lawsuits or public records requests because employees assigned to compile such responses would necessarily need to know about the accounts to search them. Secret accounts also drive perceptions that government officials are trying to hide actions or decisions.

Ooooohh, scandal, right? Yeah, not so much. This report can best be summarized as "AP Exclusive: The Sun Rises in The East, Sets in The West." These email accounts are a common practice in the federal government. AP just now discovered this?

The cost of rejecting expanded Medicaid

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Ezra Klein reports on a new study by the Rand Corporation today in the Wonkbook: The terrible deal for states rejecting Medicaid:

Curious why some hardcore conservative governors, including Jan Brewer of Arizona and Rick Scott of Florida, are fighting with their legislators to accept Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion? A new study in the journal Health Affairs article will clear it up.

The study, by the Rand corporation, looks at the 14 states that have said they will opt out of the new Medicaid funds. It finds that the result will be they get $8.4 billion less in federal funding, have to spend an extra $1 billion in uncompensated care, and end up with about 3.6 million fewer insured residents.

So then, the math works out like this: States rejecting the expansion will spend much more, get much, much less, and leave millions of their residents uninsured. That’s a lot of self-inflicted pain to make a political point.

State of The State, a Democratic Perspective

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Announcement from the Democrats of the Red Rocks in Sedona:

Obama to name three nominees to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals - will it lead to 'nuclear' winter in the Senate?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the second most important court in the land behind the U.S. Supreme Court, had four vacancies until recently when Sri Srinivasan was approved unanimously by the Senate to fill a vacancy that had remained vacant for five years due to GOP obstruction and filibusters of President Obama's judicial nominees. With this thaw, President Obama has upped his game and plans to name three nominees to the remaining vacancies on the court on Tuesday. White House Names Three Nominees To D.C. Circuit Court:

President Obama will announce three nominees to fill vacancies on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday morning, a White House official confirmed to TPM.

The nominees will be attorney Patricia Ann Millett, Georgetown law professor Cornelia Pillard and U.S. District Court Judge Robert Leon Wilkins.

“Tomorrow, at 10:15 AM in the Rose Garden, the President will announce his intent to nominate three candidates for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit,” the White House official said. “Patricia Ann Millet, who has served in Administrations of both parties; Cornelia Pillard who served as former Deputy Assistant Attorney General and former Assistant to the Solicitor General; and Judge Robert Wilkins, who was confirmed unanimously for the D.C. District Court in 2010.”

Conservative economics fraud re: ObamaCare

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Last month there was the economics debunking of the Reinhart-Rogoff thesis, which led to a back and forth argument between traditional economists (Keynesians) and conservative economists. In the end, Reinhart-Rogoff were proved wrong and Paul Krugman proved right. Of course, the conservative economists refused to concede they were wrong. For them it is a matter of faith, not science (which means they should not be taken seriously as economists).

This month, a new economics back and forth argument has developed between economists. Karoli reports Forbes Tells The Truth, Then Lies About Obamacare:

Last week, Forbes blogger Rick Ungar admitted he was wrong about Obamacare and insurance rates, following the news that California's rates were actually less than expected.

For quite some time, I have been predicting that Obamacare would likely mean higher insurance rates in the individual market for the “young immortals” and others under the age of 40. At the same time, my expectation was that those who fall into the older age ranges would benefit greatly as their premium charges would be lowered thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

It is increasingly clear that I had it wrong.

That must have come as a shock to the Forbes community, so they quickly put Avik Roy, their corporate pharma shill, on the job. His post making the claim that rates double is incredibly disingenuous on a number of levels.

If you’re a 25 year old male non-smoker, buying insurance for yourself, the cheapest plan on Obamacare’s exchanges is the catastrophic plan, which costs an average of $184 a month. (By “average,” I mean the median monthly premium across California’s 19 insurance rating regions.)

The next cheapest plan, the “bronze” comprehensive plan, costs $205 a month. But in 2013, on eHealthInsurance.com (NASDAQ:EHTH), the median cost of the five cheapest plans was only $92.

In other words, for the typical 25-year-old male non-smoking Californian, Obamacare will drive premiums up by between 100 and 123 percent.

Under Obamacare, only people under the age of 30 can participate in the slightly cheaper catastrophic plan. So if you’re 40, your cheapest option is the bronze plan. In California, the median price of a bronze plan for a 40-year-old male non-smoker will be $261.

'Scandal Mania 2013' has jumped the shark

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

You know that "Scandal Mania 2013" has jumped the shark when the grocery store rag The Globe is featuring the GOP's "Scandal Mania 2013" this week.

This is the same disreputable rag that regularly runs stories about "Woman pregnant with alien baby," "Elvis is still alive!," and various and other sundry made-up bullshit.

Which is pretty much how the conservative media entertainment complex cult operates as well, with disreputable "news" sites like The Drudge Report, The Daily Caller, World Net Daily, Breitbart, NewsBusters, Townhall, Hot Air, and on and on.

This is how the right-wing noise machine gins up conspiracy theories, and the mainsteam media all too often feels compelled to report on them because of the "noise" on the right, which is entirely manufactured expressly for this purpose. It is media manipulation, the art of propaganda.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has died

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I always liked Fightin' Frank, he was one of the good guys on Capitol Hill. He will be missed. Sen. Frank Lautenberg dies at 89:

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, a five-term New Jersey Democrat and reliably liberal voter who campaigned to toughen anti-smoking laws and environmental regulations, died June 3 at a hospital in New York City. He was 89.

His office issued a statement confirming the death. He had complications from viral pneumonia, according to the statement, and had previously suffered from cancer.

Sen. Lautenberg initially retired in 2000, after three terms, but returned to the Senate two years later as a 78-year-old freshman lawmaker who quickly became one of the Bush administration’s sharpest critics.

A 'post-racial society'? Backlash to Cheerios ad says otherwise

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Over the next few weeks, perhaps as early as Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide the affirmative action case of Fischer v. University of Texas at Austin, (11-345), involving the University of Texas at Austin’s use of race in undergraduate admissions decisions; and  Shelby County v. Holder, (12-96), which involves the question whether Congress’ decision in 2006 to reauthorize Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act under the pre-existing coverage formula of Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act exceeded its authority.

It would be a fairly safe bet that Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas will state with certainty, and no sense of irony, that the United States is now a "post-racial society" where racism no longer exists, and public policies to eliminate the vestiges of institutional racism like affirmative action and the Voting Rights Act are no longer needed in a "race-neutral society." One has to wonder what America they live in.

This story over the weekend should cause the Justices to question their "post-racial society" certitude. Backlash greets Cheerios ad with interracial family:

Here we go again, with more proof, if anyone needed it, that the post-racial American society some hoped the election of an African American president signified is far from here.

Who would have thought that breakfast cereal would trigger the latest racial battle line? In this case, a Cheerios ad much like every other homespun Cheerios ad — with a heart healthy message and loving family – ran into trouble from some commenters because of the kind of family it featured. Mom is white, dad is black and their cute little daughter is a mix of the both of them.

That’s it.

Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption - additional dates and locations

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

If you missed "Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption" in Tucson on Saturday, The Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation has several more opportunities. http://www.azadvocacy.org/forums-a-events/upcoming-event-details

WHAT: Join Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation to expose how lobbyists and Big Money buy favor with officials at the our expense. We begin with a special showing of Bill Moyers’ United States of ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), exposing how Big Money uses campaign cash and freebies to buy access to OUR tax dollars for greater profit at the expense of jobs and voter priorities. We then highlight important bills being voted on by the legislature and Congress on Clean Elections, other political anti-corruption/conflict of interests bills, voting rights and election administration. Learn more about our March 18, 2013 U.S. Supreme Court hearing to defend every eligible citizen’s right to register to vote without the barriers Arizona politicians keep in place.

Jun 18, 2013 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption	AFSCME Local 2384	Phoenix
Jun 21, 2013 02:00 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corrupton	Joyner-Green Valley Library	Green Valley
Jul 10, 2013 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption	Gourmet House of Hong Kong	Phoenix
Jul 18, 2013 06:15 PM - 08:00 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption	SEIU Arizona	Mesa
Jul 30, 2013 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption	Starfire Golf Club	Scottsdale
Aug 06, 2013 06:00 PM - 06:30 PM	Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption	Via Linda Senior Center	Scottsdale
Oct 14, 2013 07:00 PM	Exposing Arizona’s Political Corruption	Sun Lakes Country Club	Sun Lakes

 

School Supply Giveaway - Tucson

Posted  by AzBlueMeanie:

The new school year begins in mid-August for most Tucson area school districts, and this school supplies giveaway is the kind of positive community activism this community should encourage.

Please make a $25 contribution at School Supply Giveaway (www.wepay.com) on Facebook.

Information

In response to the offensive and irresponsible effort to give away free shotguns in Tucson neighborhoods (see link below for more info), we have launched an initiative to give away school supplies, books, sports equipment, and school clothes to children in the neighborhoods targeted by the free shotgun giveaway. From there, we will expand our efforts, across Tucson.

The Tucson community has experienced traumatic acts of violence, most notably the January 8, 2011 Safeway shooting. We have also witnessed similar acts of violence take place, across the country. At this time of healing and reflection, we do not need such grossly irresponsible actions as giving away free shotguns. Instead, the majority of Tucsonans want an adult conversation on gun safety and responsible gun ownership. Most importantly, what we want is an end to this horrific violence.

Therefore, we decided to launch this program to make a positive impact in our community. It's this type of effort that will result in a vibrant and healthy Tucson community.

We've set out an initial goal of $12,000, to match the amount raised by the the gun giveaway. We would love to surpass this amount, however, to show the nation and the world what type of community we have, here in Tucson!

Please donate, today! Your contributions will help Tucson children, and will make a powerful statement. Thank you!!

To donate items or for any questions, please contact Sal Baldenegro at sbaldenegro@gmail.com or 520.270.3095

(Please note that donations are not tax-deductible, at this time. A 501(c)(3) application is currently pending.)

Nuns On The Bus Tour in Arizona

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Nuns On The Bus Tour for comprehensive immigration reform is coming to Arizona. Go to Nuns on the Bus - Network for more tour information and to RSVP.

Date	Type of Visit	Place
Jun 11, 2013 (10:00 AM)	Voices from Annunciation House	Casa Vides 325 Leon St, El Paso, TX 79901	RSVP
Jun 11, 2013 (Noon)	Lobby Visit	Office of Congressman Steve Pearce 570 N Telshor Blvd, Las Cruces, NM 88011	RSVP
Jun 11, 2013 (6:00 PM)	Event Sponsored by Rep. Grijalva's Office	Albert D. Garcia Justice Center/Building C, Pascua Yaqui Nation 7777 S Camino Huivism, Tucson, AZ 85746	RSVP
Jun 12, 2013 (9:30 AM)	Kino Border Initiative Event	On the Border West Street and International Street, Nogales, AZ	RSVP	More Info
Jun 12, 2013 (3:00 PM)	Lobby Visit	Offices of Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake 2200 and 2201 E Camelback Rd (meet at the corner of 22nd St & Camelback Rd.), Phoenix, AZ 85016	RSVP	More Info
Jun 12, 2013 (6:00 PM)	Friendraiser	St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Sonntag Pavillion 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85013	RSVP	More Info

*All events are open to press, unless otherwise noted.

Democratic Women In Action August Lucheon

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Announcement from the Democratic Women In Action:

Pinal County Democrats Annual Gala Dinner

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Announcement from the Pinal County Democratic Party:

PCDP Fundraiser at The Gaslight Theater - 'The Incredible Spider-Guy'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Announcement from the Pima County Democratic Party:

Tucson 43rd Annual Juneteenth Festival

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Political Calendar: Week of June 2, 2013

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.

Political Calendar For The Week of June 2, 2013:

Monday, June 3, 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 speaker is Dave Cullier, Ph.D., Director and Associate Professor, U of A Journalism, on “Words that kill: swaying and death thoughts.” Next Week: Eric Holler, Program Manager, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, on “What the Colorado River Basin Study says about Tucson's future”

Cartoon of the Week

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Doug MacEachern 'echo chamber'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Based upon his frequent right-wing ravings that pass for opinion columns at the Arizona Republic, I imagine that Doug MacEachern must have a television set tuned to FAUX News with the sound turned down low so he can listen to the ministers of ignorance and hate on the radio, while he surfs the Internet trolling right-wing web sites for "news." MacEachern is simply an echo chamber for whatever the right-wing talking point of the day is.

Case in point, today's "column." MacEachern: IRS chief’s trips creepy:

In 2010 and 2011, then-commissioner of President Barack Obama’s Internal Revenue Service, Douglas Shulman, visited the White House 118 times. In and of itself, that is no “smoking gun” of a conspiracy to punish the president’s enemies prior to the election. They had the IRS’s obnoxious new powers invested through “Obamacare” to discuss. But the very fact of a supposedly independent agency like the IRS coordinating that tightly on anything with the political side is creepy.

And where did MacEachern get this factually incorrect conspiracy theory?

Time is running out on the Arizona Legislature to pass a budget

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Arizona legislature is still in session as it engages in a protracted battle over Governor Jan Brewer's Medicaid (AHCCCS) restoration/expansion plan and the state budget, the one constitutionally prescribed duty of the legislature, which is due by July 1. Arizona Constitution, Article 9, Section 4.

Today marks the end of the temporary one-cent sales tax approved by voters, resulting in a substantial loss of sales tax revenue. State’s 3-year-old temporary sales tax ends today:

The tax has raised $2.7 billion during its three-year run, with two-thirds of it going to the K-12 system. The remaining third was split between health care and public safety.

With the expiration of the temporary one-cent sales tax, the corporate welfare tax-giveaway plan laughingly labeled a "jobs bill" that passed in a special session back in 2011 will now begin to phase in over time beginning with FY 2014 (July 1), further reducing state revenues:

Senate Bill 1001 (2011) is filled with tax breaks and incentives for businesses large and small. The legislative budget office estimated its cost at $538 million by 2018, when all the tax cuts are phased in.

Brewer's advisors acknowledged that there is no guarantee the changes would yield enough new investment and jobs to offset the anticipated revenue loss.

Several other business tax cut measures enacted since 2011 are also scheduled to be phased in over time beginning with FY 2014 (July 1).

Sen. John McCain's questionable friends

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I posted about this bit of American history years ago which has apparently disappeared down the "memory hole":

John McCain was a patron of Ahmad Chalabi, the exiled leader of the Iraqi National Congress (and a fugitive from justice in Europe) whom Neoconservatives like McCain supported and thereby lent his credibility.  Chalabi and his protege "Curveball" provided U.S. intelligence agencies and the Department of Defense with falsified information that the Neoconservatives relied upon to justify the invasion of Iraq.

Part 1 of the investigative report by Mark G. Levey explored "McCain's Role in the WMD Cover-up, John McCain and Charlie Black's War, How a senator and a lobbyist led the deception campaign that tricked the U.S."  Read the full report here Election Fraud News & The Money party.

Our boy John McCain is back at it again, this time supporting questionable characters in the Syrian opposition forces with links to al Qaida. McCain's motto: "Shoot first, ask questions later. Damn the consequences."

On Monday, John McCain, a supporter of U.S. intervention in Syria, slipped silently into the country to meet with opposition leaders. McCain: ‘We Can Help The Right People’ In Syria:

A State Department official confirmed that the department was aware of the trip, and in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, McCain repeatedly expressed his gratitude to the State Department, as well as to the rebel groups, for providing his security.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that Syrian rebels "do not understand why the U.S. won't help them" during an appearance Wednesday night on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360."

The 'less-than-do-nothing' Tea-Publican Congress is an epic failure

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Republicans frequently like to say that "government should run like a business."

This is a false premise on multiple levels, but for the moment, let's accept this premise as true.

Let's say that you need to hire someone to run your business. The first applicant is someone who says that he is "anti" your business, that your business doesn't work and is bad for America, and that he will do everything in his power to ensure that your business fails if you will only hire him and give him the opportunity.

Would you hire this person to run your business? Of course not!

Yet this is precisely what so many Americans do when they "hire" Tea-Publicans who are anti-government, who say that the government doesn't work and is bad for America, and that they will do everything in their power to ensure that government fails. "Government doesn't work, and if you elect me, I'll prove it!"

The TanMan, Weeper of the House John Boehner, is without equal the "Worst. Speaker. Ever." He presided over the "less-than-do-nothing" 112th Congress, which went down in history as the most unproductive ever. Now Boehner hopes to break his record for epic failure with the 113th Congress.

Anne Kim writes at the Political Animal blog, Already, the Most Unproductive Congress Ever:

During 2011-2012, Congress passed a mere 283 laws - fewer than a third of the more than 900 laws passed by the “do-nothing Congress” derided by President Harry S Truman in 1948.

The current Congress, however, is already on track to shatter the dubious record set by its predecessor.

Sixty-six days into the current session (Congress is again in recess this week), Congress has passed a whopping … 10 laws. Count them.

Why so much hatred for women, children, the disabled, and the elderly?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

From the Department of Economic Security (DES) standardized AHCCCS eligibility letter:

For a person over the age of 18 to be elibible for AHCCCS Health Insurance they must be in one of the groups listed below

-- A parent or relative living with a child under the age of 18, or age 18 and a full-time student, who is deprived of parental care and support because:

• A parent is continually absent from the home, or
• A parent has died, or
• A parent is physcially or mentally disabled, or
• A parent is unemployed or underemployed.

-- Age 65 or older -- referred to AHCCCS for a determination.

-- Under the age of 65 and is blind or has a disability -- referred to ACCCS for a determination.

-- Pregnant.

The person must also meet other program rules such as United States Citizenship, Qualified Non-Citizen, Arizona Residency, and income limits.

So typically a single mother head of household with children (or pregnant), or "dual eligible" disabled who qualify for both social security disability and Medicaid, or "dual eligible" elderly poor who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

When we are talking about Governor Brewer's Medicaid (AHCCCS) restoration/expansion plan, these are the people we are talking about.

Why so much hatred for women, children, the disabled, and the elderly? That is the question opponents of Gov. Brewer's plan should have to answer.

Frank Antenori and Ron Gould are desperate for media attention

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

When I opened the Arizona Daily Star this morning, I was treated to a Howard Fischer report on how former state legislators Frank Antenori and Ron Gould are planning a referendum drive should the Arizona legislature enact Governor Jan Brewer's Medicaid (AHCCCS) restoration plan. 2 want Medicaid issue up to voters:

Frank Antenori, who represented Tucson, said Tuesday he already has written commitments from 500 GOP precinct committeemen to gather signatures this summer to refer the issue to the ballot if the proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer is approved by the Legislature. He and Ron Gould of Lake Havasu City need just 86,405 valid signatures within 90 days of the end of the session -- whenever that happens -- to force the issue to a public vote.

* * *

House Speaker Andy Tobin said Tuesday he has given up on his own bid to make approval of Brewer's plan contingent on voter approval at a special election. Tobin said he cannot line up support in his chamber.

* * *

Antenori said, though, it should be no problem finding enough Arizonans to sign referendum petitions -- especially if the measure is sold as a way to kill "Obamacare.''

Just getting the signatures would be a setback for Brewer. The Arizona Constitution says any measure referred to the ballot cannot take effect until voters get a chance to either ratify or reject what lawmakers have approved.

The earliest that could happen is the 2014 general election. Antenori said that delay works in his favor.

Planned Parenthood wins defunding case

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear an appeal from Indiana in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals involving that state's attempt to defund Planned Parenthood from use of federal Medicaid funds on the theory of "indirectly subsidizing" abortions (state and federal law bans use of these funds for abortions).

The Indiana law is nearly identical to the Arizona law that seeks to defund Planned Parenthood on the same specious grounds, which is on appeal before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Arizona Republic reports today, Supreme Court declines to hear abortion case:

In a decision that may have implications for Arizona, the Supreme Court refused to consider Indiana’s appeal of a lower-court decision striking down its denial of Medicaid funds to health-care providers that perform abortions. The law was challenged by Planned Parenthood.

A similar Arizona abortion law is on hold pending appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A hearing in that case is scheduled for June 12.

* * *

The Indiana law aimed to deny Planned Parenthood funds from the joint federal-state Medicaid health program for the poor that are used for general health services, including cancer screening.

What did the IRS do wrong?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell continues his lonely crusade to convince the corporate mainstream media that the so-called IRS "scandal" is really no scandal at all, they were just doing their job as required by law.

In this segment of The Last Word on Tuesday night, O'Donnell had as his guests  Marcus Owens, former head of the IRS exempt organization division, and Julian Epstein, former counsel for the House Judiciary Committee. Transcript from Tuesday, May 28:

O`DONNELL: In the spotlight tonight, what did the IRS do wrong?

* * *

O`DONNELL: Joining me now are Marcus Owens, former head of the IRS
exempt organization division, and Julian Epstein, Democratic strategist,
former counsel for the House Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Owens, you have the job where all this action took place for
years, unperturbed, no investigations of anything. You have read the
inspector general`s report about what happened in your old what do you read
in the inspector general`s report? What do you think the IRS did wrong
here?

MARCUS OWENS, FMR. IRS DIRECTOR TAX DIVISION: Well, actually I
couldn`t find anything that suggested the IRS had acted inappropriately.
Acted perhaps ineffectively in a couple of places, but not inappropriately.

O`DONNELL: Well, I have to tell you, if you were on any other program
in America, you would have just shocked the audience. But I have been
saying that over a week now. I haven`t seen what they did wrong. They are
supposed to evaluate how much political activity a 501(c)(4) wants to
engage in. According to regulations of the IRS, it is specifically their
job to do that.

But do you think in the inspector general`s report that he kind of
just accepted this notion that there was something wrong with this basic
screening process that they have to engage in?

OWENS: Well, that is one of the fundamental concerns I have with the
report. It really doesn`t describe the process that has to take place with
the processing of applications for exemption. This whole idea of
targeting, that`s a pejorative term. In reality what happens is the IRS
opens the morning mail. And in the mail there will be a pile of
applications for exemption. Those applications have to be sorted. And the
most complex applications assigned to personnel with the most experience.

That`s simply the way complex legal work is handled. And that`s what
happened. And it was the sorting mechanism with the use of nomenclature,
rather than some other less flamboyant, I guess, or incendiary terminology,
was seized upon by the inspector general as somehow evidence of bad acts,
when in fact it was simply an effort to sort applications, those more
likely to trigger the need for careful evaluation of this concept of
political activity, which is a very difficult concept to wrestle with, as
the inspector general did suggest.

Words of wisdom from Walter Pincus on national security leaks to the media (Part 2)

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Washington Post's foreign policy and national security reporter Walter Pincus writes a second reality check for the Beltway media villagers bent out of shape over the Attorney General investigations into national security leaks (not to be confused with whistelblowing). Circling the media wagons:

When will journalists take responsibility for what they do without circling the wagons and shouting that the First Amendment is under attack?

I’m talking about the case of Fox News correspondent James Rosen.

The case should be described as a State Department contract worker who signed a non-disclosure agreement, yet is alleged to have leaked Top Secret/Special Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) in violation of criminal law. He also is alleged to have lied to the FBI.

Search for a story analyzing damage to intelligence collection caused by the leak and what will emerge are stories about the threat to the First Amendment and journalists.

The Minnesota Loon regrets to inform fact checkers that she is leaving

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I am sure that her decision had nothing at all to do with this, Bachmann campaign allegations attract attention of FBI, or this, Michele Bachmann under congressional ethics investigation.

In an early morning video today, the Minnesota Loon, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Crazyland), said she won't run for Congress again in 2014. Bachmann announces she won't seek re-election to a 5th term:

"My decision was not in any way influenced by any concerns about my being re-elected to Congress," Bachmann said in her video message. "If I ran I would again defeat the individual who I defeated last year."

Uh-huh.

The FBI has contacted two former staffers of  her presidential campaign, adding to the swirl of federal and state investigations looking into alleged financial improprieties by top officials in the campaign. The Federal Election Commission and the Office of Congressional Ethics are also looking into her campaign's activities and the Iowa Senate Ethics Committee has investigated payments to her 2012 Iowa campaign chairman, state Sen. Kent Sorenson.

The Farley Report: 5-28-13

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Time once again for The Farley Report from Senator Steve Farley (D-LD 9):

Huge congratulations to our Arizona students who graduated last week, including my two talented daughters -- in August my oldest is heading to Washington University in St Louis, and my youngest to Tucson High, and I couldn't be prouder. I know there are so many other Arizona families feeling the same way right now. 

Yes, May is nearly a memory. But there is still no sign of when or how the House takes up the Senate-passed budget, including Medicaid restoration. 

We do know that voters will not be facing the Medicaid topic in a special election, as House Speaker Andy Tobin had suggested last week. Today he publicly announced that he will be dealing with the issue within the Legislature, and he will continue to push for more transparency and accountability measures which could attract additional support among members of his caucus.  

That being said, it probably will not happen this week since there was nothing on the floor calendar for either House or Senate today. Word is that the House Appropriations Committee may hear something on Thursday, but there's nothing definitive just yet.