Comments on: Time to give our first freedom as much respect as the second http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2012/05/11/time-to-give-our-first-freedom-as-much-respect-as-the-second/ Your Inside Track to Arizona Politics Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:37:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Linda Brown http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2012/05/11/time-to-give-our-first-freedom-as-much-respect-as-the-second/comment-page-1/#comment-72443 Linda Brown Fri, 11 May 2012 18:59:34 +0000 http://azcapitoltimes.com/?p=45633#comment-72443 Dranias' tortured logic is enough to give us all migraines. He signs in as "neutral" then testifies in favor of or opposition to bills. Legislators rightly call him on it asking why he didn't sign in as "supporting" or "opposing" like everyone else does. He always says he's not there to lobby but to "educate." Bull-hockey. Why does he do this? Because donations to organizations that lobby as their primary activity are NOT tax deductible. Dranias does not want to play by the rules. Instead he wants to have special rules for GWI so he can continue to collect tax-deductible donations. No other advocacy organization in the state gets away with what the GWI does at the Capitol. Furthermore, often committee chairs will allow the "neutral" GWI to testify while shutting out other views from organizations that have followed the law, and registered as lobbyists. Dranias knows that if he lies loudly and brazenly he will get people to share his "outrage" at this phony injustice. It's been his MO for years and it's worked well for him. NICK--Stop peeing on our collective legs and telling us it's raining! Dranias’ tortured logic is enough to give us all migraines. He signs in as “neutral” then testifies in favor of or opposition to bills. Legislators rightly call him on it asking why he didn’t sign in as “supporting” or “opposing” like everyone else does. He always says he’s not there to lobby but to “educate.” Bull-hockey.

Why does he do this? Because donations to organizations that lobby as their primary activity are NOT tax deductible. Dranias does not want to play by the rules. Instead he wants to have special rules for GWI so he can continue to collect tax-deductible donations.

No other advocacy organization in the state gets away with what the GWI does at the Capitol. Furthermore, often committee chairs will allow the “neutral” GWI to testify while shutting out other views from organizations that have followed the law, and registered as lobbyists. Dranias knows that if he lies loudly and brazenly he will get people to share his “outrage” at this phony injustice. It’s been his MO for years and it’s worked well for him. NICK–Stop peeing on our collective legs and telling us it’s raining!

]]> By: J.C. Higgins http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2012/05/11/time-to-give-our-first-freedom-as-much-respect-as-the-second/comment-page-1/#comment-72439 J.C. Higgins Fri, 11 May 2012 16:08:53 +0000 http://azcapitoltimes.com/?p=45633#comment-72439 Lobbying: To try to influence legislators, especially in favor of a special interest. The Goldwater Institute has written legislation, pushed for legislation on their pet projects. They ARE lobbyists & should be registered as such. Lobbying: To try to influence legislators, especially in favor of a special interest.

The Goldwater Institute has written legislation, pushed for legislation on their pet projects. They ARE lobbyists & should be registered as such.

]]> By: Jacqueline O'Connor http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2012/05/11/time-to-give-our-first-freedom-as-much-respect-as-the-second/comment-page-1/#comment-72438 Jacqueline O'Connor Fri, 11 May 2012 15:56:50 +0000 http://azcapitoltimes.com/?p=45633#comment-72438 This is so typical of Arizona - dumb legislators. Ours admits they don't even read the legislation, they just do what the party wants them to do. This is so typical of Arizona – dumb legislators. Ours admits they don’t even read the legislation, they just do what the party wants them to do.

]]> By: Jacqueline O'Connor http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2012/05/11/time-to-give-our-first-freedom-as-much-respect-as-the-second/comment-page-1/#comment-72437 Jacqueline O'Connor Fri, 11 May 2012 15:55:17 +0000 http://azcapitoltimes.com/?p=45633#comment-72437 So, tell me who they are so I can burn their ears. LD 25 and LD 30 are of particular interest to me. So, tell me who they are so I can burn their ears. LD 25 and LD 30 are of particular interest to me.

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