2010 quotes of the year

“There are many cues that go into voting, and the relative weighing of those cues gets played out in such a way that a legislator may actually vote for something that they personally opposed.” – Professor Fred Solop, director of Northern Arizona University’s Department of Politics and International Affairs, on why lawmakers sometimes support legislation they dislike.

‘I believe if you’re not at the table, you are on the menu.’ – Gov. Jan Brewer, on her decision to continue participation in the Western Climate Initiative.

“I have the ultrasound on the wall of my office, and there’s no doubt the baby is positioned to the far right.” – Rep. Laurin Hendrix, a Republican from Gilbert, speaking in a Jan. 11 floor speech about his soon-to-be-born grandchild.

“Just be thankful he’s a more accurate shooter off the court than he is on it.” – House Minority Whip Chad Campbell, a Democrat from Phoenix, in a floor speech Jan. 11, speaking to the wife of fellow Democrat Rep. David Schapira about the couple’s pregnancy and joking about her husband’s basketball skills.

“A lot of laws are ineffective, but we still have them on the books.” – Former Sen. Ed Sawyer, defending Arizona’s resign-to-run law, which he wrote in 1979.

“That’s a sale and leaseback, not debt.” – Republican gubernatorial candidate John Munger, on his $300 million proposal to sell and lease back additional state government buildings. Gov. Jan Brewer included a similar proposal in her budget plan.

“I can tell that if any Democrat votes for her budget as it was released, poor Democrat, man. Any Democrat who is willing to support the governor on eliminating health care for 310,000 people, I’ll make sure that they get examined by their constituents.” – Senate Minority Leader Jorge Garcia, on the possibility of Democratic lawmakers voting for Gov. Jan Brewer’s budget proposal, which includes a ballot measure that will give voters the opportunity to drastically roll back AHCCCS eligibility.

“I feel like a monkey on fire.” – Rep. David Stevens, on the hectic pace of the 2010 legislative session.

“There are two main issues I disagree with Barack Obama on: domestic policy and foreign policy.” – U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, speaking Jan. 23 at the Arizona Republican Party’s annual convention.

“I want to thank each of you who have chosen not to challenge me in the Republican primary this year.” – Secretary of State Ken Bennett, speaking at the Arizona Republican Party’s annual convention.

“It took her six years to mess up the Arizona budget and only a year to mess up the Department of Homeland Security. She’s getting better at what she does.” – House Speaker Kirk Adams, speaking about former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

“If we’re tilting at windmills, by God we’re going to kill us some windmills.” – Libertarian Barry Hess, referencing Don Quixote as he prepares to mount this third campaign for governor.

FEBRUARY

“We had problems from the beginning because we decided that we would not turn in somebody who is openly serving in the military that was a homosexual – that we knew to be a homosexual. We tried to be tolerant. It didn’t work.” – Sen. Jack Harper, objecting to President Obama’s plan to allow gays to openly serve in the U.S. military.

“I’m just delighted to hear that this person just didn’t attack Senator Harper, and that it wasn’t a horrible gay experience.” – Sen. Paula Aboud, a Democrat from Tucson, giving a sarcastic response to Sen. Jack Harper, who had told colleagues that he objected to sharing a room with a gay man while serving in the military.

“I have the most difficult constituency to represent, with the exception (of) if I were a lobbyist for al-Qaeda.” – Donna Hamm, founder of Middle Ground Prison Reform and an advocate for prisoners and their families.

“Without being financially mugged by the state, we will survive.” – Mohave County Manager Ron Walker

“Ask Chuck Coughlin. He was still trying to talk me out of running.” – State Treasurer Dean Martin, when asked whether people assumed in 2009 that he would run for governor.

“(I) never told Dean Martin not to run. Just warned him that his record would not stand up to his rhetoric if he decided to go through with it.” – HighGround’s response to Martin’s comment, via Twitter.

“You want a story about me? I’ll give you a story about me. But don’t come to me and try to paint my story with your brush.” – Sen. David Braswell, responding to the Arizona Capitol Times’ questions about his budget priorities and how he would have voted on the sales tax increase referral if he had been appointed to the Senate a week earlier.

“Babe Ruth taught me how to hit a curveball, Ty Cobb taught me how to slide into second base, and I used to go steady with Abner Doubleday.” – Former Gov. Rose Mofford, telling the House Commerce Committee Feb. 17 about her lifelong love of baseball while testifying in support of a bill that would help finance a new spring training stadium for the Cubs.

“You can vote yes, or you can stand and face the east in the morning and evening and salute the Environmental Protection Agency, because they own you.” – Rep. Ray Barnes, a Republican from Phoenix, speaking in support of H2442 on the House floor Feb. 16. The bill aims to require legislative approval before the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality can enter into a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gases.

“I support this bill because I’m pleased to see Rep. (Andy) Biggs finally regulating something.” – House Speaker Kirk Adams, a Republican from Mesa, speaking on the House floor Feb. 23 in support of H2246, which would allow the regulation and sale of some fireworks to the general public in Arizona. Right now, selling fireworks is banned statewide. The bill was approved 40-17 and has been sent to the Senate.

“When Marty Shultz and Chuck Coughlin go around shaking everybody down, it will be interesting to see how much they can generate.” – Tom Jenney of Americans for Prosperity, commenting on the fundraising capabilities of the “Yes on 100? committee.

‘Mumble louder, sir.’ – Rep. Jerry Weiers, telling Sen. Russell Pearce that he was having difficulty hearing the senator’s testimony during a committee hearing.

MARCH

“I get out-voted in the House and family reunions all the same.” – Rep. Matt Heinz, a Tucson Democrat, speaking on the House floor March 2 and introducing some of his family members who are Republican.

“I know there are people who are pro-abortion here, but I don’t think you ought to be going around killing 12-year-old kids.” – Rep. Ray Barnes, a Republican from Phoenix, defending a bill that would allow a handful of abandoned mines to be filled in with scrap tires, during a March 3 floor vote. In recent years, several children have died falling into the unmarked mines. The bill, H2290, passed 34-26.

“The public doesn’t view all taxes in the same way. They tend to support taxes that are going to be paid by somebody else.” – John Rivers, president of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, on his group’s efforts to find a new revenue source for AHCCCS.

“In medical school, we usually had more than 14 hours to go over things before tests.” – Rep. Matt Heinz, a Tucson Democrat, commenting on how little time lawmakers had been given to review the budget before it was heard in the House Appropriations Committee on March 9.

“The Bible tells us not to charge usury when you loan money to people. Essentially these people are taking advantage of people.” – Sen. Ron Gould, a Republican from Lake Havasu City, explaining why he voted against a bill that would’ve allowed the payday loan industry to stay in business.

“We’ve got a buyer on our western border that will buy all we can get because there’s so many little critters over that they can’t build anything.” – Gubernatorial candidate Owen “Buz” Mills, commenting on his proposal to build more nuclear power plants and sell the energy to California.

“I agree with everything Mr. Patterson said, until he started talking.” – Rep. Jerry Weiers, a Republican from Glendale, speaking on the House floor March 15 and responding to Rep. Daniel Patterson’s criticism of one of Weiers’ bills.

“I wouldn’t bet a whole lot of money on those lawsuits being successful. I think most of these arguments were settled as a result of the Civil War.” – John Rivers, president of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, on the lawsuit being filed by 13 state attorneys general against the federal health care bill.

“We really need Canadians. They like Arizona, and they come here. Do you know how hard it is to annoy a Canadian?” – Rep. Matt Heinz, a Democrat from Tucson, speaking March 24 in the House Appropriations Committee about some perturbed Canadians who contacted him to complain about the interstate highway rest areas the state closed to cope with budget shortfalls.

“If you have 100 people in a boat, all with the same opinion, 99 of them are unnecessary. I feel like I’m watching a Glenn Beck episode.” – Republican gubernatorial candidate Matthew Jette at a March 22 candidate forum in Tempe, where he disagreed with the five other candidates on tax cuts, illegal immigration, charter schools, health care and a host of other conservative issues.

“We’re still not all on the same page on that bill.” – Senate
President Bob Burns said, referring to ongoing talks between House and
Senate Republicans on H2250, the so-called “jobs bill.”

“This economic downturn gave the radicals the excuse they were looking
for to do what they’ve wanted to do for years – slash funding for our
public schools. That won’t happen on my watch.” – Attorney General
Terry Goddard, during his April 5 announcement of his candidacy for
governor.

“When you think of Tom Horne, do you really think of him going out and
kicking illegal immigrants in the ass or anything? No, you really
don’t.” – Pollster Bruce Merrill, commenting on whether illegal
immigration will be a factor in the attorney general race between
Republicans Tom Horne and Andrew Thomas.

“Being attorney general is a man’s job, and if Andy Thomas wants to attack somebody he should do it himself. He’s always hiding behind Jason Rose and… Barnett Lotsein” – Tom Horne, who is running against Thomas in the Republican primary for attorney general.

“According to Tom Horne, ‘Being attorney general is a man’s job.’ Really?” – Leslie Hall, campaign co-chair for Felecia Rotellini, the only woman who is running for attorney general.

“Her parents contacted the scourge of the earth, a trial lawyer, to write a threatening letter” – Sen. Jack Harper, a Republican from Surprise, speaking April 6 in the House Government Committee in support of an amendment to SCR1005 that would exempt public schools and teachers from punitive damages in lawsuits.

“I just don’t think it’s going to be what the Republicans think it’s going to be. I think they hit the high tide a few tea parties ago.” – Rep. Tom Chabin, a Democrat from Flagstaff, commenting on Republicans’ chances in the upcoming elections.

“If he doesn’t have the courage to vote his conscience, that’s Konopnicki’s problem, not mine.” — Sen. Russell Pearce, on Rep. Bill Konopnicki’s comments that he had problems with S1070, but felt obligated to vote for it nonetheless.

“The governor probably doesn’t want to see this thing show up on her desk. Then she avoids the whole issue. Then you don’t have that schizophrenic tax behavior.” — Sen. Ron Gould, a Republican from Lake Havasu City, commenting on the dilemma that Gov. Jan Brewer faces with her support for a sales tax increase and the possibility of a bill giving tax cuts to business landing on her desk.

“That, by itself, is not a jobs bill.”
— Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, on Gov. Jan Brewer’s “jobs package,” which doesn’t include the corporate tax cuts favored by the chamber.

“We’re doing what we’ve been doing. Nothing’s really going to change.” — Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, on how S1070 will affect his anti-illegal immigration efforst.

“They clearly had a difference of opinion, which is not unusual between a majority and a minority stockholder on the value of the stock.” — Camilla Strongin, campaign manager for gubernatorial candidate Buz Mills, commenting on a legal dispute in which a judge ruled in 2001 that Mills had defrauded his business partner.