Capitol Quotes: August 3, 2012

“My bill never goes anywhere.” – Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe, describing his attempts to pass legislation requiring lawmakers to file disclosure statements when they vote on a bill on which they have a direct financial interest.

“It was done so abruptly. What kinds of authorities have been taken away from our police? What can they do now? What can’t they do?” — Rep. Michelle Ugenti, R-Scottsdale, referring to questions she wants answered in the wake of the Obama administration’s decision to end agreements that authorized local law enforcers to check people’s legal status.

“I hope she gets kicked off the ballot.” – Sen. Robert Meza, a Phoenix Democrat, explaining why he filed a third complaint with the Secretary of State’s Office alleging minor campaign violations against his LD30 Democratic primary opponent, Raquel Téran.

“The rule of 10 is a joke.” – Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, on state laws and legislative rules stipulating that a lawmaker doesn’t have conflicts of interest on bills that affect them personally if they are part of a class of more than 10 people and they don’t benefit more than the majority of the rest of the class.

“Because we have a citizen Legislature, most everybody has a job outside the Legislature, whether they are a teacher, a Realtor, an insurance agent, a professor – the list goes on.” – Sen. Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler, on conflict-of-interest laws for lawmakers.

“From the governor’s perspective, the Obama administration’s actions are not about science. They’re about politics. The administration has an ongoing war on coal, and that is what their decision appears to be based upon.” – Matthew Benson, a spokesman for Gov. Jan Brewer, on the EPA’s proposed new rules for three coal-fired power plants in Arizona.