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Capitol Quotes: July 15, 2011
This week’s most outstanding utterances, gibes and quips.
Proposal would consolidate municipal and state elections
GOP lawmakers’ annual battle with cities over what’s best for local government may be moving from the Legislature to the ballot box.
Solicitor general says no corporate contributions for pro-Pearce committee
A long-awaited opinion by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office reaffirmed state election officials’ opinion that the committee opposing the recall effort against Senate President Russell Pearce cannot accept corporate contributions.
Ghosts of Clean Elections: Remaining law could be obstacle to increasing campaign contribution limits
If voters choose to permanently scrap public financing for campaigns in November 2012, proponents of higher campaign contribution limits may find themselves trying to answer a tricky question: How do you further the intent of a law that no longer exists?
They’re hoping they don’t have to find out.
Multistate compacts in vogue, not ready for prime time in Arizona
The sheer number of legislative proposals that were introduced this year seeking to defy the federal government seemed to affirm Arizona’s credentials as a bastion of the states’ rights movement.
But nearly all of the bills that would have allowed Arizona to band together with other states in attempts to check federal overreach fell by the wayside.
Ask again later… Brewer’s vetoes have some GOP conservatives searching for answers
A string of vetoes is making some Republican legislators wonder if they should turn to Magic 8-Balls, tarot cards and tea leaves next session if they want to know what Gov. Jan Brewer will think of their bills.
Brewer’s vetoes draw ire from conservatives
Gov. Jan Brewer’s vetoes might have solidified her position to govern from the center-right, but it’s drawing ire from conservatives.
Arizonans give Brewer lots of advice on bills
Gov. Jan Brewer is getting plenty of advice on what to do with the pile of 168 bills awaiting her signature or veto following the end of the legislative session.
Senate draws line in rejecting ‘nullification’ bill
If the Arizona Senate was a car, its fuel source would be defiance of the federal government.
FantAZy Island: Secession-laced bills barging through the Legislature may fail, but they express state’s legacy of rage
Secession bills and resolutions are marching through the Legislature, even though their most ardent advocates concede most have little chance of actually being implemented.
Clean Elections case: The stakes are high for democracy
As part of an emerging pattern, another legal battle in Arizona soon will have the country buzzing again. This time, the attention won’t come from immigration policy, border security or John McCain. Instead, Arizona is about to affect the election law universe in a way that will ignite political pundits’ debates for some time.
Interstate compacts — A new tactic for challenging federal authority
Once employed for such mundane issues as inmate transfers, natural resource management and state boundary definitions, interstate compacts have suddenly become the latest tool for legislators looking to buck the federal government on a slew of controversial topics.
