Capitol Quotes: Oct. 28, 2011
This week's most outstanding quips, jibes and utterances.
GOP delegation making removal push
The congressional delegation has been calling Senate Republicans to gauge support for removing at least one of the redistricting commissioners, ostensibly with the hope of convincing Brewer to begin removal procedures by showing her there are the 20 votes needed in the Senate.
Shifting opinions on Pearce’s future
There is a growing sentiment among Capitol observers that Pearce is in serious trouble in the recall election, a shift driven in no small part by the abrupt change in the Senate president’s campaign strategy.
GOP lawmakers create panel to scrutinize redistricting maps
House and Senate Republican leaders announced this evening that they have each appointed three lawmakers to a committee charged with scrutinizing the maps created by the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission.
House passes bill to clear up confusion over control of Cragin Dam
The House on Monday approved a bill aimed at clearing up six years of what one Arizona lawmaker called a “ridiculous jurisdictional battle” over control of the C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir Project in Coconino County.
More delays in Bundgaard ethics trial
The trial involving whether Sen. Scott Bundgaard breached ethical rules could be pushed back to next year, when the legislative session starts.
Sen. Ron Gould, chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, said the committee needs to resolve a request by a Democratic senator who is asking the committee to adopt a less-stringent burden of proof in investigating Bundgaard.
8 GOP senators who voted against immigration bills get business backing
Eight of the nine Republican senators who bucked their party and played a pivotal role in defeating a package of immigration bills last session have the backing of the business community going into next year’s election.
Bundgaard ethics investigation postponed
The inquiry into whether Sen. Scott Bundgaard breached ethical rules involving his roadside fight with an ex-girlfriend has been put on hold pending the resolution of a separate complaint he filed against three members of the ethics panel.
Democrat seeks investigation of Pearce recall candidate
A Mesa Democrat is alleging that one of the candidates in the recall election targeting Senate President Russell Pearce is a sham candidate and is committing election fraud.
Pearce denies request to boot 3 ethics members in Bundgaard trial
Senate President Russell Pearce today denied a request by a lawyer for Sen. Scott Bundgaard to remove three members of the ethics committee from hearing a complaint involving the Peoria Republican’s February domestic violence incident.
Burges, Gould top Goldwater Institute report card
Conservative stalwarts Rep. Judy Burges and Sen. Ron Gould nabbed the top honors for their respective legislative chambers in the Goldwater Institute’s 2011 legislative report card.
Next for Bundgaard: Ethics hearing
The chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee said today he expects a complaint to be filed against the embattled Sen. Scott Bundgaard involving his domestic-violence incident.
But if one isn’t, Sen. Ron Gould said he’ll file it himself.