PHXations—Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Searching for the ‘Moderate Middle’:
There’s a fundraiser tonight that looks to boost the fortunes of what might be considered the “moderate middle” in the next Legislature.
Greater Phoenix Leadership is throwing a no-host fundraiser at the Arizona Biltmore to enrich the coffers of 12 legislative candidates in races “whose outcomes could make or break the business environment next year,” according to the GPL invite.
Those pivotal candidates, in GPL’s view, are a mix of Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and newcomers. Business boosters attending the fundraiser are being asked to contribute a minimum $2,500, with the money split between the candidates.
The candidates are Republican state Senate candidates Rich Crandall, Adam Driggs, Bill Konopnicki, Sen. John Nelson and Michele Reagan, along with Democratic Senate hopeful Justin Johnson (son of former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson) who is hoping to oust GOP Sen. Linda Gray.
On the House side, beneficiaries are Republicans Karen Fann, Kate Brophy McGee, Rep. Amanda Reeve, Eric Ulis and Doug Sposito, and Democrat Rep. Eric Meyer.
The AP is reporting that Arizona is being sued over the legislatures raid on clean air funds:
A lawsuit has been filed challenging the Arizona Legislature’s raid on lottery money that has been earmarked for public transportation since the early 1990s.
The Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest says its suit responds to a budget bill passed during a special Legislative session in March. The bill halted yearly payments of $8 million to $10 million that had gone to public transportation since the 1990s.
The lottery money helped local transportation agencies expand service as a way to lower air pollution from personal vehicles and meet federal Clean Air Act requirements.
The lawsuit announced on Tuesday asks a federal judge to order the lottery money payments reinstated.
Grim tales from the drug wars in Mexico from the Republic’s Chris Hawley today.
The focus is on the cartel’s war against police officers in the country. Lots of gory details, and this accounting of the plain facts:
In all, 324 police officers and soldiers have been killed so far in 2010, compared with 511 in all of 2009, according to the Reforma newspaper.
“This is not beginner stuff,” said Samuel Gonzalez Ruiz, a law professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. “They’re getting more sophisticated and spending more time training.”
Also in the Republic: Joe Arpaio is planning another immigration sweep:
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says he plans to launch his 16th crime and immigration sweep on July 30, the day after Arizona’s new immigration law is set to take effect.
The sheriff’s office hasn’t revealed where it will conduct the sweep.
Accounts of the GOP gubernatorial primary last night;
*The AZ Daily Star’s Rhonda Bodfield.
*The Capitol Times AZ Jeremy Duda.
*The Payson Roundup’s Alexis Bechman.
I can’t find video of it yet; would appreciate the tip if anyone else finds it. The video can be found on the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections site.