Rapid Response

Rapid Response Team Call to Action 120423 – 1505

Distribution: Please forward this to all like minded individuals in your contact list

OK folks, the break is over. It was a very short break, but new information has surfaced indicating it is time again to call on hard-working, dedicated individuals to make their voices known regarding some important legislation.

A few days ago we had a massive response that pushed HB2826 over the top. We need to do the same for the three bills listed in this message. We need to melt their phone lines and crash their e mail servers.

Word of caution, of the four legislators listed, three (Reps. Lesko, Court, and Montenegro) are the “good guys”, so be careful how you phrase your requests. The only real obstacle is Speaker Tobin. We know why he is obstructing this legislature but it would be counterproductive to remind him of that. We just need to make sure he knows that there is wide support for these bills.

For full information on any of these bills, just click on the bill number.

Contact Information:

If you can contact only one legislator, please make sure it is Speaker Tobin. On e mails, make sure that the subject line includes the bill number and a statement of support, for example, “Yes on SB1083”. Same thing if you leave a phone message. However, if you wish to elaborate more, here are some very basic talking points:

HB2103: Even though this is a right to work state and union members can leave any time they want, the current system makes it very difficult for them to do so. This is a pro rank & file bill.

SB1083: We can no longer wait nor can we afford to have cross border criminal activity to go unchecked. This illegal activity threatens the safety and protection of the citizens of this great state. We must act now to protect our citizens, which is after all, the number one duty of government.

SB1502: Unfortunately, there are too many Washington politicians that want to surrender control of our lives to the United Nations, especially in the area of wacko environmentalism. We can not allow that to happen in Arizona.

Date: April 22, 2012 3:50:54 PM MST

Rapid Response Team Status Report 120422 – 1500

We passed the 100^th day of the legislative session and so far there is no adjournment date in sight. Because of the budget negotiations, and the governor’s absence from the state, legislative action has ground to a halt. We will issue requests for action when and if any of our priority bills come up for a vote or is sent to the governor. In the meantime, sit back, relax, and enjoy the lull in the action.

Here is the latest on some of the more interesting bills we are tracking:

BILL #	WHAT THE BILL DOES (Very Basic Summary)	STATUS REPORT	COMMENTS
HB2103	PUBLIC EMPLOYEES PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS TO BE RENEWED ANNUALLY INSTEAD OF BEING PERMANENT	PASSED IN SENATE. SEND BACK TO HOUSE WITH RECOMMENDATION FOR CONCURRENCE
HB2480	REQUIRES CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE TO PROVE THEY ARE QUALIFIED	PASSED HOUSE KILLED BY SEN. BARTO IN SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE	MAYBE NEXT YEAR
HB2571	CHANGES STATUS OF MOST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES FROM “COVERED” TO “AT WILL”.	PASSED HOUSE STALLED IN SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
HB2625	AS INITIALLY SUBMITTED, IT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED EMPLOYERS TO OPT OUT OF CONTRACEPTIVE/ABORTION MEDICATION COVERAGE IF IT GOES AGAINST THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS	IT IS NOW LIMITED TO “RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED” EMPLOYERS. ONLY A HANDFUL OF EMPLOYERS WOULD QUALIFY AND WOULD HAVE TO SPEND ADDITIONAL MONEY TO EXERCISE THE MEAGER PROVISIONS OF THE BILL	BECAUSE OF SO MANY MODIFICATIONS AND DEPARTURES FROM ORIGINAL PURPOSE, I AM RECOMMENDING A NEUTRAL POSITION ON THIS BILL.
HB2729	WOULD PROHIBIT FIREARMS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS ONLY IF BUILDING IS “SECURE”	PASSED HOUSE PASSED SENATE VETOED BY GOVERNOR	MAYBE NEXT YEAR
HB2789	REAFFIRMS LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT OVER ENERGY POLICY. HELPS PREVENT RUNAWAY WACKO REGULATIONS BY ENERGY COMMISSION	PASSED HOUSE AWAITING FULL SENATE ACTION
HB2791	LIMITS GOVERNMENT SPENDING, TO HELP AVOID NAPOLITANO ERA SPENDING BINGES	PASSED HOUSE AWAITING FULL SENATE ACTION
HB2800	PROHIBITS PUBLIC FUNDING OF ABORTIONS. APPLIES ONLY TO NON-FEDERALLY QUALIFIED ABORTIONS	PASSED HOUSE AWAITING SENATE ACTION
HB2826	CONSOLIDATES SOME CANDIDATE ELECTIONS TO ONE DATE IN NOVEMBER. SAVES MONEY. INCREASES PARTICIPATION	PASSED HOUSE; PASSED SENATE; PIERCE VOTED NO; SENT BACK TO HOUSE BECAUSE OF AMENDMENTS
HB2848	PROHIBITS STRIKES BY PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES. PROHIBITS THE PRACTICE OF “RELEASE TIME” WHERE BY TAX PAYERS PAY UNION MEMBER SALARIES FOR WORKING ON UNION BUSINESS	PASSED HOUSE; PASSED SENATE COMMITTEES; AWAITING ACTION IN FULL SENATE
SB1083	ESTABLISHES AND FUNDS THE AZ STATE GUARD (NOW THE AZ SPECIAL MISSIONS UNIT)	PASSED SENATE; PASSED HOUSE COMMITTEES; AWAITING ACTION IN THE FULL HOUSE
SB1182	“This state and any agency of this state shall not provide material support or participate in any way with the implementation of sections 1021 and 1022 of the national defense authorization act of 2012, Public Law 112‑81, against any citizen of the United States”.	PASSED SENATE; PASSED HOUSE; BACK TO HOUSE BECAUSE OF AMENDMENTS	SINCE SECTIONS 1021 AND 1022 OF THE NDAA SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDE U. S. CITIZENS AND LEGAL RESIDENTS, I AM RECOMMENDING A NEUTRAL POSITION ON THIS BILL
SB1275	TRUTH IN SPENDING BILL FORCES THE LEGISLATURE TO DISCLOSE CERTAIN SPENDING INCREASES. PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY	PASSED SENATE; HELD IN HOUSE RULES; FINALLY SCHEDULED FOR HEARING IN RULES
SB1449	MAKES SEVERAL CHANGES TO THE RECALL ELECTION PROCESS TO BETTER REFLECT THE WISHES OF THE DISTRICT INVOLVED	PASSED SENATE; PASSED HOUSE; IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
SB1507	PROHIBITS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS RIO DECLARATION (AGENDA 21)	PASSED SENATE; PASSED HOUSE COMMITTEES; AWAITING ACTION IN FULL HOUSE