Fwd: AZ Legislative Alert: Info about marches, and a preliminary bill "watch list"

[Sue Strobel]

Loaded with info-note the number to the Capitol-202-224-3121. Too often mailboxes are full-general # switchboard can direct you.

Note the bills on Private prisons, Guns, and Education. Thorpe is on a roll-again!.     Sue

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Anne Schneider <an...@mainex1.asu.edu>
To: anne.schneider1941 <anne.schn...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thu, Jan 19, 2017 11:15 am
Subject: AZ Legislative Alert: Info about marches, and a preliminary bill "watch list"

Hi folks.  There are marches all over Arizona on Saturday!  Ideas for action....

	The VUU / UUJAZ Arizona Legislative Alert   -  Week 12 of A 50 Week Plan   Inaugural Weekend: The Women March Shining a bright light for socially-just public policy in Arizona All opinions are those of the author, Anne L. Schneider, PhD
	January 19, 2017   Access printable PDF:  http://www.vuu.org/legislative-advocacy  If you want to be added to or taken from this e-mail list, contact legislati...@vuu.org
	This is not the weekend most of us had hoped for.  But we go on!   Women and men are converging on Washington D.C. and gathering in cities throughout the nation to renew a commitment to democratic governing institutions and to signal to the incoming administration that we the people of these United States will defend justice, equity, and compassion in our nation.  There are marches all over Arizona including Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, Sedona, Ajo, Yuma, Green Valley, Gold Canyon, Bisbee and Jerome!  Google women’s march and the city, or get details here or  here.   Action suggestions: ·         Attend a rally in support of democracy (in Washington D.C., in Phoenix, Tucson, or wherever you are (see below). ·         Attend a peace vigil in Phoenix, Tucson, or wherever you are (see below). ·         If rallies and peace vigils are not for you, then hold your own re-commitment to democratic governance by lighting a candle Friday evening or taking a walk Saturday morning and express your gratitude for democracy.  ·         Sign up for Sen. Flake and Sen. McCain newsletters, as well as your own Congressperson. The phone answering machines are too often full and sometimes even the e-mails get turned down!  “Town halls” or other opportunities to meet are not on the schedules.  Perhaps getting their newsletters will help.  Sign up on their web sites Web Sites:  Flake – www.flake.senate.gov  McCain – www.mccain.senate.gov   Find your state legislative district here:     http://azredistricting.org/districtlocator/   At the national level, hearings for cabinet members continue and so far, no votes have yet been scheduled.  If you have not contacted Sen. McCain and Flake, there is still time to do so. Two big issues stand out – the repeal of the Affordable Care act and Trump’s cabinet nominees, especially Jeff Session for Attorney General, Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State, Scott Pruitt for Environmental Protection Agency, Ben Carson for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Tom Price for Health and Human Services and Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education. The Atlantic has a “cabinet tracker” that provides updated information.  See contact info below.	c
	What’s Inside:    Calendar    How to Get There    Congress Contacts   Bills Watch List
	Inaugural Weekend Events (see “How to Get There” for Phoenix)   January 20.  Peace Vigil in Phoenix.  Solidarity event. #strongertogetheraz people!  This event will be in the Margaret T Hance Park. , 7pm-9pm.  Wear your safety pins. 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm   WHERE:  EAST SIDE of  Margaret Hance park. 1134 N Central Ave., Phoenix.   Please RSVP, www.strongertogetheraz.com   January 20 9 – 5 Tucson Teach-in on civic engagement and non – violent protest.  On UA campus, Tucson.  Then, a 5 p.m. march from Old Main to El Presidio Park and concert to follow.   Information here.   Open to all. Wheelchair accessible.   Jan. 21.  Women’s March on Washington, Saturday, Jan 21 (day after inauguration).  (Men are welcome too).  There’s a national page (google women’s march on Washington or use the link above) and also an Arizona page.    Jan. 21.  Women’s March in Phoenix  in support of the Jan. 21 March on Washington !   Phoenix march is 10 a.m. at the Capitol 1700 W. Washington Street, on the mall (east side of Capitol).  Get time and place here for all of them.  Here’s a link to the Tucson march.  Ajo  Flagstaff   Prescott   Feb 5.  Noon.  Reflections on White Privilege.  Led by Patrick Whorton, at VUU.   Feb. 20.  UU Day at the Legislature (9:30 to 3, State Capitol 1700 W. Washington). Registration is open!  Register at http://www.uujaz.org     March 31 – April 2.  UU District Assembly (Southwest) will be in Arizona this year and features 18 Immersion Excursions near or across the border in Mexico. Check it out here:  and register now: http://justiceda2017.weebly.com/registration.html,  Four southern Arizona congregations are hosts  in three cities:  Tucson, Amado, and Sierra Vista.
	How to get there!!  Women’s March and Other Events Inaugural Weekend Jan. 20-21  Phoenix   Saturday, Jan. 21.  Women’s March – Phoenix.  Begins 10 a.m. at State Capitol 1700 W. Washington.  ·         Option 1.  Just drive.  Use your GPS.  (see “parking” below.)   ·         Option 2.  Take the light rail from East Valley.  Suggest 8 a.m.  the stop at Apache and McClintock (there’s parking on SE Corner). OR, about 8:10 Dorsey and Apache. (Parking lots on NE corner and also just a bit north of corner on west side of Dorsey).   Get off at Central in Phoenix (just where the light rail turns north).  Take a cab or Uber or Lyft or walk.  It is about two miles.    ·         Option 3.  Car Pool.  There may be cars leaving about 8 a.m.  from VUU (6400 W. Del Rio in Chandler (just east of I-10 on Ray, turn south on McKemy, watch for VUU on the right about two blocks). ORGANIZE YOURSELVES PLEASE.  If you can offer a ride or need a ride, email legislati...@vuu.org or just show up at VUU 8 a.m. Saturday    (No guarantees, though, sorry).    Where to park at the Capitol.  Here’s a map.    https://gsd.az.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Parking.pdf   ·         Wesley Bolin Park (east of Capitol).  As you approach the Capitol on Washington going west, Washington splits into Adams on the north and Jefferson on the South.  Wesley Bolin Park is between with entrances off each.  When this is full… ·         East Side Office Building Parking Lots.  It is Saturday, so these lots should have plenty of room.  These start at about 9th avenue on the North side of Washington and then also look on the south side of Washington at 12th and 13th.  Turn on the side street to find the entrances.  ·         West Side Parking.  There are big restricted lots at 17th and on west, reserved for Senate and House members, but these might be open since it is Saturday!  And, there’s one if you turn south on 17th go past Jefferson and look to your right.    How to get to the Peace Vigil in Phoenix via light rail.   ·        From East Valley, take light rail, leaving Tempe (McClintock or Dorsey and Apache) about 6 p.m. Get off where the light rail turns north (Roosevelt and Central).  Walk to the Margaret Hance park.  Bring a non-flame candle.
	For previous issues of the AZ Legislative Alert, and printable versions of this issue, go to  http://www.legislative-advocacy  then scroll down.     CONTACT INFORMATION: U.S. CONGRESS.  These phone and e-mails should work!  If the Washington phone messages are full, call the local office.  The e-mail links go to the forms they want filled out, but the direct e-mails are being turned down. Also,  202-225-3121 is a direct line to the U.S. Capitol. You just give them your zip code and they’ll tell you who your representatives and senators are and connect you to whichever office your request. For people who still use land lines and want a toll free number, it appears that Bernie Sanders has put up a similar line. It’s 877-826-4394.   Phone – Washington D.C. Sen. John McCain - 202 224 2235  Sen. Jeff Flake -  202 224 4521 Phone- Arizona Office - Senator Flake - AZ Office: (602)-840-1891   Senator McCain - AZ Office: (602) 952-2410 E-Mail: McCain  https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form E-Mail: Flake    https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-jeff   Web Sites:  Flake – www.flake.senate.gov  McCain – www.mccain.senate.gov      [Alternative: When you dial 202-224-3121 you are directed to an operator at the Capitol switchboard. This switchboard can direct you to both senators as well as representatives. Find contact information…  U.S. Representatives:  WhoIsMyRepresentative.com
	Bills on the Watch List About 350 bills have been filed so far in the House and about 200 in the Senate.  The list below includes many that bear watching and that have some chance of being heard and progressing through the process.  (That is, they have implications for social justice and have been assigned to a committee).  This list is NOT comprehensive, however.  More information on bills including actual text can be found at http://www.azleg.gov/.  Click on “bill tracking” and enter the bill number.   Crime / Criminal Justice   ·         Private Prisons -  Several bills have been introduced by Rep. Andrade (D, LD 29) that would place limits on private prisons and one that would launch a study committee on costs and effectiveness of private prisons (HB 2101, 2102 and 2103). ·         Flag Burning  - In the Senate, Sen. Kavanagh (R, LD 23) has a bill being heard Thursday (1/19) that would make it a felony instead of a misdemeanor to steal an American Flag (SB1009)  ·         Hate Crimes – Sen. Kavanagh also has introduced legislation that would add “political affiliation” to the list of characteristics that can be charged as a hate crime (SB1022).  ·         Reducing Prison Time - Sen. Burges (R, LD 22) has filed bills that would reduce prison population (by providing for graduated sanctions for parole violations (SB1067), and allow prisoners to earn more “good time” toward release (SB1068).   You’ve Got to be Kidding:  Sen. Kavanagh has introduced a bill against panhandlers along streets and interstates.  This one (SB1051) would make it a crime to approach a car within 10 feet for panhandling unless the driver gives permission.  In 2015 Sen. Kavanagh introduced a bill making it a crime to push the walk button if the person had no intention of actually crossing the street.  The intent was to keep panhandlers from slowing traffic down.  The bill was later withdrawn.
	Democracy / Voting   ·         Electoral College Reform – The “National Popular Vote” compact bill (HB2277) has been introduced again this year (this time, by Salmon, D, 26).  In 2015 this bill was introduced by J.D. Mesnard, speaker of the House, and it passed the House in 2016 but not the Senate.   The National Popular Vote compact would require the state’s electoral college voters to cast their votes for the national popular vote winner instead of the “winner take all” of the state’s election.  When enough states have agreed to this so that the national winner is guaranteed 270 votes, then the compact would go into effect.  So far, there are 11 states with 165 electoral votes. This plan, if adopted, would have insured that Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump, would have won the 2016 election; as would Al Gore rather than George Bush in 2000. ·         Student Voting - The most egregious bill so far is HB2260 (Rep. Thorpe, Flagstaff) that says students cannot claim a dormitory as a permanent residence and therefore unless they have some other residence in the state they cannot vote in Arizona even if they are life-long citizens of the state!  This is HB2260.  ·         Ballot Initiative Contributions - Thorpe also has a bill that prohibits persons who are not residents of the state from making a contribution to a ballot measure and corporations are prohibited too unless they are registered in Arizona (HB2255).  This is intended to keep out-of-state groups from lobbying on Arizona ballot initiatives.  ·         Voting - Rep. Friese (D, LD9) is attempting to help Arizona voters with HB2049 that would require county election officials not to simply throw out ballots cast in the wrong precinct, but to count these ballots for all of the contests for which the person was eligible to vote. ·         Article V Convention – Rep. Mesnard (R, LD 17) has again introduced a bill for Arizona to join a compact of states calling for an “Article V” convention to force the federal government to have a balanced budget.  The convention also would set term limits, debt limits, and in other ways restrict the feds.  Most progressives and some conservatives are strongly opposed to Article V conventions.  Sen. Kavanagh has introduced a resolution (that would be voted on by the public) SCR1002 that also calls for an Article V convention to limit the power of the federal government.    Economic Justice ·         Safety Net bills – Several bills have been introduced that will reverse the decision in 2015 whereby persons were limited to one year (lifetime) of support from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Governor has said he is supportive (HB2183 and Hb2266).  Another aid to low income folks is HB2021. Current law requires a person to be working 20 hours a week to be eligible for child care assistance; and HB 2021 adds education (seeking h.s. or college degree) to the requirement so that those in school also are eligible.  SB1097 would add organizations seeking to end “family homelessness” to those eligible for funds from the lottery. ·         Minimum wages – Legislators continue to look for ways around the increase in minimum wage and sick leave benefits passed by the people in November.  Rep. Thorpe’s HB2124 allows less than state minimum wage (but meeting the federal wage) for up to 12 months when a person is in a training or apprenticeship program. ·         Health – SB1030 would require AHCCCS to cover occupational therapy.  Introduced by Barto (R, LD 15).
	Education   An excellent wrapup of education bills can be found on the ASBA (Arizona School Board Association) web site.  Dozens have already been introduced!  Here are a few highlights. ·         Banning Ethnic Studies / Social Justice Advocacy – HB2021 (Thorpe) would prohibit the teaching of ethnic studies as well as courses that advocate for social justice for persons of a specific race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.  (Really!).  However, Rep. Boyer, chair of the House Education committee has already said he will not call this bill up for consideration so it may be dead for this year.  ·         Student Tuition Organizations – Rep. Friese (D, LD9) has introduced several bills to restrict and reform the use of funds by STOs (HB2057 to HB2063) including freezing the cap or calibrating it to economic growth (the cap currently increases by 20% per year).  STOs take tax credit money and award it as scholarships to students to attend private and religious schools.  His bills also prohibit donor recommendations from being even one consideration in the award of scholarships.    GLBT Rights   ·         HB2294 (Kern, R, 20) prohibits AHCCCS from covering gender reassignment surgery.   Guns Again, Arizona Legislators are introducing bills to protect gun rights rather than restrict the use of guns.  Rep. Thorpe has introduced HB2118 that would have Arizona joining a state compact that could not enact any law that burden the transfer of firearms.  HB2117 defines the state militia not as all citizens but only those who own firearms and then reiterates that their rights cannot be infringed.  Sen. Griffin (R, LD14) has a bill that would prohibit local government from requiring anyone to search a national data base in order to transfer personal property (SB1122).  This is aimed mainly at sale of guns by private persons.  On the other side, Rep. Friese’s (D, LD9) HB2149 would keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill persons.
	Immigration   ·         In State Tuition for Dreamers – HB2119 permits the state treasurer to withhold 10% of state money to higher education if the Attorney General determines they have violated state law.  Reportedly, this bill is intended to stop higher education from providing in state tuition to “dreamers.” ·         Sanctuary Cities HB2121 (Thorpe) - This bill prohibits local government from refusing to cooperate with federal immigration officials (ICE) and requires cities and counties to share data, provide information, etc.  Implications of the bill if passed include local governments losing up to 10% of the money from the state (this money includes their sales tax which goes through the state treasury).  Also, punishes local government for being a sanctuary city or for having churches or others as sanctuaries.
	Taxation   ·         Tax credits and reductions – Most of the bills so far either expand tax credits or provide tax breaks of some kind. HB2006 and HB 2028 would cut property tax for elderly persons in half; HB2014 exempts legal tender exchanges (e.g., gold, silver) from sales tax; HB2137 grants a tax credit for medical preceptor training; HB2144 proibits collecting sales tax by producer unless they are in same tax jurisdiction as purchaser.  There are other bills intended to limit tax credits or repeal them such as HB2038 by Cardenes, D.  In 2016, such bills did not get a committee hearing.
	Reading The Issue Wonk?  A weekly progressive wrap-up from around the United States and the world.  Well worth the time as the coverage here about cabinet nominees is excellent with many links to other sources!  Sign up here. (It’s free).    Looking for someplace to spend a Sunday morning that is peaceful, joyful, progressive,  focused on life’s most important questions, and how to make the world a better place?  Try the Valley Unitarian Universalist congregation (6400 W. Del Rio, Chandler)east of I-10 on Ray Road.   Sometimes it is important just to elect more progressive people!  Take a look at the Arizona List.   Want to be better acquainted with Unitarian Universalism and its advocacy programs, check out UUJAZ!
	The 50 Week Action Plan will provide one or two ideas each week for progressive social action showing continued support for public policy and policy proposals that contribute to a more socially-just society.  We stand opposed to public policy and policy proposals that are disrespectful to any group or person, anti-democratic, unfair especially to the least advantaged among us, and harmful to the web of life on our planet.  (See previous weeks at  http://www.vuu.org/legislative-advocacy/
	The Arizona Legislative Alert is a project of the Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Chandler) and UUJAZ (Unitarian Universalist Justice Arizona Network).   Anne L. Schneider, Ph.D., is a retired political science professor and former Dean of the College of Public Programs at Arizona State University.     Contact legislati...@vuu.org to join or resign from the AZ Legislative Alert.
	Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation –  Senior Minister, Rev. Andy Burnette; Visiting Minister, Rev. Earl Holt (September through mid-November); Music Minister, Rev. Kellie Walker; Director of Life-Span Religious Education, Marci Beaudoin. Administrator, Sue Ringler.  Located: 6400 W. Del Rio Drive, Chandler, AZ   480 899 4249   www.vuu.org     For previous copies of the Arizona Legislative Alert, and for all weeks (so far) of the 50 Week Action Plan go to    https://www.vuu.org/legislative-advocacy.  VUU holds services each Sunday at 10:30.  You are welcome here! https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5PIX_N71xS6eW1oZlBJbXhHckU        Unitarian Universalist Justice Arizona Network --  Executive Director Rev. Lisa McDaniel-Hutchings; Justice Coordinator…. Alison Wood    Policy Coordinator,  Anne L. Schneider.  Board Members, UUJAZ: Sharon Travis, Liz Swan (Chair),Rev. Matthew Crary, Bobbi Bollinger.   www.uujaz.org.