TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalArizona House Speaker declares controversial 'protest' bill dead
Gov. Doug Ducey and the Republican leader of the Arizona House declared dead Monday a controversial bill that would punish organizers of public protests that turn violent with racketeering charges.
Senate Bill 1142's demise came as it gained national attention and was widely panned as an unconstitutional attempt to silence liberal groups protesting the agenda of Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.
Its fate was sealed over the weekend, as House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, a Chandler Republican, fielded phone calls from the public to complain about the bill. The House leader's personal cellphone number is listed on his personal website.
As he listened to the callers, Mesnard realized their belief that the legislation was intended to curb free-speech rights outweighed any merits its supporters might put forward. He carefully read the legislation and by the time he returned Monday to his office, where there were more than 100 messages about the bill awaiting him, he decided he would kill the measure.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2017/02/27/why-gov-doug-ducey-wont-have-weigh-arizonas-controversial-protest-bill/98474882/
Arizona Senate defeats bill allowing guns in public buildings
For the second year in a row, a bill that would have allowed some guns into public buildings was defeated in the state Senate.
On a bipartisan vote, the state Senate rejected Senate Bill 1243 on Tuesday. The bill sought to allow people who have a concealed-carry weapon permit to bring their guns into public buildings and events, even if those places ban firearms.
There was no debate, and three Republicans voted with the 13 Senate Democrats to defeat the bill on a 16-14 vote.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, who tried to reprise a bill that failed last year. In Senate debate Monday, he argued "the little $1.98 sticker" that establishments post advising no firearms doesn't keep people safe.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2017/02/28/arizona-bill-gun-ban-public-buildings-concealed-carry-weapon-permits/98500716/
Scottsdale woman accused of shooting boyfriend in genitals
Scottsdale woman accused of shooting her boyfriend in the genitals told police she thought he was having an affair, officials say.
Delia Mary Flores, 53, is suspected of shooting her boyfriend seven times with a .32-caliber revolver, firing one shot into his penis and two shots into his scrotum, police said in court documents.
The man, whose name was not released, was expected to survive his injuries.
He told officers that he had been sleeping upright in a chair around 8:30 p.m. Saturday when he woke up to what he thought were fireworks until he felt "excruciating pain in his lower extremities."
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale-breaking/2017/02/27/scottsdale-woman-accused-delia-mary-flores-shooting-boyfriend-genitals/98484648/
Soaring pension costs still crippling Phoenix budget
Phoenix's city budget has become a paradox: The city has more money flowing into its treasury than ever before, but faces the prospect of deficits year after year.
City officials say the culprit most to blame is skyrocketing employee-pension costs.
In the next year, Phoenix faces sticker shock from its payments to the state-run pension system for police officers and firefighters. Costs are expected to balloon by $58 million, bringing the city's total pension tab up to $294 million of its general fund.
That means almost a quarter of all the money the city spends on its day-to-day operations will go toward pensions alone.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2017/02/28/pension-costs-still-crippling-phoenix-budget/98179552/
Texas Senate approves call for a Convention of States
The Texas Senate by a 20 to 11 vote gave intitial approval Tuesday to a call for a Convention of States to consider amendments to the U.S. Constitution to rein in federal power.
Senate Joint Resolution 2 was one of four emergency items called for by Gov. Greg Abbott in his State of the State Address.
The Senate also agreed to impose a state jail penalty on a legislator who violates his or her oath as a delegate to a potential national Convention of States to amend the U.S. Constitution.
The decision to impose jail time on a faithless delegate came on an amendment by state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, that state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, the chief author of SJR 2, strenuously objected to, saying it would inappropriately criminalize legislative activity. Birdwell said he thought the most serious penalty the Legislature ought to be able to impose on a member is expulsion.
Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/texas-senate-approves-call-for-convention-states/t9V60uB2XRAdtPl7pnR6zH/
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Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
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Current location: Bryan, Texas
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