Arizona Democratic Progressive Caucus

National alerts and brief bulletins on politics, politicians and progressive issues are getting to be commonplace, but Arizona information isn't.
At last! A vista of Arizona's progressive future!

Download Printer-formatted .pdf versions
vol1no1.pdf November 19, 2005

Arizona Progressive Vista - November 19, 2005
Volume 1, Number 1
Rev. Gerry Straatemeier, MSW
Arizona Democratic Party, State Committeewoman
Co-chair, Progressive Caucus
Independent Journalist, AFL-CIO

NEW PROGRESSIVE WEBSITE FOR ARIZONA
www.progressiveazdems.org goes LIVE today
Welcome! Take a Test Drive!

The Arizona Progressive VISTA Newsletter goes Live with Volume 1, Number 1.

SIGN UP TODAY For the Arizona Progressive VISTA!

You will receive an email version of this newsletter. Highlights of each edition and archive editions will be available on the website in .pdf file versions. Alerts will also be sent out whenever the necessity arises, especially when the Arizona Legislature is in session.

The sign-ins will be used to create a statewide, legislative district and precinct level organizing database to create for the first time in Arizona's history a means of generating a sense of community, a policy dialogue between the grassroots and leaders in public office, and momentum for progressive issues statewide.

The site is designed to be a tool for grassroots outreach and organizing for organizers that can transcend the distances of Arizona and the urban/rural divide.

PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS MEETS NOV. 19
Legislators to Speak

Today marks the second meeting of the Progressive Caucus of the Arizona Democratic Party's State Committee, which saw its initial effort in Flagstaff's July meeting, and successfully promoted the adoption by the SC of the resolution to ask the President to withdraw troops from Iraq as quickly and expeditiously as possible, and the form a election security commission.

AGENDA:

Rep Ted Downing will speak on the progressive legislative agenda for the upcoming legislative session

Rep. Ben Miranda will speak to the issues of major import to him in the upcoming session.

Introduction to Jeff Latas, who is running against Kolbe in CD 8.

AUDITAZ presentation on progress with voting security.

Resolution for introduction on the floor on voting security.

Salette Latas - Report on poor conditions at Walter Reed Hospital

OPINION
Democrats vs Republicans
Az Federation of Taxpayers & Goldwater Institute as Barometer

Last month John Semmens wrote a commentary in the AZ Capitol Times about the voting differences between Arizona Democrats and Republicans on issues of "taxes and spending." The more often a legislator votes for lower taxes and spending the higher his or her percentage on the scales of the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers and the Goldwater Institute.

He found that the average score for a Republican legislator is 69 percent. This is more than twice as high as the average score (27 percent) for a Democrat. The highest rated Republican was Rep. Russell Pearce, R-18, with 89 percent. The "highest scoring" Democrats were Sen. Ken Cheuvront, D-15, with 54 percent and Sen. Robert Cannell, D-24, with 46 percent. Cheuvront was "especially good on business issues," according to ultra-conservative anti-gay Republican Rep. Karen Johnson, in Phoenix New Times last January, who said she didn¹t mind sitting next to him, although he is openly gay, because "he doesn't push it." Shucks, ma'am!

The "lowest" score for any Democrat (highest in my book!) was 17 percent for David Lujan, LD-15. (Go David!) Must be an interesting district...

Mr. Semmons concludes, "Regardless of whether one shares the political philosophy of either the Goldwater Institute or the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers, this type of data is useful. It can serve as a guide for voters of varying political philosophies and objectives."

I couldn't agree more. Let's keep our eyes open as the legislative session begins in January.

Rev. Gerry Straatemeier
Democratic State Committeewoman
CO-Chair, Progressive Caucus

TIME: "Napolitano One of 5 Best US Governors"
A Mountaineer on the Political Rise:
From TIme Magazine

"Governing a hard-core republican state like Arizona is a steep proposition for a Democrat. Janet Napolitano likes the steeps. A former mountain climber who has hiked the Himalayas and summited Mount Kilimanjaro, Napolitano, 47, has pulled herself to the top job in Arizona‹and many think she hasn't stopped climbing yet. Positioning herself as a no-nonsense, pro-business centrist, she has worked outside party lines since coming to office in January 2003 to re-energize a state that,was previously marked by recession and scandal. In her first week on the job, Napolitano took on the state's budget-deficit crisis. She presented a proposal that eliminated the $1 billion deficit without any tax increases. She persuaded moderate Republicans to vote the bill through with the minority Democrats. Now Arizona's economy is booming, with a projected budget surplus of more than $300 million and 4% job growth, the second highest in the nation after Nevada.

By Terry McCarthy. Reported by David Schwartz/Phoenix

Arizona Watch Today¹s Summary Rev. Gerry Straatemeier, MSW Our goal is to inform progressives on Arizona issues as digests such as Alternet, Truthout, Common Dreams,Tom Paine, etc. do for national issues, so that we can be more effective in our work together. Arizona news and commentary of interest will eventually be hosted on the website of the Arizona Democratic Progressive Caucus (AZDPC - progressive voices within the Democratic Party State Committee) which is just now in design phase. Open eyes and insightful minds needed around the state. House GOP gains seat when Democrat Chase switches parties http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=2635 Ms. Chase¹s switch gives Republicans a 39-21 advantage in the House; the majority party, however, remains one vote shy of the 40 votes needed to override a veto. Republicans in the Senate hold an 18-12 majority, two votes shy of the two-thirds requirement for overturning a veto. Goddard wants legislator ousted (Clean Elections battle) http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1021smith21.html Attorney General Terry Goddard asked a court Thursday to toss a freshman lawmaker out of office for illegally overspending his publicly funded campaign budget to get elected in 2004. Prosecutors from Goddard's office will argue that Rep. David Burnell Smith, R-Carefree, is violating state law by refusing to step down. The Clean Elections Commission and an administrative law judge ruled earlier this summer that he overspent by $6,000 before his 2004 primary election victory. Smith said he will fight Goddard's motion and ask that the case be joined with a lawsuit he has already filed that challenges the constitutionality of the Clean Elections campaign finance laws. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 31. Joe Arpaio Stories http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/special_reports/arpaio/index.html Phoenix New Times has spent more than a decade reporting on the serious abuse of power by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio since he was first elected in 1992. Shamelessly promoting himself as the "toughest sheriff in America", Arpaio was once Arizona's most popular politician. But his popularity is plummeting as the public learns details of horrendous jail conditions, reckless police operations and Gestapo-like activities against political rivals. Addressing Navajo uranium contamination http://www.navajohopiobserver.com/ The Navajo Nation has gained an unexpected ally in the League of United Latin American Citizens, which invited Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr., to join its national president on the podium during a press conference here Sept. 29. Hector Flores, national president of the 76-year-old LULAC, introduced the President as a brother and relative of the Hispanic people. He said it was important to form a coalition with the Navajo Nation. "Because of mining of uranium on Navajoland, many of our youth and elders have been killed. Many are still ill today because there are no answers to the cancers it causes." Despite the The Din Natural Resources Protection Act (prohibits any further uranium mining or processing within the Navajo Nation) adopted by the Navajo Nation Council on April 19 and signed by President Shirley on April 29 in Crownpoint, N.M., two companies are seeking to resume uranium mining on Navajo land. They are Hydro Resources Inc., and Strathmore Minerals Inc. ALSO TUBA CITY -- Uranium victims heard updated news concerning proposed RECA (Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, P.L. 101-426 during the Navajo Western Agency Uranium Victims Meeting on Sept. 29 at the Tuba City Chapter House. Napolitano as popular as ever as an increasing number of Arizonans believe border and immigration are the top issues facing the state. http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=117562 An increasing number of Arizonans believe border and immigration are the top issues facing the state. But a new survey shows that hasn't hampered the popularity of Gov. Janet Napolitano despite claims by Republicans that she has been doing little to deal with the problem. The poll of 406 adults conducted within the last week finds that 70 percent of those asked believe the governor is doing a good job. That is the same as when the Social Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University asked the same question this spring -- and 10 points higher than spring of 2004. Illegal Immigration/Solutions: Arizonans want border crackdown http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=border_news&story_id=102105a1_illegal_day4 BUT, most Arizona voters do not want to force illegal immigrants to leave the United States if they are established in communities and have no criminal record, even though Arizonans believe that illegal immigrants are an economic drain on the state, according to a poll commissioned by The Arizona Republic. (related stories on this page - ³Arizonans among sponsors of immigration measures² the 3 main proposals & who supports them - http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=local&story_id=102105a5_illegal_day4_side) Initiative emphasizes classroom spending http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=117534 An initiative drive is being launched today to force Arizona schools to spend more of the tax dollars they get in the classroom. The measure would mandate that at least 65 cents of every dollar be used for direct classroom expenses. That includes not only teacher salaries but also textbooks, pencils and field trips. Backers need more than 122,000 signatures by next July to put the measure on the November ballot. If approved by voters, districts would have to begin boosting their classroom expenses by 2 percent a year beginning in the 2006-07 school year until they reach 65 percent. Redistrict verdict aiding Dems, Hispanics overruled http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=117520 Arizona Democrats and Hispanics are not constitutionally entitled to legislative districts that are more favorable to them, the state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. The judges, in an unusual unsigned opinion, rejected contentions by the coalition of Democrats and Hispanics that commissioners have to give as much consideration to competition as to other goals like complying with the federal Voting Rights Act. Attorney Paul Eckstein who represents the coalition, vowed to appeal to the state Supreme Court. In the meantime, Tuesday's decision leaves in place the district boundaries that were used in 2002 and 2004 to elect state legislators -- boundaries that have given Republicans an 18-12 edge in the Senate and, with the defection last week of Rep. Cheryl Chase of Kearny to the GOP, a 39-21 House majority. It also leaves the city of Flagstaff in the same district as the more populous Navajo Nation but separate from its own suburbs, and the Navajo nation separate from the Hopi. BLM sets meetings to map West's future energy corridors http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1021westenergy21.html Federal land managers take their first public step next week in plotting routes across the West for billions of dollars of future power lines and oil and natural-gas pipelines to connect the region's vast energy reserves with consumers in the nation's fastest-growing cities. Rev. Gerry Straatemeier, MSW Arizona Democratic Party, State Committeewoman, Co-chair, Progressive Caucus Independent Journalist, AFL-CIO <--!>