Monday, September 9, 2013

Lobbyist Shakedown Bill -- Hearing tomorrow before Judge Brain

Tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, September 10) at 1:30pm, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Mark Brain will hear arguments, including on whether to dismiss the case and on motions to intervene as defendants in the lawsuit brought to challenge the Lobbyist Shakedown Bill (HB2593).

The parties have already stipulated to allowing Senate President Andy Biggs and House Speaker Andy Tobin to intervene. Goldwater Institute has also requested intervenor status, as has Republican state Sen. Steve Pierce and the Southern Arizona Conservative PAC.

Briefly, this suit was filed on July 30 subsequent to the Arizona Supreme Court declining to take jurisdiction in a special action. That action sought to have the issue decided solely on the merits of the legal question of whether the bill violates the Voter Protection Act. VPA was a successful citizen initiative put forward as a result of the state legislature passing bills to circumvent laws made as a result of Direct Democracy.

Of course, we know that the Republican dominated Arizona Legislature has long demonstrated an obsession with trying to frustrate the will of the voters, including (but certainly NOT limited to) efforts to subvert Independent Redistricting, refusing to authorize coverage of all of the citizens voters said should be eligible for Medicaid, and several times refusing to comply with the voter approved laws regarding marijuana.

Anyway, there have been a number of documents already filed in this lawsuit. You may read them, at your leisure, as I have uploaded them to my Google Drive.

In the meantime, Arizona Advocacy Network is asking supporters to attend the hearing in Judge Brain's courtroom.
We need friends to join us and fellow plaintiffs tomorrow, Tuesday, at 1:30PM to support our challenge against the legislature's unconstitutional campaign money bill, HB2593. Republican lawmakers pushed this through to override the voter passed Clean Elections Act and Voter Protection Act - Superior Court East Court Building 101 WEST JEFFERSON Rm 413, Phoenix.

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