April 21 , 2010

 

 

Activity here in Phoenix has been fast and furious, as we try to finish our business and adjourn.    I still have two bills pending in the Senate.  One (HB2616) should go through with no problem, but the other (HB2464) is on hold for the moment.  This is the bill, that with Sen. Gould's strike everything amendment, would require State Parks to enter into a lease agreement with Lake Havasu City for the operation of Windsor Beach.  The department still is contending that next year they will net over $400,000 from that operation which will allow them to keep other state parks open.  How they expect to go from under $40,000 to over $400,000 they cannot explain.  Mayor Nexsen has been trying to negotiate with the Director and has offered several options as to how any such lease could be structured, but the bottom line is they (Parks) don't want to give up any control.  If they can string out the discussions long enough, we will be out of session without our best negotiating tool having passed.  We will continue to fight for this.

 

Last week there were two very controversial bills up for final votes, and I voted in favor of both of them.

 

SB1108 would allow most citizens over 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.  The best argument I heard in support was, "Why do you need a permit to exercise a Constitutional right?"  Just last Saturday, someone said to me, "Now a police officer will have to assume that everyone they stop will have a gun!"  The chiefs and sheriffs that I have heard from tell me that officer training stresses that they should always do that anyway.  I heard from many thoughtful people who were opposed to this bill, and I gave their reasoning careful consideration.  But on balance, I believe that there is no more danger in allowing a law abiding citizen to have this right.  The Governor agreed, and has signed this into law.

 

SB1070 is the anti-illegal immigration bill.  I have received even more emails on this one, and I would estimate that they are running 20-1 in favor.  This was an unusual situation, in that folks on both the left and right were opposed -- for very different reasons.  Those who are more conservative were fearful that the provisions would lead to "real I.D." that they have fought against.  This even though the sponsor, Sen Russell Pearce, assured them this was not so; and agreed to an amendment in the House that he believed clarified this issue.  I'm still getting emails asking for opposition for this reason, even though the bill has passed both the House and Senate.  The other side believes that any additional authority given to local police will lead to discrimination and racial profiling against those who are Hispanic but either are citizens or here legally.  The bill is on the Governor's desk, and protests against her signing it continue here at the Capitol. 

 

Until next week,

Nancy

Rep. Nancy McLain
(602) 926-5051