Bad Behavior at Bullhead City Bar

8 Illegal Immigrants Arrested at Bullhead City Bar Serving Minors!

Less Bruising Than What I Do Now

League seeks roller derby queens

Senta Scarborough
The Arizona RepublicMar. 11, 2008 08:40 AM

Wanted: Women with a high tolerance for pain who are willing to bond with other girls from all walks of life and love to roller skate.And if you are neither shy nor afraid of breaking some bones in a brawl, then the Arizona Derby Dames, an all female roller-derby league, is looking for some "fresh meat" like you.

The league is holding try-outs Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Mesa Skateland, 7 E. Southern Ave. Women must be at least 18 to try out. Bring $5 to enter, as well as water and additional money to rent skates, if needed.

Leading the Pach...

The latest Pachyderm rankings are posted and once again, yours truly places in the highest category as a Reagan Republican with a perfect score of 100!

Interesting Idea...What Say You?

Group to offer nation's 10 worst teachers $10,000 to quite their careers! Why stop with teachers? Lets expand the program...any suggestions? I'm sure you have a few. Don't play shy now.

Polluters Beware!

The Vatican adds 7 new deadly sins including being obscenely rich (no worries there) and causing social injustice (no comments from the peanut gallery).

Caucus

Tomorrow's caucus calendar is posted on the Arizona State Legislature website.

The bills on the caucus calendar are bills that have made it through their committee assignments. The Republican Caucus meets regularly on Tuesday mornings to caucus the bills that have successfully made it out of committee the previous week. This is an opportunity to ask questions of the bill's sponsor or listen to others voice their concerns regarding the proposed piece of legislation. Sometimes caucus is the first time members read a particular bill, especially if the bill did not come through any of the committees on which they sit. With all of the bad bills floating around the legislature, I attempt to familiarize myself with bills before they get to caucus so that I have a chance to lobby against them, perhaps "killing" them before they see the light of day. After a bill is caucused, the bills are COW'd ( brought before the entire body of the House or Senate in Committee of the Whole), then voted on in Third Read.

The caucus calendar is a good calendar to follow as it is basically a great "heads-up" on what we are getting ready to vote on in with-in the next day or so. If you keep an eye on the caucus calendar, you will have time to shoot-off an email or make a phone call in support or opposition on an upcoming piece of legislation.

The Grades are In

B-

Average.

The Pew Center recently completed it's 2008 50 States Report and Arizona takes home a B-. The report examines and measures four key areas in state government - money, people, infrastructure and information. No surprising revelations in this report. Easy read if you are interested.

F.Y.I. ~ The Cost of a Proposal

To find out the potential estimated cost of a bill (fiscal note) visit the JLBC's webpage dedicated to this session's bills and their fiscal note.

JLBC fiscal notes usually use the "static" impact model as opposed to the "dynamic" impact model and because of this, can be at times, insufficient or incomplete in their projections. The static approach of evaluation the fiscal impact of a bill may be over or under estimated by ignoring the economic effects triggered by the bill.

JLBC ~ What's New?

Check out the new information on the Joint Legislative Budget Committee's "What's New" web page that includes a February 26, 2008 presentation on State and Local Debt. Also available are the monthly fiscal highlights (low lights) and an explanation on the state appropriations limit.

Sick...Cough, Cough, Cough...

Sorry for the lack of posts this week...I am on the mend from the sickness that has infected the Capitol these past few weeks. Thank goodness for the greatest D.O. I know, Dr. Kelli Ward (LHC)! Due to her urging, I got a flu shot in December and have successfully managed to stave off the flu where others have not been so lucky.

I have two posts I am close to completing and hope to have them up late tomorrow, after church in the morning and a Pregnancy Care Banquet tomorrow afternoon. Tonight, as I am no longer contagious, F & I are headed to Kingman for the last of three Lincoln Day Dinners held annually in our district. I am looking forward to seeing all of my friends from the many republican organizations in the area as I miss them tremendously when in Phoenix during session. Also, Congressman Trent Franks is the featured speaker this evening and I always enjoy listening to what he has to say!

Later!

Revenue Forcast Meeting

The next Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will be held in Senate Hearing Room 1.

The FAC is made up of academic, business and government economists and other knowledgeable individuals who will present their views on the state of the U.S. and Arizona economies over the next two years.

This is an essential element of the state's revenue estimating process. If you have an interest in this process, you may want to attend.

Live Proceedings at the House: Check It Out!

Click the post heading to watch live committee hearings in the House or Senate or peek in on Third Reads on the Floor to see how your legislator votes!

ADOT Public Meeting ~ HWY 95 Re-Alignment

Tuesday, March 4, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Lake Havasu Aquatic Center Gym
100 Park Ave.
Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86403

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Mohave County, and Lake Havasu City, in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration and Bureau of Land Management, have initiated a study of potential corridors in which to realign the portion of State Route (SR) 95 that passes through Lake Havasu City. SR 95 would potentially be realigned between Milepost (MP) 175 and MP191 to a new corridor east of Lake Havasu City.

The study will identify feasible corridors in which SR 95 could be realigned. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will be carried forward for further, detailed study. The purpose of the meeting is to gather public input on issues, concerns, and opportunities to be considered during the study. The comments received from this meeting will be used to help identify critical issues for the SR 95 realignment.

Study team members will be present to answer your questions and address your concerns. Maps of the project area and informational exhibits will be available for viewing at the meeting.

For additional technical information:
Elijah Williams, phone: (480) 503-2250
email: elijah.williams@epsgroupinc.com.

Written comments may be submitted by April 4, 2008, to
ADOT c/o Laura Nordan,
875 W. Elliot Rd., Suite 201,
Tempe, Arizona 85284
fax (480) 763-8601
email: laura.nordan@jacobs.com.

Americans with Disabilities Act: Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting Laura Nordan at (480) 763-8715. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. This document is available in alternate formats by contacting Ms. Nordan.

How a Bill Becomes Law

From the Arizona League of Cities and Towns website:

Arizona Bill is a three page pictorial that explains the process it takes for an idea/bill to become statute/law. Great explantation for kid and adults alike.

Statewide Water Advisory Group Meeting

Friday, March 14, 2008 is the next Full SWAG Meeting

Meeting Time is 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.
Arizona Department of Water Resouces
3550 N. Central Avenue
2nd Floor Upper/Middle Verde Conference Room

-----THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC-----

***If you have any questions regarding this meeting please contact:Michelle Moreno Direct Line: (602) 771-8530 orNan Flores Direct Line: (602) 771-8526

Water Adequacy Meeting in Parker

Arizona Department of Water Resources
3550 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85012
Telephone 602-771-8586
Fax 602-771-8689
Web Page: www.azwater.gov

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

ADWR has initiated an informal stakeholder’s group to discuss proposed rule amendments of the assured and adequate water supply rules related to modifications required by SB 1575, the “Adequacy Bill” recently passed by the Legislature.

Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Place: La Paz County Board of Supervisor's office meeting room
1108 Joshua Avenue, Parker, Arizona, 85344

The meeting is open to the general public. A copy of the agenda for the meeting is posted below.

AGENDA : Adequacy Rule Modification

Initiation of Informal Stakeholder process (February – June)

Initiation of Formal rule process (July – October, effective November)

Areas to be modified:
· Public Notice of applications (March)
· Criteria to include water supply projects completed in 20 years (March)
Criteria to estimate water demand for any projected use in the same GW basin (April)
· Aquifer specific criteria for physical availability (June)
· Cleanup/Comment response, & Summary (June - July)

Summary of Adequacy Bill (SB 1575)

Guidelines for Exemptions

Close

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting the Arizona Department of Water Resources at (602) 771-8500. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

Check Out My Voting Record

Check out my voting record on issues such abortion, regulation, taxes, children and family issues at Project Vote Smart. You can look up your other elected officials there too!

Last Call for E-Verify Demo

Dear Friends,

Over 1,000 people have participated in the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry E-Verify webinars since August. With the new employer sanctions law in effect, every Arizona employer is required to use E-Verify to confirm the work authorization of new hires.

The Arizona Chamber will continue to hold these sessions each Thursday at 11 a.m. through the end of February. Beginning in March we will offer the webinars on a monthly basis. The sessions will be at 11 a.m. on the following dates:

Feb 14
Feb 21
Feb 28
Mar 20
Apr 17
May 15
Jun 17

It is vital that every employer learn about E-Verify and sign up for the program in order to be in compliance with Arizona law. To register for a webinar, send your name, company information, and participation date to info@azchamber.com.If you have any questions about the webinars, the Arizona law, or E-Verify, please don't hesitate to contact our office.

You can also view the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Employer Handbook on our website at: http://zewola.com/fs/d:l/wwau4vjfif4z8m/wwj10e11e68jqc/1

Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
602.248.9172

Havasu Household Hazardous Waste Day

Havasu's Household Hazardous Waste Day is Saturday, March 1, 2008.

London Bridge Shopping Center, better known as the Swap Meet, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Household hazardous products will be disposed of safely and in most cases, recycled.

Items accepted include:
motor oil, anti-freeze, brake fluid, batteries, tires, pesticides, pool chlorine, paints, gasoline, acids, cleaners, bleaches, aerosol cans, propane tanks and other products labeled caution, warning, danger, toxic or flammable.

Please remember that items must be labeled and secured to prevent leaks.

Standard solid waste such as trash, furniture, appliances, rubbish and tree/brush trimmings will not be accepted.

Call the Lake Havasu City Fire Department at (928) 453-3313 for more information.”

Biofuel Crops Increase Carbon Emissions

Interesting article in the Las Angeles Times regarding biofuels is worth a read.

"The rush to grow biofuel crops -- widely embraced as part of the solution to global warming -- is actually increasing greenhouse gas emissions rather than reducing them, according to two studies published Thursday in the journal Science."