Our Republicans don’t need to be in legislative session to assault us. No, all they need is a law and our money to attack us. Which is what they’re up to right now.
Here’s the situation: Our Republican state legislators didn’t much like the Independent Redistricting Commission this year. They tried to remove its head and then considered defunding it.
Neither happened, the maps the IRC drew were approved, and life goes on. For state Republicans, life goes on very nicely, since the state districts are even more Republican-leaning.
Still, the Republicans are furious. So they’re suing. Their target? Us.
That’s right. They’re claiming in federal court that the amendment to the Arizona Constitution voters approved 12 years ago — the one that took redistricting out of the legislature’s hands and gave it to an independent commission — is unconstitutional.
In other words, they’re arguing that our constitution is now, well, unconstitutional.
An interesting concept. Why now, why not 12 years ago when the Commission first acted?
According to Republican Speaker of the House Andy Tobin, “They [the people] felt the process was done correctly last time.”
Whoa, wait a minute there, pardner. I thought your argument was the law itself is unconstitutional. But here you’re saying the results are what counts, not the constitutionality of the law we — the taxpayers, the legislators’ constituents — passed in 2000.
But now? Well, we the people are the defendents in the case, clearly because our Republicans believe we the people made a constitutional booboo 12 years ago.
And they’re ready to take the case all the way to the United States Supreme Court.
Which could take years and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars.
Well, points for the Republicans here; at least they’re willing to put their money where their collective mouth is, willing to pay to defend their principle.
Except they’re not. Instead, they’ve created a neat little trick: They’re gonna have the defendents pay for the plaintiffs’ costs.
How so? How are we — the people the Republicans are suing — paying for their lawsuit? How does that work?
Here’s how: They legislated it.
That’s right. Our Republican legislators — in the tail end of the session — funded their own lawsuit in the state budget. And didn’t cap the amount.
Which means two things:
They can spend as much as they please.
And we pay for it.
Neat trick indeed.
Mike McClellan is a Gilbert resident and former English teacher at Dobson High School in Mesa.
Nellamik posted at 12:12 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
Whats that old saying? "Don't do as I do, do as I say". Only republicans would sue their own constituents and think its ok. Don't spend tax money on the good of the people send tax payers money like they want. How many more teachers, firemen, policemen have to get fired to make up the taxes these self serving anneal retentive republicans are going to spend on this suit. Vote them out!!!!!!
iamjoe posted at 12:17 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
where is the tea party when you need them and protecting the people and constitution oh wait its the same people with new branding.... what a joke.. hell with politics.. whoever has the most money wins...its plain and simple..
Engaged Voter posted at 12:50 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
Yes, where ARE all the Tea Party activists (especially those that like to pontificate on these forums)?
They should be up in arms about this...unless they're on the take.
Let's wait and see. ;)
Cerulean posted at 1:10 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
This is an excellent column Mike McClellan.
I find it disgusting. Absolutely, unforgivably disgusting.
downtownresident posted at 3:17 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
Don't forget Arpaio when talking about burning millions of tax dollar for an ego trip.
The mental midgets who run thhis state are like a bunch of spoiled brats, who want the whole cake, not just two portions. They whine about all the wrong things.
The voters put the redistricting where it belongs, OUT OF THE CONTROL of the children in the legislature.
It might get worse. The Pearce Brothers are both trying to weasel their way back into office. OH JOY, OH JOY.
Dale Whiting posted at 5:40 am on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
If we Republicans think we are democratic, why do we sit still and allow our elected Republican representatives to fight redistricting? It's "one man, one vote" a democratic ideal?
Oh, now I get it. Redistricting is a "big D" Democratic ideal.
sockratties posted at 9:00 am on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
Good column, Mike…
Politically, one must prepare for the future. Our legislators are self-serving but also conniving. The districting may be okay now but there may be a need to gerrymander in the future if demographics change. Always thinking ahead, not like their constituents. We forgive and forget and they’re banking on it, literally.
chuckles3 posted at 9:20 am on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
Self Serving corruption is not limited to one political party. Term limits would be a good start on the Federal and State level.
Accuracy posted at 4:54 pm on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
Mike McClellan wrote: “According to Republican Speaker of the House Andy Tobin, “They [the people] felt the process was done correctly last time.””
But, pertaining to the Arizona State Legislature that has filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC); Republican Speaker of the House Andy Tobin stated, "We're asking the Supreme Court to finally chime in on whether or not the United States Constitution can be usurped for federal offices, even by a vote of the people to allocate that responsibility to non-elected, appointed members of the commission," Tobin said.
In legal papers filed in federal court, attorneys for the Republican-controlled Legislature said the U.S. Constitution empowers only elected lawmakers to set congressional district boundaries.
The IRC commission didn’t have the authority to draw the state’s political boundaries in the first place, and the U.S. Supreme Court should eventually take up the question to settle the dispute for all states.
mrconservative posted at 6:15 pm on Wed, Jun 13, 2012.
I'm not sure what Mike is trying to say, but I rarely read his columns anyway. I think he needs to read "Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America", by Mark Levin. An excellent book.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 3:48 pm on Thu, Jun 14, 2012.
It took me all of 20 minute to find the merity of Mike McClellan's argument.
As usual Mr. McClellan's argument doesn't hold water.
The Arizona Voter Initiative creating the Redistricting Commission was ..."ILLEGAL"..from the get go. The US Constitution clearly states in Article I, Section IV.........."THE TIMES, PLACES AND MANNER OF HOLDING ELECTIONS FOR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES,SHALL BE PRESCRIBED IN EACH STATE BY THE...L.E.G.I.S.L.A.T.U.R.E.....THEREOF: BUT THE CONGRESS MAY AT ANY TIME BY LAW MAKE OR ALTER SUCH REGULATION EXCEPT AS TO PLACE OF CHUSING (SIC) SENATORS".
No Law has been enacted allowing the Citizens of States to alter such regulations as regarding: Congressional Districts.
The Arizona Legislature has every right to pursue the legality of the Initiative in Federal Court.
Mike McClellan = 0
US Constituion, Article I, Section IV = 1
pd posted at 8:03 pm on Thu, Jul 5, 2012.
Just a question -- I get the constitutional questioning . . . but weren't Republicans pretty much in control of the state legislature when this law was passed?