Legislative Update – April 8, 2016
New Rule Restricts Reporter Access to House Floor
On Thursday Speaker David Gowan announced that he will no longer allow reporters on the House floor unless they consent to an extensive background check. Floor privileges have been granted to reporters for roughly the last 30 years with no problems. If they pass the check, they would be allowed back on the floor. However the reporter will be denied floor privileges if they are found to have certain offenses. Gowan argued that the new policy was simply about ensuring security and cited disturbances in the gallery that occurred last week after the Elections Committee hearing on the presidential primary controversy.
There was an hour long heated debated on the floor over the new policy. Majority Leader Steve Montenegro (R-Litchfield Park) argued that it was only about ensuring that those who have access to secure areas have been properly screened. Representative Reginald Bolding (D-Laveen) proposed that the rule is in fact the result of resentment that some lawmakers have about what the press writes about them.
Notably, the reporter who broke the story on Gowan’s per diem and travel expense reimbursement issue has a trespassing violation from 2014 for which he would be banned from the floor. Gowan is currently under investigation by the Attorney General’s office for the allegations. “This new protocol would have an adverse effect on a member of our reporting team that has written several stories that are critical of the speaker’s leadership. I would hope this is coincidence, but past experience leads me to believe otherwise,” said Arizona Capitol Times Vice President and Publisher, Ginger Lamb.
Don Stapley Announces Bid for CD5
Former Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley has announced that he will run in the Republican primary for the open seat in Congressional District 5. Stapley has strong name recognition within the district from the nearly 20 years he served on the Board. “The overarching theme of why I’m running — what I think I bring that’s different — is many years of experience with the philosophy and the underpinning principle that being a strong conservative never has to be (about) obstructionism. I’m pointing at my history and my ability to collaborate with people to bring about governmental solutions,” said Stapley.
Treasurer DeWit Not Running for Reelection
State Treasurer Jeff DeWitt has announced that he will not be running for reelection when his term is up in 2018. DeWit said that although he has enjoyed the job, he is tired of “politics as usual” and the “favor factory” mentality at the capitol. “I wanted to do a very good four years down here and, you know, there was always a part of me that wondered if I would stay a second term … but at the same time, I never want to become a life-long politician. They seem to catch some sort of disease, and I never want to catch that disease,” said DeWit. DeWit’s tenure in office has been controversial due to his vocal opposition to Governor Ducey’s K-12 funding proposal that utilizes state land trust money (Prop 123).
Ann Kirkpatrick Announces 1st Quarter Fundraising
Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick announced yesterday that she has just had her best fundraising quarter yet since challenging Senator John McCain. Kirkpatrick shared that she raised over $1 million in the first quarter of the year and has about $1.3 on hand. McCain’s office announced that they have raised $1.2 million in the same time and have $5.5 on hand.