Domestic Policy

ICE Detainee Commits Suicide, and a Not-So Modest Proposal

Watch A clip from The Undocumented on PBS. See more from Independent Lens. I have very little to go on with the press release below from U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement concerning the "apparent suicide" at the Eloy Detention Center by a 24 year-old Guatemalan woman named Elsa Guadalupe-Gon ... More >>

Bill Montgomery Skewered in Puente March, SANE Defends Monty

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery took it on the chin today, as about 120 demonstrators protesting Monty's discriminatory policies toward undocumented workers marched more than 3.5 miles from Steele Indian School Park to Montgomery's offices in the county administration building in downtown P ... More >>

Arizona's Republican Congressmen Take the Jan Brewer Route on Immigration Proposals

The anti-immigration-reform crowd's broken record is currently playing in the offices of Republican Congressmen Matt Salmon, Trent Franks, Paul Gosar, and David Schweikert.The congressmen, like Governor Jan Brewer, insist that they can only even fathom immigration reform proposals if the border is s ... More >>

John McCain Hosts Town Hall on Immigration, Gets to Deal With Angry Nativists (Videos)

If you have an e-mail account, it's highly likely you've received a nonsense, political chain e-mail -- you know, FW:FW:FW: Barack Hussein Obama II has signed more secret orders than any dictator in human history, even George Soros!Based on the video footage of Senator John McCain's town hall meetin ... More >>

President Obama Talked Immigration Reform While Jan Brewer Got Stale at the Border

President Obama got some heavy applause during his bits on immigration reform during yesterday's State of the Union address, as he delivered points that were almost echoed in  Republican Senator Marco Rubio's response.Then, we read what seem to be some unintentionally hilarious accounts of Gove ... More >>

Gabrielle Giffords Featured in Gun-Control Ad: "Take It From Me, Congress Must Act" (Video)

The pro-gun-control organization headed up by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, released a video ad featuring a plea from Giffords for Congress to act on gun-control proposals.Giffords and Kelly announced the formation of Americans for Responsible Solutions last mo ... More >>

Paul Gosar Asks Remington to Pack Up and Start Making Guns in the Colt Single Action Army Revolver State (Arizona)

Republican Congressman Paul Gosar has asked Remington Arms to move out of New York, and start making guns in Arizona.Why? Because people in the Colt Single Action Army Revolver state "cherish our Constitution, including the Second Amendment," Gosar wrote in a letter to Remington's CEO.

Obama's Gun-Law Proposals: Yay or Nay?

Yesterday, President Obama released his plan to curb gun violence, a plan that consists of both executive orders and recommendations for Congress.As the "Colt Single Action Army Revolver" state, Arizona's probably got a lot of folks who are concerned about changing gun laws.

If Mitt Romney Won't Tell You Which Corrupt Tax Loopholes Need to Be Closed, We Will

Ben Quayle and David Schweikert Take Part in Forum, Say Mostly the Same Things but Use Different Words

If there are Republican voters in Arizona's Sixth Congressional District who still can't figure out which candidate's position on issues most closely match their own, yesterday's candidate forum in Scottsdale probably didn't help.Congressmen Ben Quayle and David Schweikert said mostly the same thing ... More >>

Papa John's CEO Warns Obamacare Will Mean Higher Pizza Prices -- Okay, Slightly Higher Pizza Prices -- Okay, Barely Noticeable Higher Pizza Prices -- But Still, GRRR!

Strong words of warning from John Schnatter, founder and CEO of Papa John's to those who love themselves a slice of chain-store pizza. Last week, Schnatter (a Mitt Romney backer) said during a phone call with shareholders that if Obamacare is passed, the new healthcare law (set to go into effect i ... More >>

Appeals Court Delays 20-Week Abortion Ban at Least Two More Months

See also: ACLU Trying to Stop 20-Week Abortion Ban; Says "No Court Has Ever Upheld" Such a Law See also: Federal Judge Upholds 20-Week Abortion Ban; Actually Cites Suspect Fetal-Pain Evidence The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals delayed the implementation of Arizona's law banning abortions after ... More >>

Arizona Congressmen Repeat "Lie of the Year" About "Obamacare," and Vernon Parker's Set to Run It on TV

The thought that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- also known as "Obamacare" -- is a "government takeover" of health care has been repeated over, and over, and over again since the spring of 2009.That thought earned the label of "Lie of the Year" by PolitiFact, a fact-checking outlet ... More >>

Jan Brewer Invited to Testify Before Senate Subcommittee on SB 1070. Governor's Apparently Not Thrilled With The Idea

​New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer sent a letter to Governor Jan Brewer yesterday, asking her to give testimony before his Senate Subcommittee on Immigration about Senate Bill 1070.According to a release from Schumer's office, the point of Brewer's testimony would be "to hear whether she ... More >>

Feds Pull 287(g) Authority From Maricopa County Jails Due to Civil Rights Violations

Janet Napolitano, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, announced today that she's yanking the 287(g) program, which helps identify illegal immigrants, from Maricopa County jails.​ U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano yanked the 287(g) program from Maricopa County jails today due to ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Opponent Mike Stauffer Comes Out in Favor of Proposed "Arizona Compact" for Immigration Reform

​As Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio stands by his hawkish approach to solving the illegal immigration problem, Scottsdale Lieutenant Mike Stauffer, the man who hopes to put an end to Arpaio's reign, has come out in favor of a more moderate approach to immigration reform.Stauffer, a life-long Re ... More >>

Greg Stanton, Phoenix Mayoral Candidate, Criticizes Opponent Wes Gullett for Advocating for Tax Increase for the Arts

​Former Councilman Greg Stanton, who is facing Wes Gullett in the November election for Phoenix mayor, is calling out his opponent for pledging to voters that he would champion a  tax increase to support the arts.Stanton calls himself a "strong and passionate" supporter of the arts, but says ... More >>

Russell Pearce Bashes Immigrants While Hispanics Are Saving Arizona's Economy

Senate President Russell Pearce claims illegal immigration costs taxpayers beaucoup cash; in reality Hispanics, legal and illegal, are aiding the state's economy.A boom in Arizona's Latino population has resulted in a powerful purchasing bloc that could help save the state's struggling economy.This, ... More >>

Another "Failed State" Article About Arizona Implies Everything Would be Rosy, Except for Conservatives

​ Arizona's conservative, anti-immigrant politics help make it a "failed state," says the Boston Review in a lengthy article published today. The piece makes plenty of good points, but gets watered down by writer Tom Barry's overly simplistic solution. If Arizona simply raised taxes, elected ... More >>

Fully-Auto Vs. Semi-Auto: The Dividing Line in Gun Control

  ​There isn't much difference between a fully automatic M-16 machine gun and the semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, both of which are readily available for sale in Arizona. Both shoot the same, high-powered .223-caliber ammo and can be loaded with large-capacity magazines of 30 rounds o ... More >>

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne Throws AG's Office into Crusade Against Obama-Care

James KingAttorney General Tom Horne has a few problems with President Obama's health care plan.​Newly sworn in Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced today that he's planning to do something his predecessor, Terry Goddard, refused to do: throw the Arizona Attorney General's Office into the ... More >>

Pete King, GOP Congressman, Gets Push-Back From Speaker Boehner on Gun Control Bill

Image: Fox News Channel's Happening NowPeter King, a Republican Congressman from New York, is being stymied by the House Speaker in his quest to pass a gun control measure​ A Republican congressman's idea to ban weapons within 1,000 feet of federal officials fell flat with House Speaker John B ... More >>

Peter King, GOP Rep From NY, Wants Guns Kept at Least 1,000 Feet From Government Officials

  Representative Peter King, R-NY​Saturday's mass shooting in Tucson has prompted another idea for gun-control legislation: Representative Peter King, a Republican from New York, says he plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit people from bringing guns within 1,00 ... More >>

Barack Obama's $600 Million Border Boondoggle

Obama: $600 million-tough on landscapers and nanniesSo President Barack Obama, who still talks a good game about "comprehensive immigration reform," has now signed a supplemental border security package worth $600 million to add 1,000 Border Patrol agents, as well as hundreds of new officers for Imm ... More >>

SB 1070 Injunction: If You're Running for Office in Arizona, it's Awesome

www.babble.com​If you're running for office in Arizona and haven't issued a detailed statement outlining your position on Judge Susan Bolton's decision to grant an injunction for certain parts of SB 1070, it's time to get to work. Today was a political opportunist's Christmas in July.No matter whi ... More >>

U.S. Department of Justice Files SB 1070 Lawsuit Against Arizona

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's Justice Department filed suit over SB 1070 todayAs was anticipated, the U.S. Department of Justice filed suit today in federal district court against the state of Arizona and Governor Jan Brewer over Arizona's new "papers, please" legislation, SB 1070.In the lawsu ... More >>

Max Fose, Former McCain Political Aide, Fights Medical Marijuana Initiative; Also Behind State Tax-Increase Initiative

Image: Max Fose's Facebook page PR hound Max Fose wants to deprive sick people of medicinal pot and tax them more at the same time.​A former political aide for John McCain has put up $2,500 of his own money to counter a medical marijuana inititiative that probably will be be on the 2010 bal ... More >>

On Ignant Racism and a Donkey Leaning Against a Cactus

Arizona House Approves Bill Allowing Residents to Own Guns Without Registration With Feds

www.motivatedphotos.com​ So far this session, the Arizona Legislature has considered or partially approved legislation that would allow people to build their own guns and ammo, allow university faculty to bring guns into the classroom, and allow anyone with a gun to conceal his or her ... More >>

No Booze, Cigarettes, or Fancy Cars for Welfare Recipients -- if State Representative Frank Antenori Has Anything to Say About it

www.photobucket.com​Welfare recipients may want to hurry up and buy that Bentley they've been saving up for because -- if state Representative Frank Antenori has his way -- there soon will be restrictions on how much money people receiving government assistance can s ... More >>

A Statewide Sales Tax Hike for the Arts — In This Economy? Are They Insane?

Rob Haney, Maricopa County GOP Chair, and His Anti-Mexican Rant to the Catholic Church

Maricopa County GOP Chair Rob Haney I've really got to wonder about these so-called "Christians" who spend all of their time hating on Mexican immigrants, legal and otherwise. I mean, did they ever go to Sunday school? Hear the parable of the good Samaritan? Read the Sermon on the Mount? Or an ... More >>

Doris Marie Provine @ Changing Hands Bookstore

Elephant Slayer

Napolitano deftly played politics this legislative session to fend off all GOP foes

Net Loss

The government killed TV, and Hollywood's begging it to revive the corpse

Chaff Storm

Are these guys into S&M?

Flashes

Disarm the Clueless

Our April 1 story was made up -- these responses weren't

Give Piece a Chance

Arm the Homeless stages a firearms giveaway for Phoenix vagrants.

Tax Rebels With a Cause

Flashes

Reform Fitting but Unlikely

Letters

Taken to the Cleaners

A family-owned company could go out of business because state Senator Russell Bowers has introduced legislation that would free a larger company from paying its share to clean up toxic groundwater

Babbitt's Interior

As the White House flips and flops, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt takes his environmental losses and victories in stride. Is his stoicism a necessary virtue or a political vice?

Trickle-Down Theory

Industries get a big say in rewrite of water-pollution laws; public may pick up tab

Money for Nothing

There's plenty of money in the Department of Environmental Quality budget. But crazy personnel rules keep the agency understaffed and ineffective.

SMALL RADIO, BIG STAKES

A BROADCASTER KEEPS AIRING LIBERAL VIEWS TO A TINY PART OF NORTH PHOENIX. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS HE'S BREAKING THE LAW.

THE POLLUTION ALL-STARS

IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE INDUSTRY FREE REIN OVER ARIZONA'S NATURAL RESOURCES, YOU'LL LOVE THESE POLITICIANS

THE NEW 'SCOPES TRIAL

FOES OF THE MOUNT GRAHAM OBSERVATORY CELEBRATE A KEY VICTORY.