Good Luck Governor Napolitano (Phoenix, Maricopa: health insurance, daycare, house)

[azjack]

"Can you enlighten me on some of the legislation that you approve of that Napolitano didn't?"

Really, there is a bunch of stuff, not all of which will make it through even with her veto pen gone. There are also countless compromises that have been made to satisfy her desires that I would prefer to not have been made.

I am being super general here, but I will throw out a couple of specifics. Really, each issue could have its own thread. Also, I have not fully thought out the possibilities, because I thought that she was certainly in through 2010 until a few weeks ago. I remember her full-day kindergarten push. It was an enormously expensive proposal that the Republican legislature would never have agreed to, but for tons of bubble economy cash flowing in and their desire to have their own items signed into law.

But what I really hope for is my small d democratic desire to return the right of the citizens to directly elect superior court judges. In all of the counties other than its two most populated ones, Maricopa and Pima, Arizona voters have the right to directly elect their judges. In Maricopa and Pima, those judges are appointed and merely face a yes/no retention process every four years. In 30-plus years, only two judges have not been retained, making the position essentially a lifetime appointment.

Russell Pearce and others have introduced legislation to return this right to all Arizona voters earlier this year. But it was a non-starter for several reasons, including certain veto if it ever made it past the committees. To be clear, there are tons of restrictions on judicial campaigns (google Arizona Code of Judicial Conduct) that prevent gutter campaigns for the bench, and Pearce's proposal would have folded judges into the clean elections campaign finance system.

Again, there are many other exciting (for me) possibilities that exist without a Dem governor and a much more conservative legislature. I recommend anyone interested in AZ politics to subscribe to the Arizona Capitol Times.

[gregandvicky]

Arizona will definately be a better place if the Gov. is in Washington or even further away.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by gregandvicky

Arizona will definately be a better place if the Gov. is in Washington or even further away.

I was hoping Janet would accept a position in Mexico, gregand.

[LoneStarJerry]

Since Janet did serve under Clinton as a U.S. attorney for Arizona she very well might be leaving, Obama sure seems to be going in that direction with a lot of his choices. The Democrats should have just nominated Hillary if they wanted a Bill Clinton third term, she would have made a lot of the same choices Obama has made already, but the advantage is she's a lot more experienced and level headed, and would have made a better choice for President.

[_Charles_]

Our own homegrown "open borders" advocate is being vetted to be Secretary of Homeland Security - unbelievable. Oh well at least it gets her out of AZ.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

I hope she doesn't go...we already have too many republicans in top positions in this state...we need the governor to at least be a democrat.

If you want a democrat governor you can move to NM or even Calif???

Nita

[HX_Guy]

California's governor is Republican.

...and if you want a Republican governor, you can move anywhere in the south.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by j760

Since Janet did serve under Clinton as a U.S. attorney for Arizona she very well might be leaving, Obama sure seems to be going in that direction with a lot of his choices. The Democrats should have just nominated Hillary if they wanted a Bill Clinton third term, she would have made a lot of the same choices Obama has made already, but the advantage is she's a lot more experienced and level headed, and would have made a better choice for President.

and didn't Obama run on the platform::CHANGE?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

California's governor is Republican.

...and if you want a Republican governor, you can move anywhere in the south.

Hello? Of course he isa registered Republican, but ask people in Calif if they really consider him that????

Nita

[HX_Guy]

Originally Posted by nmnita

and didn't Obama run on the platform::CHANGE?

Yes, change from Bush and the Republicans.