RTS Call to Action – Feb. 21, 2021
Following the Arizona Legislature isn’t for the faint of heart. But it’s an invigorating challenge if you consider the potential for making change—and that will take perseverance. Civic Engagement Beyond Voting is an Indivisible group, and Indivisible grew out of the tactics of the right-wing Tea Party; so I can use without shame the above quote from one of the TP’s antecedents. Don’t give up. We are making progress. It may not seem so, but we are.
The Legislature Weekly this week is full of Zombies—old, dead bills that have taken over the bodies of bills that are still moving forward. Let’s rally and put a stake through their heart once and for all!
ou may remember that we crashed the RTS system a couple of weeks ago,
so enter your thumbs-up and thumbs-down early in the day if you can.
Then set your alarm to check back (using the same link you used today)
to see what’s new. Remember, the Legislature Weekly is a “living document,” and Melinda Iyer is updating it continually–things move quickly at the Capitol this time of year!
The above information was taken from the Civic Engagement Beyond Voting’s “Zombie Alert”, 2/21/21
LD1 Legislators
Senator Karen Fann kfann@azleg.gov 602-926-5874
Rep. Judy Burges jburges@azleg.gov 602-926-3256
Rep. Qwang Nguyen qnguyen@azleg.gov (602) 926-3258
RTS HAPPY HOUR
Join Civic Engagement Beyond Voting for virtual Happy Hour:
Pre-register HERE
Sunday Feb 21, 4-6 pm
4p Legislative week ahead with Melinda Iyer
4:30p Legislator of the Week:
Randy Friese (D-LD 9)
5p Redistricting update from Deborah Howard
5:15: Surprise Call to Action
5:30: Open Mic / Discussion
Throughout: Breakout rooms for RTS training, Social RTS actions, information exchange
If the RTS Happy Hour above is not convenient, please join
Nicky Indacavitch and Kari Hull at the
SOSAZ Northern AZ Community Action Team Meeting
Tonight @630pm! Please join us!
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88581291143?pwd=ZnNCK1hyOVhxb1JGRXJxd0d3R3VxQT09
Meeting ID: 885 8129 1143 Passcode: sosaz
Training for Request to Speak > HERE (Thursdays @530pm)
Please sign into RTS before Monday 9am and take action:
Y – SB1558
Y – SCR1044
Y – HB2179
N – SB1109
N – SB1783
Contact lawmakers and make your calls – if you’ve already called this week, call again.
SB1118 – (STO Voucher Expansion) is scheduled for a Senate floor vote on Monday pm – Call or Email Karen Fann to OPPOSE.
SB1452 – (ESA Voucher Expansion) could move at ANYTIME. Call Speaker Rusty Bowers (602)926-3128 / rbowers@azleg.gov) and ask him not to assign this bill. Call Senator Paul Boyer (602-926-4173 / pboyer@azleg.gov) and tell him voters have rejected ESA voucher expansion that harms our schools.
#RedistrictingMatters
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) meets this Tuesday at 2:00. You can see download the agenda HERE. On the agenda is the link to watch the meeting via YouTube/GoogleMeet and to make public comment. The public comment link only works after they have opened for comments (Item 3 on the agenda). Commissioners now keep the comment link open through most of their meeting! If you wish to submit comments to the Commissioners, here are some suggested key messages:
On hiring: Please be open and transparent, and seek diversity. Require knowledge of both redistricting and Arizona!
To mitigate the impact of the Census delay: A) Ask Commissioners to use the time to become experts themselves on redistricting and Arizona. Seek out redistricting experts and others who can provide context for the job ahead. Conduct early hearings. Seek formal testimony from non-partisan advocacy organizations serving low-income, underserved, and minority populations, and B) ask them to look ahead and assist in every way to streamline “downstream” bottlenecks in the period between the final maps and the next election. Learn what local county elections officers have to do and to the extent possible help mitigate the impact of the Census delays.
Here are some further actions you can take:
1) Share the job description for the Executive Director to any and all who might be interested. We want the applicant pool to be diverse and knowledgable about redistricting and Arizona. And we want the process to be open and transparent. This position closes Friday 2/26.
2) There is also a posting for Administrative Assistant. Same drill – share broadly.
3) They have also posted RFPs for legal counsel and mapping — so if you run in these circles, please spread the word! Closing date: March 12.
Start a discussion on:
TWITTER @IndivisPrescott
Facebook (Public page) /Facebook (Closed group)
prescottindivisible.org
Info@prescottindivisible.org
Prescott Indivisible on YouTube
