The Senate voted 16-12 on Monday to impose new restrictions on spending on recall elections.
SB 1262 would apply certain limits on contributions to recall campaigns. Potentially more significant, those limits would kick in the moment any group actually decided to start circulating petitions, not when the petition drive was successful and an election is called.
"It would make it almost impossible for any recall to be successful,'' said Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix. "It is a process that allows the people to hold us accountable.''
Supporters of the measure, which now goes to the House, say it is important for the public to know who is financing recall efforts.
There has been only one successful recall of a state official: the 2011 ouster of Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa.
bubba posted at 10:45 pm on Tue, Mar 5, 2013.
Arizona lawmakers want to limit the contributions to recall campaigns that could remove them from office, while pushing to raise the limits on the bribes...er..ah...campaign contributions they receive from lobbyists that don't represent the interests of the public. We have the best government that money can buy. It's a shame we can't afford to buy some for ourselves.
Richard Mueller posted at 9:24 am on Thu, Mar 7, 2013.
Why does Steve Gallardo fear this bill? Could it be because his party wouldn't win?
Initiative contributions should be the same as campaign contributions; Bubba has it wrong as usual.
@Bubba; is ASU in the interest of the public under your assertion? They employ lobbyists. What about the city you live in? Did you know there's an entire taxpayer funded lobbying firm dedicated to representing on single public interest group?? Its called the League of Cities and Towns.
Do some homework before displaying to the world why requirements to vote should be tightened.
downtownresident posted at 5:47 pm on Thu, Mar 7, 2013.
Children in the legislature are self centered, self serving spoiled brats.
They make me sick to my stomach.
No ethics, honesty or fairness allowed in the legislature, just scum.
bubba posted at 8:53 pm on Thu, Mar 7, 2013.
"Supporters of the measure, which now goes to the House, say it is important for the public to know who is financing recall efforts"
.
It's important for the public to know who's financing our elected officials too. A.L.E.C., for example, is the perfect front to keep the contributors in the shadows. Sheriff Arpaio has huge out of state money that keeps buying him in year after year. We don't know who they are specifically either. Call these lobbyists what they really are. They are bribers that buy our Government one crook at a time.