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Legislative Updates 2004To: Conservation Friends From: Sandy Bahr, Conservation Outreach Director, Sierra Club Date: January 16, 2004 Re: Legislative Update #1 Hi everyone! Welcome to the 2004 Legislative Session. It is looking like another challenging session for environmental protection. Big issues include the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Transportation Plan and just how much will go into concrete and asphalt and how much into transit, state trust lands and whether today’s livestock grazing lessees will be given what amounts to automatic renewal of their leases, water and water quality, indoor air quality, solar energy, and the usual collection of perfectly ridiculous bills. It’s an election year, so some of the bills are intended merely to make a point of some kind. Don’t forget Environmental Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 from 8:00 a.m. to Noon on the House Lawn at the State Capitol located at 1700 W. Washington in Phoenix. Please come learn more about the key environmental issues that will be addressed at the legislature this session, meet your legislators, meet other activists, and learn more about making your voice heard. We have the House Lawn at the Capitol reserved for issue presentations and briefings from legislators. From 8am to 9am we will have bagels and coffee available and invite legislators to join us. The program runs from 9am to noon and focuses on water, energy and public health issues. We will also have tables and displays from 8am to 12:30 p.m. I hope you will consider making appointments with your legislators that day. It is a great opportunity for them to hear from you. Even if you can come for only one or two hours, we hope you will participate. To r.s.v.p. or to ask questions, call Sandy Bahr at (602) 253-8633 or email grand.canyon.chapter@sierraclub.org. Also, the Arizona Conservation Alliance will be meeting for a Conservation Summit Reunion from 4-7pm at Oaxaca, 1516 W. Van Buren. R.s.v.p. to Susan Culp at (602) 277-3326. This week, please call or email Senator Mead and thank him for introducing SB1060 motor vehicles; gas guzzler tax. It establishes a tax on the sale or lease of new vehicles for non-commercial purposes. The tax rate decreases as the fuel economy increases. It ranges from 6.25% for vehicles getting 0-15 miles per gallon to 3.75% for vehicles getting over 50 miles per gallon. As you might guess, the Hummer H2 contingent is not too keen on the bill. Senator Mead can be reached at (602) 926-5261 or smead@azleg.state.az.us The bill may not go anywhere, but at least it gets the fuel efficiency issue out there. Here is what is coming up this week: Monday, January 19th — Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday House Environment Committee at 1:30 pm in HHR 4 HB2087 solid waste program penalties (Huffman, Gullett: O’Halleran) removes the $15,000 cap on the civil penalty for a person who violates regulation of solid waste. This is a good idea, because currently once the penalty goes beyond day 15, there is no further penalty and nothing to deter the violator from continuing the violation. HB2088 brownfields program (Huffman, Gullett: O’Halleran) is an emergency measure (this means it requires a 2/3 vote, that it is effective immediately upon signature of the governor, and that it is not subject to referendum). It changes the eligibility for brownfields cleanup revolving loan fund assistance. It broadens the activities for which the dollars can be used. HB2134 natural gas storage facilities; restrictions (Nelson, Arnold, Hanson, et al) is an emergency measure that restricts locating natural gas storage facilities within three miles of cities and towns, airports or military airports. This is aimed at the west Valley proposed facility. It seems perfectly reasonable. House Committee on Transportation at 3:30 pm in HHR3 HB2376 transportation excise tax; bifurcated election (Gray C., Johnson, Harper, et al) provides for the regional transportation plan tax election in November continues the tax for 20 years if the voters approve it. The dollars would be distributed as follows: 56.2% for freeways and highways, 10.5% streets, and 33.3% for public transportation. It would require that it be presented with three questions — yes and include light rail, yes and exclude light rail, or no to vote the whole thing down. Why not an option to exclude freeways? This is really unnecessary and neither promotes regional transportation nor an integrated transportation system HB2456 transportation excise tax; election (Pierce, Burton Cahill, Hershberger, et al) is an emergency measure which requires the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to call and conduct a county wide special election on May 18 for consideration of the same transportation excise tax as above. There is no separate question regarding light rail. The tax distribution is the same as above. HB2489 transportation excise tax; no rail (Biggs, Quelland, Stump et al) requires an election on May 18, but excludes light rail from the proposal. The tax would be distributed as follows: 73.3% for freeways and highways, 13.7% for streets, and 13% for public transportation (no light rail.) This is short-sited and clearly anti-public transit. If passed, it would virtually guarantee that Phoenix would go for an additional tax separately. Tuesday anuary 20th House Appropriations Committee at 1:00 pm in HHR1 Presentations by the School Facilities Board and the Arizona Department of Transportation Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee at 1:30 pm in SHR1 Presentations on tribal issues and water issues. SB1014 cotton; pink bollworm eradication; referendum (Allen, Brown, Jarrett, et al) is another emergency measure. It directs the cotton council to conduct a referendum to ask cotton growers whether or not to establish a pink bollworm eradication program including a fee. Better living through chemicals? Or perhaps in this case genetically modified organisms. SB1074 transportation excise tax; election (Blendu, Allen, Cannell R, et al) is the senate version of HB2456. SB1082 transportation excise tax; bifurcated election (Verschoor, Anderson, Bee, et al) is basically the same as HB2376. Wednesday January 21st Senate Committee on appropriations at 1:30 pm in Room 109 Presentations by School facilities Board and ADOT Thanks again for all you do! To email senators go to http://www.azleg.state.az.us/MemberRoster.asp and for house members to http://www.azleg.state.az.us/MemberRoster.asp#house. If you are not sure who your legislators are, please go to http://www.vote-smart.org/index.phtml or call the House or Senate information desks. If you're outside the Phoenix area, you can call your legislator's office toll free at 1-800-352-8404. In the Phoenix area call (602) 542-3559 (Senate) or (602) 542-4221 (House). Correspondence goes to 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890. For more information on legislation go to http://www.azleg.state.az.us/. To reach the Governor, call 602-542-4331 or toll free 1-800-253-0883. To email her, either click on this link or cut and paste it into your server http://www.governor.state.az.us/post/feedback.htm
Page updated: 01/17/04 Back to 2004 Legislative Updates page Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd, Suite 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 253-8633 |