Update, 8:30 p.m.: Brewer released a statement confirming she had called a special session: "The Arizona Constitution provides that the Governor has direct oversight of the Independent Redistricting Commission, as well as the ability to remove any member due to 'substantial neglect of duty' or 'gross misconduct in office.' I invoked that authority today with my decision to remove IRC Chairwoman Colleen Mathis, and I've called the Arizona Legislature into Special Session so that the State Senate may concur with this removal, in accordance with the Constitution. I recognize that my decision will not be popular in some quarters. I certainly did not reach it lightly. However, the conduct of the IRC - led by Chairwoman Mathis - has created a cloud of suspicion that will not lift. A flawed redistricting process has resulted in flawed district maps. As Chairwoman of this Commission, the buck stops with Ms. Mathis. Today's action isn't the easy thing, certainly. But I'm convinced it's the right thing. I will not sit idly-by while Arizona's congressional and legislative boundaries are drawn in a fashion that is anything but Constitutional and proper. Arizona voters must live with the new district maps for a decade.
Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer is preparing to call a special session in order to remove members of the state's independent redistricting commission, believing that the map unveiled last month gives Democrats an unfair advantage.
Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer is preparing to call a special session in order to remove members of the state's independent redistricting commission, believing that the map unveiled last month gives Democrats an unfair advantage.
Brewer slammed the commission's first draft after it was unveiled, and wrote a subsequent letter last week to commissioners, alleging "substantial neglect of duty and gross misconduct" on their part. Republican state senators are huddled in a caucus meeting this afternoon, working to solidify support for the 20 votes they need to remove the commissioners.
According to the Arizona Capitol Times, the delay in calling the special session is because Republicans haven't yet decided how broad they want to be in their inquiry -- whether they should target only the Independent Redistricting Committee chairwoman, Colleen Mathis, or seek to remove more commissioners.
The GOP caucus is far from unified, though, and Republican state Sen. Frank Antenori told the state's Yellow Sheet Report that he has votes to stop any removal measure if the special session doesn't include language to refer the measure to the state's February presidential primary ballot or to amend or repeal the IRC.
"I'm not going to let this freaking governor push me around. This is pure, stupid, stubborn Jan Brewer," Antenori told the Yellow Sheet Report.
The Yellow Sheet Reports also notes Brewer isn't in the state today, but is on a media tour to promote her new book, "Scorpions for Breakfast." The official call for a special session would then fall to Secretary of State Ken Bennett.
Democrats have been up in arms over Brewer's move, calling it a brazen power grab. The state party also plans to file today to form a committee to recall moderate GOP legislators who may vote with Brewer -- specifically targeting state Sens. Adam Driggs, Rich Crandall, Michele Reagan and John McComish.
Brewer had come out against the maps when they were unveiled at the beginning of October, and last week had written a letter to the commissioners raising the specter of impeachment. After an intense day of lobbying in the state Capitol, Secretary of State Ken Bennett, in his capacity as acting governor, issued the call for a special session. Brewer is out of the state on a media tour to promote her new book, Scorpions for Breakfast. "I recognize that my decision will not be popular in some quarters. I certainly did not reach it lightly. However, the conduct of the IRC - led by Chairwoman Mathis - has created a cloud of suspicion that will not lift. A flawed redistricting process has resulted in flawed district maps. As Chairwoman of this Commission, the buck stops with Ms. Mathis," Brewer said in a statement in advance of the vote. "Today's action isn't the easy thing, certainly. But I'm convinced it's the right thing. I will not sit idly by while Arizona's congressional and legislative boundaries are drawn in a fashion that is anything but constitutional and proper. Arizona voters must live with the new district maps for a decade." GOP state Sen. Frank Antenori, who is openly contemplating a bid for the House seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, had earlier in the day threatened to derail Brewer's impeachment push on the grounds that the special session should have referred the future of the Independent Redistricting Commission to voters next February. "I'm not going to let this freaking governor push me around. This is pure, stupid, stubborn Jan Brewer," Antenori told the Arizona Capitol Times. Yet, tonight's vote tally shows Antenori ultimately voted to remove Mathis. Democrats called Brewer's move a brazen power grab, and the state Democratic Party is planning recall campaigns against moderate GOP legislators who voted with Brewer -- state Sens. Adam Driggs, Rich Crandall, Michele Reagan and John McComish. "Today, Arizona's Republican politicians showed they are willing to violate the Constitution and the rule of law in order to perpetuate their own power. This baseless, unfair vote to impeach a volunteer citizen commissioner was the culmination of nearly a year of bullying and interference," Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Andrei Cherny said in a statement. "Every honest person in the state agrees that this is not about 'substantial neglect of duty' or 'gross misconduct in office.' It is about protecting the careers of Republican congressmen at the expense of good government and fair elections. This is a historic abuse of power without parallel in modern American history." The Arizona Democratic Party has also filed a suit in Maricopa County Superior Court challenging the legislature's claim that the commission is guilty of "gross misconduct." According to the Arizona Capitol Times, the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments will now have 30 days to choose three candidates to replace Mathis, and the four remaining commissioners must select a chairman from that group in two weeks. (David Wasserman contributed)
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/11/ariz-senate-votes-to-remove-independent-redistricting-chair-01
According to the Arizona Capitol Times, the delay in calling the special session is because Republicans haven't yet decided how broad they want to be in their inquiry -- whether they should target only the Independent Redistricting Committee chairwoman, Colleen Mathis, or seek to remove more commissioners.
The GOP caucus is far from unified, though, and Republican state Sen. Frank Antenori told the state's Yellow Sheet Report that he has votes to stop any removal measure if the special session doesn't include language to refer the measure to the state's February presidential primary ballot or to amend or repeal the IRC.
"I'm not going to let this freaking governor push me around. This is pure, stupid, stubborn Jan Brewer," Antenori told the Yellow Sheet Report.
The Yellow Sheet Reports also notes Brewer isn't in the state today, but is on a media tour to promote her new book, "Scorpions for Breakfast." The official call for a special session would then fall to Secretary of State Ken Bennett.
Democrats have been up in arms over Brewer's move, calling it a brazen power grab. The state party also plans to file today to form a committee to recall moderate GOP legislators who may vote with Brewer -- specifically targeting state Sens. Adam Driggs, Rich Crandall, Michele Reagan and John McComish.
Brewer had come out against the maps when they were unveiled at the beginning of October, and last week had written a letter to the commissioners raising the specter of impeachment. After an intense day of lobbying in the state Capitol, Secretary of State Ken Bennett, in his capacity as acting governor, issued the call for a special session. Brewer is out of the state on a media tour to promote her new book, Scorpions for Breakfast. "I recognize that my decision will not be popular in some quarters. I certainly did not reach it lightly. However, the conduct of the IRC - led by Chairwoman Mathis - has created a cloud of suspicion that will not lift. A flawed redistricting process has resulted in flawed district maps. As Chairwoman of this Commission, the buck stops with Ms. Mathis," Brewer said in a statement in advance of the vote. "Today's action isn't the easy thing, certainly. But I'm convinced it's the right thing. I will not sit idly by while Arizona's congressional and legislative boundaries are drawn in a fashion that is anything but constitutional and proper. Arizona voters must live with the new district maps for a decade." GOP state Sen. Frank Antenori, who is openly contemplating a bid for the House seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, had earlier in the day threatened to derail Brewer's impeachment push on the grounds that the special session should have referred the future of the Independent Redistricting Commission to voters next February. "I'm not going to let this freaking governor push me around. This is pure, stupid, stubborn Jan Brewer," Antenori told the Arizona Capitol Times. Yet, tonight's vote tally shows Antenori ultimately voted to remove Mathis. Democrats called Brewer's move a brazen power grab, and the state Democratic Party is planning recall campaigns against moderate GOP legislators who voted with Brewer -- state Sens. Adam Driggs, Rich Crandall, Michele Reagan and John McComish. "Today, Arizona's Republican politicians showed they are willing to violate the Constitution and the rule of law in order to perpetuate their own power. This baseless, unfair vote to impeach a volunteer citizen commissioner was the culmination of nearly a year of bullying and interference," Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Andrei Cherny said in a statement. "Every honest person in the state agrees that this is not about 'substantial neglect of duty' or 'gross misconduct in office.' It is about protecting the careers of Republican congressmen at the expense of good government and fair elections. This is a historic abuse of power without parallel in modern American history." The Arizona Democratic Party has also filed a suit in Maricopa County Superior Court challenging the legislature's claim that the commission is guilty of "gross misconduct." According to the Arizona Capitol Times, the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments will now have 30 days to choose three candidates to replace Mathis, and the four remaining commissioners must select a chairman from that group in two weeks. (David Wasserman contributed)
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/11/ariz-senate-votes-to-remove-independent-redistricting-chair-01