REQUEST TO SPEAK ACTIONS for week of March 8th

Please sign in on the Request to Speak (RTS) system to oppose SB1429, SB1485, HB2577, HB2691, and HB2714.

Please sign in to support HB2623 and HCR2034.

If you had an account with RTS previously, it is still active. Sign in, click Request to Speak, click New Request, then cut and paste the bill number, weigh in for or against the bill while it is still in committee. You can leave a short comment explaining your position. Click "no" on Do you wish to speak? - unless you want to speak in person. Click New Request to weigh in on the next bill. Repeat as needed.

If you do not have an account, go ahead and set one up, but someone will have to help you activate it as it requires going to the Capitol. Reach out to Civic Engagement Beyond Voting to sign you up.

https://www.cebv.us/rts.html

Monday, March 8th Senate Committee on Government at 2:00 PM HB2310 municipalities; counties; law enforcement budgets (NOW: executive orders; review; attorney general) (Roberts: Barton, Biasiucci, et al.) allows any legislator to ask Legislative Council to review presidential executive orders and recommend to the Attorney General to further review an executive order to determine the legality of the order. Just when Pres. Biden is using executive orders to reinstate the environmental protections removed by the previous administration's executive orders.  Tuesday, March 9th Senate Committee on Appropriations at 2:00 PM HB2577 appropriation; water supply study (Griffin: Bowers) appropriates $5 million for the study of additional water supplies. It is ridiculous to spend a bunch of money looking for additional water supplies (including in the Mississippi) instead of just seeking to conserve more water and investing dollars in that. OPPOSE. Every year Griffin proposes a similar bill. She probably wants to pump all of our ground water for developments (for her own benefit as a realtor). And perhaps transport desalinated water from the Gulf of California. We need to conserve our water here, not transport from other states - costing us more money and environmental harm.   House Committee on Natural Resources, Energy, and Water at 2:00 PM  SB1429 solid waste services; private provider (Townsend: Fillmore) prohibits a city from enforcing a criminal penalty against someone who refuses to retain private trash collection unless that private trash collection is retained by the city. The key concern with this is it will result in more illegal dumping, which is already a big problem. OPPOSE.  Wednesday, March 10th Senate Committee on Government & Elections at 9:00 AM SB1485 elections; voting center tabulation (now: early voting list; eligibility) (Ugenti Rita) removes voters from the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) if they do not vote an early ballot in two consecutive primary and general elections. This is the resurrection of a bill that died and would result in a significant purge of the PEVL, plus eliminates the word "Permanent" from the statute. OPPOSE. Senate Committee on Finance at 9:30 PM HB2714 environmental technology; biomass; forestry (Nutt) allows a company to qualify for the Arizona Commerce Authority's (ACA) Environmental Technology Assistance Program if it locates or makes additional capital investment in a facility that processes biomass and forestry industry products. This is a subsidy for biomass, which is not carbon neutral, pollutes, and does not focus on forest health. OPPOSE. Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy, and Water at 2:00 PM  HB2691 groundwater permits; technical correction (NOW: ADEQ; water quality program; WOTUS) (Griffin) creates an extremely weak surface water quality program that leaves out nearly all ephemeral waters such as desert washes and provides limited protections overall. OPPOSE. HCR2034 Arizona's outdoors; recreation; supporting (Cobb) recognizes the value of outdoor recreations. I am not sure why they are doing this again. They already passed a nearly identical resolution. SUPPORT. Senate Committee on Commerce at 2:00 PM HB2623 fireworks; use; overnight hours; prohibition (Shah: Bowers, Lieberman, et al.) prohibits the use of "permissible consumer fireworks" between 10:00 P.M. and 8:00 A.M. This is an improvement after years of the legislature creating a bit of a free-for-all on fireworks. SUPPORT.

Voting for the Planet

I probably don't have to remind you how important it is to vote this year. But it is especially vital to safeguarding our remaining environmental protections. This year Rep. McSally completely disregarded our requests to protect our waterways. In fact, she used her clout with the President to urge him to sign a bill allowing mines to dump their toxic tailings into our streams. See her letter to President Trump here.

Since President Trump has taken office, there have been so many assaults on our national parks, national monuments, wildlife refuges, endangered animals, the ocean, our water, and even the air we breathe. Our so-called representatives worked to repeal or dismantle hard fought for environmental protections: Clean Power Plan, Clean Water Act, Clean Water Rule, Methane Waste Prevention Rule, Clean Air Act, Emissions Standards, Endangered Species Act, to name a few.

League of Conservation Voters Scorecard

Here is a list of some environmental assaults that I've compiled since Pres. Trump took office, aptly named "Crimes Against Humanity." (I haven't had time to completely update it.  It's hard keeping up with them all!)

Putting a hold on the Clean Power Plan made Sustainable Tucson's advocacy team's fight against TEP's 10 gas-fired engines so much more difficult (if not impossible). Read my blog about our struggle here.

If you would like to help our efforts in encouraging TEP to transition quicker to clean energy, there are two things you can do. 1) Vote "yes" on prop. 127, the citizens initiative that requires them to transition to 50% clean energy by 2030. Read: Renewable Energy and Prop 127, in a nutshell by Paul Hirt.  2) Vote for members of the Arizona Corporation Commission who haven't been bought by the utility companies.

The Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter endorses Sandra Kennedy and Kianna Sears for the ACC.

Sandra Kennedy previously served in the Arizona Legislature and as a Corporation Commissioner. She is a strong advocate for solar energy and energy savings through efficiency and conservation, and she supports Proposition 127. Sandra has repeatedly opposed efforts to weaken Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard, including by voting against trash burning as a renewable energy resource. Sierra Club gives Sandra Kennedy a strong endorsement.

Kiana Sears wants to help put the Arizona Corporation Commission back on track to do its job to hold utilities accountable. She supports Proposition 127 and significantly increasing our state’s commitment to clean renewable energy such as solar and wind. She also wants to see the Commission do more to watchdog private water companies. Sierra Club is pleased to endorse Kiana Sears for the Arizona Corporation Commission.

You can read the Grand Canyon Sierra Club's voter guide here.

The Sierra Club didn't mention Mine Inspector Candidate Pill Pierce. But Blog for Arizona writer David Gordon wrote:

Democrat AZ Mine Inspector Candidate Bill Pierce Will Protect Us from Soil and Water Contamination

It is also important to vote for Arizona legislators who aren't trying to dismantle our environmental protections.

In the past year, Sustainable Tucson's advocacy team submitted Requests to Speak in response to several bills that would weaken the Arizona Water Law that requires proof that there is 100 years worth of water before applications for new developments are approved. Realtor Gail Griffin, the chair of the Natural Resources, Energy and Water committee, fought tooth and nail to weaken those laws so they can push through a new development that would drain the one river in Arizona that still flows year round: the San Pedro.

The Republican majority in our state legislature made it a priority to dismantle regulations. They even made it illegal for towns to ban plastic bags. (How's that for the party of "Freedom" and eliminating government overreach?)

The newest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). states that Climate Change is worse than first thought, but... humans can still prevent the worst effects. This election is an opportunity to make a real difference by voting for the planet.

Looking forward to seeing lots of "I VOTED" stickers - or better yet - "I voted for the planet!"

CALL TO ACTION on bad water bills in committee at the AZ State Legislature.

Have you signed up for
Request to Speak?

This is very important. I really need your help to encourage our legislators to oppose some BAD water bills being heard at the Natural Resources: Energy and Water Committee Monday and Thursday. (See details in Sierra Club's update below.) 

To request a Request to Speak account: http://www.cebv.us/

To sign on to Request to Speak: https://apps.azleg.gov/account/signon

Helpful hint: click on New Request in the left column. When they ask if you want to speak, click on no. (You aren't there to speak, right?)

SB1507, SB1515, HB2553, and HB2512 will allow for more development in areas without adequate water, such as Sierra Vista, robbing the San Pedro of its lifeblood. 

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I told our legislators that I am putting together an advocacy group to show support for sustainable policies and to fight bad ones. YOU are that group.  Please, submit a Request to Speak and make some phone calls. It is an uphill battle with Natural Resources Committee Chair Griffin being a real estate agent who is only interested in development - at the cost of our rivers. Our legislators will need support to stand up to her. We are that support.

https://www.azleg.gov/

Select the Senate's Natural Resources: Energy and Water Committee HERE to find Monday and Thursday's agendas.

We can be a force to be reckoned with. We need to be a force to be reckoned with. I will be putting a call out for more advocates at Sustainable Tucson's Civics 101 meeting Tuesday, Feb. 13th at 6 p.m. at Ward 6. Please, invite your friends to come too.

Read the details from the Sierra Club below. It's time to take action!

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Thursday at 2pm or as soon as they finish on the Senate floor, the Senate Natural Resources, Energy, and Water Committee will meet and consider any bills that it did not finish on Monday.

We are trying to get a hearing for SB1475/HB2581, the bills to establish an ecological water program. Next week is the last week for hearing bills in committee in the House of origin, so if you can, please send an email to Representative Bowers asking him to hear HB2581 and an email to Senator Griffin asking her to hear SB1475.

Please contact members of the Senate Natural Resources, Energy, and Water Committee and the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee and ask them to oppose bills that weaken water protections. SB1507, SB1515, HB2553, and HB2512 will allow for more development in areas without adequate water, such as Sierra Vista, robbing the San Pedro of its lifeblood.

Also, please sign in on the Request to Speak system and register your opposition to SB1507, SB1515, HB2512, HB2553, and HCR2008.

Sign in to support HB2348 and HB2480 to help promote cleaner air and better monitor the impacts of uranium mining.

If you already have an account on the Request to Speak system, sign on, then select "New Request," enter the bill number in the space that says "Search phrase," The bill should come up below. Select "Add Request." You will then be able to enter whether you are for or against the bill and whether or not you wish to speak. Remember, you can only use the Request to Speak system when a bill is on an active agenda in committee.

- Sandy Bahr
Sierra Club - Grand Canyon Chapter

If you don't have an account for the Request to Speak system, I encourage you to set one up. There are three ways:

1) To request a Request to Speak account go to: http://www.cebv.us/ or a more direct link.

2)  Select Request to Speak,  then select "Create An Account." To activate it sign up at the kiosk at the Capitol or at the Tucson legislative offices at 400 W. Congress, Suite 201.

3) Select Request to Speak, then select "Create An Account" then contact Sandy Bahr from the Sierra Club to help you activate it. sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org

Wanna do more?

Ask members of Senate Natural Resources,
Energy, and Water Committee
to vote NO on SB1507 and SB1515!
Chair. Gail Griffin, Chair, (602) 926-5895
Sen Frank Pratt, Vice-Chair, (602) 926-5761
Sen Sylvia Allen, (602) 926-5409
Sen. Judy Burges (602) 926-5861
Sen. Andrea Dalessandro (602) 926-5342 (I promised her we would show our support)
Sen. Sine Kerr (602) 926-5955
Sen. Lisa Otondo (602) 926-3002
Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai (602) 926-5160

Ask members of the House Energy, Environment,
and Natural Resources to Vote No
on HB2512 and HB2553.
Rep. Rusty Bowers - (602) 926-3128
Rep. Brenda Barton - (602) 926-4129
Rep. David Cook - (602) 926-5162
Rep. Eric Descheenie (602) 926-4846
Rep. Kirsten Engel - (602) 926-5178
Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales (602) 926-3278
Rep. Vince Leach (602) 926-3106
Rep. Paul Mosley (602) 926-4844

Speak out against bad water policy in Arizona

Dan and I attended Environmental Day at the Capital yesterday. We had a great time and learned a lot.  We met with Sen. Farley and Rep. Friese. They both seem supportive of environmental issues.  Sen. Farley seemed downright enthusiastic about them! They agreed to look into the bad water program amendments in SB1507. I mentioned that I am putting together a group to advocate for the sustainable policies. I wanted them to know that we had their backs if they supported bills protecting the environment.

While doing research on our legislators' position on water issues, Dan and I discovered that there were several bad water program amendments being heard at the Natural Resources: Energy and Water Committee on Monday, February 12th at 2 o'clock.

The SB1507 water program amendments by Sen. Griffin contain a number of provisions that the Sierra Club has concerns about. But they are especially opposed to the provision that weakens the requirements for adequate water supply for subdivisions outside of active management areas (AMAs)

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/CommitteeOverView?SessionID=119Natural Resources

Pretty much everything proposed by the Chair Griffin looks bad. She is a real estate agent set on weakening or dismantling water protections that hamper development. She wants to push through a huge development (the size of a town) near Sierra Vista that would empty the river and deplete their water supply.

Here is how you can help....

If you don't have one, please, sign up for a Request to Speak account NOW and then indicate your opposition to those bills anytime before the meeting is over Monday. Your position will become a part of public record.

It may take a day or two for Sandy to get you signed up for Request to Speak, so please sign up asap. It only take a few minutes.

To sign up for Request to Speak go to: https://apps.azleg.gov/account/signon 

Select Request to Speak, then select "Create an Account." Then send your password to Sandy Bahr from the Sierra Club to activate it. (Dan signed up at the capital.)

sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org


NOTE: Signing up for Request to Speak doesn't mean that you have to speak at the committee meeting. It means that you submit your position affirming or opposing the bill on their website. 

Sen. Andrea Dalessandro in pink.

I recently wrote a letter to Natural Resources Committee member Andrea Dalessandro urging her to vote no on SB1507. As a Pima County resident, you can send her an e-mail asking her to vote no on SB1507 and telling her that you will show your opposition to the bill on Request to Speak. It you are in her district (ld 2), your letter should have even more impact.

adalessandro@azleg.gov

I believe she wants to support environmental issues (she seemed pleased to see me up in the balcony of the chamber), but may need a show of support to oppose this bill. Lots of opposing comments on the Request to Speak may help.

It's time to build solidarity and show them we are a force to be reckoned with!

If you would like to learn more about Request to Speak or how you can advocate for more sustainable policies in Arizona, please, attend Sustainable Tucson's next meeting.

Civics 101 for Sustainable Advocacy 

Tuesday, February 13th at 6 p.m. 

Ward 6 office 

3202 E 1st St, Tucson, AZ