Happy (well, at least a DETERMINED) Earth Day, Arizona!

As you know (from recent blog post), the REACTIONARY Arizona Legislature was working on imposing a plastic bag ban ban, SB1241. The ALEC-model bill passed and Scrooge McDucey signed it into law.

Fast forward a few weeks, and here we are on Earth Day. Scrooge McDucey conducts himself in office with utter disregard for the will of the voters on environmental, economic and educational matters. In light of his disrespect for Main Street Arizonans, local environmental activist Stacey Champion today established an IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign to manufacture and distribute reusable grocery bags.



McDucey clearly believes that for the next three years, he does not have to answer to the citizens of Arizona. That's not necessarily a correct assumption on his part. We can turn public perception and help people understand what plutocratic lawmaking and public policy means to everyday Arizonans.

Please join me in supporting this excellent campaign.

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When the legislature confronts controversial issues, if it seeks to actually represent the people and fairly legislate the matter, it may need (and often does incorporate) study committees to gather differing perspectives and insights. In this case, it was not done. SB1241 was changed late in the legislative session without adequate public hearing.

Instead, this was a raw power play on the part of the ALEC-owned GOP leadership to circumvent sound government (municipalities which have the duty and responsibility of managing trash collection and processing). SB1241, with dubious justification, preempted cities', towns' and counties' authority.

In other words, it was a REACTIONARY move contrary to the health and safety interests of Arizonans.

Therefore, in order to provide necessary study materials for the legislature and governor, I now ask you to begin sending your USED single-use plastic grocery bags to Scrooge McDucey, Andy Biggs and David Gowan. the more, the better. We can help them understand why it's important for municipalities to have the authority to properly fulfill their responsibilities.

Scrooge McDucey, governor
1700 W Washington St, 9th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Andy Biggshot, senate president
1700 W Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007

David Gowan, speaker of the house
1700 W Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007

One friend recently told me she was concerned that sending the bags to leadership at the capitol would prevent the bags from being recycled. However, if we adequately get the attention of political leaders at the capitol, we can eventually win and therefore enable Arizona cities and towns to make the best decisions on this important issue.

Today it is a case of the grasshopper pitted against the elephant. But tomorrow the elephant will have its guts ripped out. Le Loi, Vietnamese emperor, 15th Century.