Remember when I told you about newly appointed Sen. Carlyle Begay?

From the Arizona Eagletarian on August 19, 2013:

First, just who is state Sen. Carlyle W. Begay? 

In the video, Begay describes an impressive educational and professional background. But some of the other things he says, and what members of the senate committee say in return, give us important clues to who he is and what citizens of LD7 can expect from him.

First, Begay mentions his father who has served as a long-time tribal (Navajo) liaison to Peabody Energy (which bills itself as the world's largest private sector coal company). Begay talked about how important it was to hear about those issues as he was growing up. No doubt father and son are both proud of each other.

On November 16, Begay asked me to give him a chance.

By the way, I met -- face-to-face for the first time -- Senator Carlyle Begay. It was good to shake his hand and greet each other. He mentioned that he hopes I'll give him a chance. I assured him I would and that I would be watching.

Here we are in January, nearly three weeks into the 2014 legislative session. What has Begay done for his constituents so far? Well, perhaps throwing a bone to Peabody Coal, he signed on as the lone Democratic sponsor on (Senate Resolution) SR1003. Along with 36 Republicans, Begay is calling for COMPLETE (10th Amendment) nullification of EVERY Environmental Protection Agency rule.

Leaving out the whereases, here's the resolution:

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona:
That the Members of the Senate support the nullification in the State of Arizona of all rules imposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Mrs. Agenda 21 herself, Judy Burges gets the honor as first sponsor of SR1003. I wonder if Begay is just oblivious to the Agenda 21 madness or what. Regardless, with his signature on this bill, he validates claims that he is a Republican plant.

Can he walk it back and actually conduct himself as a member of the Senate Democratic Caucus? I don't know.

I'm not going to say it's acceptable to throw a bone to your father's long-time employer just because you got appointed to fill a legislative vacancy. But does he really understand the ramifications of complete nullification of ALL EPA rules? Here's a sampling of the 24 different pages for finding those rules and resources for dealing with them, you know, to make the environment healthier and safer for Arizonans:

• Asbestos abatement
• Lead paint abatement
• Wastewater treatment
• Mercury

And of course, perhaps the most pressing for Arizona, Air Pollution. Back in the summer of 2012, in my blog post about crony capitalism, I cited a study showing that asthma, respiratory allergies and respiratory infections are essentially pandemic in our state.

It's important to realize that, at worst, SR1003 is symbolic, in that passage causes nothing tangible to happen. But the symbolism reeks of special interest cronyism.

So, Carlyle Begay, why do you represent the interests of Peabody Coal over the rights of the residents of LD7 to breathe clean air?