The Veridus Weekly

In Focus
And so it begins…

On Monday, 90 legislators will make their way to the Arizona State Capitol, their new home-away-from-home for a period of time TBD.

Much like the first day of school, the first day of session is filled with excitement, uncertainty, anxiety and the adrenaline of not knowing what these next few months will bring. You’ll have a couple dozen freshmen, new to the Capitol and eager to prove their worth … the BMOC, returning members who’ve been roaming the halls for years… and the hordes of lobbyists, class field trips, reporters and protesters roaming the Capitol to ensure there’s never a dull moment.

At noon, the 53rd Legislature – First Regular Session will be called to order. The session begins with the swearing-in lawmakers, followed by a lengthy period during which legislators make personal points from the floor and recognize friends and family in the gallery.

The main event begins around 2 p.m. with the State of the State address by Governor Doug Ducey. This 30-45-minute address is his opportunity to lay out his expectations and priorities for the coming months and years.

You can guess the key issues: K-12 education, healthcare, jobs, California-shaming.... Will there be any big surprises? Contentious budget battles? New hashtags? Of course! On Friday, the Governor will flesh-out many of the details for his agenda with the release of his executive budget.

See you Monday! Ryan wins first full term as House Speaker

Washington Examiner

Paul Ryan on Tuesday easily won election to his first full term as House Speaker, demonstrating he has quieted past conservative discontent that led to the ouster of his predecessor, John Boehner.

House Republican Conference Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., nominated Ryan, R-Wis., and praised him for uniting the often fractious GOP and producing a six-part agenda on tax reform, national security, health care, welfare and other issues.

[...] Ryan's election was far smoother than Boehner's in 2015, At that time, 24 Republicans voted against Boehner, signalling a growing coup by a large faction of House conservatives who had grown weary of the GOP leadership's legislative tactics on spending and immigration reform.

But Ryan saw few defections from Republicans. By the time he secured the 218 votes necessary, only Rep. Tom Massie, R-Ky., voted against Ryan. Massie cast his vote for Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla.

Ryan was first elected Speaker in October 2015 after the abrupt decision by Boehner to retire early. He quickly earned the support of even the most conservative GOP lawmakers who regularly opposed Boehner.

Conservatives said they back Ryan because he includes them in the process, even if they don't ultimately support the resulting legislation.

Ryan, who turns 47 at the end of the month, will preside over a Congress poised to pass a GOP agenda into law for the first time since 2001. Republicans hold the majority in the Senate, while Republican President-elect Donald Trump will take office on January 20.

[...]

Read more HERE.

Opening Ceremony of the 53rd Legislature and State of the State Address

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Speaker-elect J.D. Mesnard today released information for the Opening Ceremony of Arizona's 53rd Legislature and Governor Doug Ducey's State of the State Address on Monday, January 9, 2017.

WHAT: Opening Ceremony of the First Regular Session of the 53rd Legislature and Governor Ducey's State of the State Address
WHEN: Monday, January 9, 2017

• 12:00pm –53rd Legislature Convenes
• 1:45pm Joint Session Begins
• 2:00pm State of the State Address Please note that all times after ceremony begins are approximate

WHERE: Floor of Arizona House of Representatives, 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix 85007

Parking: Satellite trucks will be permitted to park on 17th Ave, which will be closed to the public.

Read more HERE.

House Posts Policies for 53rd Legislature, First Regular Session

The following policies regarding introductory sets, committee hearings and floor amendment deadlines shall be in place for the 53rd Legislature:

1)       Introductory sets.  Proposed changes to state law are the sole responsibility of members of the Legislature.  As such, members and not lobbyists should be responsible for carrying, seeking signatures and dropping of measures.  Lobbyists should not be seen wielding introductory sets.

2)      The “custom and practice” of the House of Representatives has been to require bills to be heard by the first committee before being available to the second committee.  That custom is too restrictive for a busy deliberative body.  If a measure has multiple assignments, excluding the Rules Committee, any assigned Committee can hold a hearing at any time.  This new custom parallels the Senate practice.

3)       Floor amendments will be due in the Chief Clerk's Office by 4 PM the day prior to the COW.  At that time, staff will also distribute copies to Jan Hendry and Carmen Velarde.  If an amendment is not turned in by 4 PM, it will be held on the Calendar (exceptions to this will be few and far between).
Note:  The amendments will be considered confidential from other members and staff until 10 AM the next day.  The Chief Clerk’s office will not release COW amendments to the public until the COW calendar has been called to order on the floor.

If for some reason the Calendar does not come out until one day prior to COW, then all amendments will be due by Noon the day of COW.  You may also distribute to members and staff at that time.  

Veridus clients in the news
 
East Valley Tribune

Uber will be setting up shop for its fleet of self-driving cars in Tempe, according to Gov. Doug Ducey’s office.

Ducey on social media aggressively wooed the ride-hailing technology company last week as it tussled with California state transportation officials over whether a permit was needed to test self-driving cars in San Francisco.

[...] Uber took California regulators by surprise when it suddenly began testing self-driving Volvos on San Francisco streets. State officials insisted that Uber needed to apply for and receive a $150 permit.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Uber insisted that the vehicles were not fully autonomous, since they had drivers behind the wheel ready to take control if needed. On Dec. 22, after the state revoked the registrations of the vehicles, Uber loaded its cars onto the back of a self-driving Otto truck, a startup that Uber acquired in August.
On Dec. 23, the truck made a pit stop at the Arizona State Capitol, where it was welcomed by Ducey and other officials. A hastily made banner hanging from the Executive Tower said: “AZ Welcomes Uber! #chooseAZ.”

[...] Ducey has been an avid supporter of self-driving car technology, citing the benefits it will have for disabled drivers and increased productivity for business. He signed an executive order last year supporting the testing and operation of self-driving cars, and he took his first ride in a Waymo (formerly Google) self-driving Lexus in Chandler Dec. 15.

Uber didn’t say how many self-driving test cars would be hitting East Valley streets. Sixteen were being tested in San Francisco. The company also tests vehicles in Pittsburgh.

Uber is pursuing self-driving technology because eliminating drivers would dramatically boost the transportation company’s bottom line. Company officials have also said that they believe it will ultimately be cheaper for many consumers to hail Uber self-driving cars rather than own a self-driving car outright.

Read more HERE.
 
Your West Valley

Legacy Traditional Schools announces significant, across-the- board pay increases for all teachers, making it one of Arizona’s highest-paying districts for first-year teachers.
The pay increases are made possible due to Arizona voters’ approval in 2016 of Proposition 123. Effective July 16, all firstyear teachers with Legacy Traditional will receive a pay boost of $2,500.The starting salary for firstyear teachers will increase six percent, from $35,500 to $38,000 (bachelor’s) or $39,500 to $42,000 (master’s) for the 2017-18 school year. Second-year and beyond teachers will receive pay raises commensurate with experience.

[...] Legacy Traditional has 12 schools across Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties, and more than 12,000 students and 900 faculty members.

[...] This just-announced pay hike will increase the average teacher pay at Legacy Traditional to an estimated $44,000, with up to another $5,500 possible in the form of teacher performance pay -- in addition to teacher stipends for extra duties.
Teachers will also be credited for up to ten years of prior experience.

[...]

Read more HERE.

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In case you missed it . . .

Arizona news:

Secretary of State floats election law overhaul

$3.6 million federal grant jump starts opioid awareness efforts in six counties

Obamacare Advocates In Arizona Urge Against Repeal Without Replacement

Arizona Legislature opens door for people with hearing loss

Arizona defense firms may see spending bump from Trump, but not soon

Arizona education groups: 'Do your job, Legislature'

Minimum wage hike means unexpected costs, equity issues for local governments

Arizona cracks top 10 for attracting people moving from other states during 2016

New Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone takes office in private ceremony

Arizona still a power in solar power, despite other states’ gains

Tom Forese: 'Now is the time to reform the (Arizona Corporation) Commission'

National news:

US adds 156,000 new jobs in December, unemployment at 4.7 percent

Trump expected to name Dan Coats for director of national intelligence

New congressman doesn't want to lose 1,000 jobs at Navajo Generating Station

Trump plans executive orders to dismantle Obamacare

Will record stock rally last in 2017 under Trump?