Last week, state Rep. Cheryl Chase made headlines as she officially switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party. Chase, who recently endorsed Republican incumbent Jon Kyl for the U.S. Senate, comes from a rural district soon poised to become a suburban district. The change was unsurprising.
The more important news that arose from her switch was that it brought the Republicans to just one seat away from the magic number of 40. Due to a clause in the constitution, the control of state government in Arizona could change without the majority of Arizonans realizing it.
With 40 votes, along with a quite-plausible gain of two seats in the Senate, Republicans could override a veto from Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, effectively rendering her impotent. If this had occurred in the last session, it would have affected bills such as those allowing guns in bars, cutting reduced price lunches and undercutting workers' compensation.
Republicans now are aiming at the goal of a veto-proof legislature, a more feasible and cost-effective goal than defeating the popular governor. Without civic engagement from young Arizonans, this goal can neither be obtained nor prevented.
It is also worth noting for the thousandth time that ASU is located squarely in the middle of legislative district 17. As with all other legislative districts, LD 17 elects one senator and two representatives. Democratic Sen. Harry Mitchell is retiring, leaving his seat open; Republican Rep. Laura Knaperek is running for re-election, while Democratic Rep. Meg Burton-Cahill is term-limited.
Both open seats being vacated by Democrats are arguably among the two or three most competitive and highly targeted races in the state. Tempe will serve as the battlefield for efforts to both obtain and prevent a veto-proof legislature.
It is worth it, while if for no other reason than to decipher the propaganda that will barrage students in the coming months, to engage in public affairs by studying the issues and forming opinions sooner rather than later.
Furthermore, the possibility of a veto-proof legislature should be especially concerning to ASU students. Such flawed proposals as mandatory meal plans for on-campus students, tuition increases and fees that essentially create different tuitions for different majors, are all rooted in the refusal of the Republican legislature to invest in higher education.
The methods by which these schemes are promoted are reflective of the cutthroat attempt to fill the university coffers that is necessary in an atmosphere fostered by the fiscal extremism of the Republican legislature. Examples, such as the deceptive campaign to promote the notion that mandatory meal plans for on-campus students, which have already been passed by the Board of Regents are exemplary of this.
But in fact, they have only been endorsed as a broad notion, and the Board of Regents will likely reject any specific plan that is opposed by students. It is therefore imperative that any student that opposes mandatory meal plans for on-campus students e-mails Undergraduate Student Government President Yaser Alamoodi at yaser.alamoodi@asu.edu and urges him to keep his promise to the ASU student body to oppose mandatory meal plans for on-campus students.
Without the tempering influence of Napolitano, the level of investment in ASU -- a public institution at the mercy of the state government -- will likely drop dramatically, not to mention those public institutions that do not have a well-educated populace to lobby on their behalf.
While the leftward bias presented here may not appeal to all the readers, it is in the interest of every reader to engage in the political process in some way and develop beliefs and convictions about the issues of the day.
Joaquin Rios is a political science junior. Reach him at joaquin.rios@asu.edu.
With 40 votes, along with a quite-plausible gain of two seats in the Senate, Republicans could override a veto from Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, effectively rendering her impotent. If this had occurred in the last session, it would have affected bills such as those allowing guns in bars, cutting reduced price lunches and undercutting workers' compensation.
Republicans now are aiming at the goal of a veto-proof legislature, a more feasible and cost-effective goal than defeating the popular governor. Without civic engagement from young Arizonans, this goal can neither be obtained nor prevented.
It is also worth noting for the thousandth time that ASU is located squarely in the middle of legislative district 17. As with all other legislative districts, LD 17 elects one senator and two representatives. Democratic Sen. Harry Mitchell is retiring, leaving his seat open; Republican Rep. Laura Knaperek is running for re-election, while Democratic Rep. Meg Burton-Cahill is term-limited.
Both open seats being vacated by Democrats are arguably among the two or three most competitive and highly targeted races in the state. Tempe will serve as the battlefield for efforts to both obtain and prevent a veto-proof legislature.
It is worth it, while if for no other reason than to decipher the propaganda that will barrage students in the coming months, to engage in public affairs by studying the issues and forming opinions sooner rather than later.
Furthermore, the possibility of a veto-proof legislature should be especially concerning to ASU students. Such flawed proposals as mandatory meal plans for on-campus students, tuition increases and fees that essentially create different tuitions for different majors, are all rooted in the refusal of the Republican legislature to invest in higher education.
The methods by which these schemes are promoted are reflective of the cutthroat attempt to fill the university coffers that is necessary in an atmosphere fostered by the fiscal extremism of the Republican legislature. Examples, such as the deceptive campaign to promote the notion that mandatory meal plans for on-campus students, which have already been passed by the Board of Regents are exemplary of this.
But in fact, they have only been endorsed as a broad notion, and the Board of Regents will likely reject any specific plan that is opposed by students. It is therefore imperative that any student that opposes mandatory meal plans for on-campus students e-mails Undergraduate Student Government President Yaser Alamoodi at yaser.alamoodi@asu.edu and urges him to keep his promise to the ASU student body to oppose mandatory meal plans for on-campus students.
Without the tempering influence of Napolitano, the level of investment in ASU -- a public institution at the mercy of the state government -- will likely drop dramatically, not to mention those public institutions that do not have a well-educated populace to lobby on their behalf.
While the leftward bias presented here may not appeal to all the readers, it is in the interest of every reader to engage in the political process in some way and develop beliefs and convictions about the issues of the day.
Joaquin Rios is a political science junior. Reach him at joaquin.rios@asu.edu.
