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February 13, 2006
The Honorable James P. Weiers
Speaker
Arizona House of Representatives
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Dear Mr. Speaker:
Leaders of the Arizona Interfaith Network (AIN) call upon you to publicly censure Representative Chuck Gray, Chairman of the House Federal Mandates and Property Rights (FMPR) Committee, for improperly conducting his Committee’s Meeting last Monday, February 6. Representative Gray failed to follow House Committee Rules and the democratic process when he denied Tom Donovan, a leader with Valley Interfaith Project (VIP) and VIP’s registered lobbyist, the privilege to speak on five bills.
Mr. Donovan had registered to speak in opposition to all 12 bills on the FMPR Regular Meeting Agenda, including HB2073, HB2577, HB2578, HB2579, HB2582 and HB2701 that were heard and voted upon by the Committee last Monday. Mr. Donovan was given the opportunity to testify only on HB2701, the first bill to be heard. In addition, Chairman Gray failed to read the names of others who had registered in support of or opposition to the bill or to ask those who had registered to speak “if necessary” whether they wished to speak. This was a clear violation of the customary procedure in House Committees and a clear abrogation of the purpose of Committee Hearings, namely to hear all sides on a bill, especially the voice of the people.
On the five other bills, Chairman Gray denied Mr. Donovan the right to address the bills and failed to read the names and positions of all of the people who had turned in their requests via the computer terminals. Chairman Gray’s actions clearly subverted and undermined the American democratic process at a time when we are trying to encourage broader participation in public life. In contrast, Chairman Gray permitted Representative Pearce to lecture the Committee repeatedly, repetitiously and at great length on each bill.
AIN Leaders are further requesting that you take the following actions:
- Void the FMPR Committee actions on these six bills,
- Assign the six bills to another House Committee, and
- Require that the six bills be heard again with full and complete public testimony before any further action is taken on them by the House of Representatives.
We look forward to your immediate response to this crucial matter for our democracy.
Sincerely yours,
Richard H. White
President
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