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Subscribe to RSSArizona lawmakers appear close to sending to Gov. Jan Brewer a tea party-backed bill that proponents say would stop a United Nations takeover conspiracy but that critics claim could end state and cities’ pollution-fighting efforts and even dismantle the state unemployment office.
A final legislative vote is expected Monday on a bill that would outlaw government support of any of the 27 principles contained in the 1992 United Nations Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, also sometimes referred to as Agenda 21.
Senate Bill 1507 was passed by the state Senate last month and received an initial House affirmation Wednesday. It is sponsored by state Sen. Judy Burges, R-Sun City West, who also sponsored a state birther bill that Brewer vetoed last year.
"The bill is designed to protect the rights of Arizona citizens and prevent encroachment on those rights by international institutions," Burges told msnbc.com in an email. "We have three branches of government and when one branch preempts the process through executive orders, the balance of power is lost in the process. It is that simple -- no more, no less."
At a March 15 hearing on the bill, Burges said an executive order signed by then-President Bill Clinton in 1993 started the implementation of Agenda 21 after the Senate refused to pass a treaty ratifying it.
"Any way you want to describe it, Agenda 21 is a direct attack on the middle class and working poor" through "social engineering of our citizens" in "every aspect" of their lives," she told the hearing.
But House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, has a different view.
“It’s the most poorly crafted bill in this state,” Campbell told msnbc.com. “It’s so broad and overreaching, we’re not sure what it could impact.”
Among the U.N. declaration’s non-binding principles are calls for sustainable development, environmental protection, eradicating poverty, eliminating unsustainable production and consumption patterns, economic growth and the participation of women in government decisions.
“We wouldn’t be able to use CFL light bulbs in state buildings because that would be considered energy efficiency,” Campbell said.
Campbell also said that the state’s Economic Security Department, which handles unemployment and welfare benefits, could be outlawed because it has to do with eradicating poverty.
Also, Arizona universities have sustainability programs that could be banned if the bill becomes law, Campbell warned.
Arizona State University has a School of Sustainability, Northern Arizona University offers a master's in sustainable communities, and the University of Arizona has an environment and sustainability portal.
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Brewer, who last spring vetoed Burges' bill to require presidential candidates to prove their U.S. citizenship, typically does not comment on legislation until it reaches her desk, her spokesperson told msnbc.com Thursday.
About the Rio declaration, SB1507 says “the United Nations has enlisted the support of numerous independent, shadow organizations to surreptitiously implement this agenda around the world.”
Rep. Terri Proud, R-Tucson, told supporters in an email that the U.N. declaration “will take away our rights as Americans by allowing the United Nations to mandate laws on our soil,” the AzCapitolTimes.com reported. “It’s very real and it is happening.”
The Times also reported that during House debate Wednesday, Rep. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, said the declaration is connected to the “occult” of sustainability.
"The tea party and conspiracy theorists run the state now, Campbell told msnbc.com.
See video from the March 15 House Judiciary committee meeting on SB1507 here.
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Get US out of UN.
are they all out in the desert gobbling down all the peyote out there?
Good for Arizona.
Frankly, I'm not sure I blame Arizona. The UN is one of the most corrupt organizations ever created by man and completely ineffective as well. Everything they touch is tainted and the money trails are widely-publicized yet we still continue to be one of the biggest financial supporters. When China has such abhorrent policies toward human life and dignity (as do other nations, not incidentally) - what in hell business does the UN have becoming involved in issues such as climate change? The Chinese and others ignore the UN and its admonitions and crapola except on the rare occasions when it benefits them.
Can't we just kick Arizona out of America?
I think most people on here are missing the point of the bill, which is, the State of Arizona will not now, or in the future recognize any UN regulation or resolution. That doesn't mean that they won't implement the same or similar regulations, they're just not going to be told what to do by the UN.
Also, there is a lot of hate directed towards AZ, and what a waste the state is, but they still spend a lot of time talking about it.
Interesting that we bristle every time any resolution is passed by the UN that people think will remotely affect the US. We expect every other country to push their sovereignty aside when we use the UN to impose sanctions. If we actually believed in democracy, we would not hold the blatantly hippocritical view that the UN is the worlds peacemaker when we want to look at your nuclear facilities, but the UN may never encroach on our sovereignty.
Arizona leads the way to free us of that anti-American organization call the UN.
Arizona leads the way from reality.
It truly is a race to the bottom and the past with these Gopeebaggers. Its also a race to November because I'm so worried about all the almost irreversible damage they are doing to America until then while running around like little dictator rabbits with rabies everywhere attacking the most vulnerable and poor and struggling amongst us. November its rabbit season y'all! Voting these lunatics out forever. The tea bag has busted and now they want us to drink it. Obama Biden 2012! : D
The terrorists are called al quaida if they're in the middle east. Here in America terrorists are called "tea party republicans". I've never seen a more anti-American, anti-life bunch in my life.
I do not like Jan Brewer much and I am glad I do not live in Az. That said, I never believed her to be at all stupid, just has a far different set of priorities than me. Fine, I am far from perfect. I really do not think, from what I know of this bill, that she will sign it. It sounds like it is a badly written bill that will not accomplish its purpose and may have far ranging effects. Brewer knows full well the Law of Unintended Consequences has not been repealed. There is nothing there to motivate her to sign it and it could turn into a monster biting her in the rear. So, I really do doubt that she will sign it.
As the the state legislature, it is far from the most dangerous around the country right now. I would put Michigan and Wisconsin in the top spots, sorting out between Florida, Ohio and Arizona is a lot harder in my opinion. I am picking on these five states as they will be very important in this fall's elections. I can not see Brewer doing anything at this point that might put her state at a greater risk of being put in play as a swing state.
The popular vote is almost a given to be a near 50-50 split, so every one needs to count the electoral college votes and focus on winning states. The last thing either side wants to do is to put one of "their" states into play. And while I am not an objective observer, I believe the Republicans are at far greater risk of "their" states going into play then the Democrats are.
I just can not see Brewer signing something like this that might give her state's Democrats traction while not really doing anything to shore up the state's Republican base.
Libtards are stupid! my first choice was ignorant but ignorance can be cured by education. you cant teach a stupid person.
Should have read: "You can't teach a stupid person."
If the UN is a threat then GOPEEBAGGERS are little dictator rabbits with rabies attacking people all across this country! Come November its rabbit season yall. Obama Biden 2012! Go!
The issues of the Ten Amendment are getting more attention every day. Remember, the right of the States to secede from the Union has never been settled as a matter of law by the Judicial branch of the government. It has only been settled as a matter of war by Legislative and Executive branches.
The Constitution clearly states that individual states can not dictate relations with foreign governments......this includes treaties and agreements established by the federal government........sorry teatards...........
Lukewarm, and it also states that all treaties must be ratified by the US Senate and cannot be entered into by presidential order! No ratification by the Senate so there is no treaty, libratard!
If you squeeze Jan Brewers right earlobe very gently, the back of her head will open revealing a tiny Version of Elvis moving levers, pushing buttons and monitoring many different activities on his 40 mm plasma Monitor.
When ever Mrs. Brewer s eyes go blank and she can't respond, like when she couldn't answer that one question a reporter asked her, Little Elvis is Rebooting her Neural Network.
Bless her Heart...
And, Oh yes. Elvis is still alive and well and he is Pumping Diesel at a T/A Truck Stop outside Phoenix...
Brewer should never have been Governor. She was a heavy drinking homemaker that happened to be in the right place at the right time, & was the only viable candidate for AZ Sec of State. When Napiolatano stepped down to go to D.C., she was next in line, as there is no Lt. Governor. In her sole debate, Brewer froze like a deer in headlights & couldn't talk. Literally, minutes went by, she was done as a politician. But the GOP rushed to her side, blanketed the airwaves with anti-opponent ads, & lucky for her, voters somehow forgot. Rich trust fund babies have second homes & vote there to push the state to the right. Other rightwingnuts have moved into AZ from parts unknown because of nutjobs like Brewer & Wild Sheriff Joe, along with too-liberal of gun laws. The citizenry need to take Arizona back.
Love Jan Brewer and love our beautiful state of Arizona.
I hope tan Jan signs all of the fascist tea-bag bills. AZ state gov't is like a crazed politician's science lab.
I would like to thank all the libs for my daily laugh. You people crack me up.
If I didn't live in Florida with Pink Slip Rick as Governor I would feel sorry for the people in Arizona.
Steve Sjurset, glad we make YOU laugh because people like you scare the HELL out of us, you know freedom loving Americans.
Yeah, and my bill to give AZ back to Mexico nears passage in my own mind. Equally meaningless is the anti-UN AZ bill. Blah-blah-blah.
There is something really foul in the water in Arizona that makes lawmakers pretty vicious.
The old hag has lost her mind. But then you are talking about baggers. They are even stupider than a retardican.
The majority of the voters put these nuts in office. If Arizona isn't pleased with what they've done, they can undo it! Maybe it will cause apathetic voters to come to their senses and take back their state.
So sad! So very sad. I don't know what else to say, it's beyond my comprehension.
What's wrong with principle #18: "States shall immediately notify other States of any natural disasters or other emergencies that are likely to produce sudden harmful effects on the environment of those States. Every effort shall be made by the international community to help States so afflicted."
So, if a nuclear disaster occurs in Arizona, by law it will be prevented from informing any one about it outside Arizona?
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