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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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We should tell the United Nations to go to hell. They don't rule America, we do!
No you don't. ALEC and the Koch Brothers do.
Then how did the Democrats get control of the House in 2007 the Senate in 2007 and the Presidency in 2009? How did they remain in control of the Senate and the Presidency since then??
Slodon.....You would think that after nearly 6 years of the democrats controlling a majority of our government bodies that people would see through the propaganda and deceitfulness. Unfortunately, too many people don't think for themselves.
Lucas, WTF are you babbling about?
Politics in AZ are crazier than TX, AL, and MS combined with SC thrown in for good measure. All that sun and lack of water must be doing a number of what brain cells are left.
Still isn't as crazy as Illinois and Chicago though. They have yet to sell a Senate seat.
A fine example of the Tea Party. We must get them out of congress before they destroy the whole country as they are doing in Arizona and a few other states. I say deport these loonies and keep the Mexicans.
First, what does this hurt. Second, how does this destroy the country. The actions of the current administration are more likely to destroy the country than these obscure fruitcakes.
Marshal, if that wasn't sarcasm, then you are so very uninformed. If it was sarcasm, then I salute you. Well done.
“It’s so broad and overreaching, we’re not sure what it could impact.” kind of like Obamacare??
WTF is wrong with Arizona? This is crazy stuff! Birthers and now this......what else have they done? The Tea Party is dangerous. They damn near shut down the government. This is anarchy disguised as patriotism. This is the group that, in the interests of saving our country from "socialism", they will destroy it.
Perhaps the government should start paying down the nations debt and stop spending money it doesnt have on socialist programs and the government will run smoothly without any shutdown, its that damn simple.
it seems the tea party are the only one concerned about saving this country from any kind of foreign takeover because they couldnt pay their debts.
Congrats to arizona and Gov. Brewer on the pending victory and slamming the door on socialism.
Can we convince Mexico to buy back Arizona?.....(What if we throw in Florida?)
All it takes for evil to prevail is for the good to do nothing. To let Arizona's paranoids run loose is a danger; California will be forced to close it's border - with Arizona. How far to the right until we can call them Nazi's?
I think that is the philosophy of those in Arizona. Instead of doing nothing and potentially letting evil prevail, they are trying to stop evil before it begins.
50% of CA electric power comes from AZ. go ahead moron, close border.
Why doesn't Arizona just secede from the union? It would be an improvement for the rest of the country.
They would probably think an improvement as well.
Yeah.....ZERO natural resourses, minimal intelligence, ...........go for it
I think there are some salt flats. Maybe the could start a lumber industry with the Joshua Trees?
What I read from this isn't that this bill would ban those things. AZ could still run any program it likes. Rather, it would say that AZ wouldn't take orders from the UN. It wouldn't let the UN tell it that is must do these things if it doesn't want to. Am I wrong?
I think that was the intent, but the wording needs to be cleaned up.
AZ is the culmination of a decades-long exodus of California's most xenophobic and paranoid citizens. You guys have built yourself quite the Libertarian society over there. Now the rest of us get to sit back and watch what Libertarians will do when their efforts are not resisted.
You don't know what you are talking about and should shut up until you develop the ability to read and understand what the words mean and for what they stand ! Your just another uber lefty waiting for more Marxism to come about you no no long have to show up to work al all!
Hah, thanks for making me laugh with that baseless rant.
How do you starve a Liberal? Put his EBT card in his work boots.
I had to look up what an EBT card was to understand your one-liner. Kinda ironic that I had to...
Jack
You are just kind of an ironic guy?
Wow. That doesn't even make sense. But that's sort of your thing, huh?
maybe they should just exclude illigal-aliens, from the bill, rather than destroy it. that way the states not responsable for feeding & houseing illigal-aliens. it can be passed to the chirch, as refugees.
We really blew our trade advantage when we dumped the ITO/GAAT for the WTO. I mean we blew it bad.
Arizona will prevail over the UN, just as Arizona will prevail over Obama and his joke of a DOJ. Watch and see how many states follow suit. If you are lucky, your state will be one of them.
no presidint obama has me. and im american.... fullblooded. take it bake to brittain foringer.serve ur quine over there trattor
Regardless of the specifics of the bill, (we all agree that the bill could be written better), what do you think the legislature intended? A. Create a bill that protects the freedom and autonomy of the state. or B. Create bill that makes any good work potentially illegal. I know there are crazy people out there, but I have to think it is choice A.
Sorry PAF, but there's no way I can read anything but lunacy into this legislation. What they INTENDED to say? Maybe they just need A. a course in the English language. Or B. simple logic. Or C. Ecology and sustainability. The correct answer is: All of these.
If Arizona represent the United States people, then thank god I emigrated to Hawai'i.
with any luck, you wont come back
thank god for people's rights to take land from others.../s
the islands will rise again!!!!!!!!!
Scott, I promise, if I ever set foot in Arizona, I'll get the heck out of the Phoenix Airport ASAP. OK?
Demlefty
Hopefully Barrack and Moochelle will be joining you permanently after November?
nah...romney will at their one of 50 mansions over there...
That's all we need is the most currupt organization on the Planet telling a state in the most economicly powerful country what to do! We will be at the hands of dictators and thugs who will hold us up for money!Remember two years ago when the UN elected Libya to the human rights board and Iran last year to a similar board! This is nothing more than the dialectical approach proposed by Marx and is a plank in the Communist platform! Good luck kiddies,you are messing with fire!
mas098, you forgot your medications -- again!
I guess the best thing for AZ would be to secede from the union, build a 24 foot high iron curtain around its border (can get a used one real cheap in Moscow), turn in all military weapons, supplies, and tear up all U.S. military bases, return to the FAA $2.9 billion in FED funds for all their airports, shut down all interstates at their borders, require all people coming out of AZ to get a U.S. Visa prior to leaving the state, divert Colorado River water to U.S. territory and let the Grand Canyon State fend for themselves in the hot desert. Gov. Brewer could then become President of the new Arizona Territory and they can isolate themselves from the U.S. and the rest of the world, including wealthy nations like China, Brazil, Germany, Japan, S.Korea and the like, then stew in their own juices while renegade, isolated, uneducated gangsters shoot it out at the OK Corral on Saturday nights.
Do you always try to coerce and strong arm people just because they don't have the same values as you?
I like the idea of the iron curtain. It's a win-win for everybody. For those of us non-desert-rats, it'll serve to cordon off the greed-driven Libertarians who refuse to play nice with their fellow Americans.
stupitity is stupitity, and it should be tout as such
This is a brilliant idea. This isn't coercion - it's called accepting an offer.
paying off our debt is equal to slavery. let them damb commies try to get american money
Thanks. You can go back in your hole now. It's not dark out yet.
This guy likes lamp.
Anybody who supports this phony 'feel-good' UN resolution is a loon.
The UN is a joke. It does no real good when it should (such as in really helping peace in war torn areas) and is just a dog and pony show for 3rd world hatred toward the U.S.
Really..
Would you like a short list of the US meddling in "3rd world countries" affairs???
There's a reason for the hatred...
K1200RS,
You have made a good point. I usually mention it myself.
It still does not mean that I want these 3rd world cesspools dictating to us.
Yikes !! This looks like Pure Evil !!! The UN - The portal, for the Anit-Christ !!!
Time for all Good 'Merkans to stand and Fight !!! *
* Sarcasm note.
""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.""
The UN was America's idea, originally called the League of Nations after WWI. The UN is responsible for the creation of Israel in 1948. The UN will out live the TEA Party. I guess being the world's only superpower and a beacon for democracy around the world is too much responsiblity for dumb FUX NEWS nation...
TEA = The End of America
The United Nations wants to eradicate The Constitution of this Great Republic and they have been after us for ever and they will never stop, because the very rich of the world want total control of The United States of America.
Hate to tell you this Oldman, but "the very rich of the world" already HAVE total control over the United States of America. That's what we elected Barack Obama to correct. Damn, I wonder why nothing's changed!
Ummm,... The very rich already HAVE control of America...
Hey,... it was a nice thought though...
Why don't they just cut straight to the chase and call this the "Selfish A-Hole Bill"?
Keep working on it Arizona - you know, people who actually care about the environment make up a good portion of "folks likely to visit your state." Can you say boycott? I feel sorry for the good people stuck in-state who have to choke on dirty boiling air while the economy collapses further, as no one will visit.
If only the crazies could all be sent to Newt's Moon Colony. Since you don't care about your environment, we'll let you handle the preparations and fend for yourselves. You can even call yourself the 51st state. We'll be eagerly awaiting word of how y'all are doing.
Forget the moon, its not far enough away. I would not trust these people in the same galaxy.