Greetings …
Welcome to another edition of our weekly Baja Arizona Kos Open Thread. It’s time to start planning for our 6th Annual Baja Arizona Kos Picnic. The Central Committee has tentatively chosen April 30 as the date. Click through and let us know what you think. We welcome your input.
First the News …
Doug’s got writer’s cramp
Our governor has signed a slew of bills over the last few days. He signed three bills on women’s health issues. SB1324 defies new FDA guidelines regarding the use of RU-486. This one will surely end up in court. SB1474 forbids the transfer of fetal tissue for research and SB1485 bans state employees from donating to Planned Parenthood via paycheck deductions. He also signed SB1516, the infamous dark money bill, and one voiding an existing law about deporting felons. (Arizona Daily Star) No word yet on SB1268. That one would allow a big housing development in Sierra Vista to suck the San Pedro dry.
Johnny Mac takes Saudi cash
These nonprofit institutes and foundations are all the rage among public servants these days. A Bloomberg story appeared in the Star this morning under the headline:
Nonprofit with McCain ties got $1M from Saudi Arabia
Apparently there’s a program at ASU called the McCain Institute for International Leadership. The institute has a fundraising arm called the McCain Institute Foundation which took money from the Saudis in 2014 according to the IRS. The article goes on:
Though federal law strictly bans foreign contributions to electoral campaigns, the restriction doesn’t apply to nonprofits engaged in policy, even those connected to a sitting lawmaker.
Groups critical of the current ethics laws say that McCain’s nonprofit effectively gives Saudi Arabia -- or any other well-heeled interests -- a means of making large donations to politicians it hopes to influence.
“Foreign governments are prohibited from financing candidate campaigns and political parties,” Craig Holman, the government affairs lobbyist for ethics watchdog Public Citizen, said. “Funding the lawmakers’ nonprofit organizations is the next best thing.”
There’s more at the link. ☛ Bloomberg Politics
The 6th Annual
Yes, it’s that time again. Time to savor the memories of Picnics past and plan for the next one. The Central Committee met Friday night to plan the 6th Annual Baja Arizona Kos Picnic. After much deliberation we settled on April 30 as the date. Roy P. Drachman Aqua Caliente Regional Park was chosen as the venue. From the website, pima.gov:
Agua Caliente, literally meaning hot water, is a unique 101-acre park that features a perennial warm spring and pond that is home to an exceptionally rich mix of plants and animals. Agua Caliente Park has a long and interesting history with evidence of human habitation dating back about 5,500 years. In 1873, a ranch and health resort was developed to promote the curative properties of the warm springs. In 1984 local businessman Roy P. Drachman donated over $200,000 toward the purchase of Agua Caliente Ranch and Pima County named the park in honor of this contribution. Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park opened to the public on January 19, 1985.
The ponds had dried up for awhile due to drought but I’ve read that they have recovered somewhat and now have water, and waterfowl, once more. I’ll go out and do some recon some time this week. Park rules stipulate that no alcohol is allowed, I’ll live, and that reservations are required for groups of over 20, we should be so lucky. If we can all agree on this date and venue I’ll begin pestering people in threads promoting the event tomorrow.
OK, that’s all I got …
What’s new with y’all ? Are you coming to the Picnic ?