No matter the year, whether it be in the months prior to a presidential election or the year after midterm election, the youth in America are always counted out as being apathetic and uninvolved to the political process.
Well, that stereotype was just not true this past Thursday, February 19th, as over 100 ASU students came to the Senate to show their support of coming legislation. The bill, SB 1190, is sponsored by Senator Kelli Ward of Lake Havasu, but was spearheaded by former ASU student, Devon Mills. Commonly referred to as 'Medical Amnesty', the bill would grant protection to intoxicated minors and would give them access to medical help in case of an emergency without fear of citation or arrest. The meeting was held in Senate room 109, which is the smallest of the Senate hearing rooms, even though it was known that that day would see a surplus of visitors. Whether intentional or not, the image of concerned college students literally overflowing the Senate was quite a sight, and I believe carried some weight when the Senators in the Judiciary committee chose to cast and explain their votes.
I definitely agree with and support the medical amnesty bill, but just as Senator Bob Worsley stated in committee, I too am concerned with the potential message that this sends to college students who can possibly abuse this law and causing confrontation with law enforcement.
I just hope my fellow ASU students realize that even though that there was a great success that day as this bill passed out of committee, there is still a long road ahead before it becomes a law.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
Utterly Disrespectful
Two days ago, a student, who out of the little respect I can give him shall not be named,who represents the ASU College Republicans, penned a letter to every Democratic elected official in the state of Arizona outlining his absolute discontent with their existence in their offices, while pursuing a goal that is in no means conceivable other than to merely antagonize people of a different party affiliation. He began the letter in a pretty respectful tone, that gives the reader a kind of uneasy feeling, not knowing the intent behind this letter. Shortly, into his second paragraph, this student goes on the offensive, stating how he and his fellow Glen Beck fan club members worked tirelessly to ensure that these Democratic officials did not return to their respective offices after the November midterms.
The letter goes on into detail about how wrong these Democratic members are, and how they are supposedly the cause for the present negative state of things in the state (Note: Democrats are in the minority in both legislative chambers, as well as not having a single elected member of their party at the statewide executive-level). Serving as a Page for the Democratic caucus, I greatly admire the many State Senators that I serve, regardless of party, but it truly bothers me when someone who just in their higher-position in a respected organization at the same university that I attend so rudely offends these elected officials, I feel almost guilty by association. Even though I in not a single way was involved with or even knows anybody who knows anybody involved with the writing of this letter, I still feel as if I needed to apologize to the Senators--ensuring them of the obvious, that ofcourse this one student does not represent ASU students as a whole.
To the student that wrote the letter I say this: Good luck getting into politics if you're already starting out your career by burning bridges.
The letter goes on into detail about how wrong these Democratic members are, and how they are supposedly the cause for the present negative state of things in the state (Note: Democrats are in the minority in both legislative chambers, as well as not having a single elected member of their party at the statewide executive-level). Serving as a Page for the Democratic caucus, I greatly admire the many State Senators that I serve, regardless of party, but it truly bothers me when someone who just in their higher-position in a respected organization at the same university that I attend so rudely offends these elected officials, I feel almost guilty by association. Even though I in not a single way was involved with or even knows anybody who knows anybody involved with the writing of this letter, I still feel as if I needed to apologize to the Senators--ensuring them of the obvious, that ofcourse this one student does not represent ASU students as a whole.
To the student that wrote the letter I say this: Good luck getting into politics if you're already starting out your career by burning bridges.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
My role
The Arizona Senate is the upper chamber of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Arizona. The Senate consists of 30 members with each representing an average of 219,859 constituents. Members serve two-year terms with term limits that limit Senators to four terms for a total of eight years. The Senate Majority is currently held by the Republican Party led by Senate President, Andy Biggs of Gilbert, with the the Minority Democratic Party led by Sen. Katie Hobbs of Phoenix.
As a Senate Page, my role includes delivering correspondence and legislative material within the Senate building and around the Capitol complex. We also attend to the needs of the Senators while on the floor of the Senate Chamber during formal sessions, in standing committees and party caucuses. I have a particular role in the Senate serving in the Senate Democratic Caucus, as well as serving as the Senate's floor bill reader.
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