Former Tucson Weekly automatic-weapons editor and longtime political gadfly Emil Franzi likes to remind us that “somewhere, every day, the fix is in”—and that sounds true of SB 1239, a bill sponsored by SaddleBrooke’s Al Melvin. The legislation directs that $30 million be spent on a computer-based system to help kids learn about reading, but the requirements for bidding on the program are so specific that they appear to be tailored toward ensuring the bid goes to one of Republican Sen. Melvin’s favorite companies: Imagine Learning of Utah. (Kudos to local blogger David Safier for uncovering the rigged legislation.) SB 1239 passed the Senate Education Committee on a 6-2 vote on Feb. 7. Next stop: Senate Appropriations Committee.
This article appears in Feb 28 – Mar 6, 2013.
I’m so glad that, since the redistricting of election districts, Al Melvin is no longer the senator that “represents” my district. He is a great favorite of the Tea Party, and a total failure as a responsible legislator. I hope he ends up like good ole Tom Horne… another hypocritical jerk.