opinion

Roberts: Arizona leaders say they (not you) should decide who can run for the U.S. Senate

Not content with simply shutting you out when it comes to knowing who is trying to buy elections, now Arizona’s leaders are hoping to shut you out when it comes to who you can vote for.

A committee of the Arizona Legislature this week approved a bill that would strip citizens of the power to nominate candidates for the U.S. Senate. Instead, the power would go to …

The Arizona Legislature.

No kidding.

Senators should kowtow to Legislature

It seems there are leaders who aren't happy that Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake have not given them due deference and so they want to have a hand – a heavy hand – in who Arizona sends to Washington.

“I’ve called a number of times to try and get help,” Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, told his colleagues on the House Federalism, Property Rights and Public Policy Committee. “I don’t even get a secretary. I get a voicemail that says, ‘We are currently not taking any more messages.’”

Independents would be shut out

HCR 2022 proposes that the state Legislature, rather than voters, decide who will be on the November ballot. No need for you to have any say in the primary about who will be nominated.

And no need for independents – who comprise a third of the state’s voters – to apply. The bill includes no method for independents or third-party candidates to be nominated. Instead, Republican legislators would nominate two Republicans and Democrats would nominate two Democrats and you'd be limited to their choices on the general-election ballot.

The bill cleared the committee this week on a 6-3 party-line vote and now goes to the full House.

One saving grace: Voters get a say

There is one saving grace. If the Legislature approves it, it’ll have to go on the November ballot, giving voters the final say on whether they want to give up their rights.

The bill is aimed at taking us back a century – to before 1913, when senators were chosen by state legislatures, with no chance for the voters to weigh in.

Then along came the 17th Amendment, providing for the direct election of senators.

But not, apparently, the direct nomination of senators.

This is a magnificent power grab

The bill is the brainchild of Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, who says his proposal would provide balance to Congress, with senators accountable to the Legislature and House members accountable to voters.

Or it’ll just solidify a sizable amount of power in the hands of the Legislature.

The same people who have refused to unmask the dark-money interests that increasing are buying Arizona’s elections.

The same ones who are headed toward preventing cities from requiring dark-money disclosure in local elections.

The same ones who have made it more difficult to mount petition drives to make law via citizen initiative. And easier to get initiatives thrown out in court should they, by some miracle, qualify for the ballot.

Yeah, those people are saying “trust us” to choose a slate a Senate candidates you can vote for.

Because they don’t trust you.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com.

READ MORE FROM ROBERTS:

Legislators protecting dark money interests (again, that is)

Arizona Legislature to make "capitalism" official. Wait ... what?

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