Remember the lead-foot legislator who barreled across Arizona’s highways then claimed legislative immunity when he was caught?

Remember the aftermath, when it seemed a no-brainer that our leaders would do away with immunity from arrest for themselves when doing things that would send the rest of us to the clink?

Well, it seems some Arizona legislators think they deserve such protections when they are behaving badly.

Cue the bipartisan pushback on Gov. Doug Ducey’s call for an end to this ridiculous get-out-of-jail free card.

“It was put here for a reason, by the people, in the constitution,” House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, told Capitol Media Services’ Howard Fischer this week.

Immunity wasn't intended for this

Indeed it was, back in the wild old days when a state trooper or sheriff’s deputy might be found pulling over and detaining a legislator for bogus reasons, preventing that august individual from reaching the state Capitol to cast an important vote on a politically sensitive subject.

Thus came the state constitutional protection that says legislators “shall be privileged from arrest in all case except treason, felony, and breach of the peace” while the Legislature is in session.

I’m pretty sure our founding fathers didn’t envision then-Rep. Paul Mosley, nabbed in 2018 while going 97 mph in a 55 zone while headed home to Lake Havasu City and bragging that he sometimes hits speeds of up to 140 mph. This, right before he claimed legislative immunity.

Or then-Rep. Daniel Patterson, who in 2012 claimed legislative immunity to avoid charges of beating up his girlfriend.

And who can forget Senate Majority Leader Scott Bundgaard, who in 2011 claimed legislative immunity to avoid arrest after a fight with his girlfriend spilled out onto the Piestewa Freeway in the dead of night?

Do you suppose Arizona's founding fathers were aiming to protect this dubious cast of characters?

Why such tepid applause?

Gov. Doug Ducey doesn't think so. In his State of the State address on Monday, Ducey called for legislators to put a repeal of legislative immunity on the ballot in 2020.

“Let’s show the people of Arizona that their elected leaders will live under the same laws as every man and woman in this state,” Ducey said – to tepid applause, I might add.

Rep. T.J. Shope doesn't think so either. He is sponsoring HCR 2008, to put repeal of legislative immunity on the 2020 ballot.

The Coolidge Republican told me he's long been bothered by the "seemingly two-tiered system of laws and rules" -- one for legislators and one for the rest of us.

"At some point, it just became a little inexplicable to the average person and I grew tired of answering questions from my constituents about why colleagues of mine felt they were above the law," he said. "It shined all members in a bad light.

Some of Shope's colleagues, however, are not too keen on doing away with their immunity.

House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez, D-Yuma, told Fischer there are legitimate reasons why lawmakers sometimes need protection from arrest.

Rep. Vince Leach, R-Tucson, reasoned that the few lawmakers who have abused immunity have paid the price once their actions became public, either being forced to resign or kicked out by voters.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lela Alston, the Phoenix Democrat who is the Legislature's longest serving member, noted that nothing in the law prevents a legislator from being arrested after the session ends.

Other Constitutional provisions we ignore

I’m sure that was cold comfort to Bundgaard’s girlfriend, who was hauled away in handcuffs that cold February night and spent 14 hours in jail while Bundgaard got to go home to his nice, warm bed.

Still, I am heartened to find out that there is actually something in the state Constitution that legislators are apparently willing to live by.

Certainly not the part that says the Legislature "shall make such appropriations, to be met by taxation, as shall insure the proper maintenance of all state educational institutions, and shall make such special appropriations as shall provide for their development and improvement."

Certainly not the part that says a college education "shall be as nearly free as possible."

But immunity for themselves? Oh, yeah.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com.

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