A one-day special session of the Arizona Legislature was called by Governor Jan Brewer yesterday to impeach the chairwoman of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.

The Senate vote to impeach Chairwoman Colleen Coyle Mathis passed with the required two thirds majority. The chairwoman, a registered independent, was ousted with a party line vote of 21 Republican senators in favor of the removal and 6 Democratic senators opposed.

Governor Brewer alleges gross misconduct by Chairwoman Mathis in her role in the independent commission, which also has two democratic members and two republican members.

Photo of the Arizona State Capitol building by 2candle on Wikipedia.

The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion on November 1 suggesting a special legislative session may be necessary to remedy an accidental retroactive effective date of Initiated Constitutional Measure No. 2. The measure, which would eliminate property taxes, is scheduled to appear on the June 12, 2012 primary election ballot.

State Representative Dan Ruby argued that the intention was to have an effective date of January 1 following the passage of the measure, despite the clear and unambiguous effective date listed in the text of the measure: January 1, 2012.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem noted the possible difficulties for political subdivisions that rely on property taxes but declined to ignore the plain language of the measure. A special session could address the need for replacement revenues if the measure passes.

Anonymous and unsolicited text messages are being sent against democratic candidates in Virginia. Here is the Washington Post article “Anti-Democratic text messages in Northern Va. prompt lawsuit, complaints” by Anita Kumar.

Government Technology discusses the tension between the demands of government transparency and the realities of state bugdet constraints in “Transparency Demands Cost Governments Money” by Sarah Rich.

NCSL has updated their 2012 Legislative Session Calendar.

Judicial races are getting expensive. PoliticsPA.com posted “Pa. Rated as Second Costliest Judicial Elections; Candidates Weigh in” by Sari Heidenreich. Here is the recent study by the Brennan Center For Justice, “The New Politics of Judicial Elections: 2009-10” that ranks judicial elections in the states.

Photo of texting by Alton on Wikipedia.

During this very week in 1930, the Washington Post began running stories about George Cassiday, a bootlegger who was selling alcohol to lawmakers from rooms in the House and the Senate office buildings. According to the U.S. House Office of the Clerk, Cassiday operated his operation from 1920 until 1930 – most of the span of prohibition.

The article says: “From a New York supplier, Cassiday routinely transported 35 to 40 quarts in two large suit cases by train. A Member, he claimed, secured basement office space for him that suited his illicit trade.”

After five years of investigating – one must wonder how hard they were trying in their investigation – the Capitol Police discovered Cassiday’s operation and arrested him. At the time of his arrest, Cassiday was wearing a green felt hat and that hat became his distinguishing characteristic as he made headlines.

The Washington Post reported that Cassiday said, “You find a more general spirit of good fellowship and conviviality in the House.”

Indeed.

You can read the article, “The infamous House bootlegger known as the ‘Man in the Green Hat‘” at the Office of the Clerk website.

Here is a fun video about George Cassiday and his exploits on the WETA TV website.

Photos courtesy of the Office of the Clerk Website and the Library of Congress.

Missouri’s special legislative session on economic development ended Tuesday, October 25, 2011 without an economic bill.

The Senate passed a motion to adjourn sine die.

The Seals of the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate by Tom Lemmens on Wikipedia.

Governor Dave Heinemen has called for a special session of the Nebraska Legislature to focus on proposed bills intended to reroute the Keystone XL crude-oil pipeline around a region of the state rich in groundwater. The session is scheduled to begin November 1, 2011, and is expected to last at least two weeks.

The call for a special session comes after weeks of debate as to whether such a session was necessary, as well as whether passing legislation pertaining to the pipeline would be constitutional and legal at this point in the process of planning the project.

For more information, you can read “Gov. calls for pipeline session”  by Paul Hammel in the Omaha World-Herald.

Photo of the Nebraska Legislature Chamber by ensignbeedrill on Wikipedia.

MARYLAND: The Maryland General Assembly adjourned the special session to approve a congressional redistricting plan on October 20.

SOUTH DAKOTA: State lawmakers convened a special session on Monday, October 24. The purpose of the special session was to redraw the boundaries of the state’s voting districts.

The purpose of the special session was to approve a congressional redistricting plan.

Photo of the Maryland Statehouse by Irteagle102704 on Wikipedia.

The Rhode Island General Assembly is scheduled to meet tomorrow, October 18. Tomorrow’s legislative purpose concerns changes to the public pension system.

Because the Legislature has technically only been in recess, the meeting is not a special session. The Legislature will meet intermittently throughout this fall.

Photo of the Rhode Island State Capitol by Garrett A. Wollman on Wikipedia.

The Missouri Legislature will consider legislation to cancel the state’s 2012 presidential primary. Here is an Associated Press article that appeared in the Columbia Missourian announcing the possible action: “Missouri to consider abolishing presidential primary.”

According to the article: “Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer says his chamber will convene Monday to consider legislation canceling Missouri’s 2012 presidential primary … repealing that law could save the state from spending millions of dollars on a purely symbolic election.”

Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert has signed a proclamation to officially convene a special session of the Utah Legislature on Monday, October 3.

The Governor had earlier announced the date, but the proclamation formally outlines the purpose for the special session with seven legislative issues, including adding the presidential primary to the regular primary ballot, redistricting, and making changes to the workers’ compensation insurance requirements.

The Governor’s press release can be found here.

The special session of the Maine Legislature adjourned on September 27, 2011.

Lawmakers reached an agreement redrawing the state’s two congressional districts.

The special session of the New Mexico Legislature adjourned on September 24, 2011.

The Legislature failed to reach a compromise on congressional redistricting, but passed a bill strengthening the preference given to New Mexico businesses bidding on state government contracts.

North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple has called a special legislative session to begin on November 7, 2011.

The session is expected to last five days and will address issues including legislative redistricting and disaster relief.