Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 34

ARIZONA REPUBLIC WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2006 B9 STATE QUOTE OF THE DAY Go For to more pluggedin.azcentral.com Capitol news to read political news, we are going to vote for a Taser-gun bill, umns, Political Insider and blogs by. Arizona Republic and comthen let's call it a Taser-gun bill." munity columnists. CAPITOL On a bill that Democratic on would people grant Rep. who officers are Ben committing immunity Miranda for of felonies using Phoenix "police tools" Tom Spratt, political tom.spratt@arizonarepublic.com editor, 602-444-NEWS (6397) House backs plan on 'police tools' immunity By Jacques Billeaud ASSOCIATED PRESS The Arizona House gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a proposed ballot measure that would provide legal immunity to law enforcement officers for using "police tools" on people who are committing felonies. Proponents say police tools include handcuffs, guns and other items used to stop suspects.

Opponents said the proposal was meant to protect Scottsdale-based stun-gun maker Taser International Inc. In any event, the proposal also would provide civil immunity to crime victims, local governments and manufacturers of police tools if a person is harmed by the tools while committing or attempting to commit a felony or fleeing while committing a felony. The immunity wouldn't apply if the Police weapons; gifted education In a voice vote Tuesday, the House gave tentative approval to a measure that would ment officers from being sued for injuries received from a police weapon. House 2049 has drawn interest because it would grant protection to manufacturers including Taser International, whose weapons have been accused of contributing to accidental also considered proposals on gifted education, election reform and the makeup of the WHAT IT WOULD DO Stipulate that a victim, law enforcement officer, the state, any political subdivision of the state, or manufacturer of tools used to apprehend a suspect is not liable for damages incurred if the plaintiff is harmed and the plaintiff was reasonably suspected of having committed a felony. Broaden gifted education program requirements and responsibilities for school districts; increase state funding for gifted education for school districts.

Require a manual audit of certain ballots and the appointment of additional election board members in specific precincts. Require two appointed members serving on the Arizona Board of Regents to reside in counties of less than 800,000 people. WHAT HAPPENED TUESDAY The House voted to give tentative approval to the bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 9-1 to recommend that the bill be approved. It has already been approved by the House.

The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 28-1. It now goes to the House. A House committee voted to recommend passage of the bill. To place a customized funeral announcement contact your funeral home or Classified Customer Service at 602-444-8774 or 602-444-8772 or email your request to (include your name, address and phone number). A detailed tribute to your loved one may be published for $80 for the first 15 lines.

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Obituaries submitted to the Republic may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms. Find the cemetery lots in the Classified Section, category 6025. ALBION, Arthur L. KLUTE, Georgina a F. ALLEN, Beverly Jean KRENGLE, Patty Jean ALLRED, Matthew Wesley KUHLES, Helen Anna BAKER, Consquelo Latrell LOGAN, Bon Washington Jr.

BAKER, Kathlyn LOVELESS, Danette Shreeve BICKEL, Clara Jean LOVERDE, Rose Belluomini BOSTON, Dean Dwight MARTIN, Robert L. CANTU, Daniel R. MAYSE, Pittman T. CAZARES, Guadalupe Torres MELANSON, Jeannette CHOUKALAS, Cynthia METZ, Lucile CLEMENTS, Barbara MOSLEY, Johnnie Pearl COLE, Shirley A. MUREKATTE, Imaculee COLLINS, Jason Richard MYERS, Allan Everet CONNORS, John E.

Jr. NORRIS, Pauline DOUGHERTY, Timothy E. OMUNDSON, Stephen A EASTEP, Brian F. PARKER, Arthur P. EIDEM, Harold H.

PERRY, Katherine J. EVANS, Ernest Roy Jr. PETERSON, Aage FRANCO, Dominga PETROVITS, Eugene E. GAFFNEY, Mary Jane Ballina POGSON, Catherine Hawbaker GAFFNEY, Philip D. POPIELA, Rudolph F.

GALAVIZ, Louis Mikel QUINN, Lois Arden GANS, Hendrika RAECK, Patricia A. GARCIA, Adalia T. RAMSEY, Lawrence GIBSON, Florence Adams RAPER, Margaret Alice GOEPPNER, Howard August REED, John Douglas GONZALES, Pamela Jean ROKUSKIE, Barbara A. GOODMAN, Mildred Webb SELBE, Josephine Arlene GOREY, Marie J. SMITH, Hilda T.

GORMAN, Clyde Ivan STONE, Gary Lee GRANT, Stanley Paul TEETER, Mary Lucile GREEN, Genevieve C. THOMPSON, Ann Marie GREENWOOD, Robert Edwin TOMLINSON, Curtis Leon GROFF, Glen Stires TURNER, Effie A. GUPTON, James E. ULTEIG, John Beecher HAMMOND, Dorothy B. VELZY, Clifford Raymond HARVEY, Jay Harold WASH, Lester Guy HECHLER, Rita Marie WHITE, Sharlie Mae Pacitti WHITMORE, William HIGHT, Richard D.

Howard Sr. HILL, Bruce George WILSON, Carl Ron JERMAN, Paul Francis WIZNER, Frank Andrew JOHNSON, Arlanders Versie WO, Kim JOHNSON, Opal WOLFF, Jayne JONES, Flora Lou WOOD, Terry David KING, Lena J. tools were used in intentional misconduct. "This is a protection of the people who are trying to live by the law and for those who are protecting us by upholding the law," said Republican Rep. Warde Nichols of Chandler, sponsor of the proposal, House Concurrent Resolution 2049.

The proposal, if approved by the full Legislature, would appear on the November ballot. In that case, voters would be asked to amend the state's Constitution, which says a person's ability to recover damages for injuries can't be done away with. Opponents questioned whether Taser ought to be given immunity when lawsuits have alleged the company's stun guns have played a role in accidental deaths. The company has vigorously denied the allegations. "If we are going to vote for a Taser gun bill, then lets call it a Taser gun bill," said Democratic Rep.

Ben Miranda of Phoenix, an opponent of the measure. Nichols said his proposal isn't meant to apply to only one product or type of police tool. The proposal doesn't provide a definition of police tools. Nichols said that call would be up to a judge. Last year, the Legislature approved a law regulating remote stun guns such as Tasers.

POLITICAL INSIDER protect law enforceConcurrent Resolution Scottsdale-based deaths. Lawmakers Arizona Board of Re- If it were passed by voters after being placed on the November ballot, the bill would grant legal protection to law enforcement officers who are sued after using their weapons, including Tasers. The bill would require school districts to provide gifted education and would provide teachers with new training for educating gifted students. IMPACT The bill would require the officer in charge of elections to conduct a manual audit of ballots for federal and state offices in one percent of the precincts, at any time within 60 days after the primary or general election, if an electronic voting system is used and the election includes at least one contested race or measure. The bill would increase rural counties' representation on the board that oversees the three state public universities.

Casey Newton Arthur (Art) L. Albion, 86, passed away on March 19, 2006. Arthur was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 29, 1919. He served in the U.S. Army.

Art is survived by his wife, Margaret of 61 years, sister; Fannie L. Becker, sons; Alfred and Stephen, daughter; Roxanne Raleigh, four grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. Mass will be on Thursday, March 23, 2006 at 10 AM at Phoenix Memorial Mortuary 200 W. Beardsley Rd. Phoenix, AZ.

with a visitation starting one hour prior. Beverly Jean Allen, of Tonopah, passed away on March 14, 2006. For information please contact Preston Funeral Home, 602-304-0083. Matthew Wesley Allred, 34, Surprise, AZ died in a tragic accident March 17, 2006. He was accomplishing his lifelong dream of becoming a Journeyman Lineman.

Matt will be remembered for being hard Dallas Cowboy fan, a dedicated hard worker, an awesome cook, a giving person, unable to say no to anyone needing a favor or something built. Matt will be missed for his "Big Bear Hugs" and many of his sayings "He meant what I Matt was a proud father of 3 boys, devoted husband, loving son, loyal brother, fun uncle and a friend to many. Matt is survived by his wife, the love of his life, Trudee, sons, Anthony, Brock, and Tucker, mother Linda, brothers Doug (Lou and Steve, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, in-laws Brian and Christy Bender and Chuck and Kyong Grothe, brother-in-laws, Josh (Kelly), Jesse, Ben, Kory, sister-inlaw, Laura. Matt was preceded in death by grandparents, Mrs. Milford Allred, Mr.

Mrs. Robert Smith, Betty Smith, Jayne Stephenson, Albert Grothe, and uncle John Smith, Matt will be deeply missed, We Love You. Visitation will be 5:00 8:00 PM Friday, March 24, 2006 at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary, 719 N. 27th Ave. Phx.

AZ. Visitation at Radiant Church, 15533 W. Paradise Surprise, AZ will be at 9:30 AM Sat. March 25, 2006 with funeral service at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery Phx.

AZ. Please feel free to wear your favorite Jersey. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in the names of Matt's Boys at any Desert Schools Federal Credit Union. Consquelo Latrell Baker, 32, of Avondale, away Madch 17, 2006. Visitation South Mountai Mortuary 7007 S.

Central Ave, Phx, AZ, on March 27, 2006 from 6-9pm. South Phoenix Baptist Church, 2006 E. Broadway Phx, AZ on Tuesday March 28, 2006 at 11am, burial will be held at Resthaven Park Cemetery, 4310 E. Southern Ave, Phx, AZ. Kathlyn Baker, age 100, of Paradise Valley, passed away March 17, 2006.

Private services have been held. Arrangements by Messinger Indian MESSINGER school Mortuarv. Rimsza campaign to take flight gents. THE BILL House Concurrent Resolution 2049; police tools, criminal suspects, immunity House Bill 2552; schools, gifted pupils, programs, funding Senate Bill 1557; election reform, manual count Senate Bill 1058; regents, rural member Fly like an eagle, Skip Aviator goggles. Check.

Cessna twin-engine plane. Check. Campaign speech. Check. Former Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza is running for secretary of state, and he's going to wing it.

Literally. Today, he will pilot his eight-seater plane around the state, jetting to Tucson, Yuma and Prescott when he officially announces his bid for Arizona's No. 2 political job. "Yes, I'm flying my own airplane," Rimsza said. Not a bad campaign asset, tory of Phoenix is pledging to eh? Rimsza, as you might energize and refocus the ofguess, is privately financing fice of Secretary of State." It his campaign against the pub- ends by saying, "Want experilicly funded incumbent, Sec- ence? Google Skip Rimsza!" retary of State Jan Brewer.

Rimsza wants the secretary Rimsza is considered a big, big of state to be more than moniunderdog, partly because no toring elections. He wants the female statewide candidate in post to be involved in transporArizona history has ever lost a tation planning and rural ecobid for re-election. nomic development. Rimsza's news release, how- He's also hoping his Cessna ever, promoting his announce- is the wind beneath his wings ment, is chock full of vim and as he tries to shock Brewer in vigor: "Rimsza, the longest- this year's GOP primary. serving and arguably most successful mayor in the his- Chip Scutari State spending measures stalling By Paul Davenport "We need to get things back a proposed constitutional ASSOCIATED PRESS in line," said Sen.

Karen John- amendment to provide new son, R-Mesa. muscle to the Arizona ConstiEfforts by the Arizona Leg- However, many of the pro- tution's requirement for a islature to pull in the state's posals face opposition from balanced budget. fiscal reins over the long haul interest groups which fear Democrats joined some are producing more notable they would lock out spending Republicans to overcome stumbles than successes. for underfunded programs GOP supporters in each Republican conservatives they support. chamber.

who objected to many of the Others are opposed by law- If it had been placed on the tactics used to balance the makers who don't want to tie ballot and approved by votbudget when the recession their own hands by taking ers, the measure would have crimped state revenue and budget-balancing options off required the state to end each spending earlier this decade the table. fiscal year with an unspent have proposed dozens of "I don't want to be in a posi- reserve equal to at least changes, some major and tion where you might as well 1 percent of the total budget, some minor, that they say send a robot down here," said spending for the state's operwould help make the state Sen. Robert Cannell, D- Yuma. ations stay within permanent live within its means and keep In separate votes Thurs- state revenue a and that no more dollars in taxpayers' day, for example, the House spending commitments be pockets. and the Senate each rejected deferred to future years.

Clara Jean Bickel, 72, of Surprise, lost her battle with cancer on March 17, 2006. She died at home surrounded by her family who loved her so dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents Giuseppi and Constance Molinaro, husband Hilary Gene, and two brothers Victor and Emil Molinaro. She is survived by her sons Lawrence (Michelle), Kevin (Cynthia) and Todd Bickel, her daughters Denise (Wm.) Hamilton and Debbie (Michael) Lowe, and grandchildren Bradley and Jennifer Lowe, Alexandria Bickel, Erica Bickel, great-granddaughter's Hailey and Alexa Bickel, brother Robert (Ruth) and sisters Terry Williams, Elena (Gene) Galvin, Ann (Peter) Boosalis, Jeanette (Norm) Bowen, sister-in-law Jean Molinaro; numerous nieces and nephews and her very special and loved friend Gene Grant. Clara born in Minn, MN on married and moved to Keokuk, IA in 1954, then to Phoenix in 1967.

She lost her husband Gene in 1970. Clara alone raised her 5 children in a home filled with love and laughter where all who came were made to feel like family. Clara spent her summers at her cabin in Overgaard after retiring from Good Sam Hospital. She touched many lives with her incredible strength. She will be greatly missed by all of her friends and family.

Visitation services will be held from 6-9P, 7P memorial at Best Funeral Services, 9380 W. Peoria Ave on Thurs, March 23rd. A mass will be held at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, 17111 W. Bell Rd.

at 10:00 AM on Friday, March 24th, with graveside services to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 10045 W. Thomas Road. Family and friends are invited to Denise and Bill's home to celebrate Clara's life. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Hospice the Valley or the American Cancer Society. Dean Dwight Boston, 74, of Mesa, AZ, passed away on March 18, 2006, in Mesa.

There are no services scheduled. Arrangements entrusted to A Wise Choice Cremation Funeral Services. Daniel R. Cantu, 40 yrs of Gila Bend, died March 11, 2006. He was born on June 21, 1965 in Ajo, AZ to parents Joe Dora Cantu.

He was raised in Gila Bend, AZ where he attended schools. He had worked as a laborer. Survivors include his parents Joe Dora Cantu of Gila Bend. His brother Robert wife Angela Cantu of Goodyear, his sisters Monica Maddox of Glendale, Cheryl Taylor Annete Espinosa both of Gila Bend. (another brother Rudy precedes him in death); His uncles, aunts nephews 7 nieces.

A rosary will be recited on Friday March 24th at 9am at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Gila Bend, The funeral mass will follow at 10am at the church. Interment will be in Pioneer Cemeterv. Guadalupe Torres Cazares, 34, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on March 12, 2006. Visitation and Funeral Services will be held in Sinaloa, Mexico.

Arrangements were entrusted to Universal Memorial Center. Cynthia Choukalas, 43, born at Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona, on died of cancer. She is survived by siblings Debbie, Keith and Linda, sister-inlaw Carol, nieces Mary, Sam and Bella and her nephew Peter. Cindy taught at Tavan Elementary School from 1992 until April 2005. Cindy received her education at ASU, University of Phoenix most recently her Masters Degree at NAU in August, 2001.

She received Charro's Teacher of the Year award in 2004. Teaching was her greatest joy. Please join us in celebrating Cindy's life on Thursday, March 23, 2006 at N. Tatum Blvd, Phx, A AZ, 85032: VisiDesert Springs Bible Church, 16215 tation at Service at with a reception to follow. Internment will be at Greenwood Cemetary, 2300 W.

Van Buren, Phx, AZ on Friday, March 24, 2006 at Cindy was actively involved with Young Life for almost 30 years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Urban Young Life AZ 23, 8805 N. 23rd Avenue, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85021. In Loving Memory Landon Lyle Hodges 12-3-01 3-22-02 To my Sweet Darling, my lucky You are in my thoughts constantly. What a big boy you'd be now.

The milestones and goals you'd be mastering at age 4. Dalton and Logan's little brother and big brother to Annaston. Mommy and Daddy will always tell the world how much we love you and what a gift you are. Thank you for everything you still bring to our lives. With our love everyday baby, Mommy, Daddy, Dalton, Logan and Annaston.

590. Barbara Clements, age 64, of Queen Valley, visitor from Minneapolis, MN died Friday, March 17, 2006. Memorial contributions can be made to: Multiple Sclerosis Society National, 315 South 48th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281. Arrangements entrusted to Melcher Mortuary Mission Chapel. Shirley A.

Cole, 83, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away on March 18, 2006. She was born November 10, and Louise Steinhoff. She 1922 in Detroit, MI to Bert moved to AZ in 1945 from Michigan. She is survived by 2 sisters, Eileen (Jack) Carter, Gerlach, NV and Adele (William) Chandler, Walled Lake, MI; nieces nephews also survive. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 am and the funeral service at 11am on Saturday, March 25, 2006 at Hansen Mortuary, 8314 N.

7th St. Interment will follow at St. Francis Cemetery. Shirley, loved cats. Please send memorials to Castaway Treasures Animal Sanctuary.

P. 0. Box 1697, Cave Creek, AZ 85327. Arrangements by Hansen Mortuary. John E.

Connors, 73, of Dewey, Arizona, died on March 20, 2006. Services for John will be at a later date. Private cremation will take place at the Bradshaw Crematory. Arizona Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel, Prescott Valley, AZ assisted the family with the arrangements. Flowers and Memorials may be sent to his San Marcos, 92069-6062 family at 155,5 Las Flores Dr, Timothy E.

Dougherty of Glendale, AZ died March 16, 2006. He was born June 13, 1950. was a retired Air Force Veteran. He is survived by his wife Suke and children Timothy and Marcella, his parents Joseph and Marcella Dougherty, brothers Patrick of San Diego, CA, Michael and Shawn of Phoenix, and Daniel of Glendale, nephews Dr. Joseph Dougherty, Dr.

Michael Dougherty, nephews Ean Dougherty, Daniel, nieces Sarah and Jennifer. Military services at 10AM March 22 at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Brian F. Eastep, 38 formerly of Phoenix, AZ, passed away on March 13, 2006 in Los Angeles, CA. He is survived by his mother; Gerda and sister; Lorie.

Rememberance services will be held at 3425 E. Turney Ave. on April 8th at 2:00 p.m. Harold Eidem, of Mesa, passed away on March' 17, 2006, In lieu of flowers please make donations to Banner Gardens Hospice House, 7231 Broadway Rd Mesa, Az 85208. Arrangements handled by Allen Funeral Home.

Ernest Roy, Evans 34, of Goodyear, passed away March 17, 2006. Gathering 5-8 Friday March 24, 2006, Crystal Rose Funeral Home, 9155 W. Van Buren, Tolleson, AZ. Today's Obituaries are continued on page 10..