Arizona State Senate

R E P O R T O F S E N A T E E T H I C S C O M M I T T E E

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fiftieth Legislature

Second Regular Session

Date: July 25, 2012

Members of the Senate:

The Chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, having had under consideration the Ethics

Complaint against Senator Rich Crandall, has decided to DISMISS THE COMPLAINT

FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

Senator Rich Crandall did not violate any laws or ethical rules.

Representative Barton’s request for the Ethics Committee to take “appropriate measures” to discipline Senator Crandall for the possibility of not hearing bills in the Education Committee which he currently chairs, goes against the authority of any chairman of a committee in Senate Rule 7, which states that the chairman sets the agenda of bills to be heard.

This year 1395 bills were introduced and only 389 transmitted to the governor. Can you imagine if all those legislators who didn’t get their bill heard in a committee filed ethics complaints? This would set a horrible precedent and would be a waste of time and taxpayer money for this to occur. Chairmen hold bills all the time. Sometimes the reason is known and other times it is not known by the person introducing the legislation on why their bill was not given a hearing.

Furthermore, Senator Crandall has written a letter of apology to Representative Barton stating that, “I apologize for my behavior and look forward to hearing any legislation you bring forward that moves the needle for Arizona’s kids.”

A person of character will realize the error of their way and apologize and that is what Senator Crandall has done.

______Linda Gray, Chair