GIFFORDS' INTERVIEW: WHAT WAS, WASN'T SAID

posted by Michael Chihak

ABC News issued a press release this morning saying it will air an exclusive report in November in which U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly “share their remarkable story.”

The ABC report, featuring Diane Sawyer, will coincide with release of Giffords' and Kelly's co-authored book, "Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope."

The Associated Press picked up the press release, saying ABC had secured the first interview with Giffords since she was shot through the head last Jan. 8 in Tucson.

Not true, TucsonSentinel.com reported a short time later, quoting Giffords' congressional staff spokesman Mark Kimble.

AZPM's Robert Rappaport spoke with Kimble this afternoon, and Kimble confirmed what he had said earlier: Giffords has not made a decision to appear on camera, but she will speak with Sawyer off camera. Kimble confirmed an on-camera appearance for Kelly.

GIFFORDS INTERVIEW ON ABC? HOLD ON A MINUTE

posted by Michael Chihak

Reports that U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will give her first media interview since the Jan. 8 shooting were premature at best, flat wrong at worst.

TucsonSentinel.com quotes Giffords' spokesman Mark Kimble as saying, "Congresswoman Giffords has not decided if she's going to conduct an on-camera interview." Kimble further said that ABC-TV News anchor Diane Sawyer will interview Giffords' husband Mark Kelly on camera, and "sit down and talk with Mark and Gabby" off camera.

ABC reported in a press release picked up this morning by The Associated Press that Giffords and Kelly will st for an interview on the eve of their book's publication, scheduled for Nov. 15. The book, "Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope," is co-authored by Jeffrey Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal.

GIFFORDS' FIRST INTERVIEW WILL BE WITH DIANE SAWYER, ABC

posted by Andrea Kelly

The Associated Press reports U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' first public interview since she was shot Jan. 8 will be on ABC News as part of a prime-time special with Diane Sawyer.

The interview is scheduled to air Nov. 14, the night before Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly publish a book.

BUNDGAARD-INSPIRED INITIATIVE FILED

posted by Andrea Kelly

Voters may be asked to scale back the amount of protection legislators have from prosecution during the legislative session. A statewide initiative was filed this week, and the sponsor needs 259,213 signatures by next July to get it on the ballot.

The proposal would allow legislators to avoid arrest during the legislative session, but it would remove the provision that they also can avoid civil prosecution during the session.

The sponsor is Frank G. Nelson, of Leupp, Ariz., east of Flagstaff.

Here's Nelson's description of the initiative: "This would prohibit politicians from hiding behind immunity laws in regards to DUI's, domestic violence, postponing tax issues with the IRS, etc. They will be held to the same judicial standards as their constituents. This would require politicians to obey the laws outside the legislature and carry out their duties for the public good, not for their own private indulgences."

Last session, Sen. Scott Bundgaard was involved in an incident for which he reportedly requested legislative immunity. Bundgaard and his girlfriend at the time were allegedly arguing and physically fighting on the side of a freeway in the Phoenix area. Passers-by saw the incident and called police. Police reports indicated Bundgaard requested legislative immunity at the time, though he denied that.

Earlier this month, he pleaded no contest to the charges. The Senate ethics committee is considering an investigation into the incident.

BREWER'S NONPUBLIC SCHEDULE NOW PUBLIC

posted by Michael Chihak

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's schedule has been beefed up to include more of her appearances.

This week, for example, the schedule for the first time lists events “closed to the media at host’s request.”

(Parenthetically, one must wonder why two events this week have that designation: One is a salute to GOP legislators, the other a speech by the commander of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.)

In the past, such events would not appear on the schedule, leading to criticism by the media and others of Brewer. That was heightened when she made an unannounced appearance at a meeting in Florence to express support for the digging of a new copper mine in Pinal County.

Brewer spokesman Matthew Benson told the Arizona Capitol Times that the governor's office typically hasn’t list events that are closed to the press, “but we are trying to give you as clear a picture as possible as the governor’s public activities."

Benson said the change wasn't in response to any criticism but rather came out of a desire to be transparent.

See the governor's weekly schedule here.

TUCSON CITY MGR LETCHER'S RESIGNATION LETTER

posted by Michael Chihak

From City Manager Mike Letcher's letter to mayor and City Council today:

"Unfortunately, I cannot change the current political and media climate in this community that focus more on blame than resolution. I know now that I can only go so far in changing the organizational climate of the city that has not seen consistent City Management since Joel Valdez. I know that I will continue to find problems to fix that expose the city to public criticism. Based on these facts I am submitting my resignation as City Manager effective August 31, 2012. This will allow me to complete one more budget cycle and for the new Mayor and Council to start a thoughtful recruitment process to select the next City Manager.

"During the search process and the final months of my service in 2012, I will work with Mayor and Council to: implement the adopted plan for lifting furloughs, fulfill the final year of the current budget and finalizing the budget for FY 2013. I am committed to holding our bond ratings and establishing a firm foundation to maintain core services within acceptable budgetary resources in my work on the budget for next fiscal year."

Read Letcher's full letter here.