By Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services | Arizona Daily Star
A call by Gov. Doug Ducey to repeal the so-called “legislative immunity” provision of the Arizona Constitution is getting a chilly reception from several senior lawmakers.
Legislators who spoke with Capitol Media Services said there’s a good reason for a limited privilege from arrest, which dates from the first days of statehood.
“I’m told, because I wasn’t around when they passed this, this is because there were situations where sheriffs or police in some counties attempted to prevent legislators from going to the Capitol by arresting them so that they couldn’t vote,” said Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills.
The “immunity” became an issue for the governor after the recent release of a videotape of Rep. Paul Mosley explaining to a La Paz County deputy that it was OK for him to drive 97 miles an hour in a 55 mph zone and boasting of having driven up to 140 mph.
