State Representative Joseph Chaplik (R-Scottsdale) created a stir on the floor of the State House Representatives on Thursday when he accused the Scottsdale Taser company Axon of promising legislators funding for their reelection campaigns if they vote in favor of legislation benefiting the company. Although the City of Scottsdale has seen a large increase in high-density apartment housing due to the previous left-leaning Scottsdale City Council — which resulted in their ouster by angry voters last election — Axon got legislators to run a bill, SB 1543, that would change zoning laws so it could build 1,900 more high-density apartments by its worksite.
Chaplik (pictured above) said during a meeting of the Committee of the Whole discussing the bill, “I’ve been here five years, and I know long before that when we carve out special legislation for one one special interest to profit, that is wrong. When we let them come here and talk to every one of these members, which I will admit, three or four of them have come to me and said they were essentially offered campaign funds if they vote yes for their next election by the company, please step up and come forward if that’s happened to you. I’ve never seen something so scandalous in my five years down here.”
Arizona law states that bribery of elected officials is a class 4 felony for both parties. A.R.S. 13-2602 provides in part, “A person commits bribery of a public servant or party officer if with corrupt intent: 1. Such person offers, confers or agrees to confer any benefit upon a public servant or party officer with the intent to influence the public servant’s or party officer’s vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion or other action in his official capacity as a public servant or party officer; or 2. While a public servant or party officer, such person solicits, accepts or agrees to accept any benefit upon an agreement or understanding that his vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion or other action as a public servant or party officer may thereby be influenced.”
A.R.S. 16-905 sets limits on contributions to candidates. Article 4, Part 2, Section 19 of the Arizona Constitution states, “No local or special laws shall be enacted in any of the following cases … Granting to any corporation, association, or individual, any special or exclusive privileges, immunities, or franchises.”
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