A hearing is set for Wednesday, February 10, in the Arizona Senate Government Committee for SB1440, the bill that would transfer the Arizona Mining & Mineral Museum from the Arizona Historical Society to the Arizona Geological Survey. The museum would be redesignated as the Arizona Mining, Mineral, and Natural Resources Education Museum. [Right, view of the displays in the former mineral museum that closed in 2011. Credit, Jan Rasmussen]The hearing starts at 2 pm, in Senate Hearing Room 3 at the Capitol in Phoenix. However, it is near the bottom of the list of 20 bills being heard, so it's not certain they will get through the entire agenda tomorrow.
A similar bill was approved by the Legislature last year but vetoed by the Governor over concerns about plans for opening the new museum.
The Arizona Historical Society is actively opposing SB1440. This places the AHS in a very peculiar position.
ReplyDeleteThe AHS closed the mineral museum and scattered its contents across the state in clear violation of state statutes. Now, the AHS is lobbying against a bill that would bring an end to their illegal use of state property and state funds.
The Arizona State Government needs to investigate the Arizona Historical Society and their activities as regards the former Mining and Mineral Museum.
ReplyDeleteWhat they really need to do is cut the AHS budget by 20% next year and bring them into the real world of operating under a budget where they need to make correct decisions. A few less chiefs in the front office would be a good place to start.
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