Saving the Cactus League: How A Bill Becomes a Law

Historical Background

In 1988, The Cactus League was in serious risk of dying out, as the entire MLB were to train in Florida for the Grapefruit League.

• Governor Mofford created special task forceto find possible solutions for keeping the Cactus League

• Solution – Tourism tax to create funds for baseball teams

• Organizations and groups created to continually monitor the well-being of the Cactus League

Why so Important?• Economic Impact to Valley

1989: $160 million impact

2007 $632 million impact

• Internal health of state: addition of new jobs

• External health of state: tourism and recreational activities

• Impact on the Diamondbacks (1998)and Cardinals new stadium (2005)

How it Happened – Legislative Process

How a Bill Becomes a Law in Arizona

1. Bill introduced to by either state senator or house representative to their respective chamber

2. Committee and Rules Committee must approve the bill before going back to chamber for another reading

3. Caucuses form for the bill, moves onto final reading for specific chamber before being out to a vote

4. Bill is sent to other chamber for reading; goes through process of chamber and committee readings, then put to vote

5. Conference committee appointed if amendments from second chamber are not approved by the first

6. Bill is sent to Governor to sign into law, if the governor vetoes, legislature can override it by a 2/3’s vote.

Visual Display: http://www.azpolicy.org/media-uploads/resource-images/How%20a%20Bill%20becomes%20Law-Vertical.pdf

Your Task: Opinion Article

Situation:

You are on the editorial board for an Arizona newspaper in 1989

Governor Mofford’s report has just been released

You will argue either for or against Arizona keeping the Cactus League

You will first conduct research on the issue using the article packet

Then you will write the opinion article

Requirements (see also the rubric):

You must cite specific evidence from the article packet to support your argument

You must incorporate discussion of the legislative process: how a bill becomes a law in Arizona

500 word limit

Complete for homework

Closure• Read the following questions and talk with the

classmate next to you about the possible answers.

• Write down the answers in your guided notes

• Be prepared to share your answers to the class

How did Rose Mofford Impact the Cactus League?

What were the economic benefits from the survival of the Cactus League

What is the significance of the process of how a bill becomes a law? What is the most important aspect of it?

Sources

Ye Hee Lee, Michelle, Alia Beard Rau, and Mary Jo Pitzl. "How a bill becomes law in Arizona." The Arizona Republic ,

January 1, 2011.

Pruitt, Ryan . The Cactus League: Big League Bust or Major League Success: The Arizona Government realized the benefits of spring training and chose to contribute the resources necessary to save the league. . . Reprint, : , 2013.

Mofford, Rose . Executive Order No. 88-3: Cactus League Baseball . : , 1988.