I am a representative from the state of Arizona, having served the
people of this state for 12 years, and for the past six years, I have
been the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

My reason for writing is to oppose the extension of the time limit set
for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

For background information, I am also a coordinator and lecturer of the
Community Services Division at the University of Arizona. My seminars
include county and state government, the judicial system, budgeting
and appropriations, and the legislative process.

I do not take lightly to amending the United States Constitution, and
even though I favor the passage of this amendment, I feel that the
people of these United States, through their legislatures, have expressed
their feelings and the extension of the time limit would be setting a
dangerous precedent.

I urge your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

TNG/CC

Thomas N. Goodwin, Chairman
Committee on Appropriations

I understand that the House Judiciary Committee is attempting to address the issue of an extension in the ratification period for the proposed 27th Amendment to the Constitution.

It is my opinion that such an extension would thwart the wishes to the people of Arizona as expressed during the period of time the Equal Rights Amendment has been under discussion in our Legislature. It seems to me that the elected representatives of the people of Arizona have expressed their opposition to the Amendment enough times and that we should be allowed to proceed to find solutions to the pressing problems that face us. I do not believe we need any more debate on the proposed Amendment. As President of the Arizona Senate I urge you to defeat H.J.R. 638. Sincerely,

心

Ed C. Sawyer, President

Arizona State Senate

ECS/elc

House Judiciary committee met on 2-22-73 for 3 hours to hear testimony on the bill. It was held in committee.

2. S.J.R. 100--E.R.A.

Senate Judiciary committee met on 3-5-73 for 2 hours to hear testimony. The bill was held in committee.

3. Joint Senate-House Judiciary committee hearings were held in the Phoenix and Tucson City Council chambers for several days. Approximately 15 hours of testimony was heard during that period.

1974

1. H.J.R. 2001--women's rights

House Judiciary committee met on 3-7-74 to vote on the bill. A 1 hour discussion among the committee members was held. The bill failed to be put out of committee for consideration by the House by a 5 ayes--7 nays vote.

Senate Judiciary committee held a 1 hour hearing on an ERA advisory question to be submitted to the voters of Arizona. The bill was held in committee.

3. S.J.R. 1001--ERA

1975

Senate Judiciary committee met on 4-1-74 for 2 hours of testimony on the ERA.
The bill was held in committee.

1. H.J.R. 2003--ERA

House Judiciary committee met on 1-20-75 to hear 7 hours of testimony. The committee voted to return the bill to the House with a "do not pass" recommendation. The bill was then held in Commerce committee.

2. H.J.R. 2005--ERA

This bill was assigned only to the Rules committee. It failed in the third reading of bills in the House on 2-25-75 by a vote of 19 ayes, 41 nays.

26-365 - 78 - 14

4.

1976

Senate Judiciary met on 2-3-75 for 2

passed Judiciary by a majority vote.

hours of discussion on the bill. It The bill then failed in the Committee of the Whole in the Senate on 2-13-75 after 2 hours of debate by a 14 ayes16 nays vote.

Senate Judiciary committee held a public hearing in the Senate chambers on
the ERA on 1-31-75. Testimony lasted for 6 hours.

1. H.B. 2213--advisory question on the ERA

House Judiciary committee met on 3-8-76 for 2 hours of debate on the bill, which
would put an advisory question on the ERA to the public. The bill passed the
Judiciary committee. It passed on third reading in the House on 3-18-76 by a
vote of 40 ayes-16 nays-4 not voting. The bill was held in the Senate.

2. H.J.R. 2002--equal rights

House Judiciary held a special meeting on 1-27-76 to hear 4 hours of testimony
on the bill. It was held indefinitely by a vote of 10 ayes-4 nays.

3. S.J.R. 1001--equal rights

1977

Senate Judiciary met on 2-2-76 for 21⁄2 hours of debate. The bill passed Judiciary.
It then failed in third reading of bills by a vote of 15 ayes-15 nays.

1978

Senate Judiciary met on 5-2-77 for 21⁄2 hours debate. It was passed out of committee.
It then failed in Committee of the Whole in the Senate on 5-5-77 by a vote of 11 ayes-
18 nays-1 not voting.

Senate Judiciary met on 2-27-78 for 2 hours of debate.

It passed the committee.

The bill then passed third reading in the Senate on 4-11-78 (amended) by a vote
of 17 ayes-13 nays. The bill was held in the House.

A conservative estimate of 70 hours has been spent in hearings and committee meetings

on the ERA since 1973 in the Arizona Legislature. Numerous other hearings and speeches have been conducted by organizations throughout the state, also.