by Matthew Holloway | Mar 17, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a new report from Common Sense Institute (CSI) Arizona, inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the Phoenix metro area, remained under the 2% target for the sixth consecutive month. In February, CSI Arizona recorded a year-over-year inflation rate of 1.8% for the metropolitan area. The national rate is currently +2.8% year-over-year, although it is down since President Donald Trump took office.
According to CSI Arizona, the largest driver of inflation has long been the cost of shelter, which was up +0.7% in February with annual shelter costs rising 1.2% year over year. In a post to X, CSI summarized the report stating, “Phoenix is outperforming most of the country when it comes to rising prices.”
The report noted, “Among the 23 metro areas measured in the CPI each month, Phoenix ranks 22 in year-over-year inflation (2nd lowest). This is a dramatic change from 2022-2023, when the region consistently ranked among the highest.”
CSI Arizona goes on to observe in the report that the rate of national inflation has historically followed trends in the federal deficit with an approximate lag of 12-24 months and local or state levels are subject to regional dynamics as well, but tend to correspond with the national rate. In December, Fox 10 reported that homelessness in Arizona saw a 3.5% increase since 2023, with over 14,000 people experiencing homelessness.
Nathan Smith, CEO of Central Arizona Shelter Services told the outlet, “The cost of living continues to outstrip what people are making, and we’re seeing that we’re at a bit of an inflection point here in Arizona as we are facing the highest eviction rate that we’ve ever had.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Jonathan Eberle | Mar 17, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona’s ongoing housing crisis is taking center stage as state lawmakers, led by House Majority Leader Michael Carbone, voice strong opposition to Governor Katie Hobbs’ water policies, accusing them of exacerbating the state’s housing shortage. In a statement released last week, Carbone applauded House Speaker Steve Montenegro for authorizing a lawsuit against the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) over its adoption of a controversial 33.3% groundwater tax. Carbone claims that this policy is driving up the cost of housing and ultimately harming Arizonans who are already grappling with soaring housing prices.
At the center of the dispute is a policy known as the housing moratorium, which has been criticized for preventing the development of large swathes of land that could otherwise be used to build affordable homes. According to Carbone and other critics, the moratorium was adopted illegally, and it has led to a situation where hundreds of thousands of acres of land remain undeveloped. This, in turn, limits the amount of available space for new homes, driving demand to already crowded urban areas and increasing housing costs.
Carbone explained that “water policy is land use policy, and land use policy is housing policy,” suggesting that the restrictions on land development, while related to water conservation, are having broader economic consequences.
As a result of the moratorium, many Arizonans are facing higher costs when it comes to purchasing new homes. The housing moratorium is expected to increase home prices by $19,600 to $23,700 per house. Additionally, the proposed 33.3% groundwater tax has been predicted to add an extra $5,100 to $7,900 to the cost of new homes. These measures have raised concerns about the affordability of housing, especially in a state already struggling with rapid population growth and a housing shortage.
The Arizona House of Representatives, alongside the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) and members of the Arizona Senate, have joined forces in a legal battle against the ADWR’s actions. The lawsuit seeks to halt the 33.3% groundwater tax, which lawmakers argue is not only illegal but also harmful to Arizona’s housing market. Carbone criticized the governor’s policies, stating that they are not about ensuring water security but rather a means of “government control.”
“The Governor wants to dictate where and how Arizona families live, limiting all future growth to cities and driving up home prices,” Carbone said. “Affordable housing is central to the American Dream, and we are committed to fighting these illegal policies that will only make the housing crisis worse.”
The legal battle focuses on the ADWR’s authority to implement such a tax and whether it complies with state law. Proponents of the lawsuit argue that homebuilders have long demonstrated a commitment to responsible water management, having replenished 100% of the groundwater they use annually since 1995. Therefore, they contend, penalizing the homebuilding industry with additional taxes is unfair and counterproductive.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Mar 16, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
On Monday, Arizona Senate Republicans made significant progress toward enhancing the state’s role in federal immigration efforts by passing three bills aimed at improving border security and protecting Arizona communities. The bills, all sponsored by Senator John Kavanagh (R-LD3), are designed to address the increasing strain on local detention facilities, provide critical support for law enforcement, and assist federal agencies in deporting criminal illegal aliens.
All three bills have passed the Arizona Senate and are now being sent to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
The first bill, SB 1294, Leasing Marana Prison to the U.S. Government, is designed to address overcrowding in detention centers and create more space for the federal government to house criminal illegal aliens. The bill mandates that the Arizona Department of Administration lease the Marana Prison—currently vacant—to the U.S. government for just $1 per year. The prison, located near the U.S.-Mexico border and several airports, would be an ideal location to detain criminal illegal aliens, according to Senator Kavanagh.
“This measure is a no-brainer. The federal government should have access to the empty Marana Prison to house these dangerous criminal illegal aliens so that Arizonans are protected from further threats,” Kavanagh said. “Detention centers are running at max capacity, and as a result, illegal aliens are being released back into communities.”
The bill also includes a provision that allows Arizona to terminate the lease if the state requires the prison for its own incarcerated individuals, ensuring flexibility in future use.
The second bill, SB 1299, Law Enforcement Personnel Grant Program, establishes a Law Enforcement Personnel Grant Program, which would provide $2 million from the state’s general fund to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). The program would reimburse local law enforcement agencies for the costs associated with immigration-related training. This measure aims to equip officers with the tools and knowledge necessary to handle immigration enforcement, improving public safety for Arizona residents.
“It’s our duty as lawmakers to support our law enforcement with resources to protect our citizens, and this bill does just that,” Kavanagh stated. “With additional training, we can ensure that our front-line officers are equipped for the job, protecting both themselves, and the people of this great state.”
The third bill, SB 1610, Requiring Detention Facilities to Share Inmate Information with ICE, mandates that county detention facilities provide personal identifying information and access to detainees upon request by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This bill is designed to support federal deportation efforts by facilitating communication between local detention centers and ICE, enabling the federal agency to efficiently carry out removals of individuals with criminal records or immigration violations.
“Voters made it very clear in the last election – they are FED UP with the massive tsunami of people who have been entering this country illegally,” Kavanagh said. “With this bill, we are supporting the federal government’s deportation efforts by requiring detention facilities to supply inmate information to ICE.”
Senator Kavanagh emphasized the importance of standing in solidarity with the Trump administration’s efforts to curb illegal immigration and protect U.S. communities from individuals who have committed crimes.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Mar 16, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Congressman Abe Hamadeh convinced U.S. House leadership to ban circulation of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda styled as a newspaper.
China Daily will no longer be distributed at the House, per a Tuesday statement from House Administration Chair, Rep. Bryan Steil, and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chair, Rep. John Moolenaar.
“We are pleased to announce that China Daily will no longer be circulated by National News to House offices,” said Steil and Moolenaar. “We took action to directly block the Chinese Communist Party from using the halls of the People’s House to spread its propaganda. We appreciate National News’s swift cooperation on this important issue.”
“Chinese propaganda has no place in the halls of Congress. In coming weeks, China Daily will no longer be circulated by National News to House offices,” stated Chairman Steil. “There is no room for foreign influence in the People’s House. I thank Rep. Hamadeh for bringing this issue to the Committee’s attention and I appreciate National News’s swift work on this matter.”
National News included China Daily within the daily bundle of major publications provided to congressional offices, unless a particular office opted out. Per the Committee on House Administration, National News will “wind down and cease distribution” of China Daily at the Capitol.
An end to the circulation of the CCP’s paper within the House was one of Hamadeh’s first priorities upon entering Congress. Hamadeh introduced a resolution to get rid of China Daily and all other CCP-controlled publications last month.
China Daily constitutes a “foreign influence campaign” per Hamadeh’s resolution.
“China Daily is registered as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 and operates as a direct propaganda outlet of the Chinese Communist Party’s Publicity Department,” stated the resolution. “[T]he distribution of foreign propaganda materials within the House of Representatives undermines institutional integrity and enables malign foreign influence operations [and] the presence of Chinese Communist Party-controlled publications in official House facilities legitimizes foreign propaganda efforts[.]”
Hamadeh’s resolution didn’t restrict the private receipt or public research access of those publications by House members and employees, however.
China Daily is an English-language newspaper owned by the CCP’s Central Propaganda Department. It has been registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act as a foreign agent since the 1980s.
The paper maintains branch offices for “China Daily USA” in New York City, New York; San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and Washington, D.C. It also sponsors an insert, China Watch, for distribution within other American newspapers, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.
The editor-in-chief and president of China Daily USA, Tao Ji, has spent his entire career with China Daily and another offshoot, China Daily United Europe (United Kingdom).
Although Hamadeh’s resolution has yet to be adopted, the congressman’s public remarks about his legislation and China Daily spurred action within House leadership.
Shortly after Hamadeh initially introduced his bill to ban China Daily, he declared in an interview with the Epoch Times the publication to be an attempt by an enemy of the U.S. to influence its governance.
“It’s propaganda by a foreign government that’s trying to influence the highest echelons of the United States government, and it’s unacceptable,” said Hamadeh.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Mar 16, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona lawmakers are facing mounting backlash over a proposed pay raise bill that would increase the salaries of state legislators by a significant margin. Senate Concurrent Resolution 1003, introduced in the Arizona State Senate, seeks to boost the base pay for Arizona legislators, raising concerns about the timing of the proposal and the growing burden on taxpayers in an already financially strained state.
The bill, which passed initial stages in the legislature, aims to increase the base salary of lawmakers from $24,000 to $48,000, a 100% increase. Additionally, it proposes an increase in per diem payments and other benefits. The bill’s sponsors argue that this pay increase is necessary to attract qualified candidates to public office as well as keeping up with inflation.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator John Kavanaugh, says that he’s not worried about potential pushback from Arizona voters. “I do not think those voters wanted their $24,000 raise diluted by inflation to about $11,000,” Kavanaugh said. He said this calculation was based on the buying power that figure had in 1998—the last time Arizona lawmakers received a pay raise.
However, critics of the bill argue that such a significant pay raise for lawmakers comes at a time when many Arizonans are struggling to make ends meet due to rising costs of living and a housing crisis that has left many families in financial hardship. The proposal has raised questions about whether elected officials are out of touch with the economic realities faced by their constituents.
The timing of the bill has led some to question the motivation behind it. Critics argue that lawmakers, many of whom already have full-time jobs outside of their legislative duties, should not be seeking a pay raise while so many Arizonans are still struggling financially. Others believe the pay raise is necessary to ensure current lawmakers can make ends meet.
Democrat Senator Eva Burch recently announced her resignation from the legislature, citing that she’s struggling to make ends meet and to find balance with her legislative work and her job as a healthcare provider. “I know that I am not the first, nor will be the last, good person to find themselves a casualty of legislative pay,” said Burch.
As SCR 1003 makes its way through the Arizona Legislature, the controversy surrounding the proposed pay raise for state lawmakers is unlikely to subside anytime soon. With many Arizonans still feeling the financial pressure from rising living costs, the bill has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over government priorities and fiscal responsibility.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
