Rep. Kevin McCarthy became the first in American history to be voted out of the speakership this week, and Republican lawmakers are divided over that development.
Led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01), House Democrats joined six other Republicans to vote out House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20): in addition to Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) and Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), there were Ken Buck (CO), Tim Burchett (TN), Bob Good (VA), Nancy Mace (SC), and Matt Rosendale (MT).
As of Wednesday, Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) and Steve Scalise (R-LA-01) announced their candidacy for the speakership. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) is serving as the speaker pro tempore.
State Rep. Austin Smith (R-LD29) said that the “establishment” line of thinking was supporting Democrats to pass the continuing resolution, but not to vote out McCarthy.
Joining Democrats to pass the CR = good
Joining Democrats to oust the Speaker = bad
That is the establishments message right now
Insane they think conservatives just buy this crap still
Similarly, State Rep. Justin Heap (R-LD10) challenged claims that those against McCarthy were traitorous. Heap said that those Republicans against McCarthy were for more important GOP priorities: an end to foreign war funding, border security, and the rejection of lengthy omnibus bills.
Keep in mind that the people now being called "traitors" and accused of destroying the "Republican Unity" are the people who want to stop funding foreign wars, secure the border, and opposing the use of 17,000 page omnibus spending bills, written by lobbyist, dropped at the 11th…
Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-LD-08) said the ouster was a “bad move” for the Republican Party and the country.
“Now we are at a standstill again until we figure out who the new speaker is going to be,” said Lesko. “Republicans need to unite to defeat the Democrats’ radical agenda.”
HEAR my thoughts on eight Republicans joining all the Democrats to oust the House Speaker: "I think it's a bad move for the Republican party and I think it's a bad move for the country. Now we are at a standstill again until we figure out who the new Speaker is going to be."… pic.twitter.com/kQlLt3dWdH
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) said the removal was “pointless, unproductive, and harmful” to the GOP agenda.
“[A] handful of Republicans partnered with Democrats to stop our efforts to get it done, obstructing the work we have at hand,” said Ciscomani. “Washington is broken.”
In response to a criticism of the ouster by Ciscomani, State Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D-LD18) blamed the “radical right” faction of eight that ousted McCarthy for upending order in the House.
“This is bad for our economy and democracy,” said Gutierrez.
The chaos that is happening in the US House is not because of Democrats. It’s because the radical right has taken over the House. This is bad for our economy and democracy. Please don’t let them off the hook with these ridiculous excuses. @ld18dems@PimaDemshttps://t.co/lAD1wmULOu
— Representative Nancy Gutierrez (@nancygforAZ) October 3, 2023
The day after issuing those criticisms of his party peers, Ciscomani had no problem taking a selfie with Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), who also voted to oust McCarthy.
Biggs said that McCarthy had repeatedly failed to uphold his policy promises. He further rejected the claim from Ciscomani and others that he was a chaos agent siding with Democrats.
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) may have misspent $2.4 million to court private CEOs, according to a new report from the Arizona Auditor General (AG). The ACA is a state agency managed as a public-private partnership.
The report found that the ACA spent more than $2.4 million to court private CEOs with accommodations, experiences, and refreshments between 2018 and 2023. These gifts spread across five private CEO Forums were intended to entice private CEOs to bring their business to the state; none did. Only 23 of 118 companies courted proposed “potential non-binding investment and job commitments.”
The ACA courted the CEOs in “marketing campaigns” around the Waste Management Phoenix Open (WMPO) golf tournament and the 2023 Super Bowl. At these events, the ACA paid for hotel rooms; transportation; suites at the WMPO; Super Bowl sponsorship that came with access to Super Bowl LVII and related VIP events; gifts like events tickets, hats, sunglasses, tumblers, and tote bags; VIP nightclubs and concerts at the WMPO; and the Super Bowl Music Festival.
The ACA told the AG that their CEO courting didn’t violate the Arizona Constitution’s Gift Clause because the CEOs’ projected, but non-binding, promise of tens of thousands of jobs and billions in investments would far outweigh the $2.4 million.
Below is the cumulative cost breakdown of all six years of CEO Forums:
Super Bowl sponsorship package: $1.85 million
WMPO Suite: $288,600
Transportation and lodging: $193,200
Educational events (speakers, panels): $65,000
Birds Nest VIP and other concert or theater tickets: $42,000
Small gifts (sunglasses, sunscreen, water, hats, tumblers, red wine, desserts): $7,600
The Super Bowl sponsorship package included 140 game tickets, 140 tickets to the Super Bowl VIP Tailgate Party, 140 tickets to the Super Bowl Experience, a party loft at the Super Bowl (with food and drinks), gift packages for event attendees (four tickets and two premium parking passes for one Arizona Cardinals regular season football game), 70 hotel rooms at the Arizona Biltmore (all event attendees), and Arizona Biltmore Resort events (hospitality lounge, planned dinner events, welcome event with Gov. Katie Hobbs, and panel discussions).
The WMPO Suite was for 17th hole suites, which include daily complimentary alcohol and other beverages, and breakfast and lunch buffets; suite tickets for up to 34 people daily; an additional 20 general admission tickets daily; and 15 parking passes for each day of the WMPO.
The ACA plans to host another two private CEO Forums in February and April 2024, in conjunction with the WMPO and the NCAA Men’s Final Four basketball tournament.
The AG also found at least two instances in which the ACA had invited company executives after awarding them a grant or approved tax incentive.
The over-$2.4 million was the smallest amount of expenditures that earned concern from the AG. Over $111 million may have been misspent on business incentives and broadband grants as well.
The report found that the ACA failed to provide documentation proving that $11 million in incentives were given to businesses that met required targets on job creation and/or capital investment. ACA staff also disclosed to the AG that they frequently didn’t conduct wage verifications for tax credits.
In all, the ACA lacked documentation showing it verified job creation requirements prior to approving 21 tax credits totaling $7.5 million. Those 21 tax credits were a sample out of 99. The AG also discovered that the ACA couldn’t provide documentation demonstrating that it investigated discrepancies in business applications for tax credits.
The AG declared that the lack of oversight created an increased risk of fraud and waste of taxpayer funding.
The ACA also failed to provide required documentation, guidance, or policies and procedures for $100 million in Arizona Broadband Development Grant Program for similar targets.
The ACA had an end-of-year fund balance of $202 million last year.
The ACA has 91 full-time employees, with nine vacancies. A board of directors governs the ACA. Voting members consist of the governor, the ACA CEO, and 17 private sector business leaders. The ACA CEO is Sandra Watson, who also oversees the Workforce Arizona Council and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) issued three percent raises to Arizona’s three university presidents, bringing their collective salaries to over $2.2 million, with the three also receiving nearly $600,000 in bonuses altogether.
ABOR issued the bonuses and raises during its meeting last Friday.
Arizona State University (ASU) President Michael Crow’s new base salary is now $834,100. Crow also received a $150,000 bonus. His contract was extended through June 2028.
The $150,000 bonus came from three annual at-risk compensation goals, each worth $50,000: designing and launching a premium brand for ASU online; developing and launching a plan to move the three core brands of the W.P. Carey School of Business, Fulton Schools of Engineering, and the Barrett Honors Colleges into three global brands; and designing and launching a new Health Futures Strategy which included development of a holistic approach around health sciences, similar to their engineering programs, and designing and preparing for the launch of the Public Health Technology School.
Crow will potentially receive another $180,000 bonus next year, should he accomplish the three proposed at-risk compensation goals for 2023-2024.
The first goal concerns a science and technology economic development strategy to design tools, levers, and processes necessary to move Arizona from the top of the third tier as determined by Milken Institute to the bottom of the first tier. The first goal’s metrics include active engagement and the role of tech transfer, with strategic pathways document being the product.
The second goal concerns the creation of an all-industry semiconductor industry training sector for the state: semiconductors, advanced battery technology, high-tech computation and systems, and artificial intelligence (AI). Additionally, Crow would have to build the Learning Enterprise training programs with advanced digital learning for enhanced and accelerated workforce development drawing from ASU content. This second goal’s metrics include the design and launch of the special digital training center across the sectors with industrial participation in each and every aspect.
The third goal concerns the creation of an AI strategy to optimize its use in teaching, learning, and discovery activities. This third goal’s metrics include a plan and launch strategy.
ABOR also proposed to take away $30,000 from any 2023-24 at-risk compensation awarded should Crow fail to fully implement the General Education Program for all first-time incoming students in Fall 2024.
Northern Arizona State University (NAU) President José Luis Cruz Rivera’s new base salary is now $594,100. Cruz Rivera also received a $135,000 bonus. His contract was extended through June 2026.
The $135,000 bonus came from three annual at-risk compensation goals, each worth $45,000: a new system encompassing in-person, online, and hybrid learning modalities, branch campuses, community college partnerships, and engagement with the state’s K-12 system; revamping NAU Online with focused external consultation regarding academic program offerings and operations in areas such as student outreach, recruitment and engagement, instructional design, and academic support; increasing enrollments and enhancing post-graduate career preparation opportunities.
Cruz Rivera will potentially receive another $150,000 bonus next year, should he accomplish the two proposed at-risk compensation goals for 2023-2024.
The first goal concerns the launch of NAU Health, part of ABOR’s Arizona Healthy Tomorrow initiative. The new program will double the number of credentials awarded in health-related fields by 2030, namely for physicians and practitioners targeted to serve in urban, rural, and indigenous communities. Milestones for this goal will include the establishment of the College of Nursing, launch of the Office of NAU Health, hiring senior leadership to structure and coordinate existing academic programs and research for medical academia expansion, and publication of a plan to establish the College of Applied Community Medicine.
The second goal concerns collaboration with ABOR to produce a multi-year strategic and operational plan for building a network of colleges powered and coordinated by NAU. One milestone for this goal is proposing actions for ABOR endorsement on market assessment, concept and structural mission, funding and advocacy strategies, and design specifications. Other milestones concern the launch of an A++ certified academic pathway for Fall 2024 with A++ certified partners, seeking intergovernmental agreements for implementation, and expansion into the K-12 realm using NAU’s Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy.
University of Arizona (UArizona) President Robert Robbins’ new base salary is now $816,100. Robbins also received a $132,500 bonus. His contract was extended through June 2026.
The $132,500 bonus came from three annual at-risk compensation goals, each worth about $45,000: secure $200 million in initial funding commitment from the state, local government, or private donors for establishing the Center for Advanced Molecular Immunotherapies; develop a plan and timeline to centralize responsibility and balance local authority in the administrative functional areas of Information Technology and Financial and Business Services; work with the Department of Education and accrediting bodies to fully absorb UArizona’s Global Campus. The first goal was only partially achieved.
Robbins will potentially receive another $150,000 bonus next year, should he accomplish the two proposed at-risk compensation goals for 2023-2024.
The first goal concerns the establishment of a multi-institutional translational research, education, and innovation park in the city of Maricopa with focuses on food safety and sustainability, automation and autonomous systems, drug and vaccine development, digital health and biotechnology, climate technology, aggrotech, and battery technology. Milestones include achieving a planned vote or completion of annexation by the city; plans with local government leaders for a network of supportive infrastructure to sustain growth, attract and retain investment, retail services, office development residential and hotel development; a leasing plan with external developers; the launch of internal and external communications and campaign strategy; an initial catalog of proposed programs; tribal endorsement; ABOR approval of a governance model; a five-year funding plan for site development; and an initial construction proposal for the first buildings by fall 2025.
The second goal concerns the defining and funding of the Arizona Institute of Data and Computing in coordination with the Colleges of Engineering, Medicine, Science and Business, with a focus on AI, data, and computing. Milestones include a structural and funding plan presented by June 2024, at least $5 million in initial funding commitments secured by June 2024, and the organization of at least one summit or event involving key industry, government, funding, and academic leaders by June 2024.
ABOR also proposed to take away $20,000 from Robbins’ total at-risk compensation for 2023-24 if he fails to complete the centralization of Information Technology Services.
The three presidents also received another $45,000 bonus each for meeting collective annual at-risk compensation goals: proposing a comprehensive and sustainable model for state funding of the three universities ($80,000); developing and promoting the Arizona Promise Program with high public awareness and consistency across the three universities, especially regarding financial aid award letters ($20,000); completing a comprehensive risk assessment of online education using Department of Education regulations, projected demand, potential competitors, employer attitudes toward online education, online alumni wages versus immersion alumni wages, and impacts on university branding with corresponding recommendations issued ($80,000).
For 2023-24, ABOR proposed another $240,000 in collective at-risk compensation goals. The first goal concerns a plan to improve Arizona residents’ post-high school educational attainment outcomes by 10 percent over three years. The second goal concerns a comprehensive review of university international strategies and operations. The third goal concerns the implementation of the Arizona Promise Program through marketing, award deferrals, and protocols.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Arizona lawmakers mostly split along party lines in their votes last Friday on the continuing resolution that averted a government shutdown.
Freshman Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-03) was the only Republican to join his Democratic colleagues — Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) — in voting for the continuing resolution. Both Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema voted for it as well.
Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), and Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08) all voted against the resolution.
Ciscomani said that the avoidance of a shutdown was of greater concern than a future financial burden.
Today I supported a temporary funding package to keep our government open. Plain & simple: this was not my first, second, or even third choice. In my first nine months in Congress, I have seen just how broken Washington is and nothing sums it up quite like the last few weeks.…
The resolution notably omitted funding for Ukraine. However, the House approved a separate bill sending another $300 million to the country and establishing an Office of the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance.
Ciscomani, Gallego, Grijalva, Lesko, Schweikert, and Stanton all voted for that bill. Biggs, Crane, and Gosar voted against it.
In a statement, Gosar said that the U.S. shouldn’t issue any more funding for the proxy war. The federal government has sent over $100 billion to Ukraine. Gosar said the federal government should be advancing its own national security interest by securing the border.
“The southern border is under a sustained attack and invasion. Over eight million illegal aliens have entered the country,” said Gosar. “Rather than sending another dime to Ukraine, we should put our country first by increasing the pay of our brave service members right here in the United States.”
Following his “no” vote, Biggs declared that he would oppose the re-election of California Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker, citing the approved continuing resolution.
Last November, I ran for House Speaker because I feared that Kevin McCarthy would not rein in federal spending and take on Democrats.
As seen by his latest CR, these fears are now reality.
Biggs criticized the leadership-approved continuing resolution as a maintenance of unsustainable spending levels established by President Joe Biden, former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11), and Senate President Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Instead of siding with his own party today, Kevin McCarthy sided with 209 Democrats to push through a continuing resolution that maintains the Biden-Pelosi-Schumer spending levels and policies.
Crane said that the approval of any continuing resolutions at this point was reckless. He blamed continuing resolutions as a major part of the $33 trillion debt burdening the country.
Congress is doing future generations of Arizonans a huge disservice by governing through these reckless CRs.
Crane further reflected on the continuing resolution with some levity on Monday.
“I’m heartened to see that Congress is getting serious now that we’ve avoided a shutdown for another 45 days,” said Crane. “Tonight, we will take critical steps to fix the national debt by considering legislation to rename some post offices.”
I’m heartened to see that Congress is getting serious now that we’ve avoided a shutdown for another 45 days.
Tonight, we will take critical steps to fix the national debt by considering legislation to rename some post offices.
However, Democrats viewed the government shutdown as a worse alternative to worsening the national debt.
Gallego did criticize the fact that the continuing resolution became an option in the very last moments possible.
Today, I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues to avert a government shutdown, but let’s be clear – we should never have had to wait to the 11th hour to make this happen.
As Congress continues to debate funding over the next month, I’ll keep fighting for Arizona.
Stanton blamed “MAGA extremists” for nearly causing a government shutdown. He expressed dissatisfaction with the bill’s omission of even more funding for Ukraine on top of the $300 million he voted for in the separate bill passed Friday, as well as border security.
Today I joined Republicans & Democrats to avert a government shutdown.
This short-term bill is far from perfect. It leaves out critical funding to secure our border and support for Ukraine—I will continue to fight for these Arizona priorities.
One of President Joe Biden’s United Service Organizations (USO) appointees attacked members of the military that voted for Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) and Eli Crane (R-AZ-02).
USO Board of Governors member Rebekah Sanderlin accused Republican-voting servicemembers of having no commitment to their country and putting their fellow Americans at risk, claiming they would be at fault for domestic violence arising from economic stresses. Ultimately, Sanderlin said the government shutdown was Republican military voters’ fault. Sanderlin works for a Florida-based consulting firm, Ground Truth Consulting, that the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) works with to provide mental health services outreach.
“If you’re in the military & you voted for them, look to your left & right: YOU did this to your brothers & sisters. I’ve been responding to panicked milspouses all day. I’m pissed at YOU. You did when you supported politicians who want Fox News time more than they want to lead,” said Sanderlin. “So think about that. When that E5’s family can’t eat this month. When that PFC can’t fly home for grandma’s funeral. When student loans & car payments don’t get paid & the stress of it all results in domestic violence, know that YOUR lack of commitment to our country put us here. When you send egoistic clowns to Congress because they’re entertaining, YOU put us all at risk.”
Sanderlin also called out servicemembers who voted for representatives in other states: Matt Gaetz, Tim Burchett, Anna Paulina Luna, Andy Ogles, Matt Rosendale, Dan Bishop, Wesley Hunt, and Cory Mills.
Sanderlin has never served in the military; she is a marketing strategist and former journalist, and the wife of a retired Army Special Forces command sergeant major who served in Afghanistan.
Sanderlin worked with the Obama administration’s Joining Forces initiative. Currently, Sanderlin works with Ground Truth Consulting. Her firm has worked with the Veteran Affairs Department on their Veterans Crisis Line and Make the Connection mental health initiatives for several years.
The consulting firm has also provided services to the defense sector, according to its various consultants’ LinkedIn pages. Neither of two government contract databases — USA Spending or the Federal Procurement Data System — reflected any government contracts with Ground Truth Consulting. The last entity contracted for Make the Connection was J.R. Reingold & Associates from 2013 to 2016 for $25.8 million. The System for Award Management (SAM) database also reflects no awarded contracts at any time, though the consulting firm is registered with SAM.
The firm’s founder, former CEO, and current owner Christopher Murray, a retired Navy rear admiral and commander, also serves on NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP).
Other principals at the firm are husband and wife, Joe and Claire Woodward. Joe, a retired Marine, worked for IBM as a consultant and account executive, and the Defense Department Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) as a deputy director.
As part of his government work, Joe Woodward was part of a DTRA team that developed the Constellation system prototype to track threats of weapons of mass destruction.
Claire Woodward worked as the executive director of several military spouse nonprofits, Blue Star Families and MPower prior to founding the consulting firm.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
