by Daniel Stefanski | Aug 24, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona Republicans scored a significant victory for election integrity at the U.S. Supreme Court this week.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its order in Mi Familia v. Adrian Fontes, overruling a panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that had struck down portions of a recently passed state law that required new voters registering with state forms to provide proof of citizenship in order to vote. The law was HB 2492, which was passed in 2022.
“Our legal battle is far from over,” said Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen. “While we’re grateful SCOTUS recognized our state’s sovereignty by allowing our laws requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in Arizona be enforced, individuals who are living here illegally are still able to register on a federal form without providing proof of citizenship. They must only attest they are lawful citizens, then they are able to vote in the presidential and congressional races, as well as by mail, thus influencing the outcome of our elections. We will continue litigating this issue in the coming months with a goal of ensuring only legal U.S. citizens are casting a ballot.”
The emergency petition to the U.S. Supreme Court from Petersen and Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma followed a mixed – and rather unprecedented – ruling at the Ninth Circuit. Last month, a panel on the court issued an order in support of the Arizona law’s requirement for proof of citizenship in state voter registrations. However, another panel on the same appeals court overturned this ruling, giving anyone in the state the ability to register to vote on a state form without first proving their citizenship.
“This is a great day for election integrity and transparency across Arizona,” said Scot Mussi, President of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club. “The U.S. Supreme Court rightly realized that the Ninth Circuit had created mass chaos of the law and precedent just a few months before the November General Election, and that this mess could not have been cleaned up after the fall contests. Today, Arizona will be able to protect our elections from illegals voting thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court. We will continue to fight against efforts from liberal special interests to dismantle these commonsense and constitutional laws requiring proof of citizenship to vote in our elections in the Ninth Circuit and look forward to all of the provisions being eventually upheld!”
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated: “This is a major victory for election integrity that upholds a simple principle: American elections must be decided by American citizens. While Democrats have worked to undermine basic election safeguards and make it easier for non-citizens to vote, we have fought tooth and nail to preserve citizenship requirements, see the law enforced, and secure our elections. The Supreme Court has sided with the RNC, and the American people, to protect the vote in November.”
According to information provided by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, “Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch would have granted the application in full, allowing Arizona to not only reject state forms without proof of citizenship, but also prevent Federal Only Voters from voting for President and by mail; while Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Barrett, and Jackson would have denied the application in full. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kavanaugh agreed with Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch that Arizona may reject state voter registration forms without proof of citizenship.”
Democrats were not at all jubilant about the order from the nation’s high court. The “X” account for the Arizona Senate Democrats posted, “TODAY: The US Supreme Court ruled that part of the Republican-backed voting law will apply prospectively to new registrations. Arizona Republicans have proudly touted that they have a new ultra-conservative court appointed to uphold their conspiracy-filled ideas – this is nothing but their latest blow to democracy.”
The Arizona House Democrats’ “X” account added, “Today’s 5-4 Supreme Court emergency stay limiting federal only voter registrations without proof of citizenship (beyond swearing under penalty of perjury and providing last 4 digits of SSN) could impact up to 42k Arizona voters. Who are these voters? According to VoteBeat, they are overwhelmingly young and concentrated on college campuses (typically students who register but didn’t bring a birth certificate or passport to campus), disproportionately Hispanic, 52.6% independent, 28.8% Democratic & 14.6% Republican. They also include many naturalized citizens and Indigenous Arizonans who may never have had a birth certificate. The demographic makeup of these voters and the GOP’s intense efforts to disenfranchise them are not coincidental.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Aug 18, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona’s high court ruled on the ballot eligibility of a controversial measure on border security.
Last week, the Arizona Supreme Court decided that “HCR 2060 will appear on the ballot.”
The decision from the court follows months of legislating and legal wrangling over the legislation to send border security proposals to voters for November’s General Election. In the decision order from the Arizona Supreme Court, it stated that it “unanimously agrees with the superior court that Appellants have not met their burden to overcome the strong presumption that HCR 2060 is constitutional.”
The “X” account for the Arizona Senate Republicans reacted to the news, posting, “BREAKING: Another FAILURE for Democrats and special interests fighting to keep the Secure the Border Act off the ballot… and GREAT NEWS for the citizens of Arizona! Moments ago, the Arizona Supreme Court unanimously ruled: “HCR 2060 WILL appear on the ballot.” Arizona voters will have the opportunity to take border security into their own hands this November.”
Arizona State Senator Janae Shamp responded, “The People of AZ will decide November 5th!”
Republican State Representative John Gillette added, “Great news. The people have a say on how we can deal with our open border invasion, despite the vetoed Bills and the lack of federal leadership.”
HCR 2060 will appear on the ballot in the upcoming fall election as Proposition 314. If passed by voters, it would give local law enforcement additional resources to better protect their communities from the harms created by the border crisis that has swelled over the past few years.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Aug 18, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona’s leading legislative Republicans are taking their defense of election integrity laws to the nation’s high court.
Last week, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma filed an Emergency Application for Stay at the Supreme Court of the United States in RNC v. Mi Familia Vota. The brief was filed with Justice Elena Kagan in the ongoing dispute over HB 2492, which was passed in 2022.
According to the legislators’ brief, the relevant aspects of the law under challenge were the requirement for “elections officials to reject any state-form application that is not accompanied by documentary proof of citizenship,” and the provision “that voters who have not provided documentary proof of citizenship may not vote for president or by mail.”
In their brief, the lawmakers argue that “there is a reasonable probability that four justices would vote to grant review and a fair prospect that this Court would reverse,” and that “applicants will suffer irreparable harm absent a stay.”
The emergency petition to the U.S. Supreme Court follows a mixed – and rather unprecedented – ruling at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Last month, a panel on the court issued an order in support of the Arizona law’s requirement for proof of citizenship in state voter registrations. However, another panel on the same appeals court overturned this ruling, giving anyone in the state the ability to register to vote on a state form without first proving their citizenship.
After the shocking turn of events at the appeals court, Petersen had said, “This is just another example of why the radical Ninth Circuit is the most overturned circuit in the nation. They routinely engage in judicial warfare to carry out their extremist liberal agenda that’s contrary to the laws our citizens elected us to implement. We will seek assistance from the Supreme Court to ensure only American citizens are voting in our elections. If this principle is not followed, democracy as we know it, and as our Founding Fathers intended, is in jeopardy.”
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated: “Requiring proof of citizenship is common sense and fundamental to preserving the integrity of our elections – especially in our country’s most important presidential election. This application in the Supreme Court is pivotal to ensuring that Arizonans’ votes are not cancelled by non-citizens. Non-citizen voting is illegal and we are taking every possible action to ensure American elections are decided solely by Americans.”
Petersen and Toma make the case that “the improper injunction also harms the Arizona Legislature as an institution because it constitutes an extrinsic constraint on the Legislature’s lawmaking functions. The injunction thwarts the Legislature from disallowing individuals who have not proved their U.S. citizenship from participating in Arizona’s selection of its presidential electors or from using Arizona’s generous mail-in voting option.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Aug 17, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona Legislative Republicans put the finishing touches on one of their signature legal victories over the state’s Democrat governor in court.
Earlier this week, Arizona Senate Republicans announced that “Governor Katie Hobbs admit[ted] she violated state law through her scheme to circumvent the Senate confirmation process for director nominations and has agreed to submit new candidates for consideration, as required by law.”
“We continue to see a disturbing trend unfolding, where Democrats are weaponizing the government in an attempt to force unlawful and extreme agendas upon our citizens,” said Senate President Warren Petersen. “No elected official is above the law, and the Governor’s manipulative scheme to circumvent Senate confirmation demonstrates the crucial role the Legislature serves in holding the executive accountable against abuses of power. I’m grateful we can move forward from the insanity and chaos our state agencies and our citizens have been experiencing due to the Governor’s actions, and I look forward to reinstating the confirmation process so that we can properly vet director nominations in an effort to ensure only the most qualified candidates are serving in these critical roles.”
According to the press release issued by the Senate Republicans, “Senate President Warren Petersen spent the last several months working to hold the Governor accountable in Arizona State Senate v. Katie Hobbs. In September of 2023, after a Senate committee recommended a nominee accused of plagiarism not be confirmed, Hobbs sent a letter to President Petersen notifying him that she was going to evade the senate-confirmation process for agency directors, mandated by A.R.S. § 38-211. Under her ill-advised plan, blessed by Attorney General Mayes, Hobbs withdrew 13 director nominations still pending before the Senate. She then re-installed these same individuals with a fake title of ‘Executive Deputy Directors.’ Based on flimsy legal reasoning, which Hobbs’ own attorney later described as ‘strange,’ Hobbs claimed these fake directors had the same power and authority as Senate-confirmed directors. After months of discussions, she continued to insist she was above the law.”
Republican Senator Sine Kerr reacted to the news, posting, “A big win for the rule of law in AZ!! The people of AZ deserve legitimate, qualified, lawful agency Directors confirmed by the Senate!”
On the other side of the aisle, Democrat Senate Leader Mitzi Epstein said, “I applaud Governor Hobbs for consistently taking the high road and working diligently to protect the interests of hard-working Arizonans. Governor Hobbs was elected fair and square in 2022 and it is time Republicans get out of the way and let her govern for all Arizonans. It’s 2024, the games need to end and that starts now with ensuring we get every director across the finish line in the Senate.”
Epstein added, “Republicans have repeatedly rejected bipartisanship, and the burden falls squarely on Arizona taxpayers every time. Democrats will continue to act in good faith and do everything possible to ensure government runs smoothly in the upcoming legislature.”
In their press release, the Senate Republicans argued that it was their constitutional duty (and obligation by law) to stand in Hobbs’ way on certain matters, writing, “Consistent with the United States Constitution and the laws of states across this nation, Arizona law requires its agencies to be led by Senate-confirmed directors, under A.R.S. § 38-211. This requirement exists to preserve the liberties of Arizona’s citizens. Just as the Governor’s veto serves as a check on legislative power, Senate confirmation of agency directors serves as a necessary check on the Governor’s power.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Aug 12, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizonans are using a lot of energy throughout this hot summer in the Valley of the Sun.
Last week, the Arizona Corporation Commission issued a press release to alert readers that Arizona electric utilities had “set new records for peak energy demand.”
According to the communication from the state government agency, the record for peak energy was reached on Sunday, August 4, between 5-6pm, when the high temperature for that day was 116 degrees Fahrenheit.
Republican Corporation Commissioner Kevin Thompson told AZ Free News, “Our utilities have done an exceptional job of keeping the lights on and air flowing through new record setting peak demand this summer. There’s no coincidence to the fact that despite our extreme heat and load growth, Arizona hasn’t suffered the same crippling energy pitfalls of California. Arizona regulators have focused on an ‘all of the above’ generation approach bolstered with dispatchable baseload to keep our grid reliable and affordable. This Commission has worked relentlessly to do away with energy mandates that cost ratepayers more money and get in the way of what utilities should be primarily focused on: generating electricity.”
“Our utilities continue to deliver reliable power in the face of excessive temperatures and ever-increasing electricity demand. Arizona continues to be ranked in the top ten of states with the most reliable power—a critical statistic for which each of us is thankful during these record-breaking temperatures,” said Chairman Jim O’Connor.
Arizona Public Service (APS) used 8,212 MW on August 4 (compared to 8,162 MW on that date in 2023). Salt River Project used 8,219 MW in 2024 (compared to 8,163 MW in 2023). And TEP / UNS just barely missed out on the record, finishing with 2,917 MW on July 8 (compared to 2,969 MW in 2023). On August 4, TEP’s peak demand reached 2,661 MW.
“Our utilities are facing unprecedented challenges in balancing the needs of our energy demands during this hot summer while ensuring energy reliability at the most affordable rates,” said Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson. “Their summer preparedness planning for peak demand is vitally important to keeping our families safe and cool in the summer.”
The Commission shared that these utilities have made assurances “that they are prepared to produce a combined total of more than 23,000 megawatts of electricity to meet customers’ daily summer demands.” APS has 1.3 million customers; SRP, 1.1 million customers; and TEP / UNS, 719,000 customers.
At the end of its release, the Commission “encourages Arizonans to be mindful and help reduce electric demand during peak hours. Actions, such as lowering energy use during peak hours and signing up for demand response programs can contribute to reducing overall customer demand and reducing monthly electric bills.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
