by Daniel Stefanski | May 11, 2024 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One Arizona Republican lawmaker is speaking out against Democrats’ economic policies.
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope recently addressed the economic pains being felt by his constituents – as well as many Arizonans around the state. He singled out President Joe Biden and attributed the support of Democrat state legislators for aiding in the economic ailments of everyday Americans.
Shope wrote, “Reckless policies implemented by Joe Biden and supported by Democrat lawmakers have caused the inflation nightmare currently costing you more of your hard earned dollars. Americans are now paying nearly $1,100 more each month compared with just three years ago. If you were hoping to buy a house soon, don’t expect relief in the near future, as 30- year mortgage rates are sitting above 7%, the highest level in 20 years, and the feds indicated this week they may not cut rates in 2024 while inflation remains high.”
The state senator added, “Gas prices are surpassing $4 per gallon in Arizona, when they were just $2.50 at this time four years ago. Our citizens are spending 11% of their disposable income on food, which is the highest level in more than three decades. More and more working class citizens are relying on credit cards to cope with rising costs, as one in three consumers are currently maxing them out. Senate Republicans remain focused on easing these financial burdens, despite the out of touch priorities Biden, Hobbs, and Democrat lawmakers are pushing.”
A recent Gallup Economy and Personal Finance Poll showed that only 38% of respondents had “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of President Biden “to do or recommend the right thing for the economy.” This approval rating (or lack thereof) for Biden has plummeted since the start of his presidency in 2021, when he began his term at 57% for this specific question. Just 34% of independents have confidence in the 46th President’s ability to turn the economy around, according to the poll.
During a recent campaign appearance, former President Donald J. Trump again reiterated that he would reignite the American economy if voters entrusted him with the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He said, “Upon taking office, I will impose an immediate moratorium on all new spending, grants, and giveaways under Joe Biden’s mammoth socialist bills like the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. We are going to stop the Biden spending spree. We are going to halt his inflation death spiral. We are going to terminate his Green New Scam. We are going to end his war on American energy. And we are going to drill, baby, drill.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 10, 2024 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona’s school’s chief is taking on the state’s fentanyl crisis.
Earlier this week, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced the creation of “an initiative to supply schools with the anti-overdose drug Narcan and a statewide task force to address this crisis.”
According to the press release issued by the Arizona Department of Education, “among all age groups, Arizona recorded more than 1,800 opioid-related deaths and more than 4,000 overdoses in 2023.”
In a statement to accompany his announcement, Horne said, “Sadly, overdoses are a reality for school-aged children throughout Arizona. Fentanyl can kill students within minutes of an overdose. It is vitally important that all schools have Narcan available to help save student lives if it should happen on campus. With the establishment of the STOPIT task force, we will work to get Narcan into schools and assist with training for its use. I am also endorsing the work of The Sold Out Youth Foundation, which has excellent resources to address this ongoing crisis.”
The School Training Overdose Preparedness and Intelligence Taskforce (STOPIT) “will include representatives from schools, health care, law enforcement and other interested stakeholders,” as per the information received from Horne’s office. Terros Health and the Mayo Clinic have expressed support for the taskforce.
Dr. Holly Geyer, Addiction Medicine Specialist at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale said, “There has never been a greater need to prepare the next generation with the knowledge and tools necessary to combat the opioid epidemic. With more than 50 percent of U.S. fentanyl being trafficked directly through our state, we are ground zero. It’s time to bring solutions as big as the problem to the table. This taskforce has assembled a wide array of proven thought leaders whose collective expertise can and will change the landscape of our state’s opioid overdose trends.”
Dr. Karen Hoffman Tepper, president and CEO of Terros Health said,”Terros Health is honored to join the STOPIT task force. Too many young people are being impacted by the harmful effects of fentanyl. Our team has been on the front lines, educating thousands of Arizonians on when and how to use Narcan and we have seen it save lives. We look forward to working collaboratively to make this life-saving tool available in every school and community.”
In addition to the initiative and task force, Horne also endorsed an effort to get free anti-drug awareness materials into all Arizona schools.” He shared his support of the Sold Out Youth Foundation, which “provides interactive online materials warning of the dangers of illegal drugs, proven Accredited Fentanyl Education Curriculum and online platform and promoting health and wellness and fitness education.”
Sold Out President Roman Gabriel III said, “Sold Out is committed to partnering with K-12 public schools attacking our countries current youth drug, alcohol, and mental health crisis. The SOYF Program is saving lives by equipping school staff, parents and students with a comprehensive program that includes a PLA Accredited Fentanyl Education Platform. The emphasis is on education and awareness for parents and students to understand the grave dangers that this deadly poison poses, and in turn saving lives.”
The Republican Superintendent added, “The American Medical Association reports that overdose deaths nationally among adolescents has doubled since 2019. Fentanyl is responsible for more than three-quarters of those deaths and Arizona is not immune from this scourge. The rise of illicit fentanyl and its trafficking via social media is having a disproportionate impact on our children. This is a tragedy beyond words, it shows no sign of abating and schools are a vital resource to educate children on these dangers.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 9, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to help Arizonans with their “second chance” was recently signed into law.
Last month, Governor Katie Hobbs, signed SB 1367 into law. The bill “modifies statute relating to a petition for review of criminal records for an occupational license” – according to the overview provided by the Arizona House of Representatives.
Senator Shawnna Bolick, the bill’s sponsor, shared some insight into her proposal, writing, “I worked with the Alliance for Safety and Justice to help make Arizona a safer place to live, as well as to help those individuals who are released from prison acclimate successfully back into society and become productive members contributing to their communities. Typically, when people are unable to get a job, secure a place to live, or provide for their families, they have a greater chance of reoffending and often end up back in prison.”
Bolick added, “My bill, SB 1367, was recently signed into law and will create a pathway for folks to get a job quicker after being released by expanding access to occupational licenses for non-serious offenses. This measure was supported by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, which includes thousands of members here in Arizona. This legislation will benefit our state by filling job vacancies, stopping cycles of crime, and improving the safety of our citizens. This is a win for crime victims, as well as for our citizens who are in search of a second chance.”
In March, the Arizona Senate overwhelmingly approved of the legislation with a 24-4 vote (with two members not voting). Later that month, it passed out of the Arizona House of Representatives with a 45-9 vote (with five members not voting and one seat vacant).
After the State House gave a green light to the legislation, the “X” account for the Alliance for Safety and Justice praised Bolick’s leadership on the issue, stating, “We are so grateful to Shawnna Bolick for leading the passage of pro-safety, pro-jobs SB 1367 in AZ today! SB 1367 will: 1. Create a pathway to jobs for those with old records and help them rebuild their lives, 2. Make communities safer, and 3. Strengthen our economy.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Action for Safety And Justice, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Justice Action Network, and State Conference NAACP signed in to support the bill.
SB 1367 will go into effect 90 days after the Arizona Legislature officially concludes its business for the 2024 session.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 8, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A powerful voice came out in support of the imminent push from the Arizona Legislature to send a border security-related ballot referral to the voters in the November General Election.
On Tuesday, Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma issued a statement to announce his support of HCR 2060, the Secure the Border Act.
HCR 2060 was originally Toma’s vehicle and primarily dealt with the state’s E-Verify program. According to Toma in February, this referral, if passed by the voters, would “expand the use of E-Verify and cut off welfare programs to illegal aliens.”
Months later, HCR 2060 is now being utilized for a more-broad approach to the illegal immigration crisis facing the state daily. If given the green light from a majority of members in both the state House and Senate, Arizona voters would have the opportunity to vote on this referral in November.
Toma said, “I fully support the Senate’s amendment to my bill, HCR 2060. The Secure the Border Act reflects a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to combating illegal immigration, which is a top priority for the Republican majorities in the House and Senate, and a leading concern for voters of all parties.”
The House Speaker highlighted the inaction from the state’s Democrat governor to use the tools at her disposal to put up a significant fight against illegal immigration – or to work with Republicans at the Legislature in good faith, writing, “It’s been incredibly disappointing that Governor Katie Hobbs has repeatedly vetoed well-crafted bills passed by the Legislature, designed to secure our southern border and protect Arizonans. The Democrats’ deliberate open-border policies have inflicted devastating, long-lasting harm to Arizona’s communities. People have had enough, and it’s time for their voices to be heard.”
He explained the various components of the proposed referral:
- “The Secure the Border Act creates two new class 6 felonies for illegal aliens who try to submit false documents or information to evade Arizona’s strong E-Verify laws or obtain taxpayer-funded public benefits. It also requires state and local agencies to verify a noncitizen’s documents and eligibility for benefits through a federal database, known as the SAVE program, whenever noncitizens apply for public benefits.
- “The Secure the Border Act establishes a new class 2 felony with enhanced prison sentences for drug dealers of illicit and deadly fentanyl. Fentanyl is the leading cause of overdose deaths in Arizona, and the amount seized at the southwest border is unprecedented.
- “Finally, the Secure the Border Act incorporates legislation from Senate Bill 1231, which all House Republicans supported but Governor Hobbs vetoed, modeled on Texas Senate Bill 4, making it a crime for an illegal alien to enter or attempt to enter Arizona at any location other than a lawful point of entry.”
The efforts from Arizona legislators to send this referral to state voters comes two months after Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1231, the Arizona Border Invasion Act, which would have “ma[de] it unlawful for a person who is an alien (unlawful immigrant) to enter Arizona from a foreign nation at any location other than a lawful port of entry and outline[d] penalties for violations of illegally entering Arizona and provide[d] immunity from civil liability and indemnification for state and local government officials, employees and contractors who enforce this prohibition” – according to the purpose from the state Senate.
In her veto letter to Senate President Warren Petersen, Hobbs said, “This bill does not secure our border, will be harmful for communities and businesses in our state, and burdensome for law enforcement personnel and the state judicial system. Further, this bill presents significant constitutional concerns and would be certain to mire the State in costly and protracted litigation.”
Senator Janae Shamp, the sponsor of SB 1231, vowed that members of her party would continue to push forward solutions to combat the border crisis, saying, “The Republican-controlled Legislature will continue to prioritize closing our border and providing law enforcement with the tools they need. This veto is a slap in the face to them, Arizona’s victims of border-related crimes, and other citizens who will inevitably feel the wrath of this border invasion in one way, shape, or form at the hands of Hobbs and Biden.”
Earlier this spring, a group of legislative Republicans signed a letter to request that House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen “convene a special committee hearing, whereby Texas-style border security legislation can be promptly advanced and placed on the ballot.”
Last week, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen announced that legislators would soon be passing HCR 2060 by “adopt[ing] a strike everything amendment,” giving them the legislative vehicle to consider and pass the ballot referral for the November General Election.
Petersen said, “Republicans are committed to securing the border and returning sanity to our state after the chaos Democrats have willfully perpetuated with our current Governor leading the charge.”
Legislative action is expected this week on HCR 2060.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 8, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A surprising change is coming at the top of the nation’s Border Patrol union.
Late last week, the National Border Patrol Council announced that its president, Brandon Judd, would be retiring on May 18. The union stated that Judd had “tirelessly served our members in the U.S. Border Patrol for many years, and we are excited that he is looking forward to pursuing future interests. We thank him for his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Karrin Taylor Robson, a former contender for the Republican nomination for Arizona Governor in 2022, recognized the retiring union president, writing, “Brandon Judd’s service as President of the Border Patrol Union extended well beyond the Council’s membership; his service benefited EVERY American. Thank you, Brandon, for your staunch advocacy for border policies that make every American safer. Your leadership will be missed.”
Art Del Cueto, the Vice President of the NBPC, weighed in on his colleague’s imminent departure. He said, “Well, the news is out. It saddens me but I look forward to seeing all the other things my friend and brother can accomplish. I’ve been side-by-side with him in the trenches for many years, and I truly don’t even have the words to make everyone understand all the sacrifices that he has made. His accomplishments speak for themselves. Agents are blessed to have many privileges because of the hard work Brandon Judd has done throughout the years. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have learned so much from him, not just from a work standpoint but from a life and faith in GOD perspective. I could go on and on with so much more, but I’ll save it for the book. THANK YOU my brother.”
Ali Bradley, a Network Correspondent for NewsNation reported that “NBPC Executive VP Paul Perez will fill the remainder of Brandon’s term which was set to end in March of 2026.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
