by Daniel Stefanski | Apr 17, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Emotions are high at the Arizona Legislature over the state’s near ban on abortions.
After the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the longtime statute governing (and outlawing) most abortions was, in fact, the effective law of the state, legislators sought to enact changes to that policy. Last week, a coalition of State House Democrats and Republican Representative Matthew Gress sought immediate floor consideration of HB 2677, which would repeal the controversial law in question – Section 13-3603. That bill had been sponsored by Democrat Representative Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, who had attempted previously in the session to force a vote on this proposal.
Before the vote on the repeal, the House successfully recessed and then adjourned, ensuring that the near prohibition on abortions in Arizona remained intact for at least another week.
Democrats were furious at the events transpiring on the floor, turning their outrage on Gress, who they accused of supporting the call for recess. In unison, they shouted “Shame,” pointing in the freshman lawmaker’s and other Republicans’ direction as he turned to gaggle with members of the press.
Representative Gress claimed that “Arizonans want us to find common ground on the important issue of abortion. We must repeal the Territorial Ban and return to the more reasonable 15-week policy that protects women and new life.”
Gress not only attracted political anger from the left, but from his colleagues on the right. Fellow freshman legislator Alexander Kolodin unleashed his perception of the day’s happenings, writing, “Rep. Gress did not facilitate today’s Democrat takeover of the Arizona House, he led it. In breaking the rules he voted for, he put his Republican comrades in swing districts in the line of fire for the sake of his own political ambitions, betrayed the pro-life movement, and denied the body the opportunity for the deliberation and discussion due this sensitive topic.”
House Speaker Ben Toma was not happy with the scene that unfolded on his floor, releasing a statement against the actions of the Democrats. He said, “One thing is clear: Democrats are so eager to enshrine in our state constitution a right to kill unborn children up until birth with virtually no restrictions. Under the Democrats’ view, partial birth abortions would be allowed, and minors could get abortions on demand without parental consent or a court order. That’s not healthcare or reproductive care. The Democrats’ approach to this issue is unconscionable, it’s extreme, and Arizonans do not agree with such an unrestricted right to abortion that would jeopardize women’s health and safety.”
He added, “The issue of abortion and protecting the lives of the unborn is a very emotionally charged, complicated issue, one which many Arizonans and legislators fundamentally and ethically have firm beliefs. The Court’s 47-page ruling was released just yesterday, and we as an elected body are going to take the time needed to listen to our constituents and carefully consider appropriate actions, rather than rush legislation on a topic of this magnitude without a larger discussion. These are difficult conversations we all need to have, and we absolutely cannot have them when Democrat legislators act as uncivilly, and engage in appallingly childish behavior, as we saw on the House floor today. That’s not how we debate important issues down here and I find it completely unacceptable and disappointing. We who are elected to serve in the Arizona House of Representatives are expected to conduct ourselves with decorum and integrity. That’s not negotiable and something I will always uphold as Speaker of the House.”
Legislators will try again to repeal the near ban on abortions when they return on Wednesday. If they are successful, it would mark the first time in the state’s history that the Arizona Legislature “affirmatively created a right to, or independently authorized, elective abortion” – as pointed out by the State Supreme Court in its opinion last week. Should 13-3603 be repealed, the 15-week ban, which was signed into statute in 2022, would likely become the prevailing law of the state, allowing for abortions to occur up to that point in time.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Apr 17, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to strengthen Arizona homeowners’ property protections may be close to the Governor’s Office.
The Arizona Legislature is wrapping up consideration of SB 1129, which would “allow a property owner or the property owner’s authorized agent to request, from law enforcement, the immediate removal of a person who is unlawfully occupying a residential dwelling and outlines conditions that determine if a person is unlawfully occupying a residential dwelling; [and] deem that a person who fails or refuses to surrender possession of the property as directed by a law enforcement office is committing trespass” – according to the purpose from the Arizona Senate.
In a statement to support the legislation, Senator Wendy Rogers, the bill sponsor, said, “The issue of squatters taking over people’s homes is growing exponentially across the nation, including here in Arizona. People are scheming to take over homeowner’s properties, posing a threat to their safety and property rights. Arizonans are particularly vulnerable because of the number of snowbirds that leave their homes unoccupied for months at a time. Although we have trespassing laws, it’s often difficult to prove a person is unlawfully occupying a home and can result in a lengthy legal battle.”
Rogers added, “I introduced SB 1129 to combat this issue by allowing a homeowner to request law enforcement immediately remove that person from the property. It’s important to note, the bill was written to address strangers occupying a home, not someone who has lived in the home with the owner or with permission of the owner. Therefore, it protects against situations involving domestic violence. We must put an end to this criminal activity. This bill will soon make its way to the Governor’s desk, and I urge her to sign it.”
The bill first passed the Arizona Senate in February with a bipartisan 18-8 vote (with four members not voting). It was amended in the State House and passed with another bipartisan result, 39-19 (with two members not voting). SB 1129 was transmitted back to the State Senate for concurrence, where it remains for the present time.
Senators Farnsworth, Kavanagh, Kern, Shope, and Wadsack, and Representative Gillette joined Rogers as cosponsors of the legislation.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, a representative from the Manufactured Housing Communities of Arizona signed in to support the bill. Representatives from the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, Arizona National Organization for Women, State Conference NAACP, and WM E Morris Institute for Justice indicated their opposition to the proposal.
Last week, legislators held a press conference outside of the Arizona Capitol to mark the progress of the bill and urge its enactment into state law.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Apr 17, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A new poll in the 2024 presidential election shows Donald J. Trump beating Joseph R. Biden by six points in the all-important battleground state of Arizona.
The poll was conducted by Echelon Insights, which surveyed registered voters in Arizona between March 12-19.
According to The Hill, which collected 35 presidential match-up polls out of the Grand Canyon State, Trump holds a 4.4% average lead over the Democrat incumbent. Of those polls, Trump has enjoyed leads since one released in November 2023 by Stand for Children, where the two were tied at 42 percent. Also considering these polls, the last time Biden experienced a lead in Arizona was in June 2023, where a poll from Public Opinion Strategies showed him with a two percent advantage over Trump.
Arizona’s eleven electoral votes will be critical for the eventual pathway to the White House by either candidate. In 2016, Trump won Arizona by 3.5% over Hillary Clinton. In 2020, Biden won Arizona by a razor-thin margin of 0.3%.
Both political parties are especially motivated in a presidential year within the state, but even more so when they look at everything else at stake for the future. There’s an open U.S. Senate seat, control of the Arizona Legislature, and a plethora of ballot initiatives for voters to work through in the November General Election.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Apr 16, 2024 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to increase governance on cell phones in public schools was vetoed by Arizona’s Democrat governor.
Last week, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2793, which would have “require[d] each school district governing board and charter school governing body to prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that govern student access to the internet and limit student use of wireless communications devices during the school day.”
In a statement to House Speaker Ben Toma, Hobbs said, “This legislation establishes an unnecessary mandate for an issue schools are already addressing.”
The sponsor of the proposal, State House Education Committee Chairwoman Beverly Pingerelli, expressed her disappointment over the governor’s action, saying, “There is a growing body of research that clearly links the use of wireless devices like cell phones to increased negative social harms among our youth. Arizona middle and high schools today are flooded with students glued to screens. It’s an epidemic that is impacting everything from teen depression and anxiety, increased childhood obesity, and decreased academic achievement.”
Pingerelli added, “As a former school board member, I believe in local solutions. This is why my legislation called on school boards to develop policies and procedures to limit the use of devices for students. It called for sensible solutions and reasonable exceptions. The goal is to have personal devices ‘away for the day’ so students can engage and learn. Today, schools feel powerless to enforce even mild restrictions. The results are evident on campuses everywhere.”
The bill first passed the State House in February with a 31-28 vote (with one seat vacant). After being transmitted to the State Senate, it passed earlier this month with a 16-13 vote (with one member not voting).
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, Arizona School Administrators Association, and Arizona School Boards Association endorsed the legislation.
Chairwoman Pingerelli’s press release noted that legislative Democrats opposed her legislation “despite no formal opposition and not one person testifying against the bill.”
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne also weighed in on the news. He said, “Anyone with a minimum of empathy would empathize with teachers who try to teach while students are scrolling on their cell phones. Every instructional method is precious. A teacher should not have to put up with that interference with instruction.”
Horne added, “Cell phones have also become the major way in which students are bullied. It is enough that they get bullied on their cell phones when they’re away from school. It should not be happening while they are in school trying to learn, so that the bullying occurs 24 hours a day. To permit that bullying to go on 24 hours a day shows a lack of empathy for the students.”
The Republican schools’ chief shared the results of a recent poll in the state showing that 62.75% of respondent parents supported the increased regulations on their children’s cell phones in schools.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Apr 15, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Another election-related bill was vetoed by Arizona’s Democrat Governor.
On Wednesday, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2393, which would have “require[d] political parties that choose to select a nominee for president by a vote that is open to the entire political party membership to provide a method of voting to uniformed services or overseas citizens and persons with disabilities.”
In a letter provided to House Speaker Ben Toma, Hobbs explained the reason behind her veto, writing, “If the state were to change the manner in which political parties hold their own elections, it would be important to reflect bipartisan agreement.”
Republican State Representative Alexander Kolodin, the sponsor of the bill, was outraged by the governor’s action. He said, “Governor Hobbs’ decision to veto this bill is not only irresponsible but also detrimental to the democratic rights of some of our most vulnerable citizens. This action leaves a critical aspect of our state law ambiguous, failing to secure the voting rights of individuals with disabilities and our dedicated servicemembers. At a time when ensuring access to the democratic process should be of utmost importance, this veto represents a significant step backward. It’s as if the Governor believes maintaining a murky legal landscape is preferable to granting clear and equitable voting rights to all Arizonans. This isn’t just about policy – it’s about ensuring every voice is heard and valued in our democracy.”
The proposal first passed the Arizona House of Representatives in early February with a 31-24 vote (with two members not voting and three seats vacant). The Arizona Senate then amended the bill and approved that version with a 16-12 vote (with two members not voting) late last month. The House concurred with the Senate’s changes, voting 31-28 (with one member not voting) to transmit the legislation to the Governor’s Office.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
