The Republican Party of Arizona is moving its shop ahead of the November General Election.
This past weekend, The AZGOP announced that it “had a successful ExComm with a quorum from across the state representing county parties who are energized and ready to win in November.” The party revealed that an “overwhelming” majority of the Executive Committee had made “a strategic decision to select a new office space.”
AZGOP Chair Gina Swoboda released a statement following the vote of the Executive Committee, saying, “First and foremost, we need a location with easier access for volunteers and campaigns. Funds from the sale will be placed in the dedicated building fund account for the next administration.”
She added, “This board is always going to follow the wishes of the body. Strategically relocating the office is another great step in moving the party forward. We are focused on one thing and one thing only: winning.”
The vote, according to the AZGOP press release, was 38-4 in favor of selling the current location. There were four abstentions.
The announcement highlighted that in the spirit of transparency, “all offers [for the sale of the property] and evaluating the locating of the [new] office” will be presented to the Executive Committee “before any action takes place.”
Daniel Scarpinato, Chief of Staff to former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, praised the move in a post on his “X” account. He wrote, “A great move by Gina Swoboda – this was a horrible location for a party HQ. Impossible to park. No access to the building. Try getting volunteers in there. Another step in the right direction.”
A great move by @GinaSwoboda — this was a horrible location for a party HQ. Impossible to park. No access to the building. Try getting volunteers in there. Another step in the right direction. https://t.co/s8VoKzJQS3
Arizona Senate Democrats are protesting their Republicans’ efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.
Last week, three Democrats walked out of the Arizona Senate Military Affairs, Public Safety and Border Security Committee, during a hearing on HB 2748. The bill would “make it unlawful for a person who is an alien (unlawful immigrant) to enter the State of Arizona from a foreign nation at any location other than a lawful port of entry,” and it would “outline penalties for violations of illegally entering the state and provide 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 chamber.
The proposal was sponsored by Republican State Representative Joseph Chaplik.
After three Democrats in committee walked out over discussion of the bill, the Arizona Senate Republicans Caucus “X” account posted, “Senate Democrats are turning their back on Arizona just like Biden has turned his back on America. Today, Democrat Senators walked out of committee in protest of hearing bills aimed at securing our southern border and protecting Arizonans against border-related crimes. As border-related crimes have more than doubled in some areas of our state, Democrats continue to be more concerned about protecting criminals than Arizona citizens.”
Senate Democrats are turning their back on Arizona just like Biden has turned his back on America.
Today, Democrat Senators walked out of committee in protest of hearing bills aimed at securing our southern order and protecting Arizonans against border-related crimes.
After the walkout and vote, Senator David Gowan, the committee’s chair, said, “Senate Democrats are turning their back on Arizona, just like Biden has turned his back on America. This week, the Democrat senators pictured on the right walked out of my committee on Military Affairs, Public Safety & Border Security in protest of hearing bills aimed at securing our southern border and protecting Arizonans against the horrific crimes associated with the invasion. This criminal activity has more than doubled in some areas of our state, including my home of Cochise County.”
Gowan added, “Sadly, Senators Gabaldon, Diaz, and Bravo refuse to even have a conversation on solutions to protect our citizens. They disgracefully chose to pose for photos, rather than listen to powerful testimony and discussion regarding several solutions, including the mirror to my Aggravated Unlawful Flight bill, which would create tougher penalties for drivers who endanger the life of another person while attempting to flee law enforcement. Our law enforcement and the citizens of Arizona deserve more respect.”
The piece of legislation passed out of the committee with a 4-0 vote (with three members not voting).
Last month, the bill was approved by the Arizona House of Representatives with a 31-28 vote (with one vacant seat).
The bill stands a certain chance of a veto from Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, who has already rejected one other Republican solution to the border crisis.
HB 2748 will now be considered by the full Senate chamber.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
According to the purpose statement from the chamber, SB 1436 will “add stalking, voyeurism and aggravated assault by way of strangulation or domestic violence to the list of felony offenses that qualify for lifetime injunctions.”
In a comment following the governor’s executive action, Senator Bolick said, “I’m proud to share that our fight to hold accountable criminals who commit sex crimes, particularly when they involve our children, is gaining momentum. My bill, SB 1436, was signed into law this week. It expands ‘Kayleigh’s Law’ to allow victims of stalking, strangulation in domestic violence, and voyeurism to obtain lifetime injunctions against their offenders. ‘Kayleigh’s Law’ took effect in 2022 and allows victims of dangerous crimes to obtain lifetime injunctions against their abusers.”
Kayleigh Kozak wrote on her “X” account, “Thank you Senator Bolick for sponsoring these important amendments to ‘Kayleigh’s Law’!”
Thank you Senator Bolick for sponsoring these important amendments to “Kayleigh’s Law”! https://t.co/4XspNo7vvN
Bolick added, “Kayleigh Kozak helped spearhead the measure and has been a strong supporter of other efforts to increase penalties for these crimes, including a ballot referral I sponsored to give voters the opportunity to decide if criminals who engage in child sex trafficking should face life in prison. It targets criminals who engage in child sex trafficking and should face life in prison. It targets offenders who are convicted of a class 2 felony and would block eligibility for any form of release. It officially passed out of the legislature this week and will be on the November ballot.”
SB 1436 passed the Arizona Senate on February 15 with a 26-0 vote (with four members not voting). The bill was given the green light from the Arizona House of Representatives on March 13 with a 51-8 vote (with one member not voting).
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Maricopa County’s top prosecutor is cracking down on a foreign group committing home burglaries across the Valley.
Earlier this week, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced “new charges against a group of thieves targeting homes in Phoenix and Scottsdale.” Mitchell’s office shared that “the defendants are thought to be part of the South American Theft Group, a ring of thieves who hire Chilean nationals to come to the United States and – after obtaining false identification – operate as ‘crime tourists’ who plan and execute burglaries here and nationwide.”
— Maricopa County Attorney's Office (@marcoattorney) March 20, 2024
Three defendants were arrested in Scottsdale this month, and another three were arrested in Phoenix last month.
In a statement, Mitchell said, “The Scottsdale and Phoenix Police Departments have done some amazing work to find these criminals and arrest them. The job of my office is to hold them accountable. This is not a phenomenon limited to Maricopa County – these organized groups are stealing from families across the nation. I will not allow them to become entrenched here and pose a further threat to our neighbors.”
According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO), “The South American Theft Groups are made up of people who travel from South America specifically to target homes and families in the U.S. The federal government’s tourist visa program allows them to fly into the United States without a background check. Once they’ve entered our county, they immediately obtain fake I.D. They travel to cities across the nation – including in Maricopa County – and steal millions in untraceable items.”
The Scottsdale Police Department announced the apprehensions on March 11.
3 arrested in Scottsdale related to the South American Theft Group (SATG) burglary series. Live announcement tomorrow at 10 am on ScottsdalePD YouTube channel. pic.twitter.com/EzcCmHfGFt
The MCAO reports that “there have been over 100 similar types of burglaries valley wide since November 2023” – of which, 35 have victimized the city of Scottsdale. The Office also revealed that “one defendant admitted to being in the U.S. on a tourist visa and had already been a part of burglaries in California, Nevada, and Arizona.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
A bill to address Arizona’s homelessness crisis is advancing through the state legislature.
On Monday, the Arizona House of Representatives passed HB 2782, which would “establish a new Homeless Shelter and Services Fund, create new criminal violations involving drugs in homeless service zones, [and] transfer $5,500,000 from the FY 2024 Housing Trust Fund deposit and $50,000,000 from the Consumer Remediation Subaccount” – according to the overview provided by the chamber.
The bill, which was sponsored by State Representative Matthew Gress, was approved along party lines, with a vote of 31-28 (with one member not voting).
Gress, a Republican, wrote, “Arizona’s homelessness crisis is among the worst in the country. Between 2013-2023, total homelessness has skyrocketed nearly 300%. Our voters want us to take decisive action, and it doesn’t involve building our way out of this challenge. We must fund adequate treatment for addiction and mental health, establish greater accountability for our providers and individuals living in the streets, and allow law enforcement to do their job and arrest people who break the law. HB 2782 advances all of these priorities.”
Arizona’s homelessness crisis is among the worst in the country.
Between 2013-2023, total homelessness has skyrocketed nearly 300%.
Our voters want us to take decisive action, and it doesn’t involve building our way out of this challenge.
The second-year lawmaker encouraged bipartisan cooperation on his proposal, stating, “I thank my Arizona House Republican colleagues for their support in passing this legislation and welcome House and Senate Democrats to take another look at this bill.”
The Cicero Institute responded to the positive action from the Arizona House on the bill, posting, “Thanks to the leadership of Matthew Gress, HB 2782 passed the Arizona house today. This legislation will do immense good in helping reduce homelessness and getting individuals the assistance they need for substance abuse and mental health challenges.”
Thanks to the leadership of @MatthewGress, HB 2782 passed the Arizona house today. This legislation will do immense good in helping reduce homelessness and getting individuals the assistance they need for substance abuse and mental health challenges. pic.twitter.com/gW2LiRcdxw
The legislation received a green light from the House Committee on Appropriations last month with a 9-7 partisan vote. One member was absent.
When HB 2782 was being considered in committee, the Arizona House Democrats Caucus’ “X” account attacked the bill, writing, “Rep. Matt Gress’s NIMBY bill to make homelessness in Arizona worse in now up in Appropriations. HB 2782 criminalizes homelessness and ties the hands of cities using successful solutions like providing hotel rooms for families transitioning from the streets.”
Rep. Matt Gress’s NIMBY bill to make homelessness in Arizona worse is now up in Appropriations. #HB2782 criminalizes homelessness and ties the hands of cities using successful solutions like providing hotel rooms for families transitioning from the streets.
In that committee hearing, Democrat State Representative Judy Schwiebert blasted Gress’ efforts, saying, “I’m really disappointed to see this grandstanding by the sponsor. It doesn’t provide real solutions.”
“I’m really disappointed to see this grandstanding by the sponsor. It doesn’t provide real solutions.” Rep @JudyForAZ was in the same fact-finding hearings as HB2782 sponsor Matt Gress and saw city programs for those experiencing homelessness that are effective (if underfunded). pic.twitter.com/oLi3aMbsKX
Republican State Representatives Selina Bliss, Lupe Diaz, David Livingston, and Julie Willoughby joined as co-sponsors on the bill.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from QuikTrip and Cicero Action support the bill. Representatives from Living United for Change in Arizona, Native American Connections, Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, Chicanos Por La Causa Inc., American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Arizona Public Health Association, Phoenix Community Alliance, The Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Arizona Housing Coalition, National Association of Social Workers – Arizona Chamber, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, League of Arizona Cities & Towns, and Vitalyst Health Foundation opposed the legislation.
HB 2782 now heads to the Arizona Senate for consideration.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
