Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) pointed out this week the accuracy of his anticipation that Arizona Democrats would file a lawsuit seeking to block President Trump’s Executive Order 14248, entitled Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections. Hamadeh described the Democrats as “the beneficiaries of Arizona’s broken election system,”
Reacting to the announcement from Arizona Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Hamadeh’s office stated that they “and their ilk across the country will go to any lengths to keep our elections processes broken.” His office also noted that the Congressman alongside his co-sponsor Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R+NY-24), who chairs the Congressional Election Integrity Caucus, have introduced legislation to support and codify the President’s election integrity agenda.
President Trump's Preserving & Protecting the Integrity of American Elections Executive Order takes historic steps to keep noncitizens from voting in elections, eliminate voter fraud, & repeal Biden's corrupt EO 14019!@RepAbeHamadeh & I introduced legislation to enshrine this…
Congresswoman Tenney posted on X, “President Trump’s Preserving & Protecting the Integrity of American Elections Executive Order takes historic steps to keep noncitizens from voting in elections, eliminate voter fraud, & repeal Biden’s corrupt EO 14019! @RepAbeHamadeh & I introduced legislation to enshrine this EO into law to ensure our elections remain free, fair, & honest.”
“The American people deserve better. They deserve to know that their legally cast ballot is counted and accounted for. I am disappointed, but obviously not surprised that Mayes and Fontes seek to thwart the implementation of commonsense safeguards of democracy,” concluded Congressman Hamadeh. “As a trusted advisor once said to me, ‘election integrity never disenfranchised a single soul, but a single act of election fraud disenfranchises us all.’”
The proposed bill, H.R. 2499, would codify Trump’s EO 14248 by ordering states to require proof of citizenship in the form of government-issued ID on voter registration forms, ordering the Departments of State and Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to provide federal database access to states for determining voter eligibility, and requiring a single Election Day deadline for vote tabulation. Each measure will carry the threat of withdrawn federal funding in the event of non-compliance. In a press release, Rep. Hamadeh stated, “In Arizona, we have seen what the mismanagement of voter rolls, failed election infrastructure, and corrupt courts can do to destroy voter confidence and faith in our system overall. We are taking swift action to rebuild citizens’ trust in our elections through comprehensive and meaningful election integrity legislation.”
In a speech on the House floor earlier this week, Arizona Republican Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ-01) blasted leftist activists and vandals who allegedly affixed a swastika to his wife’s Tesla.
Schweikert expressed exasperation speaking to the House saying, “It’s not, ‘Hey David, we’re concerned about Medicaid. Here are ideas for how you could deal with debt and deficits so we have the resources.’ No, because [instead], it’s this really high-brow intellectual conversation from our brothers and sisters on the other side: Stick Nazi things on people’s cars. This is what you’ve come down to? This is what’s going on?”
The congressman reflected that when his wife bought a Tesla a few years back, they were teased by fellow conservatives. Then, he excoriated the leftists resorting to “stick[ing] Nazi signs on people’s cars.”
“The wheels are coming off, and instead, the brain trust of some of these folks… okay, I accept that the tonal quality from some of the folks out of the White House isn’t warm and cuddly, but [is the answer really to] go around neighborhoods and offices and stick Nazi signs on people’s cars?“
The congressman, a well known critic of out-of-control government spending, explained, “Over the next 10 years, we’re going to spend $86 trillion. We’re talking about at best on the house budget resolution cutting $2 trillion over those 10 years. That’s 2.3%. Oh, god, dear heaven, you’re butchering government. 2.3%. You’re telling me if we didn’t grind through government, look at our programs, look at all the reports the GAO gives us of waste and fraud and programs that haven’t been authorized in decades, you couldn’t find 2.3%? But it’s easier to stick this sort of crap on my wife’s windshield than to do the intellectual work of saying, ‘I think we have more elegant ways to spend and make it better, faster, cheaper for the American people.’ No, we’d rather burn things down. Are we all proud of ourselves?”
As reported by the Fountain Hills Times, protesters marched on Schweikert’s Scottsdale District Office as recently as Sunday. Ten days prior, protesters delivered a petition to the Congressman’s office demanding he conduct a townhall meeting with 30 protesters holding signs outside of the building at Northsight Boulevard and Raintree Drive.
This week, Governor Katie Hobbs issued a directive to all of her agency directors not to appear or testify at the inaugural hearing of the Arizona House Ad Hoc Committee on Executive Budget Mismanagement. Hobbs issued the directive 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Democrats on the committee also refused to attend.
According to Committee Chairman Matt Gress (R-LD4), agency leaders from AHCCCS and the Department of Economic Security (DES), who share responsibility for the $122 million shortfall in Arizona’s Developmental Disabilities (DD) program, were scheduled to appear before the committee and answer for the program’s massive cost overruns that have threatened to disrupt critical services for Arizona families.
Gress said in a statement, “The Governor pulled her directors because she can’t defend the damage she’s done. If she had a plan, she would have sent her team to explain it. Instead, she’s hiding behind a press release while Arizona families face the consequences of her financial mismanagement. This Legislature asked for answers. The Governor responded with a tantrum. What she calls a ‘political stunt’ is actually legislative oversight—a constitutional duty that we will carry out whether she likes it or not.”
In the press release referred to by Gress, Hobbs and Democratic House Assistant Leader Nancy Gutierrez claimed the “Ad Hoc committee is a waste of time and a shameless political stunt,” and derided it as a “sham,” demanding instead that the legislature issue a supplemental budget bill to cover the shortfall.
Despite the conspicuous absence of Democrat members of the committee, the hearing went forward with the Republican members reviewing budgetary data, testimony from the Joint Legislative Budget committee, and expert testimony from former Idaho House Majority Leader Megan Blanksma, whose state suffered what Gress’ office called “a near-identical funding crisis.”
The committee issued its formally adopted findings, naming the Hobbs administration accountable for:
“Without approval from the Legislature or specific appropriation authority, dramatically expanded its Developmental Disability program by making permanent a temporary, COVID-era program to pay parents to provide attendant and habilitative care to their minor children.”
“The programmatic and scope changes of the DD program adopted by AHCCCS and implemented by DES led to dramatic unfunded liabilities, threatening the entire DD program and leaving the state with at least a $122 million budget deficit in FY2025.”
“Through its Medicaid agency at AHCCCS, put the Department of Economic Security under legal threat with a November 2023 Corrective Action Plan, which aimed to grant parents 2 additional hours for care under the PPCG program, which was at odds with the ’extraordinary care’ standards and dramatically expanded costs to the state.”
“AHCCCS delayed implementation of guardrails on the PPCG program by over 18 months, despite its original plan submitted to the Federal CMS in August 2023, causing considerable cost overruns and unrealistic expectations for families.”
The committee further found that “The critical nature of the Developmental Disabilities program and its pending exhaustion of funds requires that the Executive identify available federal funds, and the Legislature will work to identify transfers of other available funds, in the month of April, to continue the program.”
It also added that “the State Legislature must receive annual reports from the executive administration identifying all federal funds received and an exit plan should those federal funds be eliminated.”
In a statement following the hearing, Gress addressed the Democrats’ absence and Hobbs’ order for her agency directors not to attend.
“Fifteen minutes before the committee hearing began, I received a letter from Governor Hobbs criticizing legislative intent on providing oversight and learning exactly what happened. Now this is a pattern and a practice of Governor Hobbs. She fails to even acknowledge who’s responsible for this problem. Instead, it’s deflection and trying to scare families who rely on the DD services for their loved ones.
“We will not be deterred. Her unhinged, chaotic letter falls far below the standard that Arizonans expect of their leaders. We will continue to find the facts. We will be the adults in the room to provide a supplemental appropriation, and we will ensure that there are guardrails put in place so that this never happens again.
“Let me be very clear, we will not pass a financially irresponsible supplemental. It will include the reforms necessary to protect families who rely on DD for their loved ones. We demand accountability and transparency, and it’s going to happen soon.”
Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani (CD-06) was named the most effective lawmaker from Arizona in the 118th Congress by the nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) on Thursday. This ranking places Ciscomani among the top-performing lawmakers in the nation. The Tucson Republican stands with the accolades of the 15th most effective legislator overall in the House of Representatives, the third most effective among freshmen Congressmen, and the highest ranking in the Arizona Caucus, followed by Reps. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09) and Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), rounding out the top three.
“It’s about getting the job done,” said Ciscomani in a statement. “I was sent to Congress by my constituents to deliver common sense, lasting results for the people of Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, and that is exactly what I’m doing. Being recognized as one of the most effective lawmakers in the House during my freshman term is an honor and a reflection of that mission.”
Ciscomani serves on the House Appropriations and House Veterans’ Affairs committees. He was ranked by the joint partnership between the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy in the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University, with Vanderbilt announcing with the report that Ciscomani and the other leading members “were able to find ways to get their initiatives passed into law despite deep political disruptions in 2023 and 2024, and despite widespread public perception of gridlock in the nation’s Capitol.”
“Whether it’s pushing legislation to secure the border, support our veterans, safeguard Arizona’s water, or protecting our seniors, I don’t take no for an answer,” the Congressman added. “I am proud of what my office and I were able to accomplish for our constituents in my first term, and I am keeping my foot on the pedal to do even more for our district in my second term.”
The CEL cited Ciscomani’s record during the 118th Congress stating that he introduced 24 pieces of substantive legislation with six of these passing and two getting signed into law.
Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers is enthusiastically supporting two upcoming ballot propositions for the city, which are set to be voted on in the May 20th special election.
The two propositions, Props 401 and 402, would reportedly affirm the Glendale City Council’s approval of a phase in the development of the VAI Resort near State Farm Stadium off the Loop 101.
Weiers, who with the unanimous support of the council has long been a proponent of the resort, said in a statement, “The VAI Resort project represents our city’s next step forward. This development will strengthen our economy, provide thousands of jobs, and increase city revenues to improve police, fire, infrastructure, and more.” He added, “The zoning amendments are necessary for the project’s success, and I encourage you to vote yes on Propositions 401 and 402. It is inappropriate to have an out-of-state union parachuting into our city to try to determine our future and attempt to cap our productivity.”
As previously reported by AZ Free News, the VAI Resort, along with other high profile developments in Glendale’s hospitality industry, have been challenged by a California special interest group that suffered a severe setback in the November election with the defeat of Proposition 499. The proposed ballot measure would have mandated “hotel and event center workers receive a $20.00 per hour minimum wage (increases annually), service charge payments and premium pay to be enforced by a newly created city department of labor responsible for investigating employer violations involving payment of wages, reporting, recordkeeping, and overtime requirements.”
According to Weiers, the same organization that brought Prop 499, the California-based group Worker Power, known to be affiliated with the labor union UniteHere, has unleashed activists to oppose the new propositions.
Worker Power has also led opposition to pro-immigration enforcement legislation in Arizona as recently as February. During the 2024 Presidential election, the group canvassed in Glendale to support Democrats Kamala Harris and Senator Ruben Gallego.
Yesterday we were out at the Capitol with other progressive groups to oppose SB1164! As long as lawmakers are targeting immigrants, we’ll keep coming back and reminding lawmakers that these terrible bills aren’t gonna work for us📢✊🪧 pic.twitter.com/cV5nrY2WC7
Proposition 401 and 402 Campaign Chairman Grant Fisher lauded the support from Weiers and the City Council saying, “Throughout the process to make the dream of VAI Resort a reality, there has been no greater champion for Glendale’s economic health than Mayor Weiers. We are proud to have Mayor Weiers as part of our coalition to bring thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in new economic activity to Glendale, and we look forward to celebrating a win with him in May.”
The two propositions are largely administrative in nature, with 401 approving the unanimous City Council approval of a general plan amendment to allow the development of the VAI Resort and 402 confirming the unanimous zoning approval.
“Supporting this initiative means supporting a brighter, more prosperous future for Glendale. Let’s make the right choice. Please join me in voting YES on Propositions 401 and 402 on your mail-in ballot and send it in by May 13. Together, let’s say YES for Glendale!” Weiers told voters.
