by Matthew Holloway | Feb 28, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A series of posts to X on Tuesday sparked a firestorm of controversy when Merissa Hamilton of Strong Communities Action-EZAZ.org made a bombshell allegation that Maricopa County Election officials were made well aware of the potential for printing and supply issues during the 2022 statewide elections. Hamilton alleged that county officials moved forward without addressing the issues, citing a series of emails detailing the Maricopa County GOP raising concerns to then-Recorder Stephen Richer and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ Election Manager Scott Jarrett.
The post gained national attention when it was shared by X owner and de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk.
In the initial post Hamilton wrote, “Remember in 2022 when the nearly 70% of voting centers in Maricopa County failed on Election Day causing massive, long lines and voter disenfranchisement resulting in @KariLake and @AbrahamHamadeh barely losing? Maricopa County knew in advance their Election Day plan was set up for failure, and THEY LET IT FAIL!”
Hamilton noted that the emails were obtained for Strong Communities Action by The Gavel Project and civil rights activist and Arizona election attorney Ryan Heath saying, “Without his legal muscle we wouldn’t have secured it!”
In the thread that followed, Hamilton released several emails from then-Chairwoman of the Maricopa County Republican Committee Mickie Niland to Richer and Jarrett saying, “I remember hearing from Scott (Jarrett) at some point after the primary that there was a problem during the primary with some tabulators not reading correctly due to low ink. How long does it take you to get paper or ink to them if they run out? Is there a process for the voting locations to report when they are half out of paper? How far are the restocking trucks from the voting centers? Are you using the length of the lines to help you determine when more supplies are brought to the centers?“ She also asked if there was any way she could help.
Jarrett responded, “We’ve been monitoring turnout and are prepared,” adding that there was plenty of ballot paper and normal paper to print control slips as well as “sufficient toner and printer drums.”
Hamilton explained, “Several days ahead of Election Day, the Maricopa County GOP leadership warned Maricopa County that their Election Day plan would fail and disenfranchise voters. The Maricopa County BOS Election Director Scott Jarrett insisted everything would be fine saying he was ‘confident.’”
Niland, representing the Maricopa County GOP, even followed up with an email warning, “Trust is low and voting in person is the topic everyone wants to discuss with us. To us if you are basing your decisions off of history, we think things are different now.” Niland added, “Please consider this email the official raising of that flag.”
According to an investigation of the 2022 Maricopa County Election, former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor found that “many of the Oki B432 printers were not capable of reliably printing 20-inch ballots on 100-pound paper under election-day conditions.”
McGregor added, “The combined effect of the heavy paper, longer ballot, and intermittent burst of print demand pushed the printers to perform at the very edge of or past their capability, so that any decrease in fuser performance in an individual printer could result in problems.”
Replying to the post by Musk, Hamilton thanked the X owner for “bringing attention to this vital matter!” She also raised allegations that Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Galvin has blocked newly elected County Recorder Justin Heap from accessing “the IT staff and responsibilities assigned to him in AZ law to secure and run our elections!”
Later in the afternoon, Maricopa County published a post to X that outlined the October 2024 agreement, which demarcated the election responsibilities of the Board of Supervisors and the Recorder’s Office. Galvin shared the post as well.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | Feb 27, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
With the 2026 election just around the corner, Governor Katie Hobbs is adopting right-leaning policies and stances.
On Tuesday, Hobbs announced the creation of a border task force, Operation Desert Guardian (ODG), to enhance border security. The task force strongly resembles the Border Strike Force (BSF) of Hobbs’ Republican predecessor, Doug Ducey.
This renewed focus on border security and support for a task force marks a significant departure from Hobbs’ initial stance as governor.
Early on in her first months in office in 2023, Hobbs began ending Ducey’s BSF, which included removing shipping containers intended to close off unsealed sections of the southern border. On the campaign trail in the summer of 2022, Hobbs promised to not end the BSF. By November, Hobbs indicated her intent to leave border security and immigration enforcement to the federal government.
Hobbs’ spokesman, Christian Slater, insisted in statements to the media that Hobbs’ task force differed greatly from Ducey’s strike force. However, the two share nearly identical structures and duties.
The BSF launched as an enforcement bureau within the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division. The strike force focused on improvements to addressing border-related crimes (for example: drug trafficking, weapon smuggling, vehicle theft recovery, and violent criminal apprehension) while evaluating and analyzing criminal intelligence and enhancing response capabilities along the border. The BSF combined federal, state, county, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in the border region to carry out these duties, especially for disruption of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs).
By comparison, ODG also partners with local law enforcement within the border-inclusive counties to disrupt TCO operations and border-related crimes.
Hobbs reversed course on her support for Proposition 123. While still a state senator in 2015, Hobbs opposed the proposition’s arrangement increasing state land trust dollars to fund schools. Last month, Hobbs advocated for the proposition’s renewal as an “essential” means of providing “critical funding” for the state’s public schools and educators.
Hobbs also reversed course on a significant agency pick, Angie Rogers, opting instead to restore Michael Wisehart as director of the Department of Economic Security (DES); her predecessor, Doug Ducey, installed Wisehart.
Last month, Hobbs appointed another Ducey administration veteran, Kathryn “Katie” Ptak, to lead the Department of Child Services.
Some efforts undertaken by the current administration, often seen as red meat right-wing priorities, have backfired recently for the governor. Hobbs created a new six-figure role within DES (chief, or “senior executive consultant,” of the newly-created Office of Veteran & Military Affairs) that mirrors the work already undertaken by the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS). The position went to Dana Allmond at Hobbs’ behest, the unsuccessful Democratic 2022 legislative candidate and failed gubernatorial nominee. Republican legislative leaders questioned the apparent duplicity of the new DES position and DVS responsibilities.
Per the secretary of state’s office, 11 individuals have filed statements of interest in the governor’s race: Republican candidates Alan White, Karrin Taylor Robinson, George Nicholson, Scott Neely, Donald Mucheck, Christian “Maverick” Grey, Andy Biggs, and Christopher Ames; Green Party candidates William Pounds IV and Lisa Castillo; and Libertarian candidate Barry Hess.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 27, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona legislators are one step closer to acting on an outdated criminal justice statute.
This week, the Arizona House of Representatives approved HB 2720 “to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine in Arizona’s legal code.” The bill was sponsored by State Representative Leo Biasiucci.
The bill passed the state House with a 59-0 vote (with one member not voting).
According to a press release from the Arizona House of Representatives, the proposal, if enacted into law, would “consolidate the threshold amount for cocaine base and hydrolyzed cocaine with the nine-gram threshold already established for powder cocaine, eliminat[ing] the outdated 750-miligram threshold for crack cocaine, a policy widely criticized for disproportionately targeting lower-income offenders without scientific justification.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the bill’s progress, Biasiucci said, “For too long, Arizona’s laws have imposed an unjust sentencing disparity on two chemically identical substances. HB 2720 ensures our justice system is guided by facts and fairness, not outdated policies from nearly 40 years ago. It’s time for Arizona to align with the federal government and the majority of states that have already fixed this inequity.”
Representative Biasiucci added, “This is about being smart on crime. Punishment should fit the crime, and our laws shouldn’t unfairly penalize one group over another for the same offense.”
Earlier this month, the Arizona House Committee on the Judiciary gave the bill the green light with a unanimous 9-0 vote.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Dreamcorps, Justice Action Network, Justice Action Network, and Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice signed in to support the bill.
HB 2720 will now advance to the Arizona Senate for consideration.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Hannah Bolick | Feb 27, 2025 | News
By Hannah Bolick (Guest Contributor) |
Commemorative bills are opportunities for legislators to highlight certain aspects of the state’s history and add some colorful trivia to legislation. Here in Arizona, the bolo tie is the state’s official neckwear, and the Colt Single Action Army Revolver is the official firearm. Over the last 113 years, the state has shaped a distinct identity and history—and lawmakers have continued to develop the southwestern state’s persona.
Just last year, Rep. Justin Wilmeth sponsored a bill to name Pluto the state’s official planet. Though the bill may seem silly at face value, he wrote it to highlight a little-known piece of Arizona history.
“Every state does this as a way to have some State pride, or to promote something that’s a part of the state’s history.” Wilmeth said. “That’s why I did Pluto, because it was discovered in Flagstaff in 1930 and that’s a huge, international news-making discovery, that happened back when Flagstaff probably had 8000 people in it. I think they’re [commemorative bills are] simple and harmless and fun and they spark some discussions and the whole process from drafting to getting assigned to getting through committee, to getting voted on once in each chamber, was roughly about an hour of time combined.”
Now, lawmakers are continuing to develop the state’s official persona by considering an iconic western salutation as the official greeting. Rep. Kevin Volk has introduced a bipartisan bill with very simple verbiage:
“HOWDY IS THE OFFICIAL STATE GREETING.”
“There still is an element to that cowboy culture in this state,” Wilmeth, a co-sponsor of the bill said. “When people come here from out of town, one of the first things they want to see is Old Town Scottsdale. Well, what is Old Town Scottsdale? It’s originally an old west cowboy town. They go to Cave Creek, they go to Buffalo Chip, and they see the rodeo. There’s still a lot of old west culture in this state, and I’ll always view Arizona as that.”
The difference between the two bills lies in their focus—one is rooted in concrete historical trivia, designating Pluto as Arizona’s state planet, while the other relies on a broader cultural argument for adopting “Howdy” as the official state greeting. This bill may have less support in the House, and has been met with criticism from some locals, who may call such legislation a waste of time.
“I love Arizona,” said sixth-generation Arizona native Philip Petersen. “I appreciate the show of Arizona culture. And so we do have a Wild West heritage. But I don’t think it’s the best use of time because the legislature only has so much time to take up different bills because they don’t meet year-round. I will also say, I very rarely heard anybody in Arizona say ‘Howdy.’ I’ve done work in 38 states. I’ve heard it a lot in Texas, and I’ve heard it a bit in New Mexico. I have not heard it at all in Arizona.”
So, what makes something a part of a state’s identity? How much significance does a firearm, drink, or salutation need to be considered an official mark of the state and to be worth an hour of lawmaker’s time? That’s up to legislators to decide.
Hannah Bolick is a guest contributor and student in ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 26, 2025 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One chamber of the Arizona Legislature just passed legislation to protect kids’ meals at schools.
On Monday, the Arizona House of Representatives passed HB 2164, that, if enacted, would “ban ultra-processed foods containing harmful additives from being served in public school meals.” The proposal was sponsored by State Representative Leo Biasiucci.
The bill passed out of the full House chamber with a 59-0 vote (one member not voting).
In a statement accompanying the announcement of the bill’s progress, Biasiucci said, “Our kids deserve better than artificial dyes and cheap fillers in their meals. Parents should know that when their children eat at school, they are getting real, nutritious food – not the kind of processed junk that’s banned in other countries. This is common sense, and I’m proud that my colleagues came together to pass this important bill.”
Biasiucci added, “This is a public health issued. We now have overwhelming evidence that these chemicals can contribute to everything from hyperactivity to increased cancer risk – yet they remain in school meals. We hope to end that today.”
According to the press release from the Arizona House of Representatives, the bill would “prohibit the sale or serving of school foods that contain potassium bromate, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, propylparaben, and synthetic food dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 – several of which are already restricted or banned in Europe due to harmful effects on children’s health.”
Earlier this month, the legislation was approved by the Arizona House Committee on Education with a 10-0 vote (one member was absent, and one voted ‘present’).
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, Arizona Public Interest Research Group, indicated their groups’ support for the bill; while representatives from Save Our Schools Arizona and Consumer Brands Association, signed in to oppose the proposal. Representatives from the Arizona Food Bank Network, Arizona School Administrators, Arizona Education Association, and Arizona School Boards Association, noted their organizations’ neutrality on the bills.
HB 2164 will now head to the Arizona Senate for consideration.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Feb 26, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ8) has joined Arizona Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ5) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ9) in co-sponsoring the Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act, H.R. 1040, which was introduced earlier this month by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). If enacted, the bill would eliminate the current regime of de facto double taxation on Social Security benefits.
In a press release, Hamadeh explained his support for the bill saying, “Amid all of the FAKE news about Social Security benefits and the Democrats’ fear-mongering weaponization of it, I am glad to bring some REAL news to the residents of Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. Help is on the way.”
He added, “’Prior to 1984, Social Security benefits were exempt from the federal income tax. Congress then enacted legislation to tax a portion of those benefits, with the share gradually increasing as a person’s income rose above a specified income threshold,’ noted a Congressional Research Service report. That is simply unfair, and unnecessary.”
Massie laid out the bill’s impact in his own release saying, “Although seniors have already paid tax on their Social Security contributions via the payroll tax, they are still required to list these benefits as taxable income on their tax returns. This is simply a way for Congress to obtain more revenue for the federal government at the expense of seniors who have already paid into Social Security. My bill would exempt Social Security retirement benefits from taxation and boost the retirement income of millions of older Americans.”
As Hamadeh’s office notes, Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) have already introduced corresponding legislation in the U.S. Senate with Tuberville recently telling Newsmax, “In a day and age where the cost of living has skyrocketed, our seniors should not experience a second tax on their Social Security when they’ve already paid income tax on their paychecks.”
The Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act was first introduced by former Congressman Ron Paul and has been subsequently introduced by Massie every year since he took office in 2012.
Hamadeh called back to the introduction of the bill by Paul in a statement, “It is my honor – one of the highest honors – to support a bill first introduced by Congressman Ron Paul. The wisdom of the fiscal battles he waged over the years is now becoming evident to everyone thanks to President Donald Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). My hope is that as DOGE dives deeper into our bloated and broken bureaucracies, we will find many opportunities to reduce taxes on hard-working Americans.”
“In fact, my colleagues and I are committed to delivering a ‘big, beautiful bill’ that will deliver tax relief to all taxpaying Americans,” said Congressman Hamadeh. “The Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act delivers immediate relief to those who need it most — our seniors who built this country.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
