During Tuesday’s House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Arizona Republican Congressman Eli Crane (CD-2) laid bare Democrats’ intent to use illegal immigration to increase “headcount” in their congressional districts to manipulate redistricting. As a part of his remarks, Crane played video footage of Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) outright confirming this practice.
During the committee hearing, Crane asked Lora Ries, Director, Border Security and Immigration Center for The Heritage Foundation, to “briefly explain what liberal states stand to gain from mass illegal immigration and unchecked parole.”
Ries answered, “Part of it is headcount.”
She explained, “They’re (illegal immigrants) counted in the census even though non-citizens can’t vote and are not supposed to vote. And then those numbers are used for redistricting in Congress and then in turn those same numbers are also used for the presidential electoral college votes.”
Crane followed up, “Would you agree ma’am that redistricting is a major political outcome for Democrats welcoming migrant caravans into their local communities?” To which Reis replied, “Yes, it gives them more headcount and therefore more districts.”
Rep. Crane then asked, “Would you agree illegal immigration for redistricting is not what the founders intended under Article 1, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution regarding congressional redistricting?” Reis agreed.
The congressman then played a twenty-second clip of New York Democrat and former Homeland Security Committee member, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, who said, “I’m from Brooklyn, New York. We have a diaspora that can absorb (laughs) a significant number of these migrants and I… that, you know… When I hear colleagues talk about uh, you know, the doors of the inn being closed… um ‘no room in the inn.’ I’m saying you know I… I need more people in my district but just for redistricting purposes and those members could clearly fit here.”
Crane noted, “That was Rep. Yvette Clark, a Democrat from New York, from January 8th 2024. Her words outlined Biden’s failed plans for illegal immigration to gain political influence.”
Speaking to Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the America Immigration Council and Democrats on the Committee, Crane concluded, “I find it interesting as I sit here and listen to you blame President Trump and attack President Trump, you know, for saying to the American people that he was going to protect the American people, he was going to put them first, and he was going to implement policies to fix the mess created by the Biden administration. And I just find it rich that you’re attacking President Trump for doing exactly what the American people wanted, not the individual who caused this problem. And sadly, if you guys don’t figure this issue out, you’re going to lose the next election as well.”
Sharing a video of the moment on X, Crane added in a post, “It’s actually really bad. Dems utilized the border crisis to pad their numbers ahead of redistricting. Listen for yourself:”
It’s actually really bad.
Dems utilized the border crisis to pad their numbers ahead of redistricting.
A bill to exempt retirement savings from the state income tax is being considered by the Arizona House of Representatives.
SB 1371, sponsored by Sen. JD Mesnard (LD-13), would exempt all retirement investment savings, including 401Ks, IRAs, Roth IRAs, and pensions from state income tax for distributions made after an individual is 59 and a half years old.
As explained by the Arizona Senate Republicans in a post to X, the bill “works to reduce financial burdens on Arizonans who are over the age of 59.5 by exempting retirement income from taxation.”
ICYMI: Senator @JDMesnard advances legislation that works to reduce financial burdens on Arizonans who are over the age of 59.5 by exempting retirement income from taxation.
SB 1371 passed out of the Finance Committee yesterday with all Democrats voting no. pic.twitter.com/DZhjqYaFPj
The bill passed the Arizona Senate on March 6th along party lines.
In a press release from the Arizona Senate Republicans, Senator Mesnard stated, “Arizonans deserve to keep more of what they earn so they can plan for retirement at an appropriate age. This bill allows retirees to enjoy their responsible savings while securing a comfortable and stable life in their golden years, free from unnecessary financial burdens.”
He continued, “In a world where the cost of living continues to rise, we need to prioritize the needs of our citizens, making sure they have what they need to succeed. I remain committed to fostering a pro-growth, taxpayer-friendly environment for all Arizonans and look forward to seeing this legislation advance to the governor.”
The bill had its second reading in the Arizona House of Representatives on March 17th and is pending reports from the Rules and Appropriations committees.
A bill requring schools to use students’ real names and biological pronouns is making its way through the Arizona legislature.
SB 1002, sponsored by Arizona Senator John Kavanagh (LD-3), would prohibit school districts, charter schools employees, or independent contractors from referring to any student by a pronoun differing from their biological sex or a name other than their legal name without parental consent. It also prevents a school district or charter school from requiring an employee or independent contractor to use a pronoun that differs from a person’s biological sex, if doing so is contrary to their convictions.
The bill has moved to the Arizona House of Representatives where it awaits approval by the caucuses and a final vote.
Explaining the bill in a video, Sen. Kavanagh said that his bill “has to do with school staff and teachers using a pronoun or a nickname for a student that is not aligned with that student’s biological sex. The bill says that no school personnel can call a student by such an inappropriate pronoun or nickname unless the parents consent. And in addition when the parents do consent, no school employee can be forced to call the person by the pronoun that does not align with their biological sex if it violates the employee’s religious or moral beliefs.”
He continued, “This is important because students that want to be called by a different name or pronoun than their biological sex, or so-called transgendered students, many of them have a condition called gender dysphoria, which causes a lot of anxiety, sometimes even suicidal thoughts. So, the parents may know about this and may have the child under psychiatric care and the child’s doctor may have told the parents do not entertain a different pronoun or name that’s different from the from the child’s real sex because it could harm the child. So, we certainly don’t want school personnel harming children and threatening their psychological well-being or driving them to suicide. So, we’re going to require parental permission because also it’s a matter of parents’ rights. Parents determine what’s good for their children, not a school staff member or a school teacher, however well-meaning they may be.”
As noted in the text of the bill, Arizona’s Parental Bill of Rights “reserves parental rights to a parent of a minor child without interference from the state, a political subdivision or other governmental entity or any other institution.” Among the rights enshrined in the laws A.R.S. §§ 1-601 and 1-602 are parental rights to direct their children’s “education, upbringing and moral or religious training,” and making healthcare decisions on their behalf.
The Arizona State Senate is considering a bill that would prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from using their benefits to purchase soda. House Bill 2165 (H.B. 2165) directs the state’s Department of Economic Security (DES) to seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement the restriction.
The measure, which has already passed in the Arizona House of Representatives by a vote of 32-27-1, would require the DES Director to request the waiver. If granted, the purchase of carbonated beverages containing more than one gram of added sugar or artificial sweeteners would be banned for SNAP recipients. If the waiver is denied, the bill mandates that Arizona reapply annually until it is approved.
SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded initiative that assists low-income households in purchasing groceries. The program currently allows for the purchase of a variety of food products, including bread, meat, dairy, and infant formula, but excludes items such as alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, and non-food goods.
Supporters of the bill argue that it promotes healthier choices for low-income families and ensures that taxpayer-funded benefits are used for nutritious food. Critics, however, contend that the restriction unfairly targets SNAP recipients and could create logistical challenges in enforcing the ban.
The bill was assigned to the Senate’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee for further consideration. If passed and signed into law, the restriction would take effect following the USDA’s approval of the waiver.
The financial impact of the legislation is expected to be minimal, as no additional costs to the state’s General Fund have been identified. The debate over the bill is expected to continue as lawmakers weigh the balance between nutritional policy and personal choice.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The three Democratic candidates for the recently vacated State Senate seat for District 9 answered a brief questionnaire on misconduct, antisemitism, housing, and elections.
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Galvin submitted the questionnaire to the candidates and released their responses on Monday.
Below were the questions provided to the candidates:
1. In recent years, state legislators of both political parties have been accused, investigated, condemned, censured, or found guilty of the following acts while serving at the State Capitol: Sexually molesting a minor; Praising a white nationalist, Holocaust denier; Sexually harassing fellow legislators and staffers; Making threatening statements; Refusing to cooperate with an Ethics committee investigation over prior sex crime charges; Making a death threat against a city’s employee and misusing an elected position to prevent execution of a legal court order in a private custodial matter; Sexually harassing a lobbyist by sending explicit photos and text messages, and propositions for sexual encounters. The list above is not exhaustive. How can you assure the Board of Supervisors that, if appointed, you will not engage in disorderly behavior but will conduct yourself in a manner consistent with a proper code of ethics?
2. If you have served in elected office before, please detail any ethical or disciplinary actions related to your term in office. Please provide context on the events that led to those actions and what the outcome was regarding those proceedings.
3. Since the October 7th, 2023, Hamas attacks, there continues to be a dramatic increase in anti-Semitism, around the world and in Arizona. The disturbing rise of anti-Semitism can be found in all segments of society, on both ends of the political spectrum. These attacks are waged on the internet or are further acts of physical violence. Many Jews in Arizona are fearful, including college students who have been subject to abuse and vitriol. What will you do to combat and condemn anti Semitism in our community?
4. The housing crisis is an important issue in Arizona, and in LD 9. There have been recent attempts at the legislature to overhaul zoning laws. What reforms do you think the legislature can get passed to address the housing issue?
5. Maricopa County, like all 15 counties, is responsible for carrying out the administration of elections. In recent cycles, election volunteers were under considerable pressure because of state election laws that drag out ballot processing and tabulating for up to two weeks after election day. Reform is sorely needed. What reforms do you think are essential to speed up the tabulation of votes by election night?
Metcalfe lost the Maricopa County Superintendent’s race last year, and sits on the East Valley Institute of Technology District’s board. Metcalfe has earned endorsements from the pro-abortion organization Arizona List, gun control group Moms Demand Action, and Save Our Schools Arizona.
Sears lost last year’s race for Maricopa County Justice Court’s North Mesa Precinct judgeship, and previously lost a race for the Arizona Corporation Commission. In last year’s race, Sears campaigned on key progressive initiatives on abortion, LGBTQ+, climate change, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sears served on the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board and presided over the East Valley NAACP. Sears is the assistant director of Arizona State University’s Faith Based Outreach and Community Partnerships. Sears also earned an Arizona List endorsement.
Winkle lost last year’s mayoral race for the city of Mesa. Previously, Winkle served briefly on the Mesa City Council; he was voted off the council in 2017 following a DUI — his second in a decade. Winkle is the part-time executive director of the Arizona Fair Housing Center and runs the search engine optimization company, Max Search Visibility Pro. Contrary to his questionnaire answers on anti-Semitism, Winkle advocates for a “Free Palestine.”
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On Monday, Common Sense Institute (CSI) Arizona released a new report on Arizona’s water resources. In the report, CSI made a determination that contrasts wildly with commonly preconceived notions that a supply scarcity issue is Arizona’s largest problem. Instead, the group called out gaps in “infrastructure and ingenuity.”
In a press release, CSI advised, “If Arizona opts to address its water future by ending growth and limiting development, rather than investing in infrastructure and addressing water policies, the Grand Canyon state faces the potential of billions in lost economic activity and thousands of new jobs.“
Glenn Farley, CSI Arizona’s Director of Policy & Research explained, “In general, Arizona’s water challenges are not just about scarcity; they are about infrastructure and ingenuity. For centuries, Arizona’s dry central valley has thrived through engineering solutions that move water from areas of plenty to areas of need. Leaders today have options that could lead to very different outcomes for the future economy of our state. Our data finds that investing in innovative infrastructure and giving property owners the legal and physical flexibility they need to access the water our economy demands, will result in increased economic growth for the state of Arizona.”
In particular, the report took aim at the home-building moratorium in the Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA) imposed by Governor Katie Hobbs’ administration. According to CSI, should the moratorium be maintained for the next decade, Arizona could see a catastrophic $2 billion in lost GDP. However, the report adds, “Augmenting water supply by 300,000 acre-feet could create $4.7 billion in net state product.”
The report details that the expansion of “legal and physical infrastructure to move and trade water can help increase water availability without forced cuts or forced reallocation.”
CSI Arizona highlighted a 2018 controversial water deal between an investment firm representing the owners of farmland in Cibola, Arizona, near the Colorado River, and the town of Queen Creek that enabled Queen Creek to pay a private landowner $24 million for an annual allotment of 2,033 acre-feet of water. In other words: “the voluntary retirement of legacy agricultural farmland” through a private sale allowed a city without assured water rights through the Phoenix AMA to obtain the water needed to grow.
The report found: “Political and legal structures that acknowledge and facilitate, rather than impede, these kinds of transactions can help manage Arizona’s ongoing transition and continued growth. Furthermore, the ensuing injection of money and capital into the rural sources can be used for local economic development, creating a win-win.”
The think tank also called upon Arizona lawmakers to seek out alternative external sources of water citing the potential for desalination operations in Mexico at the Sea of Cortez, just 250 miles from Phoenix.
Citing the successes of Israel and Singapore to develop such systems, CSI noted, “While existing studies suggest the cost of desalination is high, approximately $2,000/acre-foot, costs may decline as the technology matures. Additionally, consumers may be more willing to pay if existing scarcity issues are not resolved.” Indeed, Israel currently relies upon desalination from the Mediterranean and Red Seas for over half of its fresh water supply.
According to a USA Todaystory from 2021, officials from Arizona, Nevada, California and Mexico have been exploring collaboration on such a project in exchange for trading some of the drinking water produced for a portion of Mexico’s allocation of the Colorado River.
