by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 19, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona Democrats returned to work at the state legislature last week – this time with smaller numbers than the previous year.
Last Monday, the Arizona Legislature revved back into action for the 57th Regular Session. Even though legislative Democrats lost ground in both chambers during the November 2024 General Election, they were still excited for the start of the year and the work ahead to stand with Governor Katie Hobbs in a divided state government.
On its X account, the Arizona Senate Democrats Caucus posted, “Today the 57th Legislature kicks-off and Democrats have set a bold agenda to make Arizona more affordable, invest in public education, secure our water future, keep government out of our private lives, and protect our right to vote.”
State Representative Consuelo Hernandez wrote, “Honored to be sworn in for my second term in the 57th legislature as your state representative in district 21! Thank you for the confidence I commit to fighting to help improve our community. Thank you for your support!”
In a press conference before the Opening Day festivities, House Democrat Leader Oscar De Los Santos said, “It is time to put working families first. That is why we will make the government work for you and not the special interests.”
State Senator Eva Diaz added, “Today is Opening Day at the State Legislature. I will continue to take action for District 22 by advocating for effective public education, quality healthcare that’s accessible and affordable, and the rights of vulnerable communities and working class families.”
Senator Analise Ortiz stated, “Today I was officially sworn in as your State Senator. Thank you, Maryvale and Glendale for your trust in me. I’m honored to go to work every day to fight on your behalf for housing we can afford, fair wages, safe communities, and fully-funded public schools.”
Representative Kevin Volk posted, “This week, I was sworn in as State Representative for District 17 in Arizona’s 57th Legislature. I’m grateful to my family, friends, and supporters, and to the voters who entrusted me with this great responsibility. It is an honor to serve.”
While Democrats are filled with optimism at the beginning of this new legislative session, they will be largely relegated to the background as Republican lawmakers control the mechanisms of the House and Senate and lead negotiations on key items during the session, such as the budget. Democrats will again provide support for Hobbs however they can from their perches in the minority and attempt to set the stage for a legislative takeover in two years, in what will be another critical election year for the State of Arizona.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 18, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Border security was again a hot topic on the first day of the Arizona Legislative session for 2025.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs gave her State of the State address on Monday and discussed the issue of border security during her speech. Hobbs said, “A truly thriving economy means security for our families and neighbors. That’s why safe communities are a core pillar of the Arizona Promise and why I’ve made border security a top priority… We must remain vigilant in protecting Arizonans from the cartels who seek to do us harm. The fentanyl crisis is one of the greatest threats to public safety in our state’s history and requires a collaborative approach across state, local, and federal governments. When we work together, we protect Arizona families. I will continue working with this legislature to protect our border because until all Arizonans feel secure in their communities, we will not be able to deliver on our Promise of freedom and opportunity.”
Republicans were not amused by the governor’s comments, highlighting the many times she has opposed efforts to secure the border and protect Arizona communities from the harms and dangers wrought by illegal immigration. Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen said, “When the Governor promised to prioritize border security last year, her actions did not match her words. She vetoed our border bills. But, the voters spoke loud and clear last November. They want their government to enforce the law and secure our open border. We will support President Trump and our law enforcement in their efforts to protect Arizonans from the crime pouring into our communities and jeopardizing our national security.”
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope added, “If the Governor or any other elected leaders choose to stand in the way…get ready for court. The Republican-led Arizona Legislature vows to uphold the rule of law, and we will exhaust all legal options to ensure the chaos we’ve lived for the past four years comes to an end.”
Late last year, Hobbs released an ambiguous post on her official X account, indirectly taking aim at the Trump administration’s forthcoming actions on the border after his momentous victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the historic November General Election. She said, “Securing our border is not a red issue or a blue issue. It’s an Arizona issue and an American issue. I’ll work with anyone to secure our border while standing up to misguided policies that attack Arizonans.”
Thus far in her administration, Hobbs has resisted most attempts by Republicans to maximize Arizona’s resources and laws to better protect communities against the harms from illegal immigration. That resistance led to state legislative Republicans sending a border security ballot measure to voters this past November – Proposition 314, which gave local law enforcement more tools to combat illegal immigration across the state. Arizona Republicans are expected to continue to search for ways to assist the Trump Administration to stop the flow of illegal immigration into and through their state over the next two years.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 18, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A southern Arizona lawmaker received an influential assignment on Capitol Hill this week.
U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani announced that he had been named the Vice Chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Committee by the Chairman, Tom Cole from Oklahoma.
In a statement, Ciscomani said, “I am honored to be selected as Vice Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which is responsible for funding the Department of Homeland Security. As Representative to a border district, this position will give me more influence to address the number one issue for my constituents – securing the Southern border.”
Ciscomani added, “I deeply appreciate Chairman Cole for his trust, and I look forward to working with him, Chairman Amodei, colleagues in Congress, and President Trump to reverse course after four years of chaos. We must support our personnel in the Department of Homeland Security and protect our communities.”
Chairman Cole said, “Congressman Ciscomani has been a champion for border security, and I am proud to name him as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. His experience and expertise will be crucial as we work to secure the southern border and support the brave men and women who serve in the Department of Homeland Security.”
In addition to his assignment on the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Ciscomani also serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Congressman Ciscomani is also a member of the Border Security Caucus, Western Caucus, Taiwan Caucus, and School Choice Caucus.
This past November, Ciscomani was re-elected to his second term in office to the southern Arizona congressional district. He was sworn into office earlier this month.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 17, 2025 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
As another legislative session begins in Arizona, Republicans and Democrats are again bringing the all-important issue of school choice to the forefront of the public debate.
On Monday, Governor Katie Hobbs ushered in the start of the 57th Regular Session of the Arizona Legislature with her State of the State address, where she took time to criticize the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program. In her speech, Hobbs said, “The current program is unchecked, flawed, and rife with exploitation. Three years ago, it went far beyond its original purpose, which was to support kids with special needs and military families. Today, it has ballooned into a billion-dollar boondoggle increasingly scamming Arizonans. Other entitlements funded by taxpayers have strict oversight and income requirements. Yet the ESA program has the privilege of virtually no safeguards.”
Hobbs proposed changes to the ESA program for a “balanced solution that supports families and finally brings real and effective guardrails to ESAs.” Her solution was to “institute responsible income caps, ensure taxpayers know where their money is going, and create real accountability for taxpayer dollars.”
The governor’s remarks were met with immediate criticism from Republicans and others who support the expanded ESA program. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said, “Under my leadership, the department has done a full-court press against waste and fraud. I hired both a program auditor and an investigator, which had not been done before. I require that every expenditure be for a valid educational purpose and have been attacked for doing that. The Governor needs to pay more attention to what is going on. She gets an ‘F’.”
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope added, “We will also protect parental choice, so that every child in the state has the ability to succeed in the classroom, no matter their zip code or financial status.”
Common Sense Institute Arizona wrote, “In her State of the State address, Governor Hobbs asked lawmakers to compare Arizona’s ESA program to other government entitlement programs with respect to accountability and transparency. Luckily, we already did! And it turns out that improper payment rates in the Arizona ESA program are a fraction of those in other government programs like Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, and SNAP.”
Jason Bedrick said, “The voters made their will clear by re-electing those who supported ESAs and expanding their legislative majority. The legislature should reject Gov. Hobbs’ attempts to undermine ESA families.”
On the flip side, Governor Hobbs’ comments received support from her allies, who have long attempted to shrink, regulate, or eliminate the historic ESA expansion program in Arizona. Save Our Schools Arizona Executive Director Beth Lewis responded, “It is time to end the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in the universal ESA voucher program. We commend Governor Hobbs for championing public education and pushing for much-needed voucher reform. We sincerely hope legislators like Senate President Petersen who name ‘fiscal responsibility’ their top priority will bring long-overdue guardrails to this irresponsible program, which now costs taxpayers nearly $1 billion annually.”
Hobbs and legislative Republicans will continue to bicker about the future of school choice in Arizona, but not much – if anything – will be done this year (and likely the next) to regulate ESAs per the governor’s insatiable desire. Over the past two years, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen successfully fended off ferocious political attacks that targeted ESAs and other school choice opportunities for Arizonans. He will again be counted upon, along with his Republican colleagues in the Arizona House and Senate, to protect one of the top states in the country for school choice.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Jan 17, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Freshman Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari was the sole “no” vote among Arizona’s congressional members on a bill to deport illegal alien rapists and predators.
Ansari joined 145 of her Democratic colleagues in voting against the legislation. 61 Democrats voted for the bill, including Congressman Greg Stanton.
The bill by South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace (HR 30) would not only deport illegal aliens convicted of sex and domestic violence crimes, it would expand inadmissibility for immigrants who admitted or were convicted of stalking, child abuse, child neglect, child abandonment, a sex offense, conspiracy to commit a sex offense, a violation of certain protective orders, or domestic violence.
In response to Democrat congressional members’ criticisms that her bill made unfair and sweeping generalizations of illegal aliens, Mace said she would gladly “demonize” those illegal immigrants who rape, murder, and molest American females.
“Under the border policies of Joe Biden and border czar Kamala Harris, our country has been ravaged by a horde of illegal aliens molesting American children, battering and bruising and beating up American women, and violently raping American women and girls,” said Mace. “My colleagues on the other side of this aisle like to minimize this issue because they refuse to acknowledge the consequences that their open borders agenda is here.”
Mace cited the latest ICE non-detained docket numbers (from July), which reported around 660,000 illegal immigrants convicted of crimes. Those numbers include over 100,000 illegal aliens convicted of or charged with assault, over 20,000 illegal aliens convicted of or charged with sexual assault or rape, over 12,000 illegal aliens convicted of or charged with sex offeness, over 3,000 illegal aliens convicted of or charged with kidnapping, and nearly 15,000 illegal aliens convicted of or charged with murder.
The ICE non-detained docket refers to illegal immigrants that are physically present in the United States and not in ICE detention, though they may be detained elsewhere, such as a federal prison.
This past year, ICE’s non-detained docket reached 7.4 million per Fox News.
“That is who the left are defending this morning: rapists, murderers, and pedophiles,” said Mace.
Last week, Ansari also voted against HR 29, the “Laken Riley Act,” named for late Georgia student Laken Riley, murdered by an illegal immigrant last February while out for a morning jog on her university campus.
Ansari acknowledged that Riley’s death constituted “a horrific tragedy.” However, Ansari claimed HR 29 would encourage discrimination against illegal immigrants, especially “DREAMers”: those illegal immigrants brought into the U.S. as minors given an alternative legal status under the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.
“[T]he anti-immigrant bill being pushed by the House Republicans will do nothing to prevent this kind of violence or reform our broken immigration system,” stated Ansari. “Under this legislation, someone charged — just charged, not found guilty — could be immediately deported. This is a gross miscarriage of justice, and I voted no.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 17, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Congressman David Schweikert has introduced a new bill to promote new product labeling requirements to improve pet safety. The new law, if enacted, would amend the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require foods containing the chemical xylitol to be labeled identifying the toxic properties of the chemical in pets or be declared mislabeled.
Schweikert explained in a press release that the bipartisan Paws Off Act of 2025 originates from a petition launched by 11-year-old Ahana Kameshwar. Schweikert and his staff were informed by Kameshwar of the tragic death of her loyal dog Loki.
Xylitol is an additive found in various foods such as mints, baked goods, desserts, vitamins, and gum which can be lethal to pets. A lack of appropriate labeling on these products can make it difficult for owners to be aware of this danger.
In her petition, Ahana said that Loki had died due to this lack of labeling. Schweikert held a video conference with Ahana and listened to her experience.
“We had Loki for about five years. One day, after we got back from our summer trip, he got into a bottle of melatonin pills that we forgot to put away while [un]packing,” she told the congressman. “Those pills, they had 250 milligrams of xylitol in each tablet. Here’s the problem; the xylitol was listed, but the dosage wasn’t. Loki [ingested] about 85 tablets. His liver started failing and ultimately, we had to put him down.”
The congressman’s office elaborated that millions of American families could be unaware of the potential danger to their pets presented by xylitol exposure. Citing the Poison Pet Helpline, they note that such exposures are not limited to food and typically involve medication, supplements, dental products, and skin care products.
This assessment was confirmed by Dr. Renee Schmid and Dr. Ahna Brutlag who wrote, “When dogs eat xylitol, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, causing the pancreas to release insulin, resulting in a rapid increase in insulin levels in the blood. This rapid insulin increase causes a profound drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) as soon as 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingestion. If untreated, hypoglycemia can cause seizures and can be life-threatening. Ingestion of higher levels of xylitol leads to increased liver enzymes within 12 to 48 hours of ingestion, and liver failure within 24 to 48 hours.”
In her petition, Ahana wrote, “Xylitol is very dangerous to dogs, and we need to make others aware. [I] ask Congress to strengthen the PAWS Off Act so that no other families have to lose their pets the way I lost mine. We can save so many pets by making these changes!”
Analysis by Congressional researchers found that “Surveys by ADDA suggest almost 50% of US households have one or more dogs, estimating 78 million dogs owned by Americans in total. Despite FDA awareness campaign efforts, nearly 50% of pet owners are unaware of the dangers xylitol poses to their dogs.”
In a statement on the bill, Schweikert wrote, “We have been working tirelessly to move this simple, yet impactful piece of legislation through Congress. The damage of these sugar alcohols is truly lethal for our pets and furry companions. All it takes is a simple labeling fix to prevent more people from enduring the heartache that Ahana went through, and better yet, to save the lives of animals across America.”
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.
