Another Arizona Republican proposal to protect children has been rejected by the state’s Democrat governor.
On Thursday, Governor Katie Hobbs, vetoed SB 1040, which was sponsored by Senator John Kavanagh. The legislation, designated as the Arizona Accommodations for All Children Act, would have required “a public school to provide access to a single-occupancy or employee restroom or changing facility to a person who is unwilling or unable to use a multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for the person’s sex or multi-occupancy sleeping quarters.”
In a letter to Senate President Petersen, explaining her reasoning for the veto, Hobbs wrote, “SB 1040 is yet another discriminatory act against LGBTQ+ youth passed by the majority at the state legislature. As I stated in my veto letter for SB 1001, I will veto every bill that aims to attack and harm children.”
Kavanagh was outraged by the governor’s action against his bill, saying: “Women and young girls deserve privacy and their own protected bathrooms, showers and locker rooms where they can have such privacy and are safe from the risk of sexual harassment or sexual violence. Unfortunately, Democrat Legislators and Governor Hobbs are catering to an extremist culture by pushing ‘gender neutrality’ as a means to win political points from their liberal base while stealing dignity away from women and girls in the process. SB 1040 is about protecting our children while respecting the natural privacy rights of students. A 14-year-old female high school coed should not be forced to stand next to a naked, transgender female, who is actually an 18-year-old biological male. In a rush to become ‘trans inclusive,’ Governor Hobbs and fellow Democrats have forgotten about the needs of innocent young girls. This veto shows exactly how little they care to protect our female citizens.”
Progress Arizona cheered on Governor Hobbs’ veto, tweeting, “SB 1040, sponsored by Sen. Kavanagh, has been VETOED! SB 1040 targeted transgender students and teachers by prohibiting them access to public school restrooms.”
🚨SB1040, sponsored by Sen. Kavanagh, has been VETOED! SB1040 targeted transgender students and teachers by prohibiting them access to public school restrooms.
Extremists like John Kavanagh have spent the entire #azleg session, pushing hateful rhetoric on LGBTQ+ youth and… pic.twitter.com/uyRKo2KFmC
A day before Hobbs’ veto, the Arizona Senate Democrats warned about Republican “attacks on LGBTQ+ protection,” stating, “Rather than invest in our public school students and their future success, Republicans are more interested in culture wars and clickbait bill titles.”
When it comes to attacks on LGBTQ+ protection, Arizona Republicans nearly take the cake.
📚 Rather than invest in our public school students and their future success, Republicans are more interested in culture wars and clickbait bill titles. (4/) pic.twitter.com/zUfK9MPFUX
— Arizona Senate Democrats (@AZSenateDems) June 7, 2023
Earlier this session, after his chamber gave the bill the green light, President Petersen had highlighted the lack of attention given to the legislation by the media, posting on Facebook, “We recently passed a bill out of the senate that said no boys in girls showers. All the democrats voted no. One of the democrats suggested we put up shower curtains as a solution. Zero coverage by the media. Lots of bills like that all the time. Zero coverage by the media.”
The first-year governor had already telegraphed her decision on SB 1040 and similar pieces of legislation three months ago, alerting the public that these bills were dead on arrival in the Governor’s Office under her administration: “On this International Women’s Day I want to make it clear that trans women are women, they are welcome here, and any bill that harasses or threatens their safety will swiftly meet my veto stamp.”
On this International Women's Day I want to make it clear that trans women are women, they are welcome here, and any bill that harasses or threatens their safety will swiftly meet my veto stamp.
— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) March 8, 2023
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Advocates of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) are responding to recent attacks on the program.
Last week, Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs launched a political assault on ESAs, reacting to a recent memo from the Arizona Department of Education, which detailed the expected cost for the upcoming fiscal year. Hobbs tweeted, “the school voucher program in its current form is not sustainable, and Republican legislators need to explain why they are forcing this runaway spending on Arizona taxpayers. We need to bring an end to this out of control and unaccountable spending, and I will work tirelessly to make that happen.”
The first-year governor has been working tirelessly to assuage angry members of her own party since she agreed to a negotiated state budget last month with Republican leaders of the Arizona House and Senate. Though she railed against ESAs on the campaign trail and leading up to the budget compromise, Hobbs signed the package that left the historic school choice expansion untouched and uncapped, leaving Democrats and interest groups opposed to ESAs to question her commitment to adhere to such a prominent platform of her administration.
Proponents of Arizona’s ESA program were ready for Hobbs’ – and other Democrats’ – attack, publishing national and local opinion pieces to assure people of the facts. Jason Bedrick and Corey DeAngelis, two national leaders of the school choice movement, wrote a commentary for the Wall Street Journal, entitled “School Choice Saves Arizona Money.” The advocates clarified the cost for ESAs in Fiscal Year 2024 ($900 million) “is barely 2% of total Arizona state spending of $80.5 billion in 2022. Arizona public schools spend about $14,000 per pupil, or $1.4 billion for 100,000 students. If the department’s enrollment projection is reached, school choice would serve roughly 8% of Arizona’s students for 6% of the $15 billion that Arizona will spend on public schools.”
— Wall Street Journal Opinion (@WSJopinion) June 7, 2023
They pointed to a report published by the Common Sense Institute, which found that “current enrollment in Arizona public district and charter schools combined is over 80,000 students below pre-pandemic projections,” saving Arizona $639 million.
A new report by the Common Sense Institute finds that “current enrollment in Arizona public district and charter schools combined is over 80,000 students below pre-pandemic projections,” producing a savings of $639 million.https://t.co/UaLbA7J6cw
Another opinion piece, written by Jon Gabriel for the Arizona Republic, stressed that “the critics of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts keep claiming the program is too expensive. At the same time, they insist the state spend far, far more on education.” Gabriel highlights that “an ESA student is only allowed 90% what that student would receive in a traditional public school,” arguing that Democrats “are galled to see education funding going directly to students and parents instead of to bloated public school administrations and teachers’ unions.”
No, ESA's won't "bankrupt" the state. Democrats are just mad that education dollars aren't going to their political allies. https://t.co/Hv3WLYrSYF
Matthew Ladner took his defense of ESAs to Twitter to make a comparison with the Mesa Unified School Direct. He posted, “Mesa Unified was budgeted for $1.3 billion last year to educate 54,000 students. I’m having a hard time getting too excited about less money for 100,000 students. Let’s call ESA ‘a bargain for taxpayers.’”
Mesa Unified was budgeted for $1.3 billion last year to educate 54,000 students. I'm having a hard time getting too excited about less money for 100,000 students. Let's call ESA "a bargain for taxpayers."/3 pic.twitter.com/LwkXV6qVvm
Gov. Katie Hobbs’ Office of Tourism and the Arizona Lottery are sponsoring a “child-friendly” drag show next week in Flagstaff.
The event, “Pride in the Pines: After Party,” will take place at the Orpheum Theater on June 17 at 9 pm. The event is open to all ages, with those under 16 years old requiring a parent or guardian chaperone. Cost of admission is $14 plus fees.
Hobbs selected an executive officer from Arizona Community Foundation, one of the event sponsors, to be director of the Office of Tourism in January: Lisa Urias. Hobbs appointed Tereza Fritz last month to oversee marketing for the lottery. Fritz hails from Western Alliance Bank and formerly worked for Lavidge marketing company.
The event is part of the 27th annual Pride in the Pines. Drag queens featured in the event include DJ Lezbein McKenzie, Anya C. Mann, Salina Es Titties, and Dillon Duvet, as well as Miss Gay Arizona America 2022 winner Janee Star.
Where are our RuPaul Fans? Salina ES Titties and Kerri Colby will perform at Pride in Pines on June 17th at Thorpe Park! Get your tickets today! pic.twitter.com/ljQNRAFhoa
Another sponsor for the event is the controversy-stricken Bud Light. The beer brand came under fire last month for selecting transgender personality and actor Dylan Mulvaney as their spokesman.
Following national coverage of Bud Light’s involvement, Flagstaff Pride deleted a tweet including a version of the event poster depicting the beer brand’s sponsorship. (An archived version of Flagstaff Pride’s page, including the deleted tweet, is available here). The organization claimed that Bud Light isn’t a sponsor of the event.
We put out an incorrect promotional poster which included Bud Light as a sponsor. Attached is the correct poster. pic.twitter.com/9xYdcdS4L7
The organization lists Bud Light as a sponsor on Twitter and on their official event sponsor page (archived versions here and here).
Coca-Cola also joined in as a sponsor.
Other sponsors are the Twin Arrows Casino, Old Navy, Living Christ Lutheran Church, the Northern Arizona Association of REALTORS, Bluespan, Veterinary Emergency & Speciality Center of Northern Arizona, Westside Veterinary Clinic, Flagstaff Downtown Dental, Findlay Toyota Flagstaff, Creative Flagstaff, Flagstaff 365 Events, BBB Revenues from the City of Flagstaff, Discover Flagstaff, High Country Sanitation, Verve Valley Rentals, Hensley Beverage Company, Nutrl Vodka, Yucca North, Collins Pub & Grill, Stackhouse Wealth Strategies, WestUSA Realty Flagstaff, Little America Hotel, Pride Guide USA.
A number of hotels also sponsored the event by offering discounted rates: Twin Arrows Casino, GreenTree Inn, High Country Motor Lodge, Sonesta Suites, and Little America Hotel.
Other entertainment at Pride in the Pines includes a band called “The Pubes.”
The state wasn’t listed as a sponsor for last year’s Pride in the Pines after party. Neither was Bud Light, but other sponsors including Coca-Cola, Old Navy, and Blue Cross Blue Shield were.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Arizona’s frontline status with the crisis at America’s southern border led to a surprise, influential visitor this week.
On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, in his official capacity, traveled to the southern border in Sierra Vista, alongside his Attorney General, Ashley Moody, who has been instrumental in filing many lawsuits against the federal government.
DeSantis convened two roundtables with a number of sheriffs from Arizona, Florida, and other states, listening to their stories and talking about solutions to mitigate the worsening crisis at the border.
After the meetings at Cochise College, Sheriff Mark Dannels, a national leader on border security and local enforcement, escorted his out-of-state guests to the border, where they gained a fresh, first-hand perspective of the deteriorating situation.
In a release sent out by the Florida Governor’s Office, Governor DeSantis used the visit to “highlight Florida’s successful actions to combat illegal immigration within the state and along the southern border.” Those measures include “new methods for combating human smuggling and drug trafficking across state lines and the relocation of illegal aliens who wish to be transported to so-called sanctuary states and cities.” DeSantis also announced that “Florida’s law enforcement agencies are offering trainings for other states that want to follow Florida’s lead on protecting citizens from the impacts of Biden’s Border Crisis.”
The second-term Sunshine State governor issued the following statement in conjunction with his mid-week stop in the Grand Canyon State: “Joe Biden is derelict in the performance of his duties and refuses to uphold the borders of our nation. In Florida, we’re stepping up even as the federal government falls down on the job. We enacted strong legislation to combat illegal immigration, sent law enforcement officers and equipment to the border, and have dedicated resources to divert migrants to sanctuary jurisdictions. Today we’re taking Florida’s no-nonsense approach to border enforcement nationwide.”
The chaos we are witnessing at our southern border is a direct result of the President’s dereliction of duty
If Joe Biden won’t do his duty to protect our people and our borders, Florida will step up. pic.twitter.com/TeYBKh2M8m
Dannels was extremely complimentary of the Florida team that descended on his county, appreciating their efforts to partner with him and other members of law enforcement, saying, “This is not about politics, folks. This is about doing what is right, which everyone in this room that works for government has taken an oath to do. So thank you guys for what you do. We pledge to you both and all our governors, all our sheriffs, all our law enforcement, our prosecutors, our county attorneys, our mayors to work united to fix these borders, secure our borders, and get America back.”
Sheriffs including Mark Dannels @TopCop_Cochise, PJ Allred (@GrahamCounty) William Ponce (La Paz) meet with Florida gov @rondesantis in Cochise County to discuss border issues. It was a good opportunity to discuss the issues sheriffs face in AZ pic.twitter.com/9qlg3I576i
Another Arizona sheriff, P.J. Allred of Graham County, was at the table with the Florida chief executive and gave the following remarks: “When most people come from the south to come to the United States, my little county is probably not their destination, but they come through us and we feel them when they come through us. When we’ve encountered them after a pursuit through the desert, when they see us as law enforcement and the vehicles come to a stop, they run to us as law enforcement to get away from the coyotes that were carrying them. I appreciate all of you for being here, being interested in our country, our freedoms, our rights.”
At least two state legislators appeared to be in attendance for DeSantis’ southern Arizona check-in: House Speaker Ben Toma and Representative Gail Griffin. Toma tweeted a picture with DeSantis, writing, “My pleasure to help welcome Governor Ron DeSantis to Arizona and to share details of our border crisis. Glad to hear we share the same determination to secure the southern border once and for all.”
My pleasure to help welcome @GovRonDeSantis to Arizona and to share details of our border crisis. Glad to hear we share the same determination to secure the southern border once and for all. pic.twitter.com/7CxsPU9w2f
Az Rep. Gail Griffin and Sheriff Mark Dannels talk to @RonDeSantis about how immigrants and smugglers scale the border fence. “The border’s wide open,” Dannels says. pic.twitter.com/cbPqam2Om3
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., visited Arizona farmers on Tuesday to discuss the impact of the border crisis on their livelihood.
Kennedy made the trip to Yuma, the area hardest hit by the border crisis. Yuma County provides 90 percent of the nation’s winter produce.
“The tsunami of migrants walking across farm fields and defecating in irrigation canals threatens the safety of that food supply,” stated Kennedy. “Last year, one of their neighbors had to plow under 88 acres of broccoli and personally absorb the $10k per acre cost after migrants tainted irrigation water.”
I met with local farmers Cory Mellon, Alex Mueller, Hank Auza, and Robert Barkley in Yuma, Arizona. Yuma County provides 90% of the green leafy vegetables, like iceberg lettuce, arugula, spinach, and broccoli, to American tables between November and April. The tsunami of migrants… pic.twitter.com/OKUsEw9I0C
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 7, 2023
These past two years of President Joe Biden’s border crisis, illegal immigrants have caused millions of dollars in damages to farmers’ fields, often forcing farmers to eat the loss. Illegal immigrants hide in the fields, trampling produce and leaving mountains of garbage and human waste in their wake.
The filth has forced farmers to go to expensive, massive lengths to salvage their crops. In some cases, food safety laws force farmers to destroy their crops.
I spent the morning on the border talking with Yuma farmer Cory Mellon. Shortly after President Biden was elected, illegal aliens began crossing the border and walking through farmers crops. Food safety laws meant many of those crops had to be destroyed. pic.twitter.com/D580YUmuVa
Prior to visiting with the farmers, Kennedy went to observe the border personally. He captured a typical scene of the border on video: a steady stream of migrants coming in outside of legal ports of entry.
At 2 am this morning, I visited the border outside of Yuma, Arizona where thousands of migrants are crossing the border each week. You have to see it with your own eyes. #Kennedy24pic.twitter.com/Fbl4mPr44A
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 6, 2023
Yuma County Sheriff Leon Willmot told Kennedy that solutions to the border crisis shouldn’t be partisan.
“This shouldn’t be a partisan issue, it’s a health and public safety issue. It’s a humanitarian crisis,” said Willmot.
Yuma County Sheriff Leon Willmot. “This shouldn’t be a partisan issue, it’s a health and public safety issue. It’s a humanitarian crisis.” I agree. I’m at the border learning about the situation here. So many heartbreaking stories. pic.twitter.com/fbdqqBznhL
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 7, 2023
Kennedy — the son of U.S. attorney general and senator Robert F. Kennedy, and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy — has had a lengthy career in the political realm, much like the rest of his family. Much of his life’s work has been steeped in environmentalism and health advocacy.
Kennedy arrived at the border on the 55th anniversary of his father’s assassination; just one day prior to the elder Kennedy’s death all those years ago when he won the California and South Dakota primaries for the presidency.
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 6, 2023
Kennedy, known for his extensive advocacy against major childhood vaccines, further rose to prominence over the course of the pandemic for challenging the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Kennedy announced his presidential run in April.
Under Biden, there have been over 5.3 million border encounters and over 1.5 million estimated gotaways. Based on the monthly average of encounters, there may be 9.1 million illegal immigrant encounters by the end of 2024.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
The Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport has become somewhat of a rite of passage for illegal immigrants as the federal government charters them across the country. It marks another moment in their lengthy journey of free travel and accommodations, all on the taxpayer’s dime.
Illegal immigrants are also bused to the airport from the border, and have flooded Phoenix Sky Harbor by the hundreds on a daily basis.
I love Arizona too much to see it turned into a rest stop for illegal immigrants to be shipped deeper into our country.
I would have put a stop to this madness on DAY ONE.
This practice has continued now for several years under the Biden administration. Last summer, Rebel News caught the practice on video: a confused illegal immigrant asks a TSA agent for assistance as he navigates the airport.
Illegal migrants flying from Phoenix Sky Harbor International to continue their journey in the United States.
Over two years in, and meaningful border policy has yet to emerge from Arizona’s leaders in D.C.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who chairs the Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management, has been largely unsuccessful in mitigating the border crisis. Sinema chalked it up as a win last Oct. when she claimed to have halved the number of illegal immigrants being bused to the airports by arranging additional shelter or alternative transportation for them.
In May, Sinema helped introduce legislation to retain the functional aspects of Title 42 after the policy ended; the legislation hasn’t moved.
Since the end of Title 42 and with the border crisis unrelenting, Sinema has embarked on multiple trips to the border. In her most recent trip, Sinema claimed she was shocked by the state of the border: namely, that border agents are so overwhelmed with processing asylum claims that they’re unable to patrol the border.
“Our border patrol agents [are] spending the majority of their time processing asylum seekers and migrants, and spending very little time actually out in the field looking for individuals who are seeking to enter the country unlawfully, or interdicting the trafficking of drugs,” said Sinema.
Sinema noted that this was a problem because the majority of drugs are being smuggled in outside of legal ports of entry.
Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03), who seeks to take over Sinema’s seat in 2024, supported the end of Title 42 and opposed border security proposals as “cruel” for being reminiscent of policy set by former President Donald Trump.
Rather than requiring illegal immigrants to seek asylum at legal points of entry along the border, Gallego proposed more asylum processing resources to mitigate the crisis.
“They need tangible resources like buses, beds, personnel, and funds to both process asylum claims in an orderly way and keep their communities safe,” said Gallego.
Gallego has long opposed the construction of physical border barriers as a means of security.
While the federal government accepts illegal immigrants into the country and charters them by plane, American citizens face further bureaucratic hurdles to fly with the imposition of REAL ID. All citizens must obtain an updated ID bearing REAL ID markings by May 7, 2025 in order to fly. The government also doesn’t accept interim driver’s licenses (temporary paper licenses).
The original REAL ID deadline was in 2021, but has since been twice extended to this year, then to 2025.
2025 comes two years sooner than the average court date for illegal immigrants. The national average for an immigration hearing sits at over 1,500 days: over four years. Arizona’s average sits at just over 1,000 days: over two years and eight months.
The delays have caused an unprecedented number of immigration lawsuits filed in federal court.
According to Syracuse University data, the immigration court backlog has reached nearly 2.5 million, with nearly 13,400 pending criminal/national security/terror cases. Arizona has over 17,000 pending cases, with about 360 pending criminal/national security/terror cases. The national backlog nearly doubled after President Joe Biden took office, from 2021 to 2022.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
