On Tuesday, former Vice President Mike Pence came to Phoenix to celebrate Arizona’s universal school choice.
Pence attended a forum hosted by the Club for Growth, a conservative nonprofit based out of Washington, D.C. The forum was the third in their “National Campaign for School Freedom” series. Pence praised Ducey for making universal school choice possible. He predicted that universal school choice would be the standard for all states.
“I don’t think you can overstate or over-commend the leadership of Governor Doug Ducey in creating universal school choice in America for the first time,” said Pence.
Looking Forward to Celebrating Governor @DougDucey and Arizona’s Historic Passage of Universal School Choice at Club for Growth’s School Freedom Forum in Phoenix Tomorrow! See You There!🇺🇸 https://t.co/PDCNNZfrg0
Ducey also spoke at the event, explaining that the experiences of parents and students throughout the pandemic accelerated the growth in support for school choice. Ducey stated that it took 8 years to achieve universal school choice. He thanked activists who pushed for school choice expansion, including the Black Mothers Forum and Love Your School founder Jenny Clark.
Ducey compared the refusal of school choice opponents’ refusal to empower families with educational freedom to the refusal of the anti-segregationists in the 1950s.
“50 years ago, politicians stood in the schoolhouse door, and wouldn’t let minorities in. Today, union-backed politicians stand in the schoolhouse door and won’t let minorities out,” said Ducey. “These children are trapped in failing schools.”
That explanation by Ducey was backed by data presented by Chris Wilson, CEO of an Oklahoma-based market research agency called WPA Intelligence. Wilson explained that a poll of over 4,000 voters from last July to last August determined that COVID-19 shutdowns changed attitudes on public schools and teachers’ unions.
"50 years ago, politicians stood in the schoolhouse door and wouldn’t let minorities in. Today, union-backed politicians stand in the schoolhouse door and won’t let minorities out." @DougDucey today during a @club4growth forum on the educational freedom of #SchoolChoice .
Wilson explained further that voters had a negative perspective of the phrase “school choice” on its own, but adopted a positive view once a definition of the phrase was provided. He explained that those activists and unions opposed to school choice successfully branded the word “choice” as a negative. Wilson suggested that politicians adjust their presentation and terminology concerning school choice, though cautioned that there was no single “silver bullet” for phrasing.
Wilson pointed out that terms like “school freedom,” “school choice scholarships,” and “education freedom” had positive feedback, whereas “parental choice” and “school choice” had negative feedback.
Wilson added that advancing school choice requires identifying the right opponents and avoiding rhetoric around the wrong ones.
Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters also came to the event. Masters discussed how he and his wife chose homeschooling for their children. Masters derided modern education for prioritizing equity-based curricula like the 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory (CRT).
“That feeling of being in charge of your child’s education, that is a feeling that I wish for every parent in this state and every parent in this country,” stated Masters. “When parents are left free to choose — surprise, surprise — parents will choose reading, and writing, and arithmetic, and history. Guess what they won’t choose? Critical race theory, are you kidding me?”
Race and class-based power structures appear to be a lifelong theme for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs.
On Monday, the Daily Mail published an exclusive investigative report revealing that Hobbs helped organize a “Slave Day” at Seton Catholic Preparatory High School. The annual tradition was part of a spirit week characterized by slave-themed hazing between classes, including an auction where senior students were “sold.”
🚨@KatieHobbs organized a yearly high school tradition called “slave day.”
“The tradition entails freshman students performing tasks for senior class ‘masters’ that included performing ‘embarrassing acts of servitude.’”https://t.co/rKSYkbqLw2
The report comes just a month before the anniversary of the second court ruling determining that Hobbs committed racial and sexual discrimination against a former Senate employee, Talonya Adams, while the Senate minority leader. Next Monday will mark the third anniversary of the first ruling against Hobbs.
— Talonya Adams 🇺🇸 (personal acct) (@TalonyaAdams) August 20, 2022
Hobbs avoided issuing an apology to Adams. Rather, Hobbs gave the Arizona Mirror an exclusive interview to defend her firing of Adams. Hobbs claimed that, regardless of what the courts decided in both lawsuits, she fired Adams based on performance issues. Hobbs further stated that Adams was paid less because she was a Democrat.
Following the community outrage in response to that article and other public statements defending her firing of Adams, Hobbs changed her tune. Hobbs blamed “systemic racism” for her errors, saying that the inequities faced by Adams were invisible to her.
“My response to the jury verdict was short-sighted, unnecessarily defensive, and failed to meet the moment,” said Hobbs.
As part of her apology, Hobbs pledged to recruit, campaign, and hire women of color to leadership positions; create a Chief Equity Officer to enforce government diversity, such as through the Office of Equal Opportunity to improve human resource protocols; and create a position within each agency dedicated to people of color and marginalized communities.
I know that my initial response to the jury verdict fell short of taking real accountability for the pain I’ve caused — to Ms. Adams and many Arizonans. Arizonans deserve a leader who owns up to her mistakes. pic.twitter.com/7MaUkq3YNA
Hobbs ignored the report of her involvement in Slave Day activities; she never responded to Daily Mail inquiries about it. Hobbs didn’t respond to other outlets’ inquiries, either.
Instead, Hobbs focused her Monday messaging on her proposed policies, celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day in lieu of Christopher Columbus Day, the alleged Republicans who will cast their vote for her, celebrating World Mental Health Day, and reminding Arizonans that Tuesday is the last day to register to vote.
As a social worker who’s served some of Arizona’s most vulnerable communities, I understand the strength and perseverance it can take just to get from day to day. This #WorldMentalHealthDay, remember to take care of yourself and those around you ♥️
Republican opponent Kari Lake said she wasn’t surprised by Hobbs’ “Slave Day” activities, calling her opponent a “twice-convicted racist.” Lake said that Hobbs cost taxpayers $2.75 million, the amount awarded to Adams through the second verdict, but Adams only received around $300,000 according to a maximum set by federal law. The state paid Adams last September.
Twice-convicted racist @katiehobbs cost AZ taxpayers $2.75 million due to her racism—so it doesn’t surprise me that she organized “Slave Day” in high school.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) endorsed Republican incumbent Rachel Mitchell for Maricopa County Attorney, decrying her Democratic opponent Julie Gunnigle as a “Soros prosecutor.”
This is an important election.
Rachel Mitchell is running against a Soros prosecutor who wants to release violent criminals and defund the police.
The Monday endorsement came just two days before early voting begins and mail-in ballots are sent out.
The Maricopa County attorney race has attracted national attention, in part over the connection between Gunnigle and George Soros, the kingpin of Democratic dark money. Soros has a reputation for establishing progressive prosecutors into districts and counties across the country successfully.
Some of Gunnigle’s latest PAC donations included over $6,500 from Way to Lead Arizona. That PAC received at least $100,000 from Soros’ Democracy PAC last year, and more in funds from its national counterpart, the Way to Lead PAC, which received millions combined from Soros, his family, or the organizations he either funded or founded.
Gunnigle denies that she benefits from Soros funding.
One of the kingpins of Democratic dark money, George Soros, lingers still behind the scenes of Arizona’s elections. And one of his main objectives is to grow his network of progressive prosecutors… https://t.co/H2jmMNPgtg
Multiple times a week, an elected official or pundit will weigh in or offer an endorsement in the race.
A week ago, Gila Bend Mayor Chris Riggs expressed worry that Gunnigle would worsen crime rates in the county. He cited Gunnigle’s support for slashing police funding and not enforcing deportations.
National attention has also been drawn to this race since questions remain over the nature of Arizona’s abortion law. Last month, Mitchell clarified that she would uphold the law but wouldn’t prosecute women who obtain an abortion. Neither the total abortion ban or the 15-week restriction allow for the arrest of the mother — only those who perform the abortion. The total abortion ban makes one allowance: to save the mother’s life.
Gunnigle has stated that she doesn’t support restrictions on abortion. In March, long before the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Gunnigle pledged to disregard Arizona abortion law.
Last month, the Pima County Superior Court lifted the 1973 injunction on Arizona’s total abortion ban corresponding with the Roe v. Wade decision. That court also rejected an injunction request from Planned Parenthood. However, the Arizona Court of Appeals issued an injunction on the total ban on Friday.
Judge Peter Eckerstrom cited the apparent disharmony between the total ban and the 15-week restriction. He noted that both sides, those for the abortion laws and against them, expressed a desire for clarity on the ruling law.
“Arizona courts have a responsibility to attempt to harmonize all of this state’s relevant statutes,” stated Eckerstrom. “The court further concludes the balance of hardships weigh strongly in favor of granting the stay, given the acute need of healthcare providers, prosecuting agencies, and the public for legal clarity as to the application of our criminal laws.”
Eckerstrom will engage in a scheduling conference with Planned Parenthood of Arizona and the attorney general’s office on Tuesday to advance the case.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Last year, Gallego ignited controversy over his $84,000 trip to Qatar paid for by a special interest nonprofit focused on strengthening US-Qatar trade relations. The Qatari government opposes the Jewish faith, and supports terrorist efforts to destroy Israel such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.
— US-Qatar Business Council (@USQatar) April 1, 2021
Additionally, Gallego continues to support the Arizona chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ). The Department of Justice (DOJ) acknowledged CAIR as an entity of the Muslim Brotherhood and noted that they were linked to Hamas activity.
Several months after Gallego filmed for CAIR-AZ denouncing the Trump administration’s travel restrictions, the organization appointed an outreach coordinator by the name of Ismail Abu Hayyeh, who advocated for the destruction of Jews and Israel. The month after joining CAIR-AZ, Abu Hayyeh tweeted from a since-suspended account that Israel shouldn’t exist at all.
“If you support Israel’s right to exist, you are a part of the problem,” wrote Abu Hayyeh.
In October 2020, Abu Hayyeh tweeted that the only solution to free Palestine was to kill the Jews of Israel. Prior to joining CAIR, Abu Hayyeh issued many other remarks advocating for the end of Israel and even public support for Adolf Hilter. While in high school, Abu Hayyeh said that all Palestinians wondered why Hitler “didn’t finish the job” and called Hitler “his hero,” and that he considered it a compliment to be called “the next Hitler.”
On the CAIR-AZ Board of Directors is David Chami, who filed a legal complaint last year on behalf of Fidaa Wishah: the pediatric radiologist fired from Phoenix Children’s Hospital for posting a video in pink hospital scrubs promising that Israel’s end would come soon.
Chami and another director on the CAIR-AZ board, Raeesabbas Mohamed, sued a Scottsdale Community College (SCC) professor in 2020 for issuing a class quiz that portrayed the Islamic religion factually but negatively. The Arizona District Court rejected the lawsuit several months later. In September, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals again rejected the lawsuit, concurring with the lower court to uphold the SCC professor’s free speech rights.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) opposes CAIR. Gallego hasn’t issued any public support for the ADL.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
In a Sunday interview, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs said she wouldn’t put any limits on abortion. Hobbs also evaded questions about her strength to handle a debate with Lake, as well as who caused the present border crisis.
Hobbs’ remarks occurred during her 8-minute one-on-one interview with CBS host Major Garrett, as part of a “Face the Nation” segment that also featured a separate one-on-one with Lake. Concerning abortion limits, Hobbs stated repeatedly that no laws should exist limiting abortion.
“I support leaving the decision between a woman and her doctor, and leaving politicians entirely out of it,” said Hobbs.
Hobbs said she didn’t agree with the state’s 15-week limit on abortions. She didn’t denounce late-term abortions but claimed that they’re never elective.
When pressed about her refusal to debate Lake, Hobbs claimed that her opponent would create a “circus” of no benefit to voters. Hobbs refused to answer Garrett when he asked if she were strong enough to handle the “circus” Lake might concoct. Rather, Hobbs said voters had plenty of other opportunities to see her performance under crisis, referencing controversy over the 2020 election.
Hobbs said there were no circumstances under which she would debate Lake.
Hobbs again refused to answer Garrett when he asked who she considers responsible for the present border crisis, and whether the Biden or Trump administration policies were safer for immigrants. Rather, Hobbs said that decades of bad policies from both parties were to blame.
Garrett pressed Hobbs, reminding her that she’d criticized “current immigration policy” — which would be that of President Joe Biden’s administration. Hobbs admitted that Biden should do more to mitigate the border crisis, but didn’t say he was to blame. She noted that former President Donald Trump failed to fulfill his promise of a complete border wall.
“Biden does need to step up immigration and border security,” said Hobbs.
Hobbs also claimed that her economic plan, which includes upending Arizona’s universal school choice, would reduce inflation.
During her one-on-one interview, Lake took the opposite stance on all issues. Lake answered nearly all of Garrett’s questions directly, except for his question about whether she believed that President Joe Biden was the legitimate president. Rather, Lake said that distrust in elections has been a pervasive issue since the early 2000s. She said that the ability for people to question elections ceased with the 2020 election, though doubts over the 2016 election continue to be permitted.
“All of a sudden in 2020, we don’t have free speech anymore,” said Lake. “All I’m asking for is the ability to speak out: when our government does something wrong, we should be able to speak against it.”
Concerning her plan to form an interstate compact to secure the border, Lake explained that the Constitution granted her plan the legal authority to act. She disclosed that other governors agreed to join the compact.
“We meet all three criteria [of Article I Section X of the Constitution]: we have an invasion, our people are in danger, and time is of the essence,” said Lake. “I hope that Joe Biden doesn’t fight us, because then it will really look like he’s on the side of the cartels.”
Lake said that the “lust” for cheap illegal immigrant labor exists not only in Arizona, but nationwide. She pointed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA-12) press conference remarks that Republican-led states should welcome illegal immigrants because they can “pick the crops” there. Lake expressed concern not only for the quality of life for illegal immigrants,
On abortion, Lake said that she would uphold the law as governor. She said that she was for “true choices” which would entail more than just abortion. Lake asserted that abortion was the only choice offered at abortion clinics, not other choices like adoption.
Lake agreed with last week’s arrest of an Iowa man who threatened a Maricopa County supervisor over the 2020 election. She opined that the root cause of these threats were frustrations from restrictions on free speech and expression that occurred during the pandemic.
The latest polling shows Hobbs and Lake tied among likely voters.
Read the full transcript of the Hobbs and Lake interviews here.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
The cities of Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora signed a Memorandum of Understanding last week that will allow construction of a new international railway crossing and relocation of train tracks to a less urban area east of the current tracks.
The agreement signed by Mayor Juan Francisco Gim Nogales of Nogales (SON) and Mayor Arturo Garino of Nogales (AZ) was witnessed by Heriberto Aguilar Castillo, the Sonoran Secretary of Infrastructure and Urban Development on behalf of the State of Sonora.
Business leaders on both sides of the border have been pushing for decades for improvements to rail infrastructure leading to and at the international crossing. Rerouting the tracks and upgrading the crossing has been a priority for Gov. Alfonso Durazo Montano of Sonora when he took office last summer.
Any financial commitments on the part of the two cities was not revealed during the signing ceremony, but Durazo previously suggested that $36 million (US) would be available from Mexican government entities.
Union Pacific Railroad operates the track from Nogales north to its East-West Sunset Route in Tucson. Heading southward from Nogales, Ferromex Rail serves customers along routes to Hermosillo, Guaymas, and Guadalajara.
In May, Durazo facilitated a meeting with Union Pacific, Ferromex, and other stakeholders to emphasize his support for the project. He pointed to public safety issues that have long plagued emergency responders on both sides of the border, and he noted there will be a significant increase in demand for expedient freight train service once the Port of Guaymas is upgraded.
An average of 70 northbound trains come into the U.S. through the Nogales Port of Entry each month, with traffic on pace to exceed 800 trains for the first time in more than six years. However, construction of the new crossing is a long way off, as both cities must undertake feasibility studies to identify the best location for the new international crossing and for the layout of the train tracks.
The Nogales rail project will complement Mexico’s $245 million (US) modernization of the Guaymas area championed by Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to expand the port, reinforce docks, and upgrade technology.
According to the UA Eller College of Management, Nogales has the oldest rail crossing of any border port of entry along the U.S. / Mexico border. Automobiles manufactured at the Ford Motors plant in Hermosillo, Sonora are shipped via rail to U.S. and Canadian markets through Nogales, as are bulk commodities such as cement and agricultural product.
“The dynamics of train crossings, and number of rail containers through the Nogales border port of entry reflect the composite effects of both trade between Mexico, Canada and the U.S., as well as between Arizona and Mexico,” according to the Eller College of Management’s Arizona-Mexico Economic Indicators.
Data provided by the UA Economic and Business Research Center shows more than $11.8 billion in U.S. exports went to Mexico in 2021 through U.S. ports of entry in Arizona. Nearly $10 million of that crossed through Nogales by either vehicle or rail.
Meanwhile, $17.6 million was imported across the U.S. ports of entry in Arizona from Mexico in the same period, with all but $3 billion coming through Nogales.
