A state lawmaker is proposing the creation of a new commission to address the water crisis.
State Senator Tim Dunn (R-LD25) announced the proposed commission in a Monday press release in which he also urged for the passage of HR 10420, legislation from Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) that Dunn helped to craft.
Dunn said that he is drafting the legislation to create the Arizona Colorado River Commission.
Arizona is the only Lower Basin state in the Colorado River Basin without a state-level commission dedicated to handling the state’s water allotment. Dunn says a commission will strengthen the state’s position at the bargaining table when it comes to water rights.
The Colorado River Basin has reached historically low levels, forcing the federal government to proceed with water cuts across the seven western states relying on the supply.
Dunn criticized the federal government’s planned water allotments for Arizona — the largest cuts in the Colorado River Compact — as unworkable. Arizona faces a reduction of approximately 30%, or about 760,000 acre-feet annually. Arizona, along with the other Lower Basin states of California and Nevada, faces cuts while the Upper Basin states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico face no mandatory cuts.
“Arizona families, farmers, and businesses cannot afford a future defined only by deeper cuts and higher costs,” said Dunn. “Conservation is essential, but telling our state to stop growing and simply make do with less is not a strategy. Arizona feeds the nation and supports industries critical to America’s independence and defense.”
Instead, Dunn says that the state needs to strengthen its advocacy for its preferred water plans.
“Congress must advance these projects, and I am drafting legislation to establish an Arizona Colorado River Commission so we can strengthen our water contract holders’ position in negotiations with other Basin states,” said Dunn.
Biggs’ bill, shaped by Dunn, would authorize $19 billion for water supply and infrastructure across the seven states in the Colorado River Compact. The funding proposes to empower utilities, private entities, and state, local, and tribal governments to take up projects to maximize the existing water supply, such as desalination, aquifer recharge, storage, treatment, and infrastructure to move water.
Additionally, the legislation would authorize $1 billion to restore, modernize, and expand the Yuma Desalting Plant, and invest another $1 billion for desalination projects in Mexico. The bill would also authorize $12 billion for federal water infrastructure support, including feasibility studies for capturing water discharged to the ocean off the California coast.
Last week, Arizona joined a lawsuit initiated by the state of Nevada against the Trump administration over the water reduction plan.
Tom Buschatzke, chair of the Arizona Water Banking Authority, told reporters last week that the Law of the River supports Arizona’s right to a certain volume of water from the Colorado River.
“We believe that, under the Law of the River, the federal government has an obligation to operate the Colorado River system to comply with the terms of the compact, including the volume of water that, under the law, is supposed to move from the Upper Basin to the Lower Basin,” said Buschatzke.
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Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) says the Democratic Party is becoming the party of communists.
Hamadeh made the accusation in an interview with “The Afternoon Addiction” last week. He encouraged Americans to “fight” against the communist policies of the Democrats “at every level,” citing California as the prime example of a “paradise” destroyed by communist policies.
“You can’t name a city or state that’s more affordable that’s run by Democrats. Look at California. Only a Democrat could turn California, which was once paradise, into the place it is now, where you have homeless on the streets, you’ve got needles on the streets,” said Hamadeh. “We have to understand when we’re out there what we are fighting. The Democrats are turning much more communist. This is the march towards Marxism that we’re facing.”
The Democrats are running on affordability. What a joke.
You can't name a city or state that's more affordable that's run by Democrats. Look at California. Only a Democrat could turn California, which was once paradise, into the place it is now, where you have homeless on the… pic.twitter.com/Uci17ydSur
— Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) October 22, 2026
Since party can be predictive of affordability, Hamadeh said that local and state races also matter for quality and cost of living.
Data on affordability generally supports Hamadeh’s assessment.
U.S. News ranking on affordability, which includes the cost of living and housing affordability, ranks Arizona 35th in affordability: 35th in cost of living and 36th in housing affordability. Arizona has a Democratic triplex — meaning Democrats control the governor’s office, the attorney general’s office, and the secretary of state’s office — while Republicans control both chambers of the legislature.
California ranks 50th in affordability: 50th in cost of living and 50th in housing affordability.
The top ten states for affordability according to their rankings were:
#1: Mississippi, ranked 2nd in cost of living and 2nd in housing affordability;
#2: Arkansas, ranked 1st in cost of living and 3rd in housing affordability;
#3: West Virginia, ranked 9th in cost of living and 1st in housing affordability;
#4: Oklahoma, ranked 4th in cost of living and 5th in housing affordability;
#5: Louisiana, ranked 5th in cost of living and 6th in housing affordability;
#6: Iowa, ranked 3rd in cost of living and 8th in housing affordability;
#7: Alabama, ranked 7th in cost of living and 4th in housing affordability;
#8: South Dakota, ranked 6th in cost of living and 9th in housing affordability;
#9: Kentucky, ranked 12th in cost of living and 7th in housing affordability;
#10: North Dakota, ranked 8th in cost of living and 13th in housing affordability.
Of these top 10 most affordable states, all but one has a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control both the governor’s office and both chambers of the state legislature, and a Republican triplex. Kentucky has a Democratic governor while Republicans control the attorney general’s office, the secretary of state’s office, and both chambers of the state legislature.
Of the 10 least affordable states, all but two have a Democratic trifecta and a Democratic triplex. Florida, ranked 9th, and New Hampshire, ranked 10th, have Republican trifectas and triplexes.
The most affordable state with a Democratic trifecta and Democratic triplex is New Mexico, which ranked 13th for affordability overall. The next most affordable state with a Democratic trifecta and Democratic triplex is Maine, which ranked 24th.
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U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix on last week, highlighting the university’s commitment to workforce development, affordable higher education, and preparing students for careers in high-demand industries.
McMahon was joined by Arizona Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) during the visit, which included discussions with university leadership, faculty, and students, along with a tour of GCU’s campus and business incubator.
The visit provided an opportunity for GCU President Brian Mueller to showcase the university’s academic programs, Christian mission, and efforts to address workforce shortages in Arizona and across the country.
During her visit, McMahon praised the university’s campus culture, educational approach, and emphasis on preparing students for employment in critical industries.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited GCU yesterday, praising the university's servant leadership and Christ-centered worldview. Read more: https://t.co/8Roquzy2Oc
“I’m coming away from Grand Canyon really understanding servant leadership,” McMahon said. “But also the understanding that there is certainly a very Christ-centered theme that you hear throughout the university, which I think is incredibly refreshing.”
McMahon also emphasized the importance of making higher education more affordable while ensuring academic programs align with the nation’s workforce needs.
“We certainly want to make sure that more and more colleges are affordable, and that we really are addressing the needs of the country,” McMahon added.
The visit highlighted workforce shortages in nursing, education, construction, manufacturing, semiconductor production, and electrical trades.
As part of the visit, McMahon met with university deans and students at GCU’s nearly completed Sheila and Mike Ingram Honors College building. Students discussed their academic experiences and opportunities to gain practical skills through university programs.
McMahon also toured Canyon Ventures, GCU’s business incubator, and Lux Precision Manufacturing, where university representatives highlighted entrepreneurship initiatives and opportunities for students to gain hands-on industry experience.
According to GCU, student-founded businesses associated with the incubator have generated millions of dollars in revenue while providing students with professional development and employment opportunities.
Canyon Ventures Director Connor Vicary, CityServe Director Nathan Cooper, and Lux Precision Manufacturing founder and CEO Weston Smith participated in the tour, explaining how the university supports business development and workforce training.
Mueller said the visit allowed federal education leadership to better understand the university’s growth and the impact of its educational model.
“You can’t explain that to people when you’re 2,000 miles away. You have to be here, and you have to experience that,” Mueller said. “For her to take the time to do this and then to recognize us the way that she did at the end, we’ll always remember that.”
GCU Vice President of Government Relations Dana Drew Shaw also emphasized the significance of having a senior federal education official observe the university’s programs firsthand.
McMahon concluded the visit by commending the university’s educational environment and its approach to preparing students for the workforce.
“I’ve now been to 47 states. I’ve been to many universities and schools. You get a feel pretty quickly from the general vibe and culture of campus, and this is A-1, A-plus,” McMahon said.
“This is an incredibly marvelous institution,” she added. “I’m very happy. Thank you very, very much for being an example for other universities throughout the country and throughout the world.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) announced its endorsement of four Arizona Republicans, including three incumbent congressmen and a gubernatorial candidate, citing their voting records on federal spending, government accountability, and fiscal responsibility.
In an October 23 announcement, CCAGW endorsed 12 candidates for the U.S. Senate, 123 candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, and six gubernatorial candidates nationwide based on their lifetime ratings, as reported in the organization’s 2025 Congressional Ratings.
The Arizona endorsements include Representatives Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), and Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08), along with Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), who is running for governor.
According to CCAGW, Hamadeh received a lifetime rating of 100%, followed by Crane at 98%, Biggs at 97%, and Gosar at 93%.
“During their tenures in the Senate and House, these members of Congress have been strong and reliable votes to curb government waste and reform Washington,” said CCAGW President Tom Schatz.
“On top of their impressive voting records, they fought for increased accountability and transparency while opposing efforts to increase federal spending and adopt burdensome new regulations,” he added.
Since 1989, CCAGW has evaluated congressional roll call votes involving federal spending, taxation, transparency, and government accountability to assess lawmakers’ records on fiscal responsibility.
The organization’s 2025 Congressional Ratings examined 25 votes in the House of Representatives and 31 in the Senate during the first session of the 119th Congress.
Lawmakers are scored on a scale of 0% to 100%, with those receiving scores between 80% and 99% designated as Taxpayer Heroes. Members earning a perfect score of 100% receive the organization’s highest designation, Taxpayer Super Hero.
Based on their lifetime ratings, all four endorsed Arizona candidates meet the organization’s criteria for its two highest categories.
Nationwide, 38 House members and four senators earned perfect scores in the 2025 ratings, compared to one representative and one senator in 2024.
An additional 102 House members and 40 senators earned scores between 80% and 99%, qualifying them as Taxpayer Heroes.
At the opposite end of the rankings, 172 representatives and 42 senators received scores of zero percent in 2025.
The ratings also revealed substantial differences in average scores between the parties. Senate Republicans averaged 85%, compared to zero percent among Senate Democrats and Independents. House Republicans averaged 83%, while House Democrats averaged 2%.
The organization reported that Republican averages increased in both chambers compared to 2024, while Democratic averages declined.
CCAGW said its endorsements recognize candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to limiting government spending, opposing additional regulations, and promoting greater accountability in Washington.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Goldwater Institute is criticizing the financial incentives behind Phoenix’s revived photo radar program, pointing to vendor payments and surcharges supporting Arizona’s public campaign financing system as voters consider Proposition 319.
In a recent analysis, Goldwater Senior Attorney Scott Day Freeman argues that the program creates financial incentives for collecting traffic fines and raises questions about motorists’ ability to contest alleged violations. Goldwater supports Prop 319, which would require local voter approval for continued operation of qualifying photo enforcement programs.
Phoenix began issuing photo enforcement citations March 25, following a 30-day warning period. The city reported that nine corridor cameras recorded more than 70,000 speeding events during that warning period.
The broader program includes 17 speed-monitoring cameras. The mayor and City Council approved it in October 2024 as part of Phoenix’s Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan. The city contracts with third-party vendor Verra Mobility to operate the equipment.
The payment arrangement includes $3,000 per camera per month and $20 for each paid ticket. For 17 cameras, the monthly equipment payments would total $51,000, or $612,000 over a full year, before per-ticket payments.
Goldwater argues that tying part of the contractor’s compensation to collected citations creates an incentive to increase ticket volume and pursue payment.
Phoenix describes the program as a cost-recovery operation, with citation revenue covering city personnel and vendor expenses. Its published guidance says remaining funds will support the Vision Zero plan. The city also says Phoenix police review recorded events and determine whether citations should be issued.
Where the Surcharges Go
Goldwater’s criticism also focuses prominently on where the court surcharges go.
Under A.R.S. § 16-954, Arizona imposes an additional 10% surcharge on covered civil and criminal fines and penalties and deposits the proceeds into the Citizens Clean Elections Fund. The statute also addresses funding available to qualifying participating candidates and requires transfers of money designated as excess to the state’s general fund.
A separate statute, A.R.S. § 16-976, establishes an additional 1% surcharge deposited into a separate account within the Clean Elections Fund. That account supports implementation and enforcement of campaign finance disclosure requirements, with unused money available for other commission-approved purposes. The law requires suspension of the surcharge for one to three years if the commission determines it can perform the required functions during that period without the additional revenue.
“A safety tool that also subsidizes campaigns is not a neutral safety tool. It’s a political campaign financing tool,” Freeman said.
Freeman also questioned whether the revived cameras have produced a measurable reduction in traffic deaths and argued that delayed notices can make it harder for drivers to reconstruct road conditions or preserve evidence relevant to their defense.
Proposition 319, a legislative referral addressing photo enforcement, could change the legal landscape for similar future programs. The official ballot description says the measure would prohibit state agencies and local governments from using the systems unless provided for by contract as of Dec. 31, 2026, and require local voter approval for continued operation.
The text of the corresponding Senate Concurrent Resolution 1004 specifies that a signed operating contract must be in place on or before that date. Local authorities with qualifying contracts would have to seek voter approval at the next general election immediately following the provision’s effective date.
If voters reject continued operation, the local authority would have to stop using the system within 90 days of that election. Approval would allow operation for 10 years, with subsequent voter approval required every decade.
Approval of Proposition 319 would therefore establish a separate local decision point on existing programs. Phoenix’s cameras would not automatically shut down if the statewide measure passed.
The owner of a small business in Glendale is suing the federal government for a raid in which it took money and property.
Ayala’s Mini Market, a money services business, was raided by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Internal Revenue Services (IRS) last February as part of a coordinated sting on 19 small businesses throughout the Valley.
Federal agents took an untold amount of cash, along with five phones, three computers, and business documents including cwhecks and receipts. HSI and the IRS obtained warrants marked under seal based on suspicion of structuring, a crime of evading reporting or recordkeeping requirements by breaking up large transactions into multiple small ones.
The Institute for Justice (IJ) is suing the federal government on behalf of Mario Ayala, the owner of Ayala’s Mini Market. IJ filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona on Tuesday.
IJ stated that Ayala was never advised of the crimes he allegedly committed or given a way to contest the seizure of his property. IJ attorney Betsy Sanz stated in a press release announcing the lawsuit that the seizure is unconstitutional and illegal.
“The government can’t take your stuff, disappear, and then never explain itself,” said Sanz. “For over a year and a half, the government has been holding Mario’s money and property. This prolonged seizure violates the Fourth Amendment and federal law. The government cannot hold onto your property indefinitely without explanation so it can eventually take it permanently using civil forfeiture.”
IJ is arguing that the seizure violates the Fourth Amendment by holding property indefinitely without justification; the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act, which requires governmental forfeiture notices within 90 days of property seizure; and the Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers Act, which prohibits property seizures where structuring is the only offense for which evidence exists.
The organization requested the return of Ayala’s property and the production of the complete warrant and application for the warrant with the affidavit supporting it.
Ayala said Ayala’s Mini Market is his American dream and how he provides for his family. According to Ayala, the seizure continues to cause harm to his family.
“This business is my American Dream and the government took years of my hard work without telling me what I did,” said Ayala. “This raid hurt me and my family. I hope this lawsuit gets my money back and helps make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
IJ considers civil forfeiture one of their pillars, or issues on which they take action; the organization aims to abolish civil forfeiture entirely. Civil forfeiture is when government entities seize personal property without charges or a criminal conviction.
Estimates in recent years reflect that law enforcement seizes tens of millions of dollars in cash and property every single year in Arizona. IJ estimated that Arizona brought in at least $729 million in state and federal forfeiture revenue from 2000 to 2023.
IJ also found that, from 2019 to 2023, half of the currency forfeitures in Arizona were less than $1,271. Nearly two-thirds of forfeitures were currency in that same time period.
IJ awarded Arizona a “D-” rating for its civil forfeiture laws.
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