by Matthew Holloway | Apr 25, 2025 | Must Read, News
By Matthew Holloway |
An Arizona legislator has put out the call: he needs a second job. Arizona Representative Nick Kupper (R-LD25) put out posts to LinkedIn and X on Tuesday announcing that he is seeking to start a new role in addition to his work as a lawmaker.
Writing in a post to X, Kupper explained, “If you’re wondering, state reps make ~$35k with base pay/per diem. Once I got elected I was laid off for being a legislator. That sucks, but I’d rather go bankrupt than give up on my constituents. That being said 4 kids eat a lot, so if you know of any remote jobs I’m all ears.”
In his post to LinkedIn, he wrote, “My role as State Rep is great, but pays very little and timing wise effectively only allows me to work remote roles.”
In Arizona, the state legislature has been traditionally viewed as a part-time job. With the session running from January often through June or even July, it’s easy to see why. And while strange compared to more populous states, this is a very common system.
In Texas for example, the legislature is only convened for a maximum of 140 days every odd-numbered year, barring special sessions called by the Governor for 30-day stretches. Montana, Nevada, and North Dakota, have similar odd-numbered-year arrangements.
Salary-wise, Arizona ranks near the middle of the pack with its $24k plus per diem ranking 24th out of the fifty states. In neighboring New Mexico, the legislature receives no salary at all, only earning a $161 per diem during session. By contrast, a New York legislator earns a salary of $110k per year with per diem, totaling approximately $142k annually.
As reported in early March by AZ Free News, Arizona Legislators have taken considerable heat over Senate Concurrent Resolution 1003, a measure to effectively double their salaries to $48k along with increases in per diem payments and benefits.
One major point of contention is a disparity in pay between members who live within Maricopa County versus outside of it.
“I think there’s discrimination happening currently (with) the way members of this body and Senate are paid, when you have members that literally could get three times the total pay package because they live outside of Maricopa versus inside,” Representative David Livingston (R-LD28) told AZ Capitol Times. “This needs to be fixed.”
Sen. John Kavanagh (R-LD3) proposed a salary plan linked to inflation and dating back to 1998 in its calculations explaining, “We’re not asking the voters to really in real dollars increase our pay. We’re asking them to keep our pay at the same real dollar amount that they thought it was worth in 1998.”
The bill has passed the Senate and House Appropriations Committee and will now go to the floor of the House before potentially going to the voters in November.
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.
by AZ Free Enterprise Club | Apr 18, 2025 | Opinion
By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
This past November was a good time to be a Republican, especially here in Arizona. Not only did President Donald Trump win our state in a landslide victory, but Republicans expanded their majorities in both the Arizona House and Senate—despite being outspent in every single race.
While this turn of events shocked many in the corporate media who were convinced that Arizona was on its way from being a purple state to a blue state, we knew that voter registration trends told a different story.
Over the last couple of years, the gap between registered Republicans and Democrats in Arizona widened from 3.04% in 2020 to 4.03% in 2022. By April of last year, it had increased to 5.77%. And by November, it had expanded to 6.77%, a registration increase that proved decisive in President Trump’s overwhelming victory.
Now, 5 months removed from their electoral wipeout in November, there has been a lot of discussion about whether the Democrats’ political fortunes in Arizona would be reversing after their blowout loss to Trump.
Unfortunately for them, the latest voter registration numbers poured plenty of cold water on those dreams…
>>> CONTINUE READING >>>
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 9, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
During remarks from the Trump administration’s Border Czar Tom Homan at a joint session of the Arizona legislature, House and Senate Democrats abruptly left the chamber carrying signs allegedly naming “legal residents and students who have been disappeared by Homan and ICE.”
The Democrat lawmakers then exited the House of Representatives to join news crews with between 10 and 20 demonstrators present to protest Homan’s speech.
In a press release from Arizona House Democrats, Senator Catherine Miranda (D-LD1) stated, “It’s disturbing that my colleagues are giving a platform to someone who has caused so much harm to our community.” She claimed, “Tom Homan isn’t just deporting people, he’s responsible for kidnappings, disappearances, and the deportation of individuals for reasons as unjust as having tattoos, protesting, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
In his remarks, Homan directly addressed the Democrat narrative saying, “I try not to curse much, if I offended anybody I don’t care. I don’t, because I get irritated when I started talking about the false narrative being pushed by the left.“ Speaking to the Democrat House Members and Senators directly he said, “Thank you for making my day. I love haters. They make my day every day.”
Referring to them later he said, “Under the Biden administration, half of the men and children? They were smuggled into this country. Taken out the hands of their families, giving them to a criminal cartel to be smuggled into this country. And we’re the bad guys?”
“All these people who just walked out, what did they do? Did they speak up about that? Did they speak up to the fact that 300,000 of these children can’t be found because they’re released to unvetted sponsors? The last administration had one goal: process quick, release quick, because there’s no overcrowding. We can say ‘the board is secure, nothing to see here,’” said Homan.
Homan told the joint session, “So at the end of historic immigration, where millions of people come across the border, 9 out of 10 of them will end up with an order of removal from a federal judge. That’s why there’s going to be massive deportation operations. You can’t demand due process and ignore the decision at the end of that due process, which is an order removal. The law requires it. That’s exactly what’s going to happen. There are gonna be consequences. And if we don’t do it, if we don’t do it, we send the whole world a message, enter United States illegally. It’s a crime.”
He later noted, “It’s not okay to be in this country illegally. And people hate on me for that. If you’re in the country illegally you should be looking over your shoulder. It’s not okay to enter this country illegally, it’s a crime.“
Homan observed, “We will not apologize for sending two plane loads of terrorists out of this country. I cannot believe any judge will order anybody bringing those two plane loads of terrorists back to this country. President Trump put America first. Of course we’re litigating that case. We just had a big win on that yesterday.”
“We’re going to keep having wins because President Trump’s put America first. He’s not going to apologize for removing terrorists from this country ever. And I will not rest until every member of TDA and MS -13s are eradicated from this country. Then I’ll take a day off. But until then, hate on me all you want,” concluded Homan. “I know I got a lot of haters in this room, but I don’t give a shit. We’re gonna get this job done with no apologies.”
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.
by Jonathan Eberle | Mar 16, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona lawmakers are facing mounting backlash over a proposed pay raise bill that would increase the salaries of state legislators by a significant margin. Senate Concurrent Resolution 1003, introduced in the Arizona State Senate, seeks to boost the base pay for Arizona legislators, raising concerns about the timing of the proposal and the growing burden on taxpayers in an already financially strained state.
The bill, which passed initial stages in the legislature, aims to increase the base salary of lawmakers from $24,000 to $48,000, a 100% increase. Additionally, it proposes an increase in per diem payments and other benefits. The bill’s sponsors argue that this pay increase is necessary to attract qualified candidates to public office as well as keeping up with inflation.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator John Kavanaugh, says that he’s not worried about potential pushback from Arizona voters. “I do not think those voters wanted their $24,000 raise diluted by inflation to about $11,000,” Kavanaugh said. He said this calculation was based on the buying power that figure had in 1998—the last time Arizona lawmakers received a pay raise.
However, critics of the bill argue that such a significant pay raise for lawmakers comes at a time when many Arizonans are struggling to make ends meet due to rising costs of living and a housing crisis that has left many families in financial hardship. The proposal has raised questions about whether elected officials are out of touch with the economic realities faced by their constituents.
The timing of the bill has led some to question the motivation behind it. Critics argue that lawmakers, many of whom already have full-time jobs outside of their legislative duties, should not be seeking a pay raise while so many Arizonans are still struggling financially. Others believe the pay raise is necessary to ensure current lawmakers can make ends meet.
Democrat Senator Eva Burch recently announced her resignation from the legislature, citing that she’s struggling to make ends meet and to find balance with her legislative work and her job as a healthcare provider. “I know that I am not the first, nor will be the last, good person to find themselves a casualty of legislative pay,” said Burch.
As SCR 1003 makes its way through the Arizona Legislature, the controversy surrounding the proposed pay raise for state lawmakers is unlikely to subside anytime soon. With many Arizonans still feeling the financial pressure from rising living costs, the bill has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over government priorities and fiscal responsibility.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Mar 14, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona lawmakers are advancing a series of bills aimed at increasing transparency, accountability, and taxpayer protection. These measures tackle issues ranging from government spending on elections to school board meetings and travel, with a focus on ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and efficiently. With strong support from various groups, these bills reflect ongoing concerns about how taxpayer money is spent and how local government actions are conducted.
One of the most significant pieces of proposed legislation, HB2722, is backed by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and sponored by Rep. Neal Carter (R-LD15). The bill seeks to prevent taxpayers from indirectly subsidizing private businesses through government gifts. Specifically, it targets “gift clauses” in state and local government contracts, which some argue allow for inappropriate use of taxpayer funds to benefit private entities.
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club has been vocal about the need for stronger protections against such expenditures. The organization has stated that this bill is necessary to curb the growing trend of government spending on private corporations without clear public benefit.
“Taxpayers should not be used as a backdoor financing mechanism for private companies,” said Arizona Free Enterprise Club officials. “This bill is about ensuring that public dollars are spent in a way that directly benefits the public, not private interests.” If passed, this bill would create stricter guidelines on how public funds can be spent and would allow taxpayers to hold officials accountable when misused funds are discovered.
Another bill making its way through the Arizona legislature is SB1036, supported by the Goldwater Institute and sponosred by Sen. John Kavanagh (R-LD3). This bill targets government spending on influencing elections, a topic that has sparked considerable debate in recent years. SB1036 would create a private right of action for taxpayers, allowing individuals to sue if they believe government funds are being spent on efforts that influence an election. This would make it easier for citizens to challenge the use of taxpayer money in elections, particularly when the spending appears to be partisan or otherwise improper.
The Goldwater Institute has argued that taxpayers have a right to ensure their money isn’t used to sway political outcomes. According to a recent report by the organization, there have been multiple instances of local governments spending taxpayer funds to advocate for policies that align with political interests, which has raised concerns about government overreach.
“Governments should not be using taxpayer money to influence the political process,” said Goldwater Institute officials. “This bill provides taxpayers with the ability to stand up for their rights and ensure public resources are not misused.”
Another bill, HB2169, which was introduced by Representative Matthew Gress (R-LD4), seeks to address transparency within Arizona’s public school districts. The bill would require school board meetings to be held in public facilities within the district, ensuring that they are easily accessible to the communities they serve. Additionally, the bill mandates that school boards must receive public approval before engaging in out-of-state travel, making it more difficult for administrators to make costly decisions without community oversight.
This legislation gained near-unanimous support, with proponents arguing that it ensures greater accountability for how public schools operate and how funds are spent. Critics of the current system have pointed to examples of school board members using taxpayer money for luxury travel without clear, public approval or benefit. A notable incident involved a local school district that faced backlash after spending taxpayer funds on extravagant trips while simultaneously requesting additional funding from voters for educational needs.
“Public education is about serving the community,” said Representative Gress in a statement. “We need to make sure that the actions of school boards are always in the public interest. This bill strengthens public trust in our school systems.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
