Late last month, Representative Jennifer Longdon transmitted a letter to House Speaker Ben Toma, informing him that she would be resigning her seat on Friday, January 26.
In the letter, Longdon said, “I am grateful for the trust and support bestowed upon me by the constituents of Legislative District 5. Serving Arizona as a member of Arizona’s legislature has been a profound honor. I take pride in the collaborative efforts that transcended party lines, resulting in meaningful bipartisan accomplishments. I remain humbled by the trust placed in me by the Office of the Speaker in naming me as Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults. I am proud of the accomplishments we have been able to achieve thus far.”
It’s been my absolute honor to serve the people of Arizona and work with the members & staff of the Arizona State Legislature. Thank YOU for your service! I’m proud of the work that we’ve done together. There is much more to do. I hope to talk about my new role very soon. pic.twitter.com/tz6KOvMLX2
On her last day, Longdon shared a picture of her on the House floor, writing, “Clearing out and saying goodbye. I’ll leave a piece of my heart (and hope) here. Thank you all!”
Clearing out and saying goodbye. I’ll leave a piece of my heart (and hope) here. Thank you all!! #AzLegpic.twitter.com/kmqNbgMJut
Governor Katie Hobbs made sure to recognize Longdon’s exit from the Legislature, stating, “I’m sending my best wishes to Representative Longdon as she moves to her next chapter. Her dedication to fighting for the people of Arizona is an inspiration. I know she’ll bring that same passion & dedication to her next role. Good luck, Jennifer Longdon!”
I'm sending my best wishes to Representative Longdon as she moves to her next chapter. Her dedication to fighting for the people of Arizona is an inspiration. I know she'll bring that same passion & dedication to her next role. Good luck, @JenLongdon!
Arizona House Democratic Leaders also released a statement to mark Longdon’s service and resignation. They said, “Representative Longdon has been one of Arizona’s most effective and compassionate leaders, both inside and outside the Legislature. On the issues of gun violence prevention and advocating for the rights of those living with disabilities, there is no stronger voice. On behalf of our caucus and the constituents she has served so well, we are grateful for her work and the lives she has impacted. We will miss her presence but we also know that her work will continue and that great things lie ahead.”
PRESS RELEASE: Democratic Leaders express gratitude for Rep. Jennifer Longdon's service after resignation announcement #azlegpic.twitter.com/uP1Q0PgGzn
Longdon served long enough this session to see her bill HB 2595 receive approval from the House Government Committee. This bill would “authorize a memorial in Wesley Bolin Plaza dedicated to investigative reporter Don Bolles, who was murdered in 1976.”
Representative @JenLongdon's HB2595 passed through the Government Committee again this morning – last session, the bill didn't make it to the finish line in the Senate. The importance is still the same. #azlegpic.twitter.com/E0dIG64NKG
An Arizona Republican lawmaker is warning his state about what it could experience if Democrats were to control the legislature.
Last week, freshman State Representative Austin Smith highlighted a handful of bills that had been pre-filed by his Democrat colleagues, referring to those proposals as “DEMOCRAT EXTREMISM 2024.”
🚨DEMOCRAT EXTREMISM 2024 🚨
So far leftwing extremists have pre-filed bills this legislative session to:
1. Allow changing genders on birth certificates after undergoing surgical, hormonal, psychological treatments.
Smith summarized four Democrat bills, which included the following:
Allow changing genders on birth certificates after undergoing surgical, hormonal, psychological treatments.
Banning unmarked police vehicles.
Repealing no duty to retreat law.
Repealing drug possession paraphernalia laws.
The Republican legislator from the Southwest Valley sounded the alarm that these bills could become reality for Arizona “in one year under the rule of an extremist Democrat controlled legislature.”
Representative Joseph Chaplik, one of Smith’s fellow Republicans in the chamber, echoed the sentiments, writing, “We are in the front row seats seeing these ideas. Most voters have no idea how radical the democrats are with trying to destroy our society.”
We are in the front row seats seeing these ideas. Most voters have no idea how radical the democrats are with trying to destroy our society. #Arizona
The warning from Smith comes at the start of a pivotal election year for the Grand Canyon State, with both the Arizona House and Senate hanging in the balance for 2025. Republicans have razor-thin majorities in both chambers, giving them very little leeway in conducting business. In addition, Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs occupies the Ninth Floor of the State Executive Tower, which means that many conservative policies are vetoed. As Smith alluded to, should Democrats take over the legislature, they would be able to enact many leftist reforms into law with the support of Hobbs.
Many Republicans have also warned about greater restrictions to the state’s school choice opportunities (like the Empowerment Scholarship Account program) or to Arizonans’ Second Amendment freedoms if legislative Democrats have free rein in the House and Senate.
Arizona may undergo another significant makeover before Democrats even could have an opportunity to pass unfettered legislation. Special interest groups are attempting to refer several issues to the November ballot, including an abortion access amendment and a change to the state’s elections systems. Voters’ passage of those initiatives would save political capital for Democrats in 2025 and beyond, while accomplishing the work they might attempt anyway if they simultaneously controlled the legislature and the Governor’s Office.
With Republicans now in control of the Arizona Legislature, though, the Democrats’ transformative policies are likely dead on arrival. Republican leaders and Hobbs will have to negotiate compromises on select items, such as the state’s budget.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
“Don’t California our Arizona.” It’s a saying we’ve had around here for quite some time, and for good reason. Not only is California known for having ridiculously high tax rates, but woke policies in the state have:
The list could go on and on. But it’s pretty clear. California’s policies have been a disaster, so much so that the state once ran out of U-Hauls because so many people were leaving. And yet, despite all this, Arizona lawmakers still decided to send your hard-earned dollars to woke Hollywood liberals through a movie tax credit bill last year. And while we hate to say we told you so, that decision now appears to be coming back to haunt Arizonans…
Reaction was mixed to the news that the Arizona Legislature passed a Prop 400 compromise on Monday, after an agreement was forged with the Governor’s Office.
Republican Senate President Warren Petersen claimed victory after his chamber gave the proposal the green light, calling it “the most conservative transportation plan in our state’s history.” Petersen added, “The guardrails, taxpayer protections and funding allocations in the text of this bill reflect the priorities of voters, to reinvest their tax dollars in the transportation modes they use most.”
Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs was diplomatic in her statement, saying, “Today, bipartisan leaders invested in the future of Arizona families, businesses, and communities. The passage of the Prop 400 ballot measure will secure the economic future of our state and create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for Arizonans. I am glad we were able to put politics aside and do what is right for Arizona.”
Today, bipartisan leaders invested in the future of Arizona families, businesses, and communities. The passage of the Prop 400 ballot measure will secure the economic future of our state and create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for Arizonans. I am glad we were able to…
Some legislative Democrats took the legislation’s approval to point political fingers at their Republican counterparts. Senate Democratic Leader Mitzi Epstein wrote, “As is customary, Republicans have waited until the very last minute to pass widely popular legislation that invests in the daily lives of Arizonans….Our state should not have had to wait until July 31st to see this measure, which has had legislative support since the start of session, get sent to the ballot. However, with the support of Arizonans cities and towns, I am proud to join my Democratic colleagues in delivering the key votes needed to send the extension of the regional transportation tax back to the voters of Maricopa County.”
PRESS RELEASE: Democrats Deliver Key Votes to Ensure the Extension of the Transportation Tax, Prop400E, Hits the Ballot pic.twitter.com/vDsxsvEzHm
— Arizona Senate Democrats (@AZSenateDems) August 1, 2023
Members of the Arizona Freedom Caucus were adamantly opposed to the bill since the weekend, when they appeared to have read a draft of the legislation. After Prop 400 passed, the Freedom Caucus tweeted, “Legislative conservatives near unanimously opposed this horrible bill. Conservative watchdog groups unanimously opposed it. The bill may have been better than the communists at @MAGregion’s horrific plan, but that’s a ludicrously low bar for success. This bill was antithetical to conservatism.”
Legislative conservatives near unanimously opposed this horrible bill.
Conservative watchdog groups unanimously opposed it.
The bill may have been better than the communists at @MAGregion’s horrific plan, but that’s a ludicrously low bar for success.
— Arizona Freedom Caucus (@AZFreedomCaucus) August 1, 2023
Freshman Republican Representative Austin Smith, who has become one of the leading voices in the Arizona Freedom Caucus this legislative session, was one of the most-outspoken members against the bill since the weekend. He explained his vote on Twitter, posting, “I voted NO on the prop 400 transporation excise tax for Maricopa County. Taxpayer dollars are not ours to dish out haphazardly – especially to the tune of 20 BILLION dollars with potential consequences that ruin valley transportation.”
I voted NO on the prop 400 transportation excise tax for Maricopa County. Taxpayer dollars are not ours to dish out haphazardly – especially to the tune of 20 BILLION dollars with potential consequences that ruin valley transportation. pic.twitter.com/PRCUA35rwC
Some legislative Republicans, including Representative Jacqueline Parker, were already thinking about messaging against the ballot measure in hopes that voters could stop the plan from becoming finalized. Parker tweeted, “Now it’s up to the voters in Maricopa county to read the 47 page bill & see if it’s worth $20 Billion. I recommend looking at provisions on pages: 8, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 34, & 35, which absolutely allow plenty of leeway for cities to implement their road diet, & transit expansion.”
Now it’s up to the voters in Maricopa county to read the 47 page bill & see if it’s worth $20 Billion. I recommend looking at provisions on pages: 8, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 34, & 35, which absolutely allow plenty of leeway for cities to implement their road diet, & transit expansion https://t.co/HpsNrJK5bZ
— Rep. Jacqueline Parker (@electjacqparker) July 31, 2023
The breakthrough on the Prop 400 compromise took place after Governor Hobbs vetoed a Republican proposal in June. At that time, Hobbs stated, “I just vetoed the partisan Prop 400 bill that fails to adequately support Arizona’s economic growth and does nothing to attract new business or create good-paying jobs.”
In May, the governor created unrest over ongoing negotiations, allegedly sending out a tweet that highlighted her fight with Republicans at the Legislature at the same time she was meeting with Senate President Warren Petersen.
This is a bizarre tweet. We had just started a meeting with the governor about prop 400 while this tweet was sent out. Our plan has more roads, less congestion and is a better value to the taxpayer. https://t.co/cfBF0GGM9v
Petersen, one of the most conservative members in the state legislature, championed the importance of the bill, asserting that officials had “secured a good, responsible product for the citizens of Arizona to consider in 2024, giving voters the option to enhance critical infrastructure that our entire state relies upon.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Arizona legislature approved the Maricopa County transportation tax on Monday along bipartisan lines, 43-14 in the House and 19-7 in the Senate.
The bill, SB1102, would allow voters to decide whether to maintain the current transportation excise tax: Proposition 400, set to expire at the end of 2025. It doesn’t maintain the original reformation desired by Republican lawmakers: a choice to separate roads and commuter rail when it comes to funding. Prop 400 binds the two together as a package deal.
The legislature convened to consider SB1102 after Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed the version of the bill splitting the Prop 400 question (SB1246) last month.
The 14 House legislators who opposed the bill were State Reps. Neal Carter (R-LD15), Joseph Chaplik (R-LD03), Justin Heap (R-LD10), Laurin Hendrix (R-LD14), Rachel Jones (R-LD17), Alexander Kolodin (R-LD03), David Marshall (R-LD07), Cory McGarr (R-LD17), Steve Montenegro (R-LD29), Barbara Parker (R-LD10), Jacqueline Parker (R-LD15), Michael Peña (R-LD23), Beverly Pingerelli (R-LD28), and Austin Smith (R-LD29). The seven Senate legislators who opposed the bill were State Sens. Shawnna Bolick (R-LD02), Sally Ann Gonzales (D-LD20), Jake Hoffman (R-LD15), Anthony Kern (R-LD27), J.D. Mesnard (R-LD13), Wendy Rogers (R-LD07), and Justine Wadsack (R-LD17).
The bill’s passage marked a divide among Republican lawmakers as leadership declared it a win. Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD12) said in a press release that the bill would ensure infrastructure development to counter the rising rates of vehicle congestion and travel times on the road while preventing ineffective environmentalist policies.
Sen. Frank Carroll (R-LD28) noted that the bill restricted any level of Arizonan government from restricting the use or sale of a vehicle based on its energy source, and required mass transit to recoup at least 10 percent of costs from farebox revenues beginning in 2027, and then 20 percent by 2031.
Opponents disagreed that the bill constituted a win. Kolodin argued during the floor vote that the bill denied voters true choice. Kolodin estimated that Prop 400’s continuation would halve road funding in order to pay for other commuter projects used by one percent of the population. He noted that SB1102 further bled roads funding by allowing those funds to be used for other projects, like bicyclist paths and sidewalks.
“This bill denies voters of Maricopa County a real choice. It holds road funding hostage in order that the voters, who would otherwise not vote in favor of spending 40 percent of the money of this new tax on transit projects that less than one percent of them use, that they choose to vote for them anyway to get the roads,” said Kolodin. “A tax extension is a tax increase.”
Rogers said the bill constituted a tax far too expensive and weak for her taste.
I voted against this because it’s still a $20 billion dollar tax. And this bill is still full of holes. pic.twitter.com/IZFCiqEM78
Democrats championed the bill as a necessity for achieving equity.
Today, the House passed a #Prop400 extension onto Maricopa County voters. If passed, this critical investment will fund transportation projects bettering our roads, public transit, and highways.
80 percent of Maricopa County jobs are located within 2 miles of light rail or a freeway. Rep. @QuantaForAZ shares how light rail benefited her when she was in grad school and working. pic.twitter.com/wlQlgwHpAv
— Arizona House Democrats (@AZHouseDems) July 31, 2023
State Rep. Marcelino Quiñonez (D-LD11) said that Prop 400 was the “responsibility” of the legislature to pass.
“This is a continuation of something our predecessors have been able to do since the late 1980s. It is our responsibility to continue on good work.” — Rep. @Marcelino4AZ casts his yes vote to send an extension of the Prop. 400 transportation & transit plan to Maricopa voters. pic.twitter.com/3x6MCQpQ5u
— Arizona House Democrats (@AZHouseDems) July 31, 2023
Heap called the bill “disappointing.”
A disappointing day, we had plenty of time to craft a better Prop 400 bill. Thank you to the many great Representives who fought with us and the many citizens to reached out with support and encouragement. Conservatives are happy warriors so it's on to the next fight. pic.twitter.com/GFQ3PzGo1U
— Az State Rep. Justin Heap (@azjustinheap) July 31, 2023
Heap and Jones predicted that the bill’s passage marked a major win for the Democratic Party and the Hobbs administration, one that would carry into the 2024 election.
A majority of Rs did, in fact, give them the club. Bludgeoning incoming. https://t.co/zvFlPqfyW8
— AZ Representative Rachel Jones (@RJ4arizona) July 31, 2023
State Rep. Matthew Gress (R-LD04), who voted in favor of the bill, said it would ensure the restoration of State Route 51 and other critical pavement rehabilitation. Gress said that the 3.5 percent cap on the existing light rail system, a contingency for Hobbs’ approval, constituted a win since it was far less than other proposed rates.
My statement on Prop 400. I voted yes to refer this measure to Maricopa County voters. pic.twitter.com/JmoS8b0bXv
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club (AFEC) voiced opposition to the plan on Sunday, warning that the bill wouldn’t prevent road diets, Vision Zero projects, and progressive air quality control measures. AFEC offered a side-by-side comparison of SB1102 and the predecessor vetoed by Hobbs last month, SB1246.
AFEC further assessed that SB1102 would enable the Maricopa Association of Governments to enact its 2050 Momentum Plan.
🚨 Urgent: Why We OPPOSE SB1102
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club respectfully opposes SB1102, the #Prop400 bill negotiated between the Governor and House and Senate Leadership. Here's why ⤵️ 🧵 pic.twitter.com/m1sNTzrfhF
— Arizona Free Enterprise Club (@azfec) July 30, 2023
Prop 400 will appear on the November 2024 ballot for final voter approval. The tax was set to expire at the end of 2025.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
