Arizona’s House of Representatives unanimously stood with the nation of Israel on the first day of the Second Regular Session of the 56th Legislature.
On Monday, the Arizona House and Senate resumed operations, and Speaker Ben Toma wasted no time in using the opportunity to support one of America’s staunchest allies.
Toma called for and obtained passage by unanimous consent of House Concurrent Resolution 2009, which expresses the support of his chamber for the “nation of Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its citizens from terrorism.”
Yesterday, the Arizona Legislature kicked off the 56th Second Regular Session by passing my resolution standing with Israel and calling for the elimination of Hamas. It is important for leaders to stand up for what is right. I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle…
In a statement posted to “X,” Speaker Toma said, “Yesterday, the Arizona Legislature kicked off the 56th Second Regular Session by passing my resolution standing with Israel and calling for the elimination of Hamas. It is important for leaders to stand up for what is right. I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle joining me to unanimously declare Arizona stands with Israel.”
The resolution expressed the “most heartfelt condolences” from Members “to all Israeli victims as well as their families and communities.” It also declared “support” for “Arizonans law enforcement community in its efforts to remain vigilant in protecting Israeli Americans, Jewish Americans and all supporters of Israel from acts of crime and unlawful discrimination that tend to manifest in times of turmoil.”
The Republican Speaker also co-wrote an opinion piece for the Arizona Republic on January 3, where he wrote, “we wholly condemn Hamas, categorically call for Hamas’ elimination – and strongly urge all of Arizona’s leaders, including state lawmakers, to do the same.”
"We wholly condemn Hamas, categorically call for Hamas' elimination — and strongly urge all of Arizona's leaders, including state lawmakers, to do the same."
I encourage you to read my joint op-ed with Prescott Mayor Phil Goode and Meritage Homes Executive Chairman Steve Hilton…
The resolution from the Arizona House of Representatives on Monday follows a Joint Legislative Proclamation, which was issued by Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen on October 11, to “denounce the horrific acts of war against Israel and support Israel’s right to defend itself” – among other calls to action for the Legislature. The Arizona Capitol Dome was lit ‘blue’ that week “to show Arizona’s support for Israel.”
Today a Joint Proclamation Supporting Israel has been signed by @votewarren & @RepBenToma and condemns the hateful attack on our ally. Let's turn the Capitol Dome light blue to show AZ's support for Israel.
Arizona’s leading Republican lawmakers wasted no time in holding the state’s Democrat governor accountable on the first day of the Second Regular Session of the 56th Legislature.
On Monday, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs delivered her second State of the State address, and the border crisis was the first theme she tackled in her speech to legislators and guests in the House chamber and gallery.
Together, let us continue to find real solutions, support law enforcement, first responders, and community leaders who are on the frontlines of this issue, and push Washington to do its job to secure our border.#SOTS2024#HobbsSOTSpic.twitter.com/jS3Rsukyvq
Hobbs blamed both “Democratic and Republican administrations” for “the failure to secure our southern border,” railing against “the same old political games that created this crisis and that have continually hurt communities, families, and our state.” The second-year governor asserted that she “delivered” on multiple fronts to help mitigate the crisis, including the launch of Operation SECURE and the creation of a Border Coordination Office within the Arizona Department of Homeland Security.
Both Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma reacted to the governor’s State of the State, releasing a joint video immediately after the conclusion of Hobbs’ remarks. The two men prioritized their response to this specific issue, dedicating almost two minutes of their five-minute video to discuss the governor’s record on border security. Toma argued that despite Hobbs’ attempt to make Arizonans “believe she’s all about securing our border and ending the lawlessness caused by Joe Biden’s immigration system…her record is one of open borders…and she’s continued that approach as governor.” The House Speaker alleged that “the governor’s reputation on immigration policy has only fueled this crisis.”
Petersen talked about “major mistakes” from Hobbs by vetoing three bills in particular “that would have kept families safe from drugs and crime.” Those 2023 bills, according to the Senate Republican leader, were HB 2675 (drug cartels, terrorist organizations; sponsored by Montenegro), HB 2469 (sovereign authority, border, health crisis; sponsored by Montenegro), and SB 1408 (electronic applications, human smuggling; sponsored by Wadsack). The East Valley lawmaker also noted that Hobbs “was a staunch critic of the shipping container barrier and advocated for its removal” at the border.
Toma also highlighted an instance when his colleagues “stopped (Hobbs’) irresponsible proposal of providing $40 million in state funding to pay for the college education of illegals in our state.”
During 2023, the first year of a rare, divided government in the Grand Canyon State, legislative Republicans effectively pointed out that the reality with the border crisis could have been more daunting for Arizonans if not for their check on Democrats. When Hobbs signed the state budget compromise in May, Petersen noted his members “prevented the Governor and Democrat Legislators from advancing their extremist agenda,” and promised “we’re not getting rid of state-funded border security resources to keep our communities safe.” Despite Hobbs’ efforts to be perceived as taking the border crisis seriously in the new year, she is unlikely to work with legislative Republicans on much – if any – fixes to help mitigate the lawlessness and consequences for affected communities.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Mere days before the start of the 2024 Arizona legislative session, the state’s Democrat governor is finally telegraphing her primary plan for the months ahead – though her proposal is likely dead on arrival with the Republican-led House and Senate chambers.
On Tuesday, Governor Katie Hobbs issued a press release to reveal “her plan to increase accountability and transparency in the ESA voucher program.” The governor’s plan has eight elements, including “increasing student safety, protecting rights for students with disabilities, requiring accountability for taxpayer dollars, expanding auditor general authority, prohibiting price gouging, raising educational standards, establishing program transparency, reinstating eligibility requirements.”
The ESA program, which is projected to cost the state nearly $1 billion, lacks accountability and transparency.
Today, I’m announcing my plan to keep students safe, protect taxpayer dollars, and give parents and students the information to make an informed educational choice.…
In a statement, Governor Hobbs said, “The ESA program lacks accountability and transparency. With this plan, we can keep students safe, protect taxpayer dollars, and give parents and students the information they need to make an informed choice about their education. Arizonans deserve to know their money is being spent on educating students, not on handouts to unaccountable schools and unvetted vendors for luxury spending. My plan is simple: every school receiving taxpayer dollars must have basic standards to show they’re keeping our students safe and giving Arizona children the education they deserve.”
Hobbs’ announcement was followed by two volleys from leading Arizona Republicans. House Speaker Ben Toma immediately highlighted his opposition to the governor’s announcement, saying, “Empowerment Scholarship Accounts are wildly popular with Arizona parents because they leverage private sector solutions to offer the best educational opportunities for their children. Meanwhile, Governor Hobbs and Democratic Party legislators now seek to strangle ESAs and private education with bureaucracy and regulation. I won’t allow that to happen.”
The state’s schools chief, Superintendent Tom Horne, also issued his own statement, focusing on the governor’s proposition to mandate “accountability” for user purchases in the ESA program. Horne said, “One proposal stands out because it’s already in place: The governor recommends a manual review of ESA purchases over $500. My office already reviews all expense requests regardless of amount, unlike the previous superintendent who approved many frivolous requests. In 2023, we rejected several thousand ESA applications for lack of adequate documentation and suspended almost 2,200 accounts totaling $21 million because the student was enrolled in a public school. We’ve also rejected more than 12,000 ESA purchase order requests.”
Other legislative Republicans shared their sentiments against Hobbs’ proposals. Senator Jake Hoffman posted the following to his “X” account: “Let’s be very clear… Katie’s half cocked attempt to destroy an invaluable parental choice option via ‘death by a thousand cuts’ is DOA at the Capitol. The Arizona Freedom Caucus will make sure of it.”
Let’s be very clear…
Katie’s half cocked attempt to destroy an invaluable parental choice option via ‘death by a thousand cuts’ is DOA at the Capitol.
Representative Jacqueline Parker added, “Nothing lacks more accountability & transparency than the government school system. ESA’s are an extremely successful & equalizing solution, so of course democrats want to mess it up.”
Nothing lacks more accountability & transparency than the government school system. ESA’s are an extremely successful & equalizing solution, so of course democrats want to mess it up. 🤦🏻♀️ https://t.co/iZn9U0v23R
Arizona’s universal ESA program has long been a significant point of contention between members of the two major political parties in the state, though legislative Republicans scored a huge victory in 2023 when they negotiated a budget compromise with Hobbs that left the historic school choice opportunities completely unscathed. After news of the budget agreement hit the wires, many Democrats and education interest groups levied their disappointment and disapproval over the governor’s inability to extract any concessions with the program. Hobbs spent the rest of the year picking fights with Horne over the stewardship and leadership of ESAs in an attempt to win back political capital, leading to this announcement just ahead of the commencement of the upcoming session.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona has a new Elections Procedures Manual for the 2024 cycle, though litigation is all but certain from state Republicans.
On Saturday, just before the statute-mandated deadline of December 31, Democrat Adrian Fontes issued the 2023 Election Procedures Manual, after securing approvals from his fellow Democrat officeholders, Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes. In a statement to accompany the release of the manual, Fontes said, “Free, fair and secure elections have been this group’s commitment to the voter from the very beginning. This is what happens when a committed group of leaders comes together to serve their community. It’s good for our democracy and it’s good for Arizona.”
For the first time since 1978-1979, Democrats control the top three statewide offices in Arizona (Governor: Bruce Babbitt, Attorney General: John LaSota, Secretary of State: Rose Mofford). One of the most significant consequences of securing this power trifecta is the ability to negotiate, craft, and green light the state’s Election Procedures Manual without initial interference from opposing political voices, as required by law every two years.
Arizona Republicans were quick to push back against the elections manual and signaled a willingness to challenge the legality of its contents in court. House Speaker Ben Toma stated, “A lawful Elections Procedures Manual is paramount for the integrity of our elections. It’s been a top priority of the Arizona House Republican Caucus. I’m disappointed that SoS Fontes refused to correct many objections we raised in our comment to the EPM draft. We are preparing for litigation.”
The speaker’s reference to previous ‘objections’ harkened to an August public comment letter, which was submitted by Senate President Warren Petersen and Toma to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office after they reviewed the draft manual. Then, the legislators had identified their chief concern with Fontes’ initial offering, which was the “unlawful delay in the implementation of a 2021 state law that helps prevent voter fraud by requiring county recorders to remove any voters registered on the active early voter list who have not cast a ballot during two consecutive election cycles and have not responded to notification from the recorder that they wish to continue participation.” Petersen and Toma asserted that the consequence of this delay would be the perpetuated issuance “of ballots being sent to the homes of voters who may have moved or no longer wish to participate in this process, opening the door for ballots getting into the hands of unintended individuals.”
In a new statement after the release of the approved EPM, Petersen said, “We warned the SOS early on that we would sue if the Elections Procedure Manual was not corrected to reflect the laws passed by the legislature. Unfortunately that did not happen. I imagine there will be many plaintiffs joining the Senate in protecting our elections.”
We warned the SOS early on that we would sue if the Elections Procedure Manual was not corrected to reflect the laws passed by the legislature. Unfortunately that did not happen. I imagine their will be many plaintiffs join the Senate in protecting our elections.
Arizona Republican Party Chairman, Jeff DeWit, also promised legal action against the manual, calling it an “egregious destruction of election fairness by the Democrats.”
The AZGOP shared four “concerning elements” from its cursory review of the manual: limitation of free speech, restriction of voter challenges, exclusion of Republican oversight, and refusal to heed legal precedent. In its press release, the state Republican party charged Fontes with “trying to take powers from the state legislature that are not his to take.”
Representative Alexander Kolodin weighed in on the EPM, writing, “Fontes’ EPM is not an Elections Procedures Manual, it is a how-to manual to disenfranchise Republican voters and a breathtakingly unlawful power grab. It cannot be allowed to stand!”
Fontes' EPM is not an Elections Procedures Manual, it is a how-to manual to disenfranchise Republican voters and a breathtakingly unlawful power grab. It cannot be allowed to stand! https://t.co/gZ4oHQ6SIC
While most Arizona Republicans are united in opposition to the 2023 EPM, so, too, are Democrats in their support of the Secretary of State’s submission. Governor Katie Hobbs, who preceded Fontes, said, “Partisan politics should have no role in how we run our elections. This EPM builds on the 2019 EPM and 2021 draft EPM from my tenure as Secretary of State and will ensure dedicated public servants from across the state will have the guidelines they need to administer free and fair elections. Together, we can protect our democracy and make sure every Arizonan has the opportunity to have their voice heard.”
As Secretary of State, Hobbs was required to finalize the EPM in 2021, but a divided government shared with Republican Governor Doug Ducey and Attorney General Mark Brnovich stymied the quest to secure a green light for the manual. Hobbs and Brnovich were also mired in an ongoing political feud, which resulted in legal bar charges that the Secretary of State brought against the state’s top prosecutor and several of his attorneys. After receiving Hobbs’ updated manual, Brnovich sued the SOS “to compel her production of a lawful EPM.” Brnovich alleged that “the SOS failed to provide the Governor and Attorney General with a lawful manual by October 1, 2021, as required, and instead included nearly one-hundred pages of provisions not permitted under the EPM statute.” The challenge from the former Attorney General was rendered unsuccessful, and the state was forced to revert to the previous cycle’s EPM (2019) to govern the 2022 races.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona’s top two legislative Republicans are standing for the Second Amendment.
Last week, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma joined a public comment letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on its newly proposed rule, Definition of “Engaged in the Business as a Dealer in Firearms.”
Petersen and Toma signed on to a letter, which was led by the States of Kansas, Iowa, and Montana – and co-signed by 22 attorneys general of other states. Those States were Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
In a statement to AZ Free News, Petersen explained the importance of his signature on this letter, saying, “This is a radical and dangerous proposed rule. You shouldn’t need to be licensed as a firearms dealer to sell a gun to family and friends. In the absence of our Arizona Attorney General defending our citizens’ constitutional rights, I believe it’s imperative state lawmakers push back against this bureaucratic infringement on lawful gun ownership.”
Toma also told AZ Free News, “I am thankful and appreciative for the opportunity to sign on to the letter. Arizona Attorney General Mayes has not expressed any interest in safeguarding Arizonans’ gun rights protected by the Second Amendment. So I felt that it was my duty as the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives to speak up for all Arizonans against the Biden Administration’s unconstitutional proposed rule.”
According to the agency, the U.S. Attorney General “signed ATF’s notice of proposed rulemaking, which proposes to amend ATF’s regulations to implement the provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), enacted on June 25, 2022.” Specifically, the proposed regulation would “incorporate the BSCA’s definition ‘predominantly earn a profit,’ creating a stand-alone definition of ‘terrorism,’ and amending the definitions of ‘principal objective of livelihood and profit’ and ‘engaged in the business’ to ensure each conforms with the BSCA’s statutory changes and can be relied on by the public.”
The Arizona legislators concurred with the arguments that the proposed rule “violates the Second Amendment, is arbitrary and capricious, and is bad public policy.” The signatories wrote in their comment letter that “this overreach is both shocking and unconstitutional. Although longstanding regulations of large commercial enterprises that sell firearms might be consistent with the Second Amendment, that is not what this proposed rule does. This proposed rule seeks to require a license of every individual who sells a firearm for anything the Bureau sees as a profit to include currency, exchange of another firearm, or a service.”
They added, “If the Bureau was serious about combatting violent crime, it would focus on enforcing the laws that are already on the books to hold violent criminals accountable for their actions. That would be the type of work that could save lives. Unfortunately, the Bureau has instead targeted innocent people who sell firearms. That is not only unlawful but wrong and the Bureau must change course.”
On March 14, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order, directing members of his cabinet – the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to “submit a report to the President within 60 days…describing what actions their respective agencies have taken to implement the Act, data, and analysis regarding the use and early effects of the Act, and additional steps their respective agencies will take to maximize the benefits of the Act.” On May 14, President Biden announced “13 actions his cabinet has taken or will take to maximize the benefits of the legislation, including new steps to keep guns out of dangerous hands, ensure BSCA’s mental health funding helps those dealing with the grief and trauma resulting from gun violence, make our schools safer, and expand community violence interventions.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
