by Daniel Stefanski | Jun 5, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona voters will have the opportunity to empower local law enforcement to better secure their communities after the state legislature sent a measure to the November ballot.
On Tuesday, the Arizona House of Representatives passed HCR 2060, the Secure the Border Act, sending the proposal to the November General Election ballot. The vote was entirely along party lines.
House Speaker Ben Toma, who sponsored the original version of the ballot referral earlier this year, lauded the progress of the measure. Toma said, “Arizonans have had enough and want change. They want safe communities and a secure border. House Republicans do too. That’s why we crafted HCR 2060, the Secure the Border Act, a ballot referral with meaningful reforms to protect the integrity of Arizona’s workforce, strengthen criminal laws, and reinforce the rule of law in this state. Today’s final passage sends this Act to the ballot this November, so the will of Arizona voters is heard.”
The state House gallery was closed during the debate and subsequent vote for the bill, and Democrats made sure their displeasure was known. State Representative Alma Hernandez said, “Shameful. This is the people’s house. The public should have the right to be there. I don’t remember the last time I was here in the past six years when the gallery was closed to the public. They do not want the public watching. If they were so proud of the bill we are going to vote on today, there would be no reason to close down the gallery.”
The Arizona House Republicans Caucus “X” account responded to the accusations, writing, “Due to security concerns prompted by the shameful and illegally disruptive conduct by Democrats and their leftist allies, the House gallery is not open today. However, anyone who wants to come down to the House of Representatives and watch democracy live in action is welcome and the lights are on.”
During final consideration of HCR 2060 in the Arizona Senate last month, a group of protestors disrupted the legislative process with their shouting against the measure, forcing security to remove them from the gallery.
Arizona Senate Republicans also cheered on their colleagues in the other chamber for approving of this border-related ballot measure. After the vote, Senate President Warren Petersen and other Senators issued statements of support for the House’s action to send HCR 2060 to Arizona voters in November. Petersen said, “In the 12 years I’ve served here at the Arizona Legislature, never has the border crisis been as dangerously severe as it is now, costing Arizona taxpayers more than $3 billion in 2023 alone. As soon as Joe Biden took office, he rolled out the welcome mat for illegal crossings and criminal activity. Now, just months away from an election, he issues yet another executive order so that we’ll all of a sudden believe he cares about the chaos he’s constructed. The citizens of this state aren’t buying it, and they will take border security matters into their own hands this November.”
Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, however, was not pleased with the result. In a series of posts on her official “X” account, Hobbs said, “As I’ve said time and time again: HCR 2060 will hurt Arizona businesses, send jobs out of state, make it more difficult for law enforcement to do their jobs, and bust the state’s budget. It will not secure our border. I have listened to the needs of border law enforcement and have done everything in my power to support their efforts to maintain a safe, secure, and humane border. What’s clear from my conversations with law enforcement on the ground is that HCR 2060 is not the answer.”
Attorney General Kris Mayes, also a Democrat, echoed Hobbs’ sentiments about the measure, stating, “Further straining law enforcement resources while implementing a measure that could lead to racial profiling is not the answer to creating safer communities. HCR 2060 is a political distraction that will sow seeds of bias and fear without fixing the issues it claims to address.”
The top political party organizations in Arizona also took opposing sides on HCR 2060. The Republican Party of Arizona posted, “It’s long past time to protect our communities, secure our borders, and give Arizonans a voice.”
The Arizona Democratic Party countered with their own reaction to the passage of the measure, writing, “Today, Republicans again voted to bring back SB 1070 era immigration politics by introducing a ballot referral that mirrors a Texas Law allowing local law enforcement to racially profile people.”
The efforts from Arizona legislators to send this referral to state voters comes months after Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1231, the Arizona Border Invasion Act, which would have “ma[de] it unlawful for a person who is an alien (unlawful immigrant) to enter Arizona from a foreign nation at any location other than a lawful port of entry and outline[d] penalties for violations of illegally entering Arizona and provide[d] immunity from civil liability and indemnification for state and local government officials, employees and contractors who enforce this prohibition” – according to the purpose from the state Senate.
Senator Janae Shamp, the sponsor of SB 1231, had vowed in the aftermath of the governor’s veto that members of her party would continue to push forward solutions to combat the border crisis. This week, Shamp took a victory lap after the state House gave the green light to HCR 2060, stating, “The time has come to empower Arizonans to fight back against the tyranny. I wholeheartedly believe the Secure the Border Act will save countless lives, save billions in taxpayer dollars, and strengthen our national security. We must stop the invasion now, otherwise, our beloved Arizona as we know it will be no more.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 17, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona officials and agencies recognized law enforcement during the annual Police Week.
The Arizona Senate Republicans Caucus “X” account honored these first responders, writing, “This week we honor our law enforcement who put their lives on the line daily, as well as the fallen officers who paid the ultimate price to protect us. Our prayers are with the police officers and their families each and every day. THANK YOU!”
Senator Janae Shamp added, “God bless all the men and women in blue! We never miss an opportunity to let them know how appreciated they are by the Shamp family! #BacktheBlue”
Peoria Mayor Jason Beck posted, “During National Police Week, we are honoring our brave men and women in blue. On behalf of Peoria, we express our deepest gratitude for their constant dedication to keeping our communities safe.”
The Arizona Department of Education “X” account stated, “Superintendent Horne is thankful for Arizona’s Law Enforcement community. These heroes protect students, families, and our way of life.”
The Arizona Troopers Association shared a picture of four of its members in Washington, D.C., outside of the White House for police week.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office posted a video from County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, writing, “This National Police Week, we honor the dedication and sacrifice of our law enforcement community and their families. We are thankful for the brave men and women in Maricopa County and every corner of our nation who put everything on the line to keep our communities safe!”
The City of Apache Junction also stated, “We pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, never forgetting their courage and commitment.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Mar 21, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill that would safeguard Arizona lands from being owned by foreign adversaries is progressing through the state legislature along partisan lines.
Last week, the Arizona Senate passed SB 1403, which would “prohibit a foreign principal from a designated country from, directly or indirectly, purchasing, owning, acquiring by grant or devising or having any other interest in real property in Arizona” – according to the purpose from the chamber.
Sixteen Republicans voted for the legislation, compared to 12 Democrats (two members did not vote).
According to the bill, “designated country” is defined “as a country that is identified by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence as a country that poses a risk to the national security of the United States in each of the three most recent Annual Threat Assessments of the U.S. intelligence community.”
After the vote, the Arizona Senate Republican Caucus’ “X” account posted, “JUST IN – China, Russia, Iran & North Korea are enemy nations who only want to unleash harm on the United States and pose an incredible risk to our national security on a daily basis. Today, Senate Democrats voted ‘NO’ on legislation prohibiting these countries from owning land in Arizona. The Left’s reckless disregard for the safety of our state and our citizens continues to be on full display through every irresponsible vote undermining our efforts to protect our communities.”
Senator Janae Shamp, the bill’s sponsor, added, “It was very disappointing to see only Republicans vote in support of a bill that our state’s military asked to protect our citizens, especially because the bill initially received bipartisan support in committee. SB 1403 prohibits organizations in a country determined to be a serious threat to the United States, from owning or leasing property in Arizona. I created this legislation because of real threats Luke Air Force Base has experienced. This base is home to the elite F-35 squadrons that train the world’s greatest fighter pilots around the clock to protect our nation. Arizona is also home to the Barry M. Goldwater range in Yuma, which is the third-largest land base in the US. Foreign adversaries have no business buying property near these bases, but this is happening, and it’s a threat to national security.”
The second-year lawmaker opined on why members of the minority party in the chamber might have opposed her legislation, writing, “Why were Democrats so outraged over Saudis owning Arizona farmland, and yet they have no concern for these other real-time security threats? The answer: political theatre.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Mar 14, 2024 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
The Arizona Legislature continues to work on solutions to crack down on organized retail theft across the state.
Last week, the Arizona Senate overwhelmingly passed SB 1411 with a 22-4 vote (with four members not voting). The bill would “require the Attorney General to establish the Organized Retail Theft Task Force to combat crimes that relate to stealing, embezzling or obtaining retail merchandise by fraud, false pretenses or other illegal means for the purposes of reselling the items” – according to the purpose from the chamber.
After the vote, Senator David Gowan, the bill’s sponsor, issued the following statement: “California has been forced to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to fight an enormous rise in organized retail crime because of their liberal policies that oppose holding people accountable for breaking the law. Businesses have been forced to shut down and pull out of the state. We don’t want to turn into California, but unfortunately Arizona is also experiencing a rise in these crimes. We need to get ahead of the issue to prevent going down the same path, which is why I sponsored SB 1411 to establish a task force to combat crimes that relate to stealing, embezzling, or obtaining retail merchandise by fraud, false pretenses, or other illegal means for the purposes of reselling the items.”
Gowan added, “The task force will be comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement, in order to use their combined skills, expertise, and resources more effectively. This bill passed out of the Senate with strong bipartisan support. We all want to protect our businesses and keep our communities safe from theft.”
Last month, the bill passed the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, Public Safety and Border Security with a 7-0 tally.
Senator Janae Shamp and Representative Justin Wilmeth joined as co-sponsors for the legislation.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Retailers Association, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, and CVS Health signed in in support of the proposal.
SB 1411 now heads to the Arizona House of Representatives for consideration.
The efforts to shut down organized retail theft crimes continue the state’s already strong reputation on this front. Arizona already has another Organized Retail Crime Task Force, which commenced under former Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s administration and is also housed in the State Attorney General’s Office.
In December 2021, Brnovich wrote an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, warning would-be criminals of his office’s efforts to investigate and prosecute these offenses – especially in the wake of the lawlessness in Arizona’s neighboring state to the west. He wrote, “As Arizona’s attorney general, I have refused to capitulate to the lawless mob…We expect our efforts will deter such theft and hope our task force becomes a model for California and other states.”
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell also has a strong presence against organized retail theft. In 2023, her office announced that it had made 354 bookings over these crimes, which was the most in the county since 2020. Additionally, in November 2023, Mitchell started a ‘Safe Shopping’ Campaign “to stop this fast-growing category of lawlessness.” Mitchell said, “Here’s what I say to the thieves who commit these crimes: we will find you, you will be arrested, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Mar 12, 2024 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
On Monday, an Arizona Senate bill requiring equal medical treatment and insurance coverage for detransitioners advanced out of a House committee.
SB1511 passed narrowly out of the House Health & Human Services Committee along party lines, 5-4. Rep. Matt Gress (R-LD04) was absent. The bill would require parity of treatment between those who transition and those seeking to detransition; it wouldn’t compel healthcare providers or insurers to provide their services to detransitioners if their services don’t include gender transitions.
The bill sponsor, Sen. Janae Shamp (R-LD29), said during the committee’s Monday hearing that the state doesn’t currently provide complete care for all who suffer from gender dysphoria. The senator explained that billing and diagnoses codes exist for those undergoing gender transitions, but that none exist for detransitioners. Shamp explained that the bill includes a requirement for data tracking in order to better understand detransitioning rates and quality of care.
“This isn’t about what we believe, this is about taking care of people who need medical coverage,” said Shamp.
Several showed up to testify in favor of the bill.
David Boettger, a recently retired pediatrician from Salt Lake City and unpaid consultant for the political advocacy group Do No Harm, offered some data on those who transition. Boettger claimed that transgender individuals suffer from 19 times the suicide rate, five times more suicide attempts, 3.5 times more in-patient psychiatric admissions, and 2.5 times for cancer diagnoses. He characterized transitioning as a “ticking time bomb.”
Another Do No Harm representative, emergency doctor Carrie Mendoza, insisted that SB1511 assured individuals would receive insurance coverage that is critical to access and quality care. Mendoza testified that she handled detransitioners suffering from wound care problems, UTIs, and frequent pain, and that a lack of medical codes for treating detransitioners has caused their issues to go unreported, therefore limiting the healthcare community’s understanding of their needs.
Further testimony came from attorney Martha Shoultz, a representative of the organization Transition Justice. Shoultz testified on how young people who come to her organization have expressed difficulty in finding doctors who can balance hormones. Shoultz testified to the existence of several girls bound in wheelchairs or in need of lifelong medication due to uterine atrophy, and young men who never can have their same sexual functions after transitioning.
In closing, Shamp emphasized that her bill wasn’t partisan, but rather focused on assisting those left without recourse under the current healthcare system. Shamp said that she had engaged in numerous discussions with detransitioners troubled by doctors not knowing how to take care of them. Shamp said that one Arizonan told her that he would have to move to Israel in order to receive the care he needs.
“I understand that this has become a partisan issue, and I wish it wasn’t,” said Shamp. “That’s not what this bill is. Hear me when I say this is about taking care of all people. This isn’t about whether we agree or disagree on gender dysphoria or transitioning.”
Rep. Selina Bliss (R-LD01) expressed her support for the bill from her perspective as a nurse.
“To help someone with gender dysphoria to a certain point and abandon them, I just can’t sit here silently,” said Bliss.
Ahead of her “no” vote, Rep. Patty Contreras (D-LD12) read aloud from a coalition of LGBTQ individuals declaring the bill to be an “unnecessary and gratuitous excuse” to delegitimize gender transitions. Contreras’ letter denied the existence of detransitioners, claiming they were forced to detransition due to the harassment and discrimination they faced after transitioning.
Rep. Sarah Ligouri (D-LD05) said that the legislation constituted “government overreach,” specifically the datakeeping measure within the bill as a registry of individuals who transitioned genders.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the bill would require health insurers and healthcare providers who provide gender transition services to also provide detransition services. Additionally, the bill would require health insurers to submit monthly reports to the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions detailing the number of gender detransition insurance claims; the age, sex, and state and county of residence of individuals who receive any gender detransition procedures, and the dates of the procedures. The reports wouldn’t include any names or personal information.
The bill would also require state agencies that issue licenses, certificates, permits, or any other official documents to adopt an expedited procedure for detransitioners seeking corrections to their official documents.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
