A proposal to help keep cash in circulation is moving on in the Arizona Legislature.
Earlier this week, the Arizona House of Representatives approved HB 2683 “to ensure that businesses with a physical presence in Arizona must accept cash for transactions up to $100.” The bill was sponsored by State Representative Joseph Chaplik.
In a statement accompanying the announcement of the bill’s progress, Chaplik said, “Legal tender is exactly that – it must be accepted. Millions of Americans, including the most financially vulnerable rely on cash for their daily transactions. No one should be denied the ability to buy groceries, medicine, or other essentials simply because they choose or need to use cash.”
Chaplik added, “Not everyone has a credit card or a bank account. This bill protects seniors, working-class families, and those who prefer the privacy of cash transactions. It stops businesses from turning away customers who are simply trying to pay with their own hard-earned money.”
The bill was overwhelmingly passed by the state House with a 45-15 vote. Earlier in the month, HB 2683 was given the green light from the House Commerce Committee with a unanimous 10-0 vote.
According to the press release from the Arizona House Republicans, the legislation would “prohibit businesses from imposing extra fees for cash payments and establishes civil penalties for violations. The bill does not apply to online sales or private contracts but ensures that brick-and-mortar businesses cannot deny customers the ability to use U.S. currency.” The release also revealed that similar statutes are in place in the States of Colorado, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Arizona Public Interest Research Group and Arizona Faith Network signed in to support the bill. Representatives from the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Chamber of Commerce, East Valley Chambers of Commerce Alliance, West Valley Chamber of Commerce Alliance, National Federation of Independent Business, Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce indicated their organizations’ opposition to this legislation.
HB 2683 will now be considered by the Arizona Senate.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
A citizen-safety bill has cleared its first chamber of the Arizona Legislature.
On Monday, the Arizona House of Representatives approved HB 2684, which “prohibits pedestrians from congregating or soliciting in dangerous areas such as painted or raised medians, highway entrance and exit ramps, and other locations without safe pedestrian access.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the bill’s passage, State Representative Joseph Chaplik, the sponsor of the legislation, said, “Arizona ranks among the highest in the nation for pedestrian fatalities, and too often, people are standing or sitting in traffic medians, freeway ramps, and other places where no pedestrian should ever be. This law will prevent senseless tragedies by ensuring that pedestrians stay out of harm’s way, while also protecting drivers from the devastation of hitting someone in traffic. Public safety is not partisan – it’s common sense.”
According to the release from the Arizona House of Representatives, the bill stipulates that “law enforcement officers will issue a warning for a first violation, a civil traffic citation for a second offense, and a class 1 misdemeanor for repeat violations.”
Chaplik added, “With the passage of this bill, House Republicans continue delivering on our promise to make Arizona a safer place. The governor vetoed this bill last year, but we’ve addressed her concerns by adjusting penalties while keeping the focus where it belons – on safety. I hope she reconsiders and signs it into law this time.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Rural Arizona Action, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, AZ National Organization for Women (NOW), AZ Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and Arizona Coalition for Working Families, signed in to oppose the proposal from the House Republican.
Earlier this month, HB 2684 was approved by the House Committee on Regulatory Oversight with a 3-2 vote. All three Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while both Democrats joined together in opposition.
HB 2684 will now head over to the Arizona Senate for consideration.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Voters are sending newly elected Arizona legislators to office with a clear mandate from the people of Arizona: The people must be the chief stakeholder of their representatives.
The days of woke and swampy lobbyists and consultants overriding our voices have come to an end, unless your legislator votes for the swamp grift to continue with their first vote representing you. The SECRET vote for legislative leadership picks happens tomorrow, Tuesday, November 12th at 9 am.
Leadership votes are the most evident indicator of the policy that will lead each chamber. All policy floats downstream from leadership. The leadership of each chamber of the legislature determines whether the grassroots have a seat at the table or if a quid pro quo, pay-to-play agenda will lead their administration.
The leader of the House is called the Speaker. The leader of the Senate is called the Senate President. While the grassroots worked hard to reform both chambers in 2022, only Senate President Warren Petersen performed with a complete turnover of poor-performing staff and additional efficiencies in how government runs. He also led the efforts to stop the run-amok executive authority by appointing Sen. Jake Hoffman to lead the confirmation committee process of Governor Katie Hobbs’ appointees. These efforts have been wildly successful, with Arizona voters confirming their support at the ballot box by expanding Republican majorities in both chambers.
It’s time for the House to follow suit with a Speaker who will put the mandate from the people first and help ensure that President Trump’s America First agenda takes root in Arizona. The candidates running include:
1.Joe Chaplik, a legislator in LD3 who previously ran for Speaker in 2022. Chaplik was spurred on by the grassroots and only missed it by a single vote. He has served his district since 2022. He’s a successful businessman with “25 years of executive leadership experience building and guiding top-tier companies,” according to his AZ Legislature biography. Chaplik is also a founding member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus. He gained wide popularity in leading the effort to relieve children of the abusive mask mandates in schools. Chaplik’s lifetime Arizona Free Enterprise Club scorecard score is 100%.
2.Leo Biasiucci, a legislator in LD30 currently serving as Majority Leader. Biasiucci has no biography on record. He’s served in his district since 2020. Ballotpedia says he has a background in “owning Mohave Traffic Survival School and working as an actor with SAG-AFTRA, a claims analyst with GEICO, and a financial auditor with GE Capital.” He is known to have led the House Victory PAC effort. And he’s also been a friend to both the grassroots and moderate members of the Caucus. Biasiucci’s lifetime Arizona Free Enterprise Club scorecard score is 84%, with a recent session score of 78%.
3. Steve Montenegro, a legislator in LD29 since 2023. Montenegro also doesn’t have a biography on record. He previously served as a legislator from 2008 to 2017. Montenegro previously ran for Congress against Debbie Lesko and lost mainly due to a myriad of reports of an inappropriate relationship with a young staffer while serving in legislative leadership, even though he was married and a pastor. He also previously worked in former Congressman Trent Franks‘ office for a decade. Franks was also plagued by a scandal involving a young female staffer. Montenegro’s Ballotpedia says he previously worked as a principal consultant of Coronam Consulting. He’s also served as an executive with Patrick Byrne’s The America Project. Montenegro has also previously been a big champion of eliminating the Electoral College with a yes vote on the National Popular Vote initiative in 2016 on HB2456—a popular radical left initiative to upend our Constitutional Republic. It died thanks to then-Senate President Andy Biggs, who blocked it from being voted on in the Senate. Montenegro’s lifetime Arizona Free Enterprise Club scorecard score is 91%, with the most recent session clocking in at 81%.
When looking at the most recent legislative track records, the voters get a clearer picture of the leadership each candidate offers. Montenegro ran 29 bills this session, with only two passing or 6.9%. Chaplik ran seven bills, with one passing or 14%. Biasiucci ran 34 bills, with eight passing or 23.5%. Unfortunately, most passed bills were victim to Governor Hobbs’ veto stamp.
Chaplik’s keen understanding of government efficiency stands out most in this record. Chaplik has long been preaching a message that poor management in the House has led to chaos, an all-powerful lobbyist and consultant class overriding the will of the people, and unsupported legislators with few tools to serve the best interests of their constituents and fulfill the people’s mandate. He’s walked the walk by limiting the number of bills he’s personally run, ensuring staff time isn’t wasted on silly messaging bills.
Chaplik also advocates for sessions to return to 100 days as our state Constitution prescribes to prevent swampy budgets and pay-to-play sweetheart deals benefiting the lobbyist and consulting class.
Finally, Chaplik offers a vision where the legislature prioritizes its only constitutional mandate – the budget – and presents that to the Governor early in the session to avoid gridlock and threats of government shutdowns. Senate President Petersen has supported early budget preparation and was successful in this endeavor in 2023. It changed the power dynamic with the radical left executive branch and restored power to the people’s representatives. The people benefit greatly when efficiency is prioritized by leading with the budget first.
These reforms, coupled with cleaning house of staff leadership who have promoted chaos and undermined the body and Speaker historically on many occasions, are a winning combination for the majority party to fulfill the mandate from the voters.
Legislators who genuinely seek to serve the people should make it known now whether they intend to make the people the chief stakeholders of their government or the political lobbyist consultant class.
The voters should demand transparency in their legislators’ first vote, setting the tone for the next two years. Transparency dies in darkness, and no legislator should keep their leadership votes secret from their constituents.
A quick search on X shows the grassroots favors Chaplik to lead the House. Do you know who your legislators will vote for tomorrow in the House Speaker race? Have they asked you who you want to lead the AZ People’s House?
Merissa Hamilton is the founder and chairwoman of the nonpartisan nonprofit organizations Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona and Strong Communities Action, also known as EZAZ.org, which are focused on making civic education and action as easy as pie. She’s an elected Member at Large of Congressional District 1 for the Arizona Republican Party and previously ran for Mayor in 2020. Merissa is also the Director of Integration and Policy at The R.O.A.R. PAC, which is on a mission to restore our American Republic.
Fountain Hills Town Councilman and Republican Mayoral Candidate Gerry Friedel revealed on Tuesday that Democrat incumbent Mayor Ginny Dickey has refused to appoint primary election winner Republican Gayle Earle to the council. Earle was the only candidate to earn enough votes to win the July 30th race outright.
In so refusing, Dickey preserves a 3-3 partisan deadlock until after the November election but is accused of violating state law (A.R.S. 9-235).
According to a press release, State Representatives Alex Kolodin and Joseph Chaplik, who represent Fountain Hills, filed a 1487 complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office on Monday calling upon the Solicitor General’s Office to investigate Dickey’s alleged non-compliance with the statute pertaining to “vacancies in council.”
Friedel’s campaign alleged that state funding for the town could be jeopardized by Dickey’s action writing, “The AG will investigate Mayor Dickey’s unwillingness to agendize filling the vacancy while the State Treasurer will be required to hold back the shared state funds for the town, effectively bankrupting Fountain Hills until the complaint is resolved.”
In a statement Friedel said:
“On September 30, 2024, State Representatives Alexander Kolodin and Joseph Chaplik have formally asked the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to investigate alleged wrongdoing by Fountain Hills Mayor Ginny Dickey during a Town Council Meeting on September 17, 2024. The Mayor and Council were asked to fill a council seat vacancy pursuant to A.R.S. 9-235 which states: ‘The council shall fill a vacancy that may occur.’ Accordingly, the Council has no discretion to wait until the voters fill the vacancy but, rather, is required to fill the vacancy itself pending the voters’ chosen candidate taking office which, in this case, was Councilwoman-Elect, Gayle Earle.
Ms. Earle was the only candidate to win outright during the July 30 primary election, securing 4226 votes. Councilmembers Gerry Friedel, Hannah Toth, and Allen Skillicorn voted to appoint Ms. Earle to fill this vacancy. Mayor Dickey, along with Councilmembers Peg McMahon and Brenda Kalivianakis voted against appointing Ms. Earle to this vacancy, thereby deadlocking with respect to filling the vacancy. It should be noted that not filling this vacancy could jeopardize town business and town finances for the remainder of the year. Mayor Dickey may now have to reconsider filling this vacancy to avoid being reprimanded by the Attorney General.”
In a post to X, Councilwoman Hannah Toth shared video of her making an impassioned argument for the appointment of Earle. She wrote, “Tonight the Democrats on the Fountain Hills Council chose Party over People. The people of Fountain Hills have chosen Gayle Earle, is the bipartisan choice to fill our vacant seat. Council members Dickey, McMahon, Kalivianakis would rather leave this seat vacant. They have assaulted democracy, robbing the people of their voice. But I stood up.”
Tonight the Democrats on the Fountain Hills Council chose Party over People.
The people of Fountain Hills have chosen Gayle Earle, is the bipartisan choice to fill our vacant seat.
Council members Dickey, McMahon, Kalivianakis would rather leave this seat vacant.
In a subsequent reply to a comment, Toth explained how the vacancy has been addressed on the council, “Gayle was elected for a 2025-2029 term, however we have a vacancy due to a council member whose term was expiring moving to CA. Therefore, we need someone to fill the seat for the 3 meetings before Gayle is sworn in. Oddly, Kalivianakis was recruiting replacements, and later the Democrats decided they would rather the seat just remain vacant, rather than install someone who has already been elected, early.”
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Friedel preserved a 3-3 partisan deadlock. Dickey is the current mayor responsible for preserving the 3-3 partisan deadlock. The story has been updated.
A number of Arizona Republicans quickly reacted to the unprecedented verdict out of New York City against former President Donald J. Trump, while Democrats across the state largely retweeted sensational headlines.
The Arizona Senate Republicans Caucus “X” account wrote, “This is a dark day in American history. The justice system has been weaponized by the radical left to take out a political opponent. This is something you’d expect from a communist nation, not the greatest country mankind has ever seen.”
This is a dark day in American history.
The justice system has been weaponized by the radical left to take out a political opponent. This is something you’d expect from a communist nation, not the greatest country mankind has ever seen.
State Representative Joseph Chaplik, a Republican, posted, “Rigged Trial. Compromised Judge. The American people won’t put up with this and will re-elect Trump in a landslide.”
Rigged Trial
Compromised Judge
The American people won’t put up with this and will re-elect Trump in a landslide https://t.co/wbTzDk15IP
— Rep. Joseph Chaplik 🇺🇸 (@JosephChaplik) May 30, 2024
State Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope added, “I’ve never financially contributed to a presidential campaign until today. Arizona will be behind President Donald Trump this November and that’s the verdict that matters!”
I’ve never financially contributed to a presidential campaign until today. Arizona will be behind President @realDonaldTrump this November and that’s the verdict that matters! https://t.co/a0vWiwJMwv
Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, a Republican, commented, “When history is written, this will go down as one of the darkest days in American political history. The political prosecution of a former President for murky charges is a disgrace. Our democracy never contemplated lawfare as a political weapon and we cannot continue down this path.”
When history is written, this will go down as one of the darkest days in American political history. The political prosecution of a former President for murky charges is a disgrace. Our democracy never contemplated lawfare as a political weapon and we cannot continue down this…
State Senator Wendy Rogers said, “Today marks a regrettable event in American history, as Democrats celebrated the conviction of the opposing party’s leader on charges based upon testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon.”
Today marks a regrettable event in American history, as Democrats celebrated the conviction of the opposing party's leader on charges based upon testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This highlights the ongoing weaponization of the justice system by the Biden Administration.… pic.twitter.com/4j7LS2QjXg
Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo, a Democrat, shared an infographic of jury’s decision for the former president, noting that “Today was a big win for the rule of law, election transparency, and our constitution.”
— Supervisor Steve Gallardo (@Steve_Gallardo) May 30, 2024
Many Democrats in the Arizona Legislature did not post their own comments and opinions about the verdict on their “X” accounts, though some of those members reposted news stories about the historic outcome from the Manhattan courtroom.
Both Republicans and Democrats in Arizona are closely watching the aftermath of this verdict with how tight the November General Election figures to be in the Grand Canyon State. Not only are Trump and President Joe Biden competing for the state’s eleven critical Electoral College votes, but Arizona showcases significant contests for the U.S. Senate, several ballot initiatives, and the State Legislature.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
