by Matthew Holloway | May 24, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ was passed in a late-night round of voting in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday with near-unanimous support from Republicans. The massive and wide-reaching budget reform bill now moves to the Senate
Two House Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Warren Davidson (R-OH), opposed the measure. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) voted ‘Present’ and two Congressmen, Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and David Schweikert of Arizona, reportedly missed the vote accidentally, but would have voted in favor.
Commenting on the result of the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Thursday morning, “I just want you to know for the record, we really had 217 votes this morning. Andrew Garbarino did not make it in time. He fell asleep in the back, no kidding. I’m going to strangle him. But he’s my dear friend.” He added, “David Schweikert was going to vote and slipped his card in right at the last minute so it looks like a razor thin margin, 215 to 214 and one present, it was really 217.”
The remaining members of the Arizona House Republican Caucus: Reps. Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Paul Gosar, Eli Crane, and Abe Hamadeh all voted in favor. Arizona Democrat Reps. Yassamin Ansari and Greg Stanton both joined their party opposing the measure.
Congressman Abe Hamadeh posted to X Thursday detailing the bill’s primary benefits, “Congressman Hamadeh proudly voted in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, keeping his promise to fully fund and advance President Trump’s incredible America First agenda. The bill:
• Delivers Permanent Tax Cuts
• Eliminates Taxes on Tips and Overtime
• Provides Tax Relief for Seniors
• Boosts Economic Growth and Wages
• Supports Small Businesses and Manufacturers
• Enhances Family and Education Benefits
• Promotes Border Security and Energy
• Reduces Federal Spending
And so much more.”
President Donald Trump celebrated the contentious bill through the House in a post to Truth Social writing,
“’THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ has PASSED the House of Representatives! This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country!
“The Bill includes MASSIVE Tax CUTS, No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, Tax Deductions when you purchase an American Made Vehicle, along with strong Border Security measures, Pay Raises for our ICE and Border Patrol Agents, Funding for the Golden Dome, ‘TRUMP Savings Accounts’ for newborn babies, and much more! “
The President offered praise for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Republican leaders saying, “Great job by Speaker Mike Johnson, and the House Leadership, and thank you to every Republican who voted YES on this Historic Bill! Now, it’s time for our friends in the United States Senate to get to work, and send this Bill to my desk AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! There is no time to waste.”
Trump concluded with an admonishment of Congressional Democrats saying, “The Democrats have lost control of themselves, and are aimlessly wandering around, showing no confidence, grit, or determination. They have forgotten their landslide loss in the Presidential Election, and are warped in the past, hoping someday to revive Open Borders for the World’s criminals to be able to pour into our Country, men to be able to play in women’s sports, and transgender for everybody. They don’t realize that these things, and so many more like them, will NEVER AGAIN happen!”
Looking forward toward the bill’s progress through the Senate, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at Thursday morning’s press briefing, “We can celebrate this pass in the House for a couple of hours, but now it’s time for the Senate to get to work. The president has great relationship with … Senate Majority Leader [John] Thune, and of course, so many friends on the Senate side of the Hill. And he’s expecting them to get busy on this bill and send it to his desk as soon as possible.”
As reported by ABC News, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Wednesday that “there are things that we need to adjust or modify or change,” noting that Speaker Johnson “fully understands and accepts that.”
The bill may face serious challenges in the Senate where the current budget plan holds a trillion-dollar discrepancy with the House bill. Sen. Rand Paul explained, “[The] House bill is going to add about $4 trillion to the debt ceiling. The Senate bill adds $5 trillion. There’s nothing fiscally conservative about expanding the debt ceiling more than we’ve ever done it before. This will be the greatest increase in the debt ceiling ever, and the GOP owns this now … the deficit this year will be $2.2 trillion. The GOP owns that now too.”
Rep. David Schweikert was also skeptical about the Senate’s budget plan saying in an April 5th statement, “To say I’m disappointed with the Senate’s deeply unserious budget resolution would be an understatement. We are faced with an existential threat to both the short-term and long-term prosperity of America that requires a real solution, showing we are serious about slowing the growth of spending in the federal budget. With just $4 billion in cuts— equal to less than a single day’s worth of borrowing {about 20 hours}— the Senate budget resolution is more business as usual at a time when that’s exactly what we’re trying to avoid.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) was more optimistic telling reporters, “A lot of it looks pretty good,” adding that the House bill is a “good start.”
Given the narrow majority in the Senate, Majority Leader Thune can only lose 3 votes to pass the bill.
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 Laura Pedersen | May 17, 2025 | Opinion
By Laura Pedersen RN, MSN |
No one wants to see expectant mothers suffer, physically or mentally—no one but the Big Abortion industry that is. Yet pro-abortion activists in Arizona repeatedly insist that abortion behemoth Planned Parenthood and its affiliates have women’s best interests in mind, when evidence reveals that nothing is further from the truth.
Activists at Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL) recently launched political ads against Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), misinforming viewers that if Republicans cast a vote to defund Planned Parenthood, they will inflict harm on women and deny them essential health care. Reasonable constituents of Ciscomani’s district, myself included, know full well that these ads are nothing but a fearmongering attempt and an effort to keep Planned Parenthood open for business as usual – to the detriment of women and their vulnerable children in the womb.
It’s a well-documented fact that Planned Parenthood does little to meaningfully move the needle on women’s healthcare in America, and worse, causes mothers unnecessary pain and turmoil during their most vulnerable moments in life. Even the abortion-promoting New York Times recently admitted there is a problem with care received at these abortion facilities when it published a February 2025 report covering horrific examples of low-quality patient treatments. One child, the report said, was stillborn after a Planned Parenthood improperly implanted an IUD in the mother’s uterus. In Missouri, a Planned Parenthood was shut down in 2024 for using moldy abortion equipment on women. Likewise, in Colorado, an 18-year-old girl recently died from an abortion Planned Parenthood conducted at 22 weeks. Yet despite these tragedies, Reproductive Freedom for All continues to sing Planned Parenthood’s praises.
While Planned Parenthood’s competency in performing safe abortions decreases, the services they offer women beyond abortion – such as breast exams and cancer screenings – are also on the decline. Contrary to what the recent ads against Ciscomani claim, Planned Parenthood’s cancer screenings, breast exams, and pap smears have dropped by more than 70 percent in the time that taxpayer funding for the abortion giant has increased by 43 percent. Even contraception services are down nearly 40 percent and mammograms aren’t offered at all, clearly indicating that Planned Parenthood isn’t a health care provider, but a soulless abortion business that cares little if anything about the women who walk through the doors of its 600 facilities across the nation.
Planned Parenthood’s own reporting reveals that they are overwhelmingly preoccupied with destroying life instead of helping mothers and their children thrive. Prenatal services account for only 1.6 percent of services offered at their facilities, miscarriage care accounts for 0.9 percent, and adoption referrals 0.4 percent. They perform 228 abortions for every one adoption referral, and more than 97 percent of pregnant women who walk through their doors end up getting abortions.
From a political point of view, it’s no surprise that Reproductive Freedom for All – an organization hell bent on using millions of dollars to put progressive policies into law – would back Planned Parenthood, itself known for engaging heavily in political spending to help pro-abortion Democrats win elections. These activists’ political leanings, however, are stopping them from advancing real medical progress for women’s health.
What political activists and their television ads don’t want you to know is that if Planned Parenthood is defunded, all women – especially Medicaid recipients – will be left with safer, higher quality care at federally funded community health centers which offer a full range of women’s health services, including OB/GYN care, well-woman care, and family planning. They also outnumber Planned Parenthoods 15 to one. If Americans are no longer forced to subsidize the Big Abortion industry, pregnant women will receive true, comprehensive health care, even in rural areas.
Far from cutting benefits to women, defunding Planned Parenthood would save them from extreme anguish at the hands of abortionists everywhere. It’s with great concern for the women of Arizona and all expectant mothers that I urge my fellow residents to challenge the political talking points presented on screen and stand behind Rep. Ciscomani and against the Big Abortion lobby.
Laura Pedersen RN, MSN is a Tucson, Arizona, resident and pro-life advocate.
by Matthew Holloway | May 12, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A new caucus has been formed within the U.S. House of Representatives to champion the conservation and humane treatment of wild horses. The aptly named ‘Congressional Wild Horse Caucus’ announced Thursday, will be co-chaired by Republican Congressmen David Schweikert and Juan Ciscomani of Arizona and Democrat Reps. Dina Titus of Nevada and Steve Cohen of Tennessee. The caucus will pursue reforms to conservation laws and regulations.
Schweikert spoke of his formative experiences on Arizona ranches and farms in a statement saying, “Growing up, I had the blessing of spending much time on several ranches and farms in Arizona. These experiences have led me to serve as an advocate for humane treatment and protection of these majestic species. I’m looking forward to the conservation initiatives that will come out of the formation of this caucus.”
Congressman Ciscomani reflected on the wild horses of Arizona as well as the burros that are also found in the state’s deserts. “Wild horses and burros embody the spirit and heritage of the West and deserve to be protected and treated humanely. For too long, these animals have been subject to cruel and costly roundups that, at best, remove them from their natural habitat to be housed in warehouses, and at worse, result in the death of the animal.“
He added, “Caring for wild horses and burros is not a partisan issue, which is why I am proud to be named as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Wild Horse Caucus to promote humane policies, such as fertility control and habitat preservation, to manage and care for these iconic animals.”
The newly formed bipartisan caucus is supported by non-profit organizations including the American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI). Senior figures from both organizations expressed the importance of the Caucus’ work.
Suzanne Roy, executive director of AWHC, called the creation of the caucus “an important step toward reforming a broken system.” She added, “For too long, federal wild horse policy has relied on costly and inhumane roundups that remove animals from the range only to warehouse them in holding facilities. We commend the leaders of the Wild Horse Caucus for recognizing that there’s a better way to manage our wild herds that is rooted in humane treatment, science, and fiscal responsibility.”
Dr. Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., AWI’s equine program director and senior policy advisor, said, “Protecting America’s wild horses and burros has always been a bipartisan issue, in large part because these iconic animals hold an important place in our country’s history and because, for countless Americans, they continue to embody the spirit of freedom and resilience.”
She concluded, “We are grateful to Representatives Titus, Ciscomani, Schweikert, and Cohen for their outstanding leadership on this issue. The Congressional Wild Horse Caucus will help ensure these beloved animals will be protected for generations to come.”
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 Matthew Holloway | Apr 25, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
“End Apartheid” and “Abolish Israel,” were scrawled in crudely drawn letters beneath the Star of David adorning the oldest Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Tucson earlier this week. The synagogue was founded in 1948 in the wake of the Holocaust by the Chabad-Lubavitch movement under Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The rabbi himself had fled Germany during the rise of the Nazi Third Reich in 1933. The Chabad’s website states that it is “the Southern Arizona headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, considered to be the most dynamic force in Jewish life today.”
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) expressed his disgust in a post to X on Tuesday sharing news that the Chabad Tucson-Young Israel Synagogue was vandalized with anti-semitic, anti-Israel graffiti.
In his post, Ciscomani wrote, “I am disgusted by this antisemitic act against the Chabad Tucson-Young Israel Synagogue. Jewish residents in Tucson deserve to feel safe in their own communities and places of worship. I strongly and unequivocally condemn this despicable act.”
Democrat State Rep. Alma Hernandez also condemned the act in a post to X writing, “Outraged to hear from my good friend Rabbi @YehudaCeitlin who showed up to his shul this morning at Chabad of Tucson to see this hateful vandalism on his wall. Anti-Zionism is Antisemitism, period and this hate is NOT welcomed in Tucson! I will continue to stand with my Jewish community. This is a synagogue NOT a political office. Shameful that its 2025 and we keep seeing this vile targeting of the Jewish community.”
According to KGUN, Monday’s incident represents the second time that the Chabad Center in Tucson has been vandalized in the past four years with a 2021 incident finding a Nazi Swastika and an anti-semitic slur painted on the building’s entrance. Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin of Chabad Tucson confirmed this in a post to X writing, “This is the second time in 3 years that a Chabad Jewish center in Tucson is being vandalized with antisemitic graffiti. This hate must stop!”
Reporting from KVOA stated that the Tucson Police Department is investigating the incident as a hate crime. Speaking to KVOA reporters Rabbi Ceitlin said, “It just shows the person who has done this, or people who have done this we don’t know who is responsible, wants to intimidate the Jewish people and we will not be intimidated,” he added, “[Hate], It’s part of the Jewish story, Jewish history.”
The incident has drawn notice internationally as well with Member of the Israeli Knesset Michal Cotler-Wunsh commenting online, “Below the Jewish Star of David – a call to abolish the Jewish nation state. A graphic demonstration of the normalization of a ‘modern’ lethal strain of an ancient ever-mutating hate, unleashed in response to the worst attack of Jews since the Holocaust, ‘justified’ by decades of peddled ‘modern-day’ blood libel of hijacked & weaponized institutions & terms like racism, apartheid, genocide…entrusted & coined to ensure that ‘Never Again.’ The writing is on the wall…of Chabad Tucson too.”
In a post responding to the incident, the Anti-Defamation League of Arizona issued a statement from Deputy Regional Director Sarah Kader who said, “Seeing news of yet another incident of vile anti-Semitic vandalism on a place of worship for Jews, on the same day as the release of ADL’s annual audit of anti-Semitic incidents, which showed a 23% increase of anti-Semitic vandalism in Arizona, is truly heartbreaking. We will never stop fighting against such hateful acts.”
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 Matthew Holloway | Apr 14, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has made it clear that it is targeting the congressional districts of Congressmen David Schweikert (AZ-01), Eli Crane (AZ-02), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) in 2026.
On Wednesday the Arizona Democratic Party said it is “focused on winning these critical seats, paving the way for a Democratic House majority in 2026.” The release referred to the three Republican Congressmen as “vulnerable,” and their districts as “competitive.”
Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Robert E. Branscomb, II claimed, “Arizonans are tired of David Schweikert, Eli Crane, Juan Ciscomani and other MAGA-cronies playing politics with the issues that impact their ability to make ends meet. As a Party, we will stop at nothing to hold them accountable and to finally elect leaders who will move Arizona forward.” However, the state of play in each district doesn’t seem to be that simple.
Schweikert and Ciscomani both won their 2024 elections with 2-3% margins with Schweikert serving as Ciscomani’s CD6 predecessor before moving to CD1 with redistricting. Each of these constituencies are competitive by their nature and by design, according to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC). The 2021 commission held District 1 competitiveness at a 2.6% vote spread and District 6 at a 2.4% spread, both of which proved accurate in the 2024 race.
Historically, the area that is now District 6 has seen six Republican victories and only three for the Democrats in the in the past nine statewide elections, making District 1 truly the most “competitive” with a more even split of 5 GOP victories to 4 losses per the AIRC.
The same day the Arizona Democratic Party issued their press release, both Reps. Ciscomani and Crane held telephone town hall meetings with their constituents.
The DCCC’s calculus seems to fall short with Rep. Eli Crane’s District 2 seat though, which has seen historically zero Democrat wins in the last nine races and was designed to hold a 7.2% vote spread competitively. That spread Crane decisively beat in his 9-point victory over Democrat Jonathan Nez last year.
As AZ Free News reported in February when a Democrat SuperPAC bankrolled by leftist billionaires announced they would target his seat, Crane’s response was blunt. He wrote in a post to X, “The great thing about #AZ02 is they see through phony attacks by coastal elites. Bring it.”
Given the historic makeup of these districts: two of them designed to give Democrats a chance and a third that appears nearly unassailable, the AZDems assessment of the three Congressmen as “vulnerable,” and their districts as “more “competitive than normal” seems questionable at best.
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.
