Governor Katie Hobbs has a rare opportunity to do something with the overwhelming support of her citizens, and that would make her a groundbreaker. She could become the first female governor to sign the Women’s Bill of Rights.
This shouldn’t take courage. This legislation, which was just passed by the Arizona state house, defines words like “woman” and “female” so when it comes to laws that use these words, we can all speak a common language. The bill also declares the state’s important interest in preserving female-only spaces and opportunities when privacy, safety, or fairness are implicated. Importantly, this law doesn’t prevent policymakers or local leaders from deciding to allow trans-identifying individuals from being included in any arena, but it gives us a language so that there is truth in advertising, and we have the ability to reserve some spaces and opportunities just for women.
We both know personally why this is so important.
I, Paula Scanlan, was a teammate of Lia Thomas at the University of Pennsylvania. Governor Hobbs, you’ve undoubtedly heard about how Lia Thomas – formerly Will Thomas when he competed on the men’s team – took competition spots, won titles, and smashed female records from female swimmers like me. But perhaps you haven’t heard about what it was like to have to share a locker room with him. As a sexual assault survivor, I was forced to change next time him, and have him undress just a few feet away from me, often several times a day. When I tried to tell administrators that I was uncomfortable sharing such private spaces with fully intact men, they told me I should get counseling, that I shouldn’t complain, and that they didn’t care about how this felt to me or the other women on my team.
I, Christy Narsi, serve as a chapter leader for Independent Women’s Network in Phoenix, and I hear daily from moms who are concerned about the message that we are sending our daughters today. We hear of mothers who are concerned about their daughters’ safety when they are forced to face bigger, stronger male-bodied athletes on the athletic fields. My colleague, Payton McNabb, had to face a male volleyball player on the court when she was a junior in high school. He spiked the ball in her face so hard that she had a serious concussion and brain injury. More than two years later, she still has partial paralysis. Why are women and girls’ safety concerns being brushed aside? Why is it that women and girls are being told that they need to step aside, that their dreams and aspirations don’t matter and have to be sacrificed for male-bodied athletes who want to join the women’s teams?
Governor Hobbs, as I’m sure you know, this is about more than just sport. Women’s rights—and the very concept of womanhood—are under assault as never before in history. Inmates in women’s prisons are being put at risk when they allow male prisoners—including violent sex offenders—into women’s prisons around the country. Men are entering female sororities, domestic violence shelters, and educational training programs that were created specifically to encourage women’s engagement.
Overwhelmingly Americans recognize that it isn’t fair to force women to compete against biological men. To back up this common sense is hard scientific data, like that outlined in the Competition Report, which shows that a human being who goes through male puberty, when testosterone levels rise by about 20 times, enjoys an irreversible advantage in strength and athletic power. Taking testosterone suppressors later in life doesn’t change that reality. Data shows that men have physical advantages—not just in terms of strength and speed but in lung capacity and how their hearts process blood—that are hard-wired in their bodies. This is why there are women’s leagues and competitions in the first place, and why it is simply dangerous and inhumane to have female inmates forced to share their spaces with men.
We are so grateful that Arizona’s state legislature decided to do something about it by passing this truth-in-advertising legislation. We hope that you will sign this bill into law and stand up for women’s rights in Arizona—and be a model for others across the nation.
Paula Scanlan is an ambassador with Independent Women’s Voice and a former swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania. Christy Narsi is the co-leader of the Independent Women’s Network Arizona Chapter, and is based in Surprise, AZ.
Another election-related bill was vetoed by Arizona’s Democrat Governor.
On Wednesday, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2393, which would have “require[d] political parties that choose to select a nominee for president by a vote that is open to the entire political party membership to provide a method of voting to uniformed services or overseas citizens and persons with disabilities.”
Governor Hobbs Vetoes Legislation Ensuring Voting Rights for Disabled and Overseas Military Members
“Governor Hobbs’ decision to veto this bill is not only irresponsible but also detrimental to the democratic rights of some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Representative… pic.twitter.com/4OYIfAzP2q
— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) April 11, 2024
In a letter provided to House Speaker Ben Toma, Hobbs explained the reason behind her veto, writing, “If the state were to change the manner in which political parties hold their own elections, it would be important to reflect bipartisan agreement.”
Republican State Representative Alexander Kolodin, the sponsor of the bill, was outraged by the governor’s action. He said, “Governor Hobbs’ decision to veto this bill is not only irresponsible but also detrimental to the democratic rights of some of our most vulnerable citizens. This action leaves a critical aspect of our state law ambiguous, failing to secure the voting rights of individuals with disabilities and our dedicated servicemembers. At a time when ensuring access to the democratic process should be of utmost importance, this veto represents a significant step backward. It’s as if the Governor believes maintaining a murky legal landscape is preferable to granting clear and equitable voting rights to all Arizonans. This isn’t just about policy – it’s about ensuring every voice is heard and valued in our democracy.”
The proposal first passed the Arizona House of Representatives in early February with a 31-24 vote (with two members not voting and three seats vacant). The Arizona Senate then amended the bill and approved that version with a 16-12 vote (with two members not voting) late last month. The House concurred with the Senate’s changes, voting 31-28 (with one member not voting) to transmit the legislation to the Governor’s Office.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Everyone knows that political pundits, social media influencers, and the corporate media love a good narrative. And one of their favorites for years has been the claim that Arizona is trending blue—that a demographic shift toward Democrats is inevitable.
This ‘conventional wisdom’ is repeated so often that much of the Republican political class in the state has accepted it as fact. Some are even advising candidates that the only path forward for Republicans is to abandon their conservative principles, embrace center-left policy solutions, and settle for a future of divided government.
But a funny thing about narratives and conventional wisdom: numbers don’t lie, especially those showing party preference when people are registering to vote.
Last month, the Secretary of State updated the statewide voter registration data prior to the Presidential Preference Election. The latest figures show that Republicans are once again the largest voting bloc in Arizona, surpassing Independents by nearly 40,000. This is certainly an important development—especially given all the attention it received on social media when Independent registrations surpassed Republicans last year.
But that’s not the most significant voter registration trend…
A bill to help educate Arizona students about the history of communism met its demise in the Governor’s Office.
On Tuesday, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2629, which would have “establishe[d] November 7 of each year as Victims of Communism Day and require[d] the State Board of Education to create a list of recommended resources for mandatory instruction on the topic in certain public school courses” – according to the Arizona House of Representatives’ summary. The bill was sponsored by House Speaker Ben Toma.
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE🚨 House Speaker @RepBenToma Condemns Governor Hobbs’ Veto of Bill Aimed at Educating Students on Communism’s Atrocities
“I find Governor Hobbs’ veto of HB 2629 both indefensible and personally offensive. Having lived under the oppressive regime of… pic.twitter.com/ry5invqvM8
— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) April 3, 2024
In her veto letter back to the Speaker, Hobbs opined that his legislation was “too prescriptive in dictating instructional requirements to education professionals.” She pointed to a bill signed into law in 2022, which was sponsored by State Representative Nguyen, as the “appropriate process to modify academic content as it ensures that changes to standards are evaluated by experts in a holistic manner across grade levels, and the public is provided with ample opportunity for review and input.” The Democrat governor “strongly urge[d] the State Board of Education to take action to begin the process of updating the Social Studies Standards and address the issues covered in this legislation.”
Hobbs did promise to “proclaim this November 7 as Victims of Communism Day in sharing the spirit of this Legislation.”
Speaker Toma was outraged by the governor’s action. In a statement following the veto, he wrote, “I find Governor Hobbs’ veto of HB 2629 both indefensible and personally offensive. Having lived under the oppressive regime of communist Romania, I have firsthand knowledge of the devastating impact these ideologies have inflicted on billions worldwide. Communism’s legacy is marked by death, oppression, deprivation, economic suffering, and the shredding of all that binds families and communities together. It is a history that must be remembered and taught, not dismissed, ignored, or vetoed.”
My statement on Gov. Hobbs vetoing my bill to require students be taught about the evils of communism:
"I find Governor Hobbs' veto of HB 2629 both indefensible and personally offensive. Having lived under the oppressive regime of communist Romania, I have firsthand knowledge of…
Toma added, “The Governor’s veto and the limited bipartisan support for HB 2629 reflects a deeply concerning trend where the education of our students on fundamental historical truths is becoming a partisan issue. This should not be a matter of politics, but a matter of ensuring our future generations are well-informed, critical thinkers who appreciate the freedoms they have. Sadly, Governor Hobbs has denied Arizona students a crucial opportunity: to learn from the past and understand the sacrifices of those who suffered under communist regimes.”
The speaker concluded his statement by addressing Hobbs’ suggestions and promise, saying, “While I respect the Governor’s gesture to revise our state’s Social Studies Standards, I simply do not trust her administration’s ability or willingness to accurately reflect communism’s legacy. The academic requirements must be codified in statute, as my bill would have done.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona’s Democrat governor has vetoed legislation that would have strengthened parental rights in the state.
On Tuesday, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2183, which would have “entitle[d] parents with the right to receive from a healthcare entity equivalent access to any electronic portal or other healthcare delivery platform for their minor child” – according to the overview from the Arizona House of Representatives. The bill was sponsored by State Representative Julie Willoughby.
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE🚨 Governor Hobbs Vetoes Bipartisan Bill to Protect Parental Access to Children’s Medical Records
“I am deeply dismayed by Governor Hobbs’ decision to veto HB 2183,” said Representative @JWilloughbyAZ, sponsor of the bill. “This was important legislation… pic.twitter.com/7uQUpsC2O4
— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) April 3, 2024
Hobbs was brief in her veto letter to House Speaker Ben Toma, writing, “The measure as written could put the health and safety of vulnerable Arizonans at risk.”
Willoughby, a Republican, was greatly disappointed by the governor’s action. In a statement released after the veto, the first-term lawmaker said, “I am deeply dismayed by Governor Hobbs’ decision to veto HB 2183. This was important legislation designed to assist Arizona families, particularly those with children suffering from chronic diseases, access vital medical records, which are often required for arranging specialty follow-up appointments, surgeries, or consultations with out-of-state specialists. The governor’s veto means that families will continue to face unnecessary hurdles in obtaining the critical information they need, precisely when they need it most, especially during urgent health crises. This decision not only undermines the welfare of vulnerable families but also impedes their access to necessary healthcare information.”
According to Willoughby’s press release, her bill would have increased the protections afforded to parents in the Arizona parents’ bill of rights by “guaranteeing parents’ equal access to healthcare delivery platforms like online medical portals to care for their minor children.”
Though upset with the final outcome of her proposal, Willoughby made sure to thank her legislative partners. She added, “House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci and Representative Selina Bliss have been remarkable in supporting this bill and I’m grateful for their teamwork on the bill.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
