Former Arizona Senate President Karen Fann said Rep. Ruben Gallego’s (D-AZ-03) support for abortion was a crime.
Gallego lamented that Arizona could limit abortions on Monday, which marked 50 years since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision legalizing abortion.
“Today, we should have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Instead, extremist officials ripped away the right to choose, leaving women in Arizona and too many other states without basic reproductive freedom,” wrote Gallego. “But make no mistake: this fight isn’t over.”
SCOTUS determined that the Roe v. Wade decision invented a constitutional right based on the “right to privacy”: a legal theory created by the late SCOTUS Justice Louis Brandeis in the 1890s. Brandeis’ invention informed the landmark decision Griswold v. Connecticut, the precursor to Roe v. Wade.
The state currently has a ban on abortions after 15 weeks’ gestation in place, enacted last year. The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled last month that the state may not prosecute doctors under the pre-statehood ban on abortion. However, the court didn’t repeal the law. Instead, the appeals court clarified that the later laws, including the 15-week ban enacted last year, were the standard to follow.
State abortion laws also limit abortion access in other ways. Telemedicine health care may not be used to obtain abortion pills. However, the state doesn’t have bans on funding travel and procedure costs for women obtaining abortions outside the state past the 15-week period.
The SCOTUS decision overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked early last May. SCOTUS announced last week in a 20-page report that they were unable to identify the source of the leak. Politico published the draft opinion; it appears they’re unwilling to reveal their source.
Gov. Katie Hobbs, at the time the Secretary of State, responded to the draft leak last year with an expletive railing against those she perceived to be ruling the state.
“F**k the patriarchy,” tweeted Hobbs.
The draft leak incited mass protests and riots at the Arizona Capitol and nationwide. An activist group with the University of Arizona (UArizona) and Planned Parenthood ties petitioned to make abortion a constitutional right in the state — an effort which ultimately failed.
In a Sunday statement, President Joe Biden called on Congress to codify the legalization of abortion. Biden characterized abortion as a “constitutional right.” The president also promised a Presidential Memorandum ensuring a right to abortive medications, which Vice President Kamala Harris announced during a visit to Florida. Ahead of the announcement, Harris declared that those opposed to abortion were “extremist,” and in violation of women’s constitutional and reproductive rights.
“We are looking at a situation where extremist so-called leaders in states around our country are depriving women of the right to have access to reproductive health care,” stated Harris.
On the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I’m in Tallahassee, Florida to discuss the fight for reproductive rights. Tune in. https://t.co/1cX4gFt96L
Arizona’s congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle didn’t appear too fond of the Democrat-led Congress’ $1.7 trillion, 4,000-page spending bill.
Republicans decried the plan entirely, first noting the Democrats’ last-minute submission of the legislation for review and demand for a vote. They admonished what they considered excessive spending, especially given the nation’s current financial insecurity. Democrats that commented on the spending bill, which were few, were more vocal about the aspects they disliked than the virtues of the package. However, Democrats ultimately voted for the bill.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) declared that the omnibus was an “assault” on the people, separation of powers, and fiscal responsibility. He warned it would devalue the American dollar to “unprecedented levels.”
If passed, this omnibus will devalue our currency to unprecedented levels.
Biggs and representative-elect Eli Crane signed onto a letter led by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX-21) urging the Senate GOP to unify their 41 votes to kill the bill.
This slated "omnibus spending bill" is an indefensible assault on the American people.
Biggs said that Republican resistance on the spending bill would allow the incoming Republican-led House to hold the FBI accountable for suppressing free speech online.
If we keep this radical omnibus from passing, my colleagues and I will be able to make adjustments to hold the FBI more accountable.
Just recently it was revealed FBI paid Twitter $3.4M for spying on users making dissenting arguments and jokes.
Biggs also shared commentary from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) disputing Democrats’ claim that Republicans were holding up the spending bill. Paul reminded the public and press that the Democrat-led Congress, just as with every other Congress, knows the deadline.
Q: Are YOU going to hold up this spending bill? A: Leadership knows the deadlines. It is all on them. THEY fail every year to meet the deadline. Then they blame conservatives for not rubber stamping a $1.7 trillion, 4,000+ page spending bill. pic.twitter.com/I94ITyrAnt
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04) said the bill was “America Last” in nature. He criticized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for prioritizing Ukraine over America.
Gosar listed a litany of real issues facing the country: inflation, declining wages, World War II-era shortages and supply chain issues, record crime levels, a weaponized Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI censorship and political persecution, Big Tech monopoly colluding with the DOJ, Biden family corruption with illegal Ukrainian bribes, record levels of broken families, a transgenderism crisis, failing infrastructure, record low confidence in government, broken elections systems, inept public health systems, COVID-19 vaccine harms, declining military, over $31 trillion in debt.
“Yet the Omnibus bill failed to remedy a single one of these very real problems. Not one. In fact, it rewards the DOJ, the FBI and the failed military leadership with more money and no reforms and no investigations. Not a dime is allocated towards securing our own border,” said Gosar.
More than two months into FY2023 and in the dark hours of the early morning, Congressional appropriators unveiled their egregiously wasteful omnibus spending plan that includes another $45 billion of hardworking American taxpayer dollars to fund a proxy war in Ukraine. (1/15)
Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08) said the plan was “reckless.” Lesko noted that the country’s interest payments would surpass the entire Department of Defense (DOD) budget on a yearly basis ($742 billion).
Lesko also noted that 63 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.
“We cannot continue spending money that we don’t have,” said Lesko.
🚨🚨MUST LISTEN INTERVIEW: I joined @toddstarnes to discuss how I’ll be voting NO on the Democrats' reckless spending package, how the Biden Administration is complicit in cartels' criminal activities at the southern border, and the sham January 6th Committee. pic.twitter.com/KCx80lF1Jz
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) backed the bill, declaring that further funding for Ukraine was a good thing. However, Sinema did break with her former party (she now identifies as an independent) to speak out on border policy within the bill. Sinema reaffirmed dedication on a bipartisan solution with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) for border legislation.
As AZ Free News reported last week, Sinema has been attempting to broker a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers in exchange for increased border security measures.
Congress continues standing by Ukraine, and I applaud our bipartisan action supporting Ukraine with the funds and resources it needs to defend itself against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked attacks.
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ-09) criticized the decision to leave out the Afghan Adjustment Act, legislation to expedite the legal status process for Afghan evacuees. Stanton signaled his support for Ukraine as well.
Congress has failed its duty to protect Afghans who risked their lives for our troops.
With the Afghan Adjustment Act left out of our year-end funding bill, thousands will stay in limbo because of a few Senate Republicans. This is morally inexcusable.https://t.co/XhpSnSupM4
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ-02) had the most favorable view of the spending bill. She championed the legislation as a great increase in funding for Arizona.
As Arizona’s Appropriator, I'm proud of our work on FY23 funding package. My position on committee allowed me to deliver significant victories to AZ
Last gov funding push of my career & we finished strong-highest $$ deliverables in AZ delegation…again!https://t.co/Xz2ytIsRo9
Last year, Gallego ignited controversy over his $84,000 trip to Qatar paid for by a special interest nonprofit focused on strengthening US-Qatar trade relations. The Qatari government opposes the Jewish faith, and supports terrorist efforts to destroy Israel such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.
— US-Qatar Business Council (@USQatar) April 1, 2021
Additionally, Gallego continues to support the Arizona chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ). The Department of Justice (DOJ) acknowledged CAIR as an entity of the Muslim Brotherhood and noted that they were linked to Hamas activity.
Several months after Gallego filmed for CAIR-AZ denouncing the Trump administration’s travel restrictions, the organization appointed an outreach coordinator by the name of Ismail Abu Hayyeh, who advocated for the destruction of Jews and Israel. The month after joining CAIR-AZ, Abu Hayyeh tweeted from a since-suspended account that Israel shouldn’t exist at all.
“If you support Israel’s right to exist, you are a part of the problem,” wrote Abu Hayyeh.
In October 2020, Abu Hayyeh tweeted that the only solution to free Palestine was to kill the Jews of Israel. Prior to joining CAIR, Abu Hayyeh issued many other remarks advocating for the end of Israel and even public support for Adolf Hilter. While in high school, Abu Hayyeh said that all Palestinians wondered why Hitler “didn’t finish the job” and called Hitler “his hero,” and that he considered it a compliment to be called “the next Hitler.”
On the CAIR-AZ Board of Directors is David Chami, who filed a legal complaint last year on behalf of Fidaa Wishah: the pediatric radiologist fired from Phoenix Children’s Hospital for posting a video in pink hospital scrubs promising that Israel’s end would come soon.
Chami and another director on the CAIR-AZ board, Raeesabbas Mohamed, sued a Scottsdale Community College (SCC) professor in 2020 for issuing a class quiz that portrayed the Islamic religion factually but negatively. The Arizona District Court rejected the lawsuit several months later. In September, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals again rejected the lawsuit, concurring with the lower court to uphold the SCC professor’s free speech rights.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) opposes CAIR. Gallego hasn’t issued any public support for the ADL.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-07) took to Twitter to attack Republican congressional candidate Tanya Wheeless for including her maiden name, Contreras, in her campaign.
Gallego launched his brief attack on Wheeless in response to her jest alluding to First Lady (FLOTUS) Jill Biden’s controversial comparison of Hispanics to breakfast tacos on Monday. Little attention was paid to FLOTUS’ mispronunciation of “bodegas,” a gaffe similar to her mispronunciation of the Spanish phrase “Si Se Puede,” meaning “Yes You Can,” last April.
The congressman retweeted the same tweet from Wheeless three times with different criticisms, calling her race “convenient” and claiming that she “hid” behind her husband’s English surname.
“Glad you are a proud Latina now[,] hope it will stay after you lose,” wrote Gallego. “If you were Latino in Arizona around 2010 people were telling us to go back to Mexico. On the phone you would hear I am not voting for a ‘spic.’ We know people that couldn’t get jobs or leases. Did Tanya use Contreras then… no she hid as Wheeless. We took the arrows for her.”
In the years I have known of you in Arizona it wasn’t until you ran for office that you added Contreras. Glad you are proud Latina now hope it will stay after you lose. FYI… google Tanya Wheelers see how often Contreras comes up prior to her running. https://t.co/FUGHEMNiPG
If you were Latino in Arizona around 2010 people were telling us to go back to Mexico. On the phone you would hear I am not voting for a “spic”. We know people that couldn’t get jobs or leases. Did Tanya use Contreras then… no she hid as Wheeless. We took the arrows for her. https://t.co/FUGHEMNiPG
In response, Wheeless issued a press release countering that Gallego’s attacks were sexist and racist. She explained that changing a last name through marriage doesn’t change an individual’s identity or heritage. Wheeless reaffirmed that she’s proud of her heritage.
“Ruben Gallego’s claim that I am not sufficiently Latina because I don’t always use my full name is disappointing, but not surprising,” wrote Wheeless. “These gross attacks have sadly become too frequent in our political discourse.”
Gallego’s ex-wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, still uses his last name despite not being Hispanic.
Gallego changed his own last name from Marinelarena, his father’s surname, to Gallego in 2008. He decided to change his surname to honor his single mother and distance himself from his father, who he revealed had abandoned his family early on.
Watch FLOTUS compare Latino diversity to breakfast tacos below:
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-07) advocated that authorities take away the trucks from truckers participating in the U.S. version of the “Freedom Convoy” that took Canada’s capital by storm one month ago: “Freedom Convoy USA 2022.” In response to the pending convoy protest, Washington, D.C. law enforcement called in support from the National Guard.
Perfect time to impound and give the trucks to small trucking companies looking to expand their business. https://t.co/1pHURh0hbr
One of the leaders of Freedom Convoy USA 2022, Kyle Sefcik, informed President Joe Biden in a video that their convoy would be meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 1: the day of Biden’s State of the Union Address. Sefcik clarified that the truckers will protest lawfully and constitutionally: their routes are public, they have a permit for the National Mall, and will come peacefully. He requested that Biden end the national state of emergency and all mandates related to COVID-19.
“Sir, the world is watching us, because they know that if what’s happening in Canada happens here to us in the land of the free, then freedom as we know it is gone,” said Sefcik. “The government, the elected officials of both parties have failed us tremendously, and now it’s time for us, we the people, to fix this, to end this. We’re ready to get back to our lives, the ones promised and guaranteed in the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the contract that you signed and swore an oath to under the one true God. This is simple. End this.”
For Gallego, it appears that protests are only valid insofar as they align with his personal political preferences. As riots broke out nationwide from Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests, Gallego pledged to the Arizona Republic that he would take to the streets alongside BLM protestors in response to President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would deploy military personnel to quash violence outbreaks at the protests.
I refuse to let this Democracy die. I will resist. I do not consent and I will not follow martial law. #resist
Freedom Convoy truckers and protestors occupied downtown Ottawa for nearly an entire month in protest of the country’s COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Law enforcement was only able to break up the protest successfully after freezing protestors’ bank accounts and crypto transactions, towing away vehicles, arresting protestors, and deploying pepper spray and stun grenades.
Bigger Announcements Coming! Our convoy will arrive in DC on March 1st! Our full routes are on IG and FB ( FreedomConvoyUSA2022 ). I will keep everyone updated on Twitter as well. #FreedomConvoyusa2022pic.twitter.com/5p4dXCdKWL
