by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 18, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Border security was again a hot topic on the first day of the Arizona Legislative session for 2025.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs gave her State of the State address on Monday and discussed the issue of border security during her speech. Hobbs said, “A truly thriving economy means security for our families and neighbors. That’s why safe communities are a core pillar of the Arizona Promise and why I’ve made border security a top priority… We must remain vigilant in protecting Arizonans from the cartels who seek to do us harm. The fentanyl crisis is one of the greatest threats to public safety in our state’s history and requires a collaborative approach across state, local, and federal governments. When we work together, we protect Arizona families. I will continue working with this legislature to protect our border because until all Arizonans feel secure in their communities, we will not be able to deliver on our Promise of freedom and opportunity.”
Republicans were not amused by the governor’s comments, highlighting the many times she has opposed efforts to secure the border and protect Arizona communities from the harms and dangers wrought by illegal immigration. Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen said, “When the Governor promised to prioritize border security last year, her actions did not match her words. She vetoed our border bills. But, the voters spoke loud and clear last November. They want their government to enforce the law and secure our open border. We will support President Trump and our law enforcement in their efforts to protect Arizonans from the crime pouring into our communities and jeopardizing our national security.”
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope added, “If the Governor or any other elected leaders choose to stand in the way…get ready for court. The Republican-led Arizona Legislature vows to uphold the rule of law, and we will exhaust all legal options to ensure the chaos we’ve lived for the past four years comes to an end.”
Late last year, Hobbs released an ambiguous post on her official X account, indirectly taking aim at the Trump administration’s forthcoming actions on the border after his momentous victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the historic November General Election. She said, “Securing our border is not a red issue or a blue issue. It’s an Arizona issue and an American issue. I’ll work with anyone to secure our border while standing up to misguided policies that attack Arizonans.”
Thus far in her administration, Hobbs has resisted most attempts by Republicans to maximize Arizona’s resources and laws to better protect communities against the harms from illegal immigration. That resistance led to state legislative Republicans sending a border security ballot measure to voters this past November – Proposition 314, which gave local law enforcement more tools to combat illegal immigration across the state. Arizona Republicans are expected to continue to search for ways to assist the Trump Administration to stop the flow of illegal immigration into and through their state over the next two years.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 17, 2025 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
As another legislative session begins in Arizona, Republicans and Democrats are again bringing the all-important issue of school choice to the forefront of the public debate.
On Monday, Governor Katie Hobbs ushered in the start of the 57th Regular Session of the Arizona Legislature with her State of the State address, where she took time to criticize the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program. In her speech, Hobbs said, “The current program is unchecked, flawed, and rife with exploitation. Three years ago, it went far beyond its original purpose, which was to support kids with special needs and military families. Today, it has ballooned into a billion-dollar boondoggle increasingly scamming Arizonans. Other entitlements funded by taxpayers have strict oversight and income requirements. Yet the ESA program has the privilege of virtually no safeguards.”
Hobbs proposed changes to the ESA program for a “balanced solution that supports families and finally brings real and effective guardrails to ESAs.” Her solution was to “institute responsible income caps, ensure taxpayers know where their money is going, and create real accountability for taxpayer dollars.”
The governor’s remarks were met with immediate criticism from Republicans and others who support the expanded ESA program. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said, “Under my leadership, the department has done a full-court press against waste and fraud. I hired both a program auditor and an investigator, which had not been done before. I require that every expenditure be for a valid educational purpose and have been attacked for doing that. The Governor needs to pay more attention to what is going on. She gets an ‘F’.”
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope added, “We will also protect parental choice, so that every child in the state has the ability to succeed in the classroom, no matter their zip code or financial status.”
Common Sense Institute Arizona wrote, “In her State of the State address, Governor Hobbs asked lawmakers to compare Arizona’s ESA program to other government entitlement programs with respect to accountability and transparency. Luckily, we already did! And it turns out that improper payment rates in the Arizona ESA program are a fraction of those in other government programs like Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, and SNAP.”
Jason Bedrick said, “The voters made their will clear by re-electing those who supported ESAs and expanding their legislative majority. The legislature should reject Gov. Hobbs’ attempts to undermine ESA families.”
On the flip side, Governor Hobbs’ comments received support from her allies, who have long attempted to shrink, regulate, or eliminate the historic ESA expansion program in Arizona. Save Our Schools Arizona Executive Director Beth Lewis responded, “It is time to end the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in the universal ESA voucher program. We commend Governor Hobbs for championing public education and pushing for much-needed voucher reform. We sincerely hope legislators like Senate President Petersen who name ‘fiscal responsibility’ their top priority will bring long-overdue guardrails to this irresponsible program, which now costs taxpayers nearly $1 billion annually.”
Hobbs and legislative Republicans will continue to bicker about the future of school choice in Arizona, but not much – if anything – will be done this year (and likely the next) to regulate ESAs per the governor’s insatiable desire. Over the past two years, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen successfully fended off ferocious political attacks that targeted ESAs and other school choice opportunities for Arizonans. He will again be counted upon, along with his Republican colleagues in the Arizona House and Senate, to protect one of the top states in the country for school choice.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Dec 27, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
The Arizona Republican leader instrumental in delivering her state for the 47th President of the United States is reportedly running for re-election for chair of her party.
Earlier this month, Garrett Archer, a journalist with ABC15 News, revealed that Gina Swoboda, the current chair of the Republican Party of Arizona, would be running for re-election to her post in January, and that she would be supported by President-elect Donald J. Trump.
The news quickly spread among Arizona Republicans, and several expressed their delight with this reported decision. Arizona Senate President Pro-Tempore T.J. Shope posted, “She has Donald Trump’s support and she has my support! Let’s all rally behind Gina Swoboda for AZGOP Chair!!!”
State Representative Teressa Martinez wrote, “Gina Swoboda has done an amazing job and I absolutely back her for Chairwoman of the AZGOP!”
Arizona State Senator Janae Shamp added, “The Boss knows she is the best woman for the job! And so does Arizona! Looking forward to winning 2026 with Gina Swoboda as the State Party Chair!”
State Senators Wendy Rogers and Frank Carroll also weighed in with their support for Swoboda’s candidacy.
Swoboda was unexpectedly pressed into action as chair of state Republican party in January after a vacancy occurred. After quickly securing the endorsement of former President Donald J. Trump, Swoboda had no trouble sailing to victory in the snap election among state committeemen. Her top priority as chair was to re-deliver Arizona’s electoral votes for Trump in November, which she did last month for the General Election.
On Election Night, Swoboda issued a statement of victory after seeing a number of positive results around her state, writing, “This victory is a testament to the grit and determination of Arizonans who believe in the American Dream. We focused on what matters – keeping families safe, bringing down the cost of living, securing our border, and reviving American greatness. We have sent a clear message to Washington: Arizona is red, and when we unite, WE WIN!”
One night later, after her state was called for Trump, Swoboda posted, “It has been the honor of a lifetime to help elect 45/47. Thank you for believing in me Donald Trump. Thank you AZGOP for allowing me to make history with our beautiful State 48.”
When Trump visited Tempe in late October, he made sure to address Swoboda’s tireless work to help turn out the votes for him and other Republicans across the state, saying, “This woman has done a job […] especially early voting, and we are doing record successful numbers, and I think it’s gonna stay that way. Gina Swoboda, great job – thank you!”
Under Swoboda’s leadership, Trump won Arizona with a greater margin than he did in 2016; Republicans expanded their majorities in the state House and Senate; incumbent Republican U.S. Congressmen held their seats; Republicans swept the three statewide Arizona Corporation Commission positions, and a key border security measure sailed to victory.
Swoboda’s reported intent to run for re-election for AZGOP chair would likely set up a match-up with State Representative Cory McGarr, who announced his decision to run for the party’s top post earlier this month after losing his seat in the Arizona Legislature. Former Republican candidate for Arizona Governor and U.S. Senate, Kari Lake, thanked McGarr “for getting in this race.”
The AZGOP chair for the next election cycle in 2026 will be critical for Republican efforts to take back major statewide offices – Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. Arizona Republicans will have the chance to decide who is the best fit to lead them forward when they reconvene in the new year at the annual AZGOP meeting in Phoenix.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 24, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
An influential Republican state senator is taking the reins of a powerful committee for the upcoming Arizona legislative term.
Earlier this month, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen announced that he had assigned Senator T.J. Shope to chair the Committee on Natural Resources. Petersen also revealed that Shope would “negotiate the Senate’s required approval of Arizona’s entrance into the post-2026 Colorado River Operation agreement.”
This committee will have great significance in the divided Arizona government over the next two years, as per the release issued by the Senate Republican Caucus. The Caucus shared that “Legislatively, the Hobbs Administration reneged on the inclusion of Pinal County in an ‘Ag-to-Urban Conservation Program’ following months of negotiations with the administration and legislative Democrats at the table,” and that “Administratively, Hobbs is rushing a rulemaking package that the administration knows effectively excludes Queen Creek and Buckeye, the two remaining affordable growth areas in Maricopa County.”
“As the sponsor of the Ag-to-Urban Conservation Program, Chairman Shope intimately understands that Arizona has the ability to conserve water while increasing housing affordability in both Maricopa and Pinal counties. These two areas have been the targets of the Governor’s anti-growth agenda,” said President Petersen. “If the Executive continues to fail to effectively address housing affordability in Colorado River negotiations, Chairman Shope will lead the Senate’s defense of Arizonans during the required approval of any Colorado River deal by the Legislature.”
“In representing Pinal County, I understand the importance of agriculture and homebuilding to Arizona’s economy,” said Chairman Shope. “The Ag-to-Urban Conservation Program would have allowed these two important sectors to work together to increase housing supply while conserving water, but Governor Hobbs elected to stand in the way. I am grateful the President is entrusting me with this important role to strengthen Arizona’s water security while increasing housing affordability.”
Shope will also return as the chamber’s Senate President Pro Tempore for the 57th Arizona Legislature. In the previous term of office, Shope served as Chairman of the Health and Human Services, and Vice Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 11, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
With his chamber remaining in Republican hands, Arizona’s Senate President is gearing up for a return to his position for the upcoming legislative session.
Senator Warren Petersen is running for reelection for president of his legislative body after deftly guiding his caucus through the past two sessions in a rarely seen divided Arizona government.
In an exclusive interview with AZ Free News, Petersen said, “I’m running for Senate President again because I want to build off the momentum from our successes over the past two years with serving as the necessary check against abuses of power and radical policies pushed by the Executive that Arizonans do not support. I also want to maintain unity within the Republican caucus while advancing commonsense solutions to the important issues impacting our state, like inflation, the border crisis, the housing shortage, water security, and providing our kids with educational excellence in their schools.”
Petersen’s service has largely endeared himself to fellow Republican colleagues, who are poised to vote in support of his reelection bid. Senator Wendy Rogers, one of the Legislature’s top allies of President-elect Donald J. Trump, told AZ Free News that she is fully on board with Petersen’s efforts to reclaim his post. She said, “Senate President Warren Petersen has my fullest support. He is deeply principled, loyal, and a true conservative. He stood by me when the chips were down, and that meant more to me as a career military officer than what people realize. You know who your friends are when they stick up for you in the crucible of the fight.”
Rogers added, “As a Republican caucus, we have come through a lot… together. Bonded. We are more conservative and cohesive and have had each other’s back under President Petersen’s leadership. The legislature is the closest to the people, yet the most difficult to corral. He has done yeoman work as our president and will continue to do so in this next cycle. It’s my honor to be in his corner with him.”
Another Republican, Senator T.J. Shope, weighed in on his support for Petersen, saying, “It’s an easy choice to support a guy who treats everyone fairly and runs the chamber efficiently.”
The Republican Senate leader has quickly put his stamp of influence on the state over the past two years in Arizona’s divided government, forcing Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs to relent on her key priorities in two straight budgets, stopping left-wing agenda items from becoming reality, and protecting key state and national laws in the absence of Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes. Under Petersen’s direction, the Arizona Legislature has joined over fifty legal matters across the nation, including lawsuits, amicus briefs, comments, and letters. He is also defending at least five state laws that Mayes declined to intervene in.
Petersen’s prolific defense of state and federal laws has launched him into a conversation for state Attorney General as politicos start to look at the fast-approaching 2026 cycle. Many of the several briefs and lawsuits Petersen has signed onto are spearheaded by Republican attorneys general, giving him first-hand experience in the world of a state’s top prosecutor for select issues. If he would run for the office, it is unknown who – if anyone – might contend with him for the primary election nomination.
The election for Senate leadership positions is expected to occur this upcoming Tuesday.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
