by Daniel Stefanski | May 12, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Two Arizona legislators are united in their disappointment with President Biden’s latest action with America’s ally Israel.
Last week, President Joe Biden told a national television anchor that he “made it clear [to Israel], if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – that deal with that problem.” Biden added that his administration was “walking away from Israel’s ability to wage war in those areas.”
The president’s comments were roundly condemned in the aftermath. As was repeatedly highlighted by many around the country, Israel has only taken military action in Gaza due to a horrific terrorist attack from Hamas that murdered and brutalized hundreds of innocent men, women, and children.
Arizona State Senate Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, a Republican, reacted to the news from the White House, writing, “This news is 100% complete and utter bullshit. You have Israeli and American blood on your hands President Biden”
Arizona State Representative Alma Hernandez added, “We cannot say we support Israel and then pull back when it comes to supply what is needed to fight this war. I’m not only concerned but very disappointed in this decision. What happened to unequivocally standing with our strongest ally? Do not forget that we still have American citizens being held by terrorist organizations in tunnels. This must be fixed immediately, or we are putting the strong US and Israel relationship in Jeopardy.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 11, 2024 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One Arizona Republican lawmaker is speaking out against Democrats’ economic policies.
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope recently addressed the economic pains being felt by his constituents – as well as many Arizonans around the state. He singled out President Joe Biden and attributed the support of Democrat state legislators for aiding in the economic ailments of everyday Americans.
Shope wrote, “Reckless policies implemented by Joe Biden and supported by Democrat lawmakers have caused the inflation nightmare currently costing you more of your hard earned dollars. Americans are now paying nearly $1,100 more each month compared with just three years ago. If you were hoping to buy a house soon, don’t expect relief in the near future, as 30- year mortgage rates are sitting above 7%, the highest level in 20 years, and the feds indicated this week they may not cut rates in 2024 while inflation remains high.”
The state senator added, “Gas prices are surpassing $4 per gallon in Arizona, when they were just $2.50 at this time four years ago. Our citizens are spending 11% of their disposable income on food, which is the highest level in more than three decades. More and more working class citizens are relying on credit cards to cope with rising costs, as one in three consumers are currently maxing them out. Senate Republicans remain focused on easing these financial burdens, despite the out of touch priorities Biden, Hobbs, and Democrat lawmakers are pushing.”
A recent Gallup Economy and Personal Finance Poll showed that only 38% of respondents had “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of President Biden “to do or recommend the right thing for the economy.” This approval rating (or lack thereof) for Biden has plummeted since the start of his presidency in 2021, when he began his term at 57% for this specific question. Just 34% of independents have confidence in the 46th President’s ability to turn the economy around, according to the poll.
During a recent campaign appearance, former President Donald J. Trump again reiterated that he would reignite the American economy if voters entrusted him with the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He said, “Upon taking office, I will impose an immediate moratorium on all new spending, grants, and giveaways under Joe Biden’s mammoth socialist bills like the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. We are going to stop the Biden spending spree. We are going to halt his inflation death spiral. We are going to terminate his Green New Scam. We are going to end his war on American energy. And we are going to drill, baby, drill.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 4, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A Republican proposal to help mental health needs of Arizonans was signed into law by the state’s governor.
Last week, Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1062 into law. The legislation will “expand the practice of substance abuse counseling to include treatment for all forms of addiction that are a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance, [and] reduce, from three to one, the number of years in which a behavioral health professional seeking licensure by endorsement through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners must be licensed or certified in at least one other state or federal jurisdiction.”
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, the bill’s sponsor, took a victory lap after the governor’s positive action. He said, “According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, Arizona only meets 40% of the mental health care needs of our citizens. This is an alarming statistic that I’ve set out to improve on behalf of all Arizonans who can’t get appointments for treatment in a timely fashion. I sponsored SB 1062, which was signed into law this week, to replace the practice of substance abuse counseling with addition counseling to include treatment for all forms of addiction that are a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance.”
Shope added, “The bill also reduces the number of years out-of-state behavioral health professionals need to be licensed and certified in order to seek licensure from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. It’s my belief that these small changes will have a tremendous impact in helping to meet Arizona’s growing mental health workforce needs, as well as increase access for individuals seeking treatment for all types of addiction.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Arizona LeadingAge, National Association of Social Workers Arizona Chapter, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona had signed in to support the bill. A representative from the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers signed in as neutral.
Back in February, the legislation overwhelmingly passed the Arizona Senate with a 25-5 vote. Last month, the Arizona House of Representatives approved an amended version of the bill with a 41-12 vote (with six members not voting and one seat vacant at the time). The Senate concurred with the changes, sending the bill to the Governor’s Office after a 24-5 vote (with one member not voting).
SB 1062 will go into effect 90 days after the Arizona Legislature adjourns for the 2024 session.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Mar 15, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona legislators are teaming up to provide better protections for pets across the state.
Late last month, the Arizona Senate approved SB 1047, which would “broaden the conditions that must be met for a person to commit cruelty to animals” – according to the purpose from the chamber.
The bill passed out of the state Senate with a 22-7 vote (with one member not voting).
Senator T.J. Shope, the bill’s sponsor said, “It’s always an honor to team up with the Arizona Humane Society, whether to create legislation to protect our precious animals, or to discuss that legislation on Pets on Parade. This week, my wife Melissa and I joined the show to highlight SB 1047, which passed out of the Senate with strong bipartisan support. I proudly partnered with AHS to create this bill, which will strengthen Arizona’s animal laws and narrow the definition of animal cruelty. A more specific outline will help prosecutors be more successful in cases involving animal cruelty.
Shope, the chamber’s President Pro Tempore, expressed hopefulness that the state’s Democrat governor would be favorable to his proposal, adding, “I look forward to seeing this legislation make its way to the governor’s desk and am hopeful she’ll sign it into law. This legislation provides much-needed clarification to our laws and will create a safer environment for pets in Arizona. I will always be an advocate for these innocent animals who cannot speak up or defend themselves. This is also the perfect time to remind you there are hundreds of pets – dogs, cats, bunnies and more, available for adoption at AHS!”
Last month, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water gave a green light to the bill with a 6-1 vote.
Earlier this month, Shope and his wife, Melissa, co-hosted the Arizona Pet Project Hero Awards.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Humane Voters of Arizona, the Arizona Humane Society, Animal Defense League of Arizona, the City of Chandler, Arizona Partnership for People and Pets, and the Human Society of the United States signed in to support the bill. A representative from the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation indicated his organization’s neutrality on the legislation.
SB 1047 will now be considered by the Arizona House of Representatives.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Mar 2, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
On Wednesday, the Arizona House of Representatives passed SB 1231, the Arizona Border Invasion Act. The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Janae Shamp, would “make it unlawful for a person who is an alien (unlawful immigrant) to enter Arizona from a foreign nation at any location other than a lawful port of entry, [and] outline penalties for violations of illegally entering Arizona and provides immunity from civil liability and indemnification for state and local government officials, employees and contractors who enforce this prohibition,” according to the purpose from the Arizona State Senate.
The vote in the House was 31-28 in favor of SB 1231, with one seat vacant. Earlier this month, the bill passed the Senate with a 16-13 vote (with one member not voting).
“Arizonans want and deserve safe communities, but the invasion at the border has led to countless fentanyl overdoses, rapes, murders, human smuggling, child sex trafficking, high-speed chases, subsequent deadly car crashes, and other heinous crimes that are forever transforming our state and the lives of our citizens right before our eyes,” said bill sponsor Senator Janae Shamp.
Senator Shamp also called on the governor to use every tool available to her office to help law enforcement enforce the law, writing, “Governor Katie Hobbs has declared on numerous occasions her disapproval for the lawlessness caused by the federal government’s open border policies and her desire to take action to protect our citizens. This legislation is exactly what our local law enforcement needs and has asked for to rein in the dangerous criminal activity that’s being thrust upon law-abiding Arizonans by the Biden Administration. The Legislature has done its job. Now is her chance to protect the citizens of Arizona by signing this bill into law, so that we can take the handcuffs off of our law enforcement and allow them to do their job.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, a representative from Arizona Catholic Conference endorsed the bill, while representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, the City of Phoenix, and Arizona Faith Network signed in in opposition to the legislation.
One of Senator Shamp’s colleagues, Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, also highlighted the passage of the bill through both chambers of the state legislature and echoed the desire for the governor to sign the legislation. He posted, “I call on Governor Hobbs to sign this bill and make good on her promise from the State of the State Address this year to take the situation at our Border seriously. Katie Hobbs, sign SB 1231.”
Arizona House Democrats vehemently protested the bill on the floor before it won final passage. The Caucus’ “X” account called the measure the “ghost of SB 1070,” and confidently predicted a veto from Governor Hobbs.
Despite a heightened tone in rhetoric from Governor Hobbs over the border crisis, the Democrat chief executive of Arizona is unlikely to go along with many – if any – of the immigration-related bills currently being offered in the legislature by Republicans. Legislative Republicans have pointed to Hobbs’ vetoes of their border bills in the 2023 session as proof that her actions speak louder than words, and the forthcoming decisions on these new proposals will certainly add to that narrative as an election year kicks into high gear for both political parties.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
