by Matthew Holloway | May 16, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2700 on Monday which would have compelled the Arizona State Board of Education to include Geography in its prescribed competency requirements for graduation from high school and defined that instruction to include instruction accurately referring to the Gulf of America.
In her veto letter to Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro, Hobbs chose to adopt an adversarial, scolding tone toward Republican leaders.
Hobbs wrote, “Today, I vetoed House Bill 2700. Arizonans want us to work together to lower costs, secure the border, create jobs, and protect public education. Instead of joining with me to do that, this Legislature has chosen to attempt to dictate how teachers refer to geographic features. I encourage you to refocus your time and energy on solving real problems for Arizonans.”
State Rep. Teresa Martinez (R-LD16) held a different view however and emphasized the importance of accurate and patriotic instruction for Arizona students: “It’s important to start teaching pro-America to our students. What better way to promote a patriotic country and teach children about patriotism than to start calling it Gulf of America and taking pride in that?”
While making her disapproval of the bill clear, Hobbs called upon Republican legislators to “work together to lower costs, secure the border, create jobs, and protect public education,” despite her recent vetoes, which have thrown aside meaningful reforms in all four policies.
In 2023, Hobbs infamously vetoed SB 1184 which would have eliminated rental taxes that drive up the monthly rent of millions of Arizonans, and SB 1063 which would have banned sales taxes on groceries. The sponsor of SB 1063, Senator Sonny Borrelli, said that Hobbs “would rather have windfall taxes go to cities on the backs of people that need to survive on essential items like groceries consumed at home.”
On Border Security, Hobbs vetoed the Arizona Immigration Cooperation and Enforcement (ICE) Act, SB 1164 this April, and SB 1610 earlier this month, which would have required county detention facilities to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by providing access to data on illegal aliens arrested for serious crimes.
On the subject of Jobs, Hobbs drew severe criticism from Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp (R-LD29) when she vetoed SB 1584.
“The Governor despicably vetoing this bill demonstrates her support for discrimination and a lack of leadership for refusing to push back against fellow Democrats who support these unethical hiring practices,” Shamp said at the time. ” I am extremely disappointed, yet not surprised, that Hobbs continues to appeal to the radical left with her tone-deaf veto decisions, rather than support legislation to reform workplace policies that prioritize anything other than talent and hard work. It’s truly petrifying that we have a governor who can, without shame, prioritize discrimination and favoritism, over unity and respect for every Arizonan.”
Hobbs also vetoed another school related bill, SB 1050, sponsored by Senator Vince Leach (R-LD17) in April. The bipartisan measure would have directed tax dollars from Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) to schools by prohibiting the abatement of school district-designated tax revenues. “This was a missed opportunity by the Governor,” Leach told AZ Free News. “She says she supports education funding, but her veto suggests otherwise.”
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 | May 7, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The latest job report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) shows that 34% of small business owners (seasonally adjusted) reported that despite having open positions in April, they could not find employees to fill them. Chad Heinrich, state director for NFIB in Arizona, offered some suggestions for Arizona lawmakers to address the situation and urged the passage of AZ Senate Bills 1069 and 1215.
“Arizona’s small businesses are the foundation of our economy, and our state has a chance to lead the way in empowering them,” Heinrich said in a statement. “Lawmakers have already done good work keeping taxes and regulations in check. Now, I urge them to pass Senate Bills 1069 and 1215. These two measures will lift a significant recordkeeping burden from Arizona’s smallest businesses and safeguard legal proceedings from foreign entity involvement.”
Senate Bill 1069 sponsored by AZ Senator JD Mesnard (R-LD13) would, if enacted, increase the Business Personal Property Tax exemption to $500,000 per taxpayer, relieving the tax burden on small business owners and “reduce record-keeping and compliance costs enormously,” according to the NFIB.
The bill was passed by the Senate 17-9 with four Senators not voting and passed the House Ways and Means Committee on March 5th.
The second measure, Senate Bill 1215, proposed by AZ Senate President Pro Tempore Vince Leach would require the disclosure of third-parties sponsoring predatory lawsuits against Arizona small business owners and was passed by the House Judiciary Committee on March 26th and is pending consideration by the House Rules Committee. The bill is also supported by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Arizona Manufacturers Council, the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association, and the Arizona Trucking Association.
Courtney Coolidge, executive vice president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry said in a February statement, “Third party litigation funding has grown to an estimated $15 billion industry in the U.S. Essentially what happened is funders pour money into lawsuits in exchange for the settlement. This is a simple transparency bill to ensure transparency in our courts, protect litigants and safeguard against foreign influence. This is not just an Arizona issue; several states have passed this with bipartisan support.”
Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg explained the NFIB report’s findings saying, “Small business owners remained open to hire and grow their workforce in April. While the percent of open positions decreased a bit, Main Street firms are still struggling to find qualified applicants for their plentiful open positions.” Per the NFIB report, the percentage of unfilled job openings spiked in 2021-22 and have returned to the lowest level observed since January 2021.
Per the NFIB report, the percentage of unfilled job openings spiked in 2021-22 and have returned to the lowest level observed since January 2021 with the largest concentration of openings in construction, transportation, and manufacturing.
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 Jonathan Eberle | Apr 12, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A bill designed to direct more tax revenue toward Arizona’s K-12 classrooms has been vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs, prompting criticism from Republican lawmakers who say the measure would have strengthened public education funding.
SB 1050, sponsored by Senator Vince Leach (R-LD17), sought to amend the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) program by prohibiting the abatement of school district-designated tax revenues. Under current law, cities and towns can lease government-owned property to private developers with reduced tax obligations, an incentive intended to promote commercial development.
The bill would have excluded school-related tax revenues from such incentives, allowing those funds to flow directly to local school districts instead of being waived under development agreements.
“This was a missed opportunity by the Governor,” said Leach. “She says she supports education funding, but her veto suggests otherwise.”
In her veto letter, Governor Hobbs explained that SB 1050 could “stunt Arizona’s economic development” by weakening a tool used by local governments to attract private investment. The GPLET program, though controversial, has been credited with revitalizing parts of urban Arizona by lowering upfront development costs in exchange for long-term gains.
Arizona schools continue to face funding pressures despite recent increases to the state’s education budget. Republican lawmakers have often pushed for reallocating existing tax revenues, while Democrats have generally sought new funding sources or changes to the state’s tax structure.
SB 1050 passed both legislative chambers before being vetoed, signaling at least some bipartisan concern about the balance between development incentives and education funding.
Senator Leach and other supporters of the bill may pursue similar legislation in future sessions or attempt a veto override, although success would require significant bipartisan support. Meanwhile, the broader debate over how to equitably fund Arizona’s public schools is likely to continue.
“This is about priorities,” Leach said. “We should be making sure our tax dollars are going to classrooms, not corporate subsidies.”
The Governor’s office has not indicated whether alternative proposals to increase school funding through tax reforms are in the works.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 13, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona Republicans pulled out some key victories in extremely competitive districts to expand their control of the state legislature.
Entering the 2024 General Election, Republicans had a very narrow control of the Arizona Legislature. Over the past year, local and national Democrats poured millions of dollars into specific districts, hoping to flip one or both chambers.
Instead of a party shift, however, Republicans did more than maintain their control of each legislative body; they may have slightly expanded their numbers, as the makeup looks today with most of ballots counted across the state.
In District 2, Republican Senator Shawnna Bolick staved off a ferocious challenge from Democrat Judy Schwiebert, winning by almost four percent.
Bolick said, “I cannot thank our family, friends, and supporters enough for helping to push us over the finish line. I am fortunate to have had helping hands to complete our post card writing campaigns in both the primary and the general elections. We also had to deliver campaign literature to voters in all the precincts targeting registered voters across all political parties. We had volunteers from all over the state making phone calls and sending positive text messages to our district’s voters. Thank you to everyone who reached out to help us, maximizing our efforts to reaching our goal of winning this seat.”
In District 4, Republican newcomer Carine Werner unseated incumbent Democrat Senator Christine Marsh, emerging victorious by more than 3.5%.
Werner issued a statement after her race was called, writing, “We were successful because we worked hard and listened to voters in District 4. I say ‘we’ because it isn’t about me, it’s about finding solutions for small businesses, families, our schools, and first responders. I will legislate the same way I campaigned and have served on school board – with integrity, transparency, and accountability. I want our district to feel like their hard work and entrepreneurship means something. I want people to get more for their hard-earned dollar, because we can help reduce prices and keep taxes low. And I want parents to feel empowered to make the best choices for their kids. This election is about all of us and the future of our state – I’m honored to be part of it and to know that voters have trust and faith in me. Now it’s time to deliver.”
Incumbent Republican state Representative Matt Gress easily won the top spot in this district to return to his chamber for a second term in office. His running mate, Pamela Carter, held off Democrat Kelli Butler by less than one percent to capture the second House seat.
Gress stated, “The latest batch of votes are in, and we are WAY up in #LD4! I am so grateful you have re-hired me as your state representative with wide support across our community. I’ll continue working for YOU! On this campaign, we talked about common sense — we didn’t sling mud. I can’t wait to get back to work, delivering more results for our community and state. In short: THANK YOU, #LD4!!!”
Carter added, “WE DID IT! We have been victorious in winning the final seat in the Arizona House of Representatives in LD 4! Great news for Arizona! Thank you to my Lord Jesus Christ, my team, and all of my supporters and volunteers for making this possible. Congratulations to President Trump, our 47th President of the USA! Together, we will make Arizona and America strong, healthy and vibrant again!!”
In District 13, Republican Senator J.D. Mesnard won reelection with a margin of over six percent.
Republicans Jeff Weninger and Julie Willoughby won both House seats for the district. For Willoughby, this upcoming term will be her first full one in office. For Weninger, this victory marks a return to the state legislature after a brief hiatus from public service.
Weninger said, “We had to counter an enormous amount of campaign spending coming from out-of-state special interest groups. In the end, they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars supporting my opponent. But we responded even stronger and again sent a message that the people of this district value real relationships and real results. Desperate money from DC liberals won’t fool them. In fact, it appears this will be my biggest win yet for the State Senate!”
In District 17, Republican candidate and former legislator Vince Leach has a razor-thin lead of approximately 1,500 votes over Democrat John McLean.
In District 23, Republican incumbent state Representative Michele Peña finished atop the field of candidates for House, ensuring another term in the Arizona Legislature.
As of Monday night, Republicans appear to have secured 17 of 30 Senate seats and 33 of 60 House seats. There are still thousands of votes outstanding throughout the state.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Aug 2, 2024 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona Democrats are hoping to gain a majority in the state legislature, in part, by picking up a seat that tends to favor Republican candidates.
John McLean is running for the state Senate in Arizona Legislative District 17. The district covers Pima County, north of Tucson, including Marana and Catalina.
Earlier this year, The Washington Post wrote a piece, entitled, “Forget the presidential race. Statehouses are where it’s at.” In that article, the reporters, Theodoric Meyer and Leigh Ann Caldwell, opined that “Democrats are trying to flip the state House and Senate in Arizona after Democrat Katie Hobbs won the governorship in 2022, giving the party control of state government.”
They added, “There are few places where the fights for control of Washington and state legislatures align more than in Tucson’s northern suburbs….Democratic Senator Mark Kelly and Hobbs carried the 17th District when they won in 2022, and Democrats are making it a top target this year. The party needs to flip only two seats in the state House and two in the Senate to win a trifecta (as it’s called when one party controls the governorship and the legislature).”
Kevin Volk, who is running alongside McLean for a seat in the state House of Representatives, told The Washington Post, “Arizona politically seems like the belle of the ball for the first time. And that’s translated to a lot of on-the-ground enthusiasm.”
McLean, a third-generation Arizonan shared on March 29 that he filed 1,369 nominating petition signatures to qualify for the ballot. He wrote, “To the army of volunteers who made this happen, I thank you. This campaign has only just begun!”
On his website, McLean lists endorsements from many left-leaning organizations, including Climate Cabinet, National Organization for Women Arizona PAC, Arizona Education Association, Sierra Club, Save Our Schools Arizona, and the Jane Fonda Climate PAC.
Last month, McLean also boasted about his endorsement from the Human Rights Campaign PAC.
For candidates without a legislative or governing record for voters to research, these endorsements often provide an insightful window into how they might handle their potential roles as legislators or who they may be beholden to in office. For example, organizations like the Arizona Education Association and Save Our Schools Arizona are staunch opponents of the state’s school choice and educational freedom opportunities, including the historic Empowerment Scholarship Account program, which was expanded just a couple years ago. One of McLean’s top issues on his campaign website is “Quality Education For All,” yet he only refers to public schools in his subsequent explanation.
Additionally, McLean’s endorsements from National Organization for Women Arizona PAC and Human Rights Campaign PAC raise concerns about how he would vote in matters of life and family issues. For decades, Arizona has been one of the top states in protecting life and family values, which have come under assault from countless individuals and groups, including the two aforementioned organizations. Support from those two seem to indicate that McLean would be a reliable vote for their issues should he be entrusted with the levers of authority from Legislative District 17 voters in November’s General Election.
McLean lists “Reproductive Rights” – or abortion – on his website as another top issue, framing the argument as “Government should not interfere with anyone’s personal health care decisions which should remain between her and her doctor.”
Arizona Legislative District 17 is a Republican-leaning seat with an 8.3% vote spread between Republicans and Democrats in the past nine statewide elections, according to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. Out of those nine elections, all nine contests have ended up in the Republicans’ column.
McLean ran unopposed in the Democrat primary on July 30. He obtained 23,312 votes, according to unofficial totals from the Arizona Secretary of State as of Wednesday afternoon. He will likely face off against Vince Leach, who was ahead of incumbent Justine Wadsack in the Republican primary by 943 votes as of Wednesday afternoon.
After emerging from the primary, McLean posted, “Thank you Legislative District 17 for choosing me as your Democratic nominee for state senate. Together, we’ll secure our water future, strengthen our school system, and build a stable economy. 98 days until Election Day. Let’s do this!”
Leach told AZ Free News that, “John McLean is going to have to defend the actions of the Democrat party both at the state level and the national level. He owns the damage to the state of Arizona by Governor Katie Hobbs, and also the radical policies that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are inflicting on our country. If voters elect McLean to office, that will help the Democrats take over the state legislature, which means that taxes will increase, school choice will disappear, and commonsense election laws will be reversed. There is a clear divide between me and John on abortion, economic policy, border security, election integrity, and many other issues. I look forward to making this case to our district from now until the General Election.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
