Politics
Katie Hobbs will shatter Janet Napolitano’s veto records
It’s fitting that Gov. Katie Hobbs was given Janet Napolitano’s veto stamp as a gift when she took office. Over the course of 158 days, Napolitano vetoed 17 bills in 2003 when the GOP-controlled legislature met for the first time in the Democrat’s tenure as governor. In exactly half that time — 79 days — […]
DOJ memo on threats to local school boards lambasted by Republicans at U.S. House hearing
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Thursday continued to press accusations that a “woke agenda” is deteriorating parents’ rights in their local school districts. The first hearing this Congress of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government convened to examine whether a 2021 Department of Justice memo played a role in […]
Claiming a First Amendment right to anonymity, lawsuit aims to strike down ‘dark money’ prop
A lawsuit filed in federal court Friday aims to declare the anti-dark money ballot measure that Arizona voters approved last year unconstitutional on grounds that political donors have a First Amendment right to do so anonymously, among other claims. Voters widely approved Proposition 211 last year, with more than 70% of voters choosing to require […]
Far-right Republicans denounce push for ranked-choice voting in Arizona
With Arizona set to see a ballot initiative in 2024 to implement ranked-choice voting across the state, Republicans at the legislature sounded the alarm on Wednesday, saying the voting style is wrong for the Grand Canyon State. “Ranked-choice voting is a proven scam to further destroy integrity in our elections,” warned Rep. Austin Smith during […]
GOP lawmakers fight schools at the Capitol and local board meetings
It’s 6:30 p.m. on a school night, and a normally quiet residential street in Glendale is crowded with protestors, loudspeakers and angry shouts. On the afternoon of March 9, residents from across the Valley descended on Washington Elementary School District’s office to express their support or outrage with the board’s refusal to renew a contract […]
Senate passes bill to cut unemployment benefits
Senate Republicans want to slash the number of weeks an individual can receive unemployment payments and tie the length of benefit availability to the unemployment rate, but critics say that even if jobs are plentiful, it can still be a long process to find a good one. Currently, Arizonans who qualify for unemployment can receive […]
Minority rule is anti-American, but it’s how Republicans are governing in Arizona
When Ben Toma won the contest to be speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, there was a sigh of relief at the Capitol. The Peoria Republican is unquestionably conservative, but had built a reputation as someone willing to engage in good faith with those who hold opposing views — a person who could guide […]
Katie Hobbs should try to veto her way to a Democratic legislative majority
Seven weeks into her tenure as governor, Katie Hobbs is battling with the GOP-led legislature at every turn, and it seems unlikely that she’ll be able to accomplish much, if anything for the foreseeable future. She has proposed a budget with dead-on-arrival components that skewer GOP sacred cows, vetoed Republicans’ political theater budget, openly dismissed […]
Kari Lake says her Iowa roots fuel her fight to overturn Arizona midterm results
BETTENDORF, Iowa — Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake said her Iowa upbringing is one source of her fighter mentality, motivating her to challenge the results of the election that she lost in 2022 and potentially run for U.S. Senate next year. Lake, a Republican, said some may assume she was visiting Iowa because she […]
David Schweikert blames ‘populist’ AZ Freedom Caucus for his quitting the House Freedom Caucus
U.S. Rep. David Schweikert was a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus when it formed in 2015 to undercut then-Speaker John Boehner and pull the broader Republican conference further to the right. But now that the group has more power than it’s ever had — as evidenced by the concessions its members wrung out […]
Border event with lawmakers to feature speakers connected to QAnon, hate group
An event dubbed “Border 911” that will take place Saturday and feature at least one Arizona lawmaker will also feature QAnon connected speakers as well as some connected to hate groups. The event is being put on by The America Project, a 501(c)(4) created by former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne and disgraced former General Michael […]
Fear and loathing in the Arizona legislature
The Republicans who run our state legislature are terrified. They’re terrified that their policy proposals are deeply unpopular. Terrified of facing even a tiny bit of accountability. Terrified of anyone knowing what they’re doing or who they’re talking to. They’re terrified of being forced to work with Democrats. Terrified of compromising even a little bit […]