Produced by Coconino County Democratic Party
- Insist our Representatives – both House and Senate – pass the Judicial Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act TODAY!! For the first time, recently, the Supreme Court released a code of conduct. It is good that the Supreme Court acknowledged that it had an ethics problem. However this code of conduct is without teeth – no enforcement mechanism. We have seen reports of Supreme Court justices, like Thomas and Alito, accepting far-right megadonor’s exorbitant gifts for years without publicly disclosing them – and then declining to recuse themselves in cases where there is the appearance of bias. We can’t let the ultra-conservative majority on the Supreme Court shrug off their ethical responsibilities to enact an extremist Republican agenda when so many people’s lives are on the line. DEMAND our Representatives pass the Judicial Ethics and Anti-Corruption ACT NOW!!
- Urge our Representatives to do SOMETHING to STOP the Uranium mining operations at Pinyon Plain Mine!! Two northern Arizona tribes, the Havasupai and Navajo, have condemned the start of operations at Pinyon Plain mine. The mine sits above the Redwall-Muav aquifer which is a source of water for countless seeps and springs throughout the Grand Canyon and is the sole source of water for the Havasupai. The mine also sits near Red Butte, an area with deep cultural importance to the Havasupai. Hauling ore from this mine to the White Mesa Mill in Utah will begin shortly. There are two potential routes trucks bringing the uranium ore from the mine could take. One would direct trucks through Flagstaff while the second would utilize ranching roads to skirt north of the city – both routes pass through the Navajo nation. Ask our Representatives to stop this dangerous mining operation ASAP!!
- Insist Congress pass a STRONG farm bill that invests in critical anti-hunger programs!! The farm bill is the largest piece of federal legislation for food and farming, impacting access to nutritious food for the millions of people in the US facing hunger. It is revamped every five years and its time to do it again. Insist our Representatives pass a farm bill that includes increased funding for TEFAP that sends nutritious, high-quality food from farms to food banks to families and individuals facing hunger across the country. Also the new farm bill needs to protect SNAP (food stamps) which is the cornerstone of the nations federal nutrition programs and provides monthly grocery assistance to 40 million people! Recent polling shows that 85% of people, across the political spectrum, support increased TEFAP funding and 80% support increased monthly SNAP benefit amounts to reflect rising food prices. Urge our Representatives to pass a strong farm bill that invests in critical anti-hunger programs like TEFAP and SNAP!!!
- DEMAND our House Representative support aid for Ukraine ASAP! Without additional funding from the US for military assistance, Ukraine could be overrun by Russian aggression!! Republicans are stalling this aid by demanding draconian asylum, parole and detention policies at the U.S.- Mexico border. The anti-immigrant policies Republicans want would separate families at the border, and are irrelevant to funding Ukraine. These demands are dictated by Trump and Stephen Miller. It sets a very dangerous precedent to exchange domestic policy for foreign policy. Congress must fund the Ukraine effort without conditions!! It is wrong for Republicans to hijack this crucial aid to push their unrelated immigration law changes. DEMAND Ukraine aid ASAP!
Sen. Mark Kelly: Call (202) 224-2235 (DC); Email via his website at https://www.kelly.senate.gov/contact/. Tag the Senator at @senmarkkelly.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema: Call (202) 224-4521 (DC) or (602) 598-7327. Email via her website at https://www.sinema.senate.gov/contact-kyrsten. Tag the Senator at @senatorsinema.
Rep. Eli Crane: Call (202) 225-3361 (DC) or email via website at https://crane.house.gov/contact. Tag the Congressman @RepEliCrane
President Biden: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House,
202-225-2777 (DC) or email via website at:
https://mikejohnson.house.gov/contact/
Tag the Congressman @RepMikeJohnson
Senator Mitch McConnell:
Email: https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm
Call: 202-224-2541
COCONINO COUNTY DEMOCRATS
ARIZONA LEGISLATIVE ALERT
January 22, 2024
Here is the contact information for our Legislators:
AZ SENATE:
LD 1 – Ken Bennett 602-926-5874
LD 7 – Wendy Rogers 602-926-3042
LD 6 – Theresa Hatathlie 602-926-5160
President Warren Petersen 602-926-4136
Majority Ldr Sonny Borrelli 602-926-5031
Minority Ldr Denise Epstein 602-926-4870
AZ HOUSE:
LD 1 – Selina Bliss 602-926-4018
LD 1 – Quang Nguyen 602-926-3258
LD 7 – David Cook 602-926-5162
LD 7 – David Marshall 602-926-3579
LD 6 – Mae Peshlakai 602-926-3708
LD 6 – Myron Tsosie 602-926-3157
Majority Ldr Leo Biasiucci 602-926-3018
Minority Ldr Lupe Contreras 602-926-5284
E-Mail Contact for Governor Katie Hobbs:
https://azgovernor.gov/contact/form/contact-governor-hobbs
E-Mail Contacts for Governor Hobbs Staff:
BUDGET
Budget Situation General Info:
- The current projected budget shortfall is $1.7 Billion over the next two years
- One major cause is the 2.5% flat tax passed by Ducey is now in effect and reduces state revenues by at least $1 Billion per year
- The flat tax, it turns out, only really benefits some 10,000 Arizona individuals – the wealthiest while most of us see no reduction in taxes.
- The other major cause is the universal ESA voucher program which is now estimated to cost $970 Million vs. the $65 Million budgeted.
- Governor Hobbs has proposed a “balanced” budget by curbing eligibility for ESA programs, eliminating the School Tuition Organization (STO) tax credit program and cutting many one-time transportation programs.
BILLS AUTHORED BY LD 7 REPRESENTATIVES
SB 1003 – Wendy Rogers – OPPOSE – Would ban the use of photo radar. Conspicuous fixed cameras reduce traffic crashes and injuries.
SCR 1001 – Wendy Rogers – OPPOSE – Same bill as SB 1003 but designed to be put on the ballot and hence immune from Governor veto.
HB 2143 – David Cook – SUPPORT – Would waive fees for driver licenses and state IDs for people experiencing homelessness.
AGRICULTURE
HB 2244 – Nyguyen – OPPOSE – Prohibits intentionally misbranding a product that is not derived from livestock or poultry as meat or poultry. This is targeting veggie derived “meat” products.
HCR 2022 – Smith – OPPOSE – Includes a lot of misinformation about cattle and expresses the legislature’s support of the beef production industry.
CONSPIRACY THEORY BASED
SB 1010 – Jake Hoffman – OPPOSE – Would ban government from setting goals to reduce vehicle miles of travel. Based on the conspiracy theory that believes the “world government” wants to limit people’s freedom of travel and advance a totalitarian agenda.
SCR 1002 – Jake Hoffman – OPPOSE – Same as SB 1010 but designed to be put on the ballot and hence immune from Governor veto.
BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
SB 1011 – Jake Hoffman – OPPOSE – Would reject federal funding for biking and walking infrastructure, depriving Arizona of millions of dollars. Hoffman introduced this same bill last year but it failed to pass.
PUBLIC SAFETY
SB 1012 – Jake Hoffman – OPPOSE – De-emphasizes congestion management and promotes mobility as performance standards and includes specific provisions for how these and other factors are considered.
HB 2038 – OPPOSE – Would make it a class 5 felony to record a conversation without the permission of all parties. This removes the ability of survivors to record conversations with an abuser. Subjecting a survivor to criminal charges for protecting themselves is outrageous.
ENVIRONMENT
SB 1052 – Carroll – OPPOSE – Changes the definition of all-terrain vehicle to include heavier vehicles. Increases it from 2,000 to 3,000 pounds. Heavier vehicles do more damage and kick up more dust.
HB 2002 – Griffin – OPPOSE – Would exempt switchyards and substations from review by the AZ Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee – one of the few entities that considers environmental factors relative to siting.
HB 2003 – Griffin – OPPOSE – Would allow utilities to replace structures on a transmission line without pursuing new or amended certificate of environmental compatibility.
HB 2004 – Griffin – SUPPORT – Would allow a utility to submit an application for a certificate of environmental compatibility for a power plant, transmission line, etc. in an electronic format, hence saving a lot of paper!
SB 1066 – Borrelli – OPPOSE – Would impose a $12.5 cent payout rate per kilowatt hour on solar panel supplied electricity. Down from the current $13.0 cent rate. This is just intended to discourage solar.
VOTING RIGHTS
SB 1008 – Jake Hoffman – OPPOSE – Requires the Secretary of State and county recorders to post a list of events where they do voter registration. This is a bill to facilitate intimidation.
HB 2547 – Jones – OPPOSE – Prohibits boards of supervisors from establishing voting centers to accommodate additional voting for a specific election as needed. This will limit access to voting.
HCR 2032 – Jones – OPPOSE – Same as HB 2547 but places it on the ballot to avoid a Governor veto.
SB 1097 – OPPOSE – Would require all elections for school boards be partisan as opposed to their non-partisan nature currently.
WATER SUSTAINABILITY
HB 2123 – Smith – OPPOSE – Prohibits the state or any political subdivisions from requiring water measuring devices on wells in areas where there are rivers.
HB 2124 – Smith – OPPOSE – Requires the court to award attorney’s fees for nuisance claim related to groundwater pumping.
DIVERSITY AND ESG
What is DEI?
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is the new Republican attack strategy after ESG and “Wokeness”.
The anti DEI bills what to criminalize:
- Requiring an employee to engage in a DEI program
- Spending public monies on DEI programs
- Entering into or renewing a contract with a company that participates in a DEI program
- Spending public monies to acquire services, supplies, information, technology or goods for a DEI program
- Establishing, supporting, sustaining, or employing an office or individual who manages a DEI program.
- Advancing or adopting any policy or procedure designed to influence the composition of a workforce on the basis of race, sex or color.
- Advancing or adopting any policy of procedure designed or implemented on the basis of race, sex, or color.
- Promoting or adopting any theory of unconscious or implicit bias, cultural appropriation allyship, transgenderism, microaggressions, microinvalidation, group marginalization, anti-racism, systemic oppression, ethnocentrism, structural racism or inequity, social justice, intersectionality, neopronouns, inclusive language, heteronormativity, disparate impact, gender identity or theory, racial or sexual privilege or any related theory as the official position of the public entity.
INCREDIBLE THAT SUCH ATTEMPTS ARE BEING MADE IN A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS!!
SB 1005 – Jake Hoffman – OPPOSE – Would ban the state (including public schools) from requiring “diversity, equity and inclusion programs” for its employees. An employee required to participate could sue. Hoffman introduced this same bill last year and it failed to pass.
SB 1013 – Jake Hoffman – OPPOSE – Would ban government from taking social or environmental values into consideration when investing.
SB 1014 – Jake Hoffman – OPPOSE – Would ban financial institutions, insurers and credit reporting agencies from considering political affiliation, social or environmental values. Similar to vetoed bill last year.
TAXATION
SB 1056 – Petersen – OPPOSE – Requires a two-thirds vote for cities or counties to increase any fee or tax or increases in existing fees or taxes.
EDUCATION
Universal Vouchers – Some General Information:
Per Save our Schools:
- For large school districts that receive state aid, the per-pupil cost is $700 less than te cost of an ESA voucher
- For public schools, the per-pupil cost is $900 less than an ESA voucher
- For districts in well off areas that don’t receive ANY state aid the cost to the state could be the full cost of a student’s voucher – as much as $9700.
- Some 52% of students getting ESA vouchers live in the most wealthiest zip codes
- Another 25% of students getting ESA vouchers live in the next wealthiest zip codes.
- This implies that 10 times more ESA voucher students live in the top 25% wealthiest zip codes than live in the lowest income zip codes.
SB 1007 – OPPOSE – Would make it a class 5 felony to refer students to or use sexually explicit material as defined by the legislature. Could result in teachers not being able to cover Shakespeare, and a lot of other classics. Besides, references to sexually explicit material are already prohibited by federal/state law.
CHILD PROTECTION
HB 2094 – OPPOSE – Would grant any child over fourteen the “right to select the parent whom the child chooses regarding custody and parenting time.” Seems benign but exposes children to greater trauma by forcing them to make decisions on their own, forcing a choice between two loved parents in the best of circumstances, and potentially placing them in danger in the worst of circumstances.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PREROGATIVES
HB 2120 – OPPOSE – Would prohibit local agencies from cutting their police department or other law enforcement departments. If a local agency cuts a police budget below last year’s budget then the state would take away an equal amount from the local budget and give it to the police department affected. Removes local oversight of key budget elements! SCR 1007 – OPPOSE – Would prohibit public entities from doing business with any company that discriminates against firearms.
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