At the State Legislature, Republican Committee Chairs Adopt Orwellian Methods and Suspend the Democratic Process

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At his first press conference today,  President Biden said that attempts to enact bills to suppress the vote are “UnAmerican,” “sick,” and “despicable.”

The President may well have been referring to the Orwellian and Anti-Democratic behavior of Republican Committee Chairs in the Arizona State Legislature who have taken steps over the last couple of weeks to:

  • Suppress speech from the individuals that are requesting to speak.
  • Stifle debate among the committee members.
  • Refuse to mention the names of Propositions certain pieces of legislation would affect.
  • Illegally vote for other legislators.

Totalitarian leaders around the world and in historic memory would applaud what Republican Committee Chairs like John Kavanagh and Shawnna Bollick have done.

Their actions truly were UnAmerican, sick, and despicable.

John Kavanagh tries to vote for Athena Salman

AZ Blue Meanie already did a report on this earlier today.

Not satisfied with Government and Elections Committee  Ranking Member Athena Salman’s explanation for her vote, Mr. Kavanagh attempted to cut her off and have her no vote recorded. Please view below. Video is worth several thousand words.

https://twitter.com/DillonReedRose/status/1374817904282071042

After being advised he was committing a potential felony, Mr. Kavanagh backed down and allowed Representative Salman to continue speaking.

Earlier in the hearing, as relayed by State Representative Jennifer Pawlik, Mr. Kavanagh restricted expert input, stating:

“Today we had the GE Committee hearing with 21 bills assigned. On SB 1713, there were 16 individuals signed in to speak on the bill. We heard from 4 people and we were able to ask questions, and then the chair decided he had enough. He announced that we would have 3 more speakers (1 minute apiece) and there would be no more questions from the committee members.”

Voters should ask: What part of the Democratic process is Mr. Kavanagh, the man who made national headlines two weeks ago for calling for a qualitative assessment of votes, for?

This is the second time in a week that Kavanagh has constrained public debate and shut down Democrats on the Committee. Please click on the video link here to see Mr. Kavanagh shut down presenters and Democrats.

Shawnna Bolick goes Orwellian-Voldermort on Proposition 208. 

Not to be outdone, Ways and Means Chairperson Shawna Bolick, a known opponent of public schools (and advocate-active participant for supporting vouchers)  blocked the use of members mentioning Invest in Ed-Proposition 208 when debating (when there was one) SB 1783, the JD Mesnard bill that would carve out a new business tax cut for wealthy individuals that want to get out of paying taxes that go into, wait for it, the Proposition 208 trust fund.

Ranking Member Mitzi Epstein (who Bolick tried to suppress her speech at the previous Ways and Means Committee meeting) tweeted this in response to Bolick’s Orwellian approach to debating, invoking a well-known Harry Potter antagonist.

 

Like Kavanagh, Ms. Bolick did not welcome extensive expert testimony and feedback.

For an in-depth analysis of the reactionary bills Republicans rammed through the Ways and Means Committee that go against the will of the people, please click below to access Representative Pamela Powers Hannley’s video describing them.

Please also see Representative Hannely’s analysis of the attempts, despite voter rejection two years ago, of expanding vouchers.

Reaction to the Kavanagh and Bolick UnAmerican Way of Governing

Democratic House Leader Reginald Bolding blasted the Chairperson’s for “limiting the discussion of bills,” calling it “not the Democratic way” and “the way we should be running this chamber.”

Bolding went further stating that voting for other members and telling them they can not speak are things “none of us should be doing.”

Liz Luna, the Deputy Executive Director of the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee commented:

“During Women’s History Month, the treatment of our members by Chairpersons Bollick and Kavanagh is a prime example of what women leaders go through on a daily basis. What Rep. Athena Salman experienced shows a misuse of leadership and bullying from fellow lawmakers. The GOP is terrified of losing their power so instead of engaging respectfully in debate, they insult Democratic members to prove a point. Arizona deserves better.”

Progress Arizona organized a March 25, 2021 morning event at the State Capitol where activists who wanted to speak at these hearings (Azza Abuseif – State Director CAIR- AZ, Araceli Villezcas – Arizona Voter, Francisca Gil – Our Voice Our Vote, and Alicia Contreras – Corazon AZ) voiced their concerns over the Un Democratic methods these Committee Chairpersons were employing.

Please click here to view the video of the event.

Ms. Gil called the tactics and behavior of Republican Committee Chairpersons  making people wait to speak and then stop them from doing it “evil.” 

These Chairpeople, like the former President they voted for, must really be afraid of facts and reality if they want to suppress speech, stifle debate, and adopt Orwellian word games.

They have proven they fear Democracy with their bills to suppress the vote.

They have also proven for all to witness that they, as President Biden said, are UnAmerican, behave despicably, and are not fit to be in a position to influence public policy.

Vote them out in 2022 in favor of people that will work for you and act like Americans.