Arizona Republicans have demonstrated on numerous occasions with their MAGA extremist-reactionary-discriminatory legislative agenda, devotion to the Big Lie of the 2020 Presidential Election (despite revelations showing these same Republicans not stepping up to the plate to turn over evidence backing up their false claims when given the opportunity,) and unwillingness to negotiate with the Democratic Governor in good faith on a bipartisan budget, that they are not serious about governing, moving the Grand Canyon State forward, and lifting people up.
Today, they again stomped on the idea of bipartisanship at the State Capitol, moving the governing goalposts by insisting that any Democratic proposed legislation in the House of Representatives garner the support of the majority of the Republican delegation (16 members) in order to move toward a vote on the House Floor.
These are largely bills that have cleared their respective committees on bipartisan votes, meaning if they are brought to the floor, the great majority of them would likely pass.
So most bipartisan legislation advocated by leading Democratic sponsors is likely all dead because, unfortunately, there are not 16 House Republicans (the majority of the majority) interested in doing well by the state and its residents.
Reacting to the latest Republican obstruction, Democratic House Leader Andres Cano issued a release on social media, stating “we have had enough…That (this) is wrong. That is not the process. Any bi-partisan Democratic idea, no matter how valid, no matter how important to the future of our state, can be stopped because in this chamber the tail wags the dog. We will not be taken for granted. Until this process is once again deliberative and representative, I vote no.”
PRESS RELEASE: 'We have had enough' — Leader Cano as GOP Moves Goalposts for Democratic Bills #azleg pic.twitter.com/8SsNnIkxQU
— Arizona House Democrats (@AZHouseDems) February 28, 2023
Freshmen House Democrats added their perspective on today’s events.
Legislative District (LD) 12 Representative Stacey Travers posted:
Dems are working in good faith. I have co-sponsored/voted on many Rep. bills. When it’s time to get Dem bills heard we need to fight tooth&nail just to get it heard in committee. This is not how we work together to pass good legislation that help everyday Arizonans! https://t.co/xnvdw4RFXj
— Stacey Travers (@TraversforAZ) February 28, 2023
LD Nine Representative Lorena Austin offered:
The voices of well over a million Arizonans are not being heard. This state did not just elect Republicans. My district elected representatives that would listen to our constituents no matter the letter next to their name. https://t.co/KAF8NwSI1c
— Representative Lorena Austin (@LorenaAustin4Az) February 28, 2023
Republicans, through their MAGA arrogance and stupidity, are writing the campaign ads… for the Democrats.
Imagine the ad that says “Do you know how your taxpayer money is being used at so and so rich person’s private school?”
Or the one that says “Democrats wanted to fully fund public schools but Republicans preferred to give their rich friends private school tax breaks instead.”
Or this one that could state “Democrats wanted to expand health care for poor women and poor children. Republicans want to take that money and give rich corporations tax cuts.”
By maintaining this extremist, plutocratic, and reactionary catering to their base strategy, they are making Democrats’ election chances easier…if Democrats, being rightfully mad as hell, utilize the right strategies to finally take over the legislature after the 2024 elections.
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