CEBV Weekly: May 1, 2023
Intermission
We’re getting tired of this.
Our state lawmakers returned Tuesday from a nearly 2-week break. They gaveled back in to have themselves a contentious few hours in the theater of the absurd, spewing trumped-up outrage over a fictitious issue that isn’t public education, water, affordable housing, homelessness, or a state budget. They then adjourned again, this time until May 3.
GOP leaders say they plan to use the time to continue negotiations on the state budget. However, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors seems in no hurry to fill the vacant seat of expelled conspiracy theorist Liz Harris. They’re holding individual hourlong interviews with the 3 candidates on Wednesday, the day the legislature gavels back in, and have announced no timetable for their decision. As we were all reminded Tuesday, it’s hard for Republicans to pass legislation along party lines without a full majority complement of Republicans.
We’re supremely annoyed by the fictitious spectacle of the so-called “tamale bill.” Republican lawmakers who breathlessly accused opponents of partisanship, cowardice and weak leadership in the wake of the veto certainly sang a different tune when the governor issuing the vetoes belonged to their same party.
Shope said he’s not offended by the governor’s (Ducey’s) vetoes and doesn’t think others should be. It’s just a negotiating tool, he said.
“Anybody who’s piping mad about it just really needs to take a deep breath and realize that it has happened before. Maybe it hasn’t happened to them, or one of their bills, but it has happened and that’s the nature of the beast down there.”
Nonetheless, intent on making a political point, they motioned to veto even knowing they didn’t have enough votes to override. Many of them sported stickers with logos from Koch-funded astroturf front groups Americans for Prosperity and Libre Initiative. Even the bill itself is a model policy from libertarian anti-regulation bill mill Institute for Justice; in Idaho they cynically marketed the same bill language as “unchain the cupcake.”
It was hard to watch Tuesday’s spectacle knowing the intent of these special interest groups to exploit and pander to Latino communities in order to achieve an ideological win on broader deregulation. Lawmakers were preying on the vulnerable by pushing policies that would ultimately harm them, just as they did with Arizona’s ESA voucher program.
Meanwhile, our state’s actual issues remain unaddressed. Unsurprisingly, voters are frustrated. A recent poll finds only 23% of voters feel Arizona’s elected leaders are focused on the issues that matter most to them: regardless of demographic or political party, those issues include public education, water, housing affordability and homelessness. And in direct contrast to this week’s circus, only 29% of voters surveyed want leaders who put their own partisan ideology above all else. Will our legislature take note? Don’t hold your breath: as the poll’s funders point out, “Perhaps fomenting polarization and hyperpartisanship are the point for those who found their way to duly elected office on the wings of discord.”
Monday marks day 113 of what is intended to be a 100-day session. On day 120, lawmakers’ per diem payments drop drastically. Tempers are frayed at the Capitol, and impatience is running rampant. All this complicates the production of a budget even further.
Nothing good in this state ever happens without massive public pressure. Lawmakers need to hear from you, their constituents. Let’s push them to set aside the clown show and get to work on real issues.
⏰ If you have 15 minutes: Please contact your senator and representatives on our impending state budget. Ask them to stop with the tax cuts, cap or roll back wildly irresponsible universal ESA vouchers, and tap some new sources of revenue to keep our state running. If you’ve already done this, please do it again. Save Our Schools Arizona’s one-click email form makes it easy!
⏰⏰ If you have 30 minutes: Also contact the governor’s office and House and Senate leaders.
Gov. Katie Hobbs: 📫 engage@az.gov • ☎️ 602-542-4331 • 👍🏻 Facebook • 🐦 Twitter
Senate Majority Leader Warren Petersen (R-14): 📫 wpetersen@azleg.gov • ☎️ 602-926-4136 • 👍🏻 Facebook • 🐦 Twitter
Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein (D-12): 📫 mepstein@azleg.gov • ☎️ 602-926-4870 • 👍🏻 Facebook • 🐦 Twitter
House Majority Leader Ben Toma (R-27): 📫 btoma@azleg.gov • ☎️ 602-926-3298 • 👍🏻 Facebook • 🐦 Twitter
House Minority Leader Andrés Cano (D-20): 📫 acano@azleg.gov • ☎️ 602-926-3027 • 👍🏻 Facebook • 🐦 Twitter
⏰⏰⏰ If you have 45 minutes: Also write a Letter to the Editor about the state budget. Visit our LTE Hub for templates, messaging advice, submission links and more:
⏰⏰⏰⏰ If you have 60 minutes: Join us on Zoom at 4pm on Sunday for our next CEBV Happy Hour. This week, we’re featuring Gov. Hobbs’ deputy chief of staff Will Gaona.
📆 Look ahead: Join us at this Budget Town Hall on May 6 at 3 PM. It reminds us fondly of the 2017 town hall tour where many of us got our start. Hope to see you there!
2023 Session Timeline
Legislative majority leadership can change bill deadlines at any point. The budget deadline, however, is set in stone because it is tied to the state’s fiscal year.
Saturday, 4/22 100th Day of Session (must motion to extend every 7 days) Friday, 5/12 120th Day of Session (lawmakers' per diem gets cut in half) Friday, 6/30 Last day to pass a budget before the government shuts down
Use Request to Speak. Our elected officials need to know what we think!
Use our website. Civic Engagement Beyond Voting’s website features tons of resources, including a RTS training video that’s 5 minutes well spent.
Attend our Happy Hours. At this week’s Zoom RTS Happy Hour, we’re featuring Gov. Hobbs’ deputy chief of staff Will Gaona. As always, we’ll also have legislative info and Q&A with Melinda. We’ll meet every Sunday at 4 PM through the end of session; sign up in advance here.
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