Last Week at the Legislature
April 21, 2024
Hi Friend,
Welcome to Last Week at the Legislature, my weekly report to you on what happened last week in your State House and how I'm representing our community.
Again this week we met only on Wednesday. And for the second week in a row, the one-seat Republican majority played political games with women's lives by refusing to even allow HB2677, this year's annual bill to repeal the 1864 abortio ban, to even be put up for a board.
Last year, Republicans pushed through a rule that says that no bill can receive a hearing without the support of the Speaker of the House. And Speaker Ben Toma, a Congressional candidate in a very conservative district is refusing to allow the repeal to even receive a vote.
The one-seat Republican majority has so far been unwilling to overrule their speaker to bring the bill to a vote. Instead, they're hiding behind a rule for bringing a bill to the floor that could easily be changed. However, when Rep Charles Lucking (D-LD5) made a motion to change that rule (which Republicans do frequently when a rule becomes a problem for them), INSTEAD, Republicans made a substitute motion to adjourn. We will persist.
However, some progress was made in the State Senate on Wednesday. That's when three Republican senators who have spent their political careers fighting to ban abortion, saw what a losing issue this has become for their re-election bids.
They broke with their caucus and voted YES on a motion to bring a bill to repeal the 1864 abortion ban to the Senate floor for a vote. However, every bill needs to be heard three times before it receives a vote, and since we are meeting just once per week, it will take another two weeks - at least.
To read more about it, here's a link to some great coverage from the Arizona Mirror.
Judy
Representative Judy Schwiebert, LD2
jschwiebert@azleg.gov, JudySchwiebert.com, 602-935-0468
While Republicans want to roll back the clock on women's autonomy to 1864, a time before women could vote, we will not stand for this attack on our basic health and safety in 2024.
Damage Control
Once again, instead of listening to the 80% of Arizonans who believe abortion should be safe, legal and without interference from politicians, Republicans have instead made a laughing stock of our beautiful state.
Sometime in the next couple of weeks they will absolutely vote to repeal the ban. However, don't believe for a minute that solves the issue.
Once the 1864 ban is repealed, we will be left with a 2022 law that bans abortion after 15 weeks, and won't that seem oh, so reasonable. No, it is NOT reasonable. Complications can occur at any time during a pregnancy, and the bottom line is that the decision is one that should be up to a woman, her doctor, and her family. Politicians have no business in that very personal decision. And Republicans can change the law anytime when all the hubbub dies down and no one is looking.
The only way to protect our reproductive healthcare from Republican interference is to pass an AMENDMENT in our State Constitution to protect our freedom from on-going Republican interference.
That's why I continue to support the Arizona for Abortion Access petition to keep abortion legal. In fact, it has already collected over 500,000 signatures to allow voters to decide this November whether to enshrine this right in our constitution.
However, back to that oops moment this week when the attorney for House Republicans accidentally shared their plan with EVERY member of the chamber as well as to the media (not just to Republicans).
Phase 1 of their plan is to create a resolution with a title like "Protecting Pregnant Women and Safe Abortions Act" - but it would add additional restrictions to abortion in our state constitution. The plan is to send it quickly to the ballot this November. It would then appear first on voters' ballots in order to confuse them.
Then Phase II would send two other referrals to the ballot as well. One would limit abortions to 14 weeks, and another to 5 weeks. They don't care what voters want - their objective is to CONFUSE us. Don't fall for it.
Here's some more information on how you can sign onto the petition to create a Constitutional Amendment protecting abortion.
Protect Our Rights in the Constitution
We are also collecting signatures for the Arizona for Abortion Access petition that would put an initiative enshrining our fundamental reproductive rights in the Arizona Constitution on November's ballot for voters to decide. Want to sign or help collect signatures? Stop by our LD2 Dems office at 1524 W. Bell Road during our office hours or email us at info@JudyForAZ.com
Office Hours:
Mondays 1-3 pm
Tuesdays 1-3 pm
Fridays, 3-5 pm
Saturdays, 2-4 pm
Arizona's $1.8 Billion Deficit
Well, I'm just going to repeat this article from last week. It's crucial to everyone in Arizona. The Finance Advisory Committee a panel of state and private economists that advises lawmakers on the economy and budget, determined on April 11 that Arizona now will need $1.8 billion in cuts, down slightly from the $2.2 billion in January.
Among the chief causes of this deficit are
The $30 million in pork given to each Republican legislator last year (like $15 million for the Prescott rodeo).
Republicans, once known as the party of fiscal responsibility have proven themselves to be absolutely irresponsible with our tax dollars.
So, because of the one-seat majority's decisions, Arizona's ability to do its job of educating our children, keeping us safe, maintaining our roads, caring for our most vulnerable, are all at further risk. We face very difficult decisions.
Here's Who I Met This Week
It was so much fun to meet with the kids at the Boys & Girls Club of the Valley - AZ in our own LD2 on Thursday as the Club partnered with AT&T and Compudoct to give away 300 newly refurbished computers to Club families. In today's world, it is vital that everyone has access to the Internet. A big thanks to AT&T, Compudoct, and Boys & Girls Club!
It was so inspiring to stop by the All In Education conference in the Old Senate Chamber at the Capitol on Thursday. Thank you to the founders and leaders who know that we can no longer afford to wait to ensure our communities are well resourced and provided the opportunity to thrive. They are calling for parents, teachers and students to unite their voices in their need for change. I agree!
Also, on Thursday, I was honored to be invited to speak to members of the Arizona Caregiver Coalition as they spent their Day at the Capitol. Thank you so much to Dr. Nelly Clotter-Woods, their executive director, for the invitation, and to Rep Elda Luna-Najera (LD22) for attending as well.
I quoted First Lady Rosalyn Carter who once said, "There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who WILL be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver."
We all deserve the kind of care that reminds us of who we truly are. And these family members caring for elderly parents, disabled children and others are on the front lines - and deserve our support.
With a $1.8 Billion budget deficit this year, programs that support this vital care are at risk. They have asked legislators to maintain the current $5 Million for Home & Community Based Services, and to provide $15 M for services for the developmentally disabled, $45 million for AAA services, $7.5 million for AHCCCS/Medicaid and $20 Million to address the needs of those with Behavioral Health issues. I will do all I can to ensure these get included in our state budget.
I was so happy to join my constituents Leonard and Mark at the Alzheimer's Association Gala on Friday night at the Heard Museum. What a beautiful event! .Last year, Leonard (in glasses) and Mark were honored as their Alzheimer's Family of the Year. Leonard has early-onset Alzheimer's yet continues his commitment to bringing love and joy to the world every day.
Thank you so much to Ron Owen and his husband Peter for so generously hosting a Birthday Party for me in their beautiful home near Lookout Mountain. And a big thank you to everyone who joined us - and so generously donated to Stephanie and my campaigns to send us to the State Senate and House respectively to represent them. If you missed the party, it's never too late to contribute to the cause! :-)
Volunteer for Our Campaign!
I'm so honored to have so many teen volunteers joining our team. They're calling voters to let them know that Stephanie Simacek for State House and Judy Schwiebert for State Senate want to hear their priorities. But we need volunteers of all ages! Please join us! YOu can sign up at the links below.
We need YOU to help elect an Arizona legislature focused on the real issues we face like the teacher, affordable housing, and water shortage crises; keeping our families safe from gun violence; and reducing healthcare and other costs.
We can create an Arizona where everyone gets their chance to thrive. But ONLY with YOUR HELP!
The 3 most important things to do right now are
Join a Group Phone Bank at our office.
Join a Community Canvass. We're knocking doors and getting petition signatures to qualify for the ballot as we listen to fellow voters who want a legislature committed to addressing our shared priorities. Use this link to find a day and time that works for you. We'll buddy you up with someone experienced. We need door knockers and drivers.
Donate to our campaign. We need everyone's help to pay for the staff, literature, and other advertising that are essential to winning this competitive race.
Visit OUR NEW LD 2 Campaign office at 1524 W. Bell Road (in the Discount Tire parking lot, next to the Liberty Tax office). You can still sign school board candidate and the access to abortion petitions there - or make phone calls or write postcards. Also, a notary is available at our office every Friday in April from 3-5 pm.
Make your Voice Heard Next Week!
Read the latest Weekly from Melinda Iyer at Civic Engagement Beyond Voting here. I encourage you to subscribe to their clear, insightful newsletters. This week's edition includes a 2024 timeline.
Read the latest Weekly Education Report from Save Our Schools here. In addition to other information, you'll see some of the latest bills vetoed by Governor Hobbs. (Thank goodness!)
Nominate a Community Builder!
As a lifelong member of our community, I'm so grateful to the many people and local businesses who make it such a great place to live. That's why I'm excited to be partnering with the Bell Road Business Alliance and Stoke Interactive to recognize many of the local Community Builders in our neighborhood.
Check out our website at LD2NPCB.com to learn more about past recipients and nominate your favorite locally owned businesses or nonprofits in LD2. I'm honored to a part of recognizing them in this way for the vital role they play in making our community the safe, thriving, unique place it is.