If the reaction from Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ first budget proposal is any indication, she and lawmakers are likely in for a long spring.
Hobbs announced her $17.1 billion spending proposal Friday afternoon, saying it lowers costs, invests in public education, secures the state’s water future and addresses the affordable housing crisis.
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During his final week in office, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) filled several court position vacancies across Arizona, including the Arizona Court of Appeals and the Yuma County Superior Court.
“I am very pleased to announce the appointment of six new judges to the Arizona Court of Appeals,” said Ducey. “These new judges will provide the much needed resources for the Court of Appeals to handle its growing caseload as more and more people choose Arizona as a place to live, work, and start a business.”
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The Yuma County Board of Supervisors (BOS) officially declared a state of emergency regarding the southern border Wednesday, citing concerns with health and the potential increase of migrant activity in the coming month.
“More than 300,000 apprehensions have been made by Yuma Sector agents in fiscal year 2022. The number of asylum seekers is expected to increase sharply with the expiration of Title 42 on Wednesday, December 21. The emergency declaration will allow for additional flexibility and resources to address the evolving issue,” according to the declaration.
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Outgoing Gov. Doug Ducey ordered gaps in the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border patched using shipping containers earlier this year, but protesters are blocking workers from finishing the project. At the same time, the Biden administration hit Arizona with a lawsuit also attempting to stop the construction.
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who has taken on the Biden administration numerous times over its inaction on the border, vowed to defend the state in court, hinting that he would not be cowed into a settlement. “President Biden says there are more important things to talk about than the border, yet his DOJ is suing to immediately tear down our crowd control structure,” he tweeted. “Once again, we’ll see you in court.”
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The Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) sued the state of Arizona Wednesday, demanding it removes shipping containers placed under Gov. Doug Ducey (R) as a temporary patch in border wall holes. In a response shared with The Arizona Sun Times, Ducey’s Office stated the claims made are either inaccurate or redundant.
“Arizona’s border barrier was always intended to be a temporary solution until the federal government erects a permanent solution,” wrote Anni Foster, General Council for the Governor’s Office. “Arizona agencies and contractors stand ready to assist in the removal of the barriers, but the federal government owes it to Arizonans and all Americans to release a timeline on when construction will begin and details about how it will secure the border while construction is underway.”
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An Arizona county sheriff is siding with protesters and demanding for Gov. Doug Ducey (R) to stop sending shipping containers to the border for a makeshift wall.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway said Ducey’s order to use containers as the border wall is “illegal dumping,” and he plans on arresting construction crews and security personnel if they come to his county, Fox 10 Phoenix reported Saturday.
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As Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey leaves office next month, there have been numerous questions about the transition to Democratic Gov.-Elect Katie Hobbs and Ducey’s recent meeting with President Joe Biden at the Taiwan Semiconductor manufacturing plant on Tuesday.
Ducey spoke with The Center Square on Thursday following his last meeting with agency leaders to discuss this pivotal moment.
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Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) announced Thursday that he is launching a statewide campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking.
“It can’t be overstated—human trafficking is real, it is pervasive and it’s an issue Arizona takes seriously,” said Ducey. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the [Arizona Human Trafficking] Council and state agencies, Arizona’s youth, our tribal nations, and our entire state are able to join the fight in combating this horrific issue. Anyone can be a victim, but together we can ensure we are doing all we can to protect victims and stop human trafficking throughout our state.”
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Arizona election officials on Monday certified the state’s midterm election, as several Republican figures are still vowing to challenge the results in court.
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In an interview on KYMA, Democrat gubernatorial nominee, Katie Hobbs, said she would remove the physical barriers placed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in areas unprotected by a wall. The campaign for Republican nominee Kari Lake called her out for wanting open borders.
“Any barrier is preferable to no border. [Katie Hobbs] knows this. She just doesn’t care. She is an open borders activist. Hobbs wants to make the rest of the world’s problems our own. [Kari Lake] will secure our border & protect Arizona,” tweeted the Lake campaign.
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) announced Tuesday that the AZ OnTrack Summer Camp (AOTSC) would receive funding for a second year, giving kids another opportunity to catch up on learning lost during the pandemic.
“In light of this barometer of our kids’ success, there’s no time to waste to catch our kids up. We must continue to pour on the gas in our efforts,” said Ducey. “We know our kids lost ground during the pandemic – it was not good for them. In Arizona, we kept schools open, made critical investments in literacy programs and launched a summer camp to prevent further learning loss.”
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Monday that he had continued his mission to plug holes in Arizona’s border, this time in Cochise County.
“Today, we continued to follow through on our promise to add physical barriers to the border where possible. We stepped up to the plate in Cochise County. Construction on a 10.25-mile border wall gap began this morning [Monday],” Ducey said. “The unresolved border and public safety crisis caused by the Biden admin continues – in Arizona, we don’t stand idly by when our citizens need us most. Arizona isn’t afraid of a challenge. We will not back down. We will protect our state.”
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The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said it would be putting up a temporary barrier in areas “previously disrupted by other construction activities” beginning next year, according to a letter shared with the Arizona Sun Times. C.J. Karamargin, Communications Director for Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R), told the Sun Times this is not going to happen.
“Essentially, they’re [the CPB] asking that we re-open the gaps in the border barrier. Not gonna happen,” Karamargin said via the phone.
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Arizona GOP Gov. Doug Ducey reportedly will not comply with a Biden administration request to remove rail containers put along its southern border to fill gaps in the U.S-Mexico wall and stop the flow of illegal migration.
The Interior Department in a letter last week asked that the double-stacked containers be removed and that no new ones be added. It also stated some are on the edge of an American Indian reservation and that the federal government either has a contract to fill the gaps or plans to do so, and that the containers are in the way of those projects.
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The Biden administration is accusing the office of Arizona GOP Gov. Doug Ducey of trespassing for placing shipping containers along the state’s border with Mexico.
Ducey’s office was informed by the Interior Department in a letter on Friday, according to ADN America.
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Arizona’s Republican Senate nominee Blake Masters spoke at one of Kari Lake’s “Ask Me Anything” Tour events Tuesday, touching on the state’s looming water crisis and how he believes he can fix it.
“Let’s get a U.S. Senator for Arizona who’s going to fight tooth and nail,” Masters said. “That’s something I want to do. Send someone with sharp elbows who’s going to fight for our water, right? That’s the political fix.”
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) celebrated the results of a first-of-its-kind law enforcement operation between 26 states to crack down on cartel activity by seizing deadly drugs and firearms.
“In Arizona, we’re taking action to stop the flow of dangerous drugs through the southern border, impede the cartels’ criminal activity and protect our communities,” said Ducey. “Earlier this year, we teamed up with Texas and 24 other states to share intelligence and strengthen security through the first-of-its-kind American Governors’ Border Strike Force. We’re already seeing results thanks to this coordinated effort — including thousands of pounds of drugs being seized all across the nation.”
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Gov. Doug Ducey (R) announced Thursday that Arizona’s surging economy had paved the way for a historic flat income tax rate to come a year in advance.
“It’s no secret Arizona’s economy is booming. Over the last eight years, we’ve made responsible decisions to live within our means, reduce burdensome government regulations, lower taxes every year and ensure our state remains a great place to live,” Ducey said in a letter to the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADR). “It’s time to deliver lasting tax relief to Arizona families and small businesses so they can keep more of their hard-earned money.”
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Arizona officials are now calling out Secretary of State Katie Hobbs to expedite the signature counting process for the referendum against Arizona’s Universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) law, including the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Ben Toma (R-Maricopa).
“We expect that your office will have formally rejected the referendum petition as legally insufficient no later than the opening of business on Friday morning,” Toma said in a letter to Hobbs. “If the full and effective implementation of H.B. 2853 continues to be obstructed, the Arizona House of Representatives will exercise its constitutional oversight function in order to find facts and ultimately to determine what, if any, legislation may be required to prohibit, deter, and penalize such dishonesty in future campaigns and administrations, and to ensure that the statutory procedures for filing and processing ballot measure petitions cannot be manipulated to enable such misconduct.”
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The Common Sense Institute (CSI) Arizona announced Tuesday that the Deputy Chief of Staff for Gov. Doug Ducey, Katie Ratlief, will join the organization as its new executive director come January 2023.
“I am proud to become the Executive Director for CSI Arizona. I believe CSI has the unique capabilities to position Arizona at the forefront of the 21st century economy by capitalizing on unprecedented growth and an ever-evolving business environment through sound, accurate econometric research. At CSI, I believe we have a responsibility to use our diverse professional expertise and unwavering commitment to serve Arizonans to propel policy debates forward in pursuit of more meaningful and impactful policies,” said Ratlief.
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The Phoenix Police Department (PHXPD) shared Friday that officials made the largest single seizure of fentanyl pills in the department’s history this week.
“Phoenix police detectives with the Drug Enforcement Bureau have made the single largest fentanyl bust in Phoenix police history. Two men have been arrested in connection to the seizure which netted more than one million fentanyl pills,” according to a media advisory shared with the Arizona Sun Times.
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) spoke at the Regan Foundation Tuesday about what he hopes to see for the Conservative movement as the county moves forward, giving state governments more power to enact policies that help the people.
“There is an exodus from the Golden State. Americans are voting with their feet. The conservative ideas applied outside of Washington, D.C. are winning and it’s not even close. Here is why I believe it’s happening: Conservative states have better policies, policies that are working for everyday Americans. There is far more freedom and opportunity in these states. And there is a sense of priority for personal safety in our states,” Ducey said.
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New southern border encounter statistics from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revealed that officials encountered over 200,000 migrants at the border for the sixth month in a row, which Gov. Doug Ducey said is especially harsh on Arizona border towns.
“Border towns bear the weight of this record illegal immigration. Government services, hospitals and food banks are strapped. The Yuma sector had more than 24,000 migrant encounters in August – almost a quarter of the town’s population,” tweeted Ducey.
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The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) revealed Monday that efforts to work with companies to bring jobs to Arizona have paid off, bringing in the most jobs seen by the organization in a single year.
“For the second year in a row, Arizona economic development efforts broke records. During the 12-month fiscal period that ended June 30, 2022, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) and local economic development agencies successfully worked with companies that committed to creating a projected 24,186 new Arizona jobs – a single year record. Those companies also committed to investing $10.75 billion in local communities,” according to the ACA.
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Yuma County District Two Supervisor Jonathan Lines spoke with Trump-endorsed Arizona Attorney General nominee Abe Hamadeh at the Yuma border Monday morning, saying that recent comments from Vice-President Kamala Harris about America having a secure border are not true.
“Absolutely and emphatically, there is no way that that is a true statement,” Lines said in reference to Harris’s comment.
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Monday that all flags at state buildings would fly at half-mast on Tuesday following the passing of former State Mine Inspector and Representative Joe Hart Sunday.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of former Arizona Representative and State Mine Inspector Joe Hart,” said Ducey. “A pillar of state government, he was a dedicated advocate for the mining industry and played a critical role in overseeing the safety at Arizona’s mines. A lifelong Kingman resident, Inspector Hart proudly served the people of Arizona for decades. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this time.”
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) celebrated several years of work to remove unnecessary state office workspace by unveiling a new work building Wednesday for state employees who work remotely.
“Over the past eight years, we’ve been dedicated to transforming our state government,” said Ducey in a news release. “Our goal: fewer employees, higher efficiency, unrivaled customer service, a smaller building footprint and a reduced burden on our hard-working taxpayers. It’s safe to say we’ve accomplished these goals.”
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Mike Faust, Director of the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS), recently announced that there were under 12,000 children between the age of zero and 17 in the foster care system, the lowest the department has seen since 2012.
“Although this was one of the goals from the start, little did the team know how challenging it would be to reach this milestone,” Faust said in a press release. “DCS was deeply challenged a decade ago, and had it not been for the commitment of all those involved to make DCS a standalone agency, the resolve and steadfastness of Director Greg McKay from 2015-2019; the commitment of the thousands of employees and partners who devote their lives to protecting children; the loving support of kinship families; and the dedication of biological families to reunifying with their children, this would not have been possible.”
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered state buildings to fly flags at half-staff Friday following a mass shooting in Tucson resulting in the loss of Pima County Constable Deborah Martinez-Garibay.
“The loss of Constable Deborah Martinez is felt across our state,” Ducey said. “Whether it was serving in the U.S. Army or carrying out her duties as a constable for Pima County, she dedicated her life to helping others and her community. Constable Martinez was a Tucson native who will be remembered for the way she treated others with dignity and respect. Our thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family, as well as those who also lost their lives in today’s tragic events.”
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Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) announced Wednesday that over 3,000 feet of previously open sections in Yuma’s border wall had been filled, celebrating that Arizona is doing what the federal government will not.
“Five wide open gaps in the border wall near Yuma neighborhoods and businesses are now closed off. In just 11 days, Arizona did the job the federal government has failed to do — and we showed them just how quickly and efficiently the border can be made more secure – if you want to,” said Ducey.
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The Arizona Free Enterprise Club (AFEC) shared its full support for prop 132, which is set to appear on the November ballot and would require a 60 percent majority vote of the people on any ballot measure that seeks to raise taxes.
“Today’s tax increase may not affect you, but tomorrow’s most certainly will. Allowing 51% of the population (who probably don’t have to pay the tax increase) to vote to tax the other 49% that do have to pay it, is wrong. And eventually, you will be in the minority,” said AFEC President Scot Mussi.
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The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently shared the total number of encounters at the southern border in July, and several of Arizona’s leaders have spoken on the new numbers, including Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar (r-AZ-04).
“For the seventeenth straight month, more than 150,000 illegal aliens crossed the southern border including [nearly] 200,000 illegal aliens in July 2022. Since Biden and the open border democrats took over in January 2021, they have facilitated an invasion of our sovereign borders of more than 4.2 million illegal aliens. Included in this invasion are terrorists – over five dozen documented so far, drug traffickers, sex traffickers and common criminals,” Gosar said.
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Jenny Clark, the founder of Love Your School, spoke with the Arizona Sun Times to explain the newly signed House Bill (HB) 2853, sponsored by state Rep. Ben Toma (R-AZ-22), which expands the eligibility for Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) and how it will benefit parents in the state.
“The expansion means that every Arizona family who has a child in kindergarten through 12th grade is now eligible to take a portion of their education dollars to the school or education environment that works for them,” Clark said. “The empowerment scholarship can be used for tutors, therapists, home education, and it can be used for private schools.”
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Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued an Executive Order on Friday directing the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs to fill the gaps in the Yuma border wall starting immediately.
“Arizona has had enough,” Ducey said in a press release. “We can’t wait any longer. The Biden administration’s lack of urgency on border security is a dereliction of duty. For the last two years, Arizona has made every attempt to work with Washington to address the crisis on our border. Time and time again we’ve stepped in to clean up their mess. Arizonans can’t wait any longer for the federal government to deliver on their delayed promises.”
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The “right to try” has been expanded in Arizona.
Gov. Doug Ducey held a signing ceremony for five bills that passed with bipartisan support in this year’s legislative session. It included Senate Bill 1163, the Right to Try for Individualized Treatments.
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) issued an executive order Friday to fill a 1,000-foot gap in the Yuma sector of the southern border wall.
“Arizona has had enough,” Ducey said. “We can’t wait any longer. The Biden administration’s lack of urgency on border security is a dereliction of duty. For the last two years, Arizona has made every attempt to work with Washington to address the crisis on our border. Time and time again we’ve stepped in to clean up their mess. Arizonans can’t wait any longer for the federal government to deliver on their delayed promises.”
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After campaigning on behalf of her opponent, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) said Saturday that he and the Republican Governor’s Association (RGA), which he co-chairs, are backing Kari Lake.
“The votes are counted, the races are settled, and the Arizona Republican primary is over. Thank you to all who participated — it’s not easy subjecting yourself to the scrutiny of being a candidate these days,” Ducey said. “This is going to be an important election given the issues our state is facing and it’s important for Arizona Republicans to unite behind our slate of candidates.”
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Kari Lake’s campaign for governor of Arizona says it is “highly confident” as it hurdles towards Tuesday’s primary election.
“We feel highly confident. Kari is working hard traveling to all corners of the state. We had a huge rally with over 1,000 people in Tucson last night. And last week 5 polls came out with Kari leading by double digits,” said Lake’s Chief Strategist Billy Grant. “Combined with Robson‘s private jet and state plane scandal, we couldn’t ask for a better last week of the campaign.”
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In response to the flash flood emergencies faced by residents in parts of Coconino County, the Kari Lake Campaign shared a statement of support with the Arizona Sun Times via email.
“Flooding in rural areas represents a huge and unnecessary risk for residents. Kari Lake has already committed to providing increased funding for infrastructure improvements- including flood control measures – in rural areas to reduce the risks as much as possible, and will take an active role whenever disaster does strike,” shared the Kari Lake Campaign Communications Director Ross Trumble.
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Gov. Doug Ducey is appealing a federal judge’s decision blocking his decision to withhold federal COVID-19 relief to unopened schools.
While Arizona had lifted all mask mandates in April 2021, some schools still maintained a mask requirement.
To incentivize the removal of classroom mask policies, Ducey restricted a $163 million aid package to maskless, opened schools. The aid amounts to $1,080 per student. The state funding came from the $2 billion in federal stimulus money from the American Recovery Plan Act.
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Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) recently responded to statements made by mayors from Eastern America, including New York City’s (NYC) Mayor Eric Adams (D), who have requested help after an influx of immigrants from the Southern border.
“President Biden created the crisis at the border — he’s failed to respond to calls for action and refuses to even visit the border, so we’re bringing the issue a little closer to home for him,” Ducey tweeted.
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Arizona State Representative Judy Burges (R-AZ-01) lauded the enactment of two pieces on Tuesday of legislation she sponsored, one of which seeks to improve ambulance services for people who live in rural areas.
“State [statutes] regulating ambulance services, which were largely written in the 1970s and 80s, simply did not meet today’s needs,” Burges said in a press release. “Inadequate coverage of ambulance services and longer response times, as experienced in rural areas, put human lives at risk. This new law provides much-needed reform to improve ambulance services and response.”
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Arizona State Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-AZ-01) recently presented a ceremonial check for $2.4 million in state funding to support a housing project to assist homeless veterans.
“America’s veterans have given so much of themselves to protect our freedoms and way of life, it’s important that we do everything we can to support them,” Nguyen said in a press release. “This funding is going to help realize an amazing project for our veterans in Yavapai County, providing housing support and other critical services for those who have served and are in need.”
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Arizona – a popular vacation destination with thousands of short-term rental listings protected by legislation from most limitations – will soon allow cities to further regulate them. It will be up to cities to enact and enforce them.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed SB 1168 into law, allowing cities and towns to “govern short-term rentals via licenses or permits, notifications and liability insurance, as well as the ability to fine owners or management companies when their property occupants violate community ordinances,” his office said.
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Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich issued a legal opinion in February declaring that Arizona has the constitutional authority to declare an invasion on its border with Mexico, but since Gov. Doug Ducey has not done so, Brnovich is now urging him to. In a letter sent to Ducey on July 6, Brnovich, who is now running for U.S. Senate, laid out the reasons why.
“This horrible situation is a ticking time bomb,” Brnovich said. “It’s just a question of when, and not if, the unspeakable will occur.” He went on, “[W]e have every indication that the border crisis will continue to escalate. If there is more that we as a state can and should do, it can be pursued with your declaration of an ‘invasion’ at our southern border.”
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The race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination has intensified over the recent days, as key candidates and political players make their moves to influence the outcome of the upcoming primary election. Former Congressman Matt Salmon’s exit and subsequent endorsement of Karrin Taylor Robson was followed by Gov. Doug Ducey, who offered the Phoenix-area businesswoman a full-throated statement of support of his own.
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed legislation Wednesday, which provides a historic $1 billion investment to secure Arizona’s water future.
“This legislation is crucial for our continued growth and prosperity. It will ensure Arizona remains a land of opportunity for families and for businesses large and small,” Ducey said in a press release. “As we’ve done over the past seven and a half years, we came together, brought everyone to the table and delivered for the people of this great state. And by doing so, we are leaving Arizona better and stronger than we found it. I want to thank Senator Sine Kerr [R-Buckeye] and Representative Gail Griffin [R-AZ-14] for sponsoring this legislation and consistently leading on Arizona’s most pressing issues.”
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Gov. Doug Ducey (R), whose second term as Arizona’s governor will expire in January, has endorsed his potential replacement.
“She’s a native Arizonan and lifelong Republican who got her start working for President Reagan,” Ducey said of candidate Karrin Taylor Robson.
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey recently signed two House Bills (HB) which aim to lower certain license costs for veterans, including business and hunting licenses.
“Our veterans give us so much and Arizona is dedicated to finding more ways to honor them,” Ducey said in a press release. “This session, we delivered. We followed up on our State of the State promise to launch a program to waive in-state higher education tuition for the dedicated husbands and wives of veterans who have served and sacrificed as well. Arizona will continue to lower barriers and give back to this selfless and courageous community.”
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Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) recently signed House Bill (HB) 2317 which directs $335 million to the Border Security Fund, calling it “the most meaningful border security legislation in Arizona history.”
“Arizona will not sit idly by as the Biden administration fails to do its job and safeguard our state and nation from the clear and present danger of an unsecure border,” Ducey said in a signing letter. “With this investment, we are giving our law enforcement professionals another critical resource they need to successfully do their jobs. We are standing up for the rule of law, and we are cementing Arizona’s commitment to securing our state and our entire nation.”
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