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At the beginning of the month, we saw our state’s GOP once again relapse into the inflammatory conspiracies of the 2022 campaign cycle. During a hearing of the new Ad Hoc Committee on Oversight, Accountability, and Big Tech, members of the Arizona GOP trotted out both old and new theories to rationalize their electoral failures.
“It wasn’t our extreme policies and candidates that turned off swing voters in 2022, it must have been Google!”
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During a special event Wednesday in Mountain America Stadium, state representatives recognized a renowned Arizona State University center responsible for helping thousands of military-affiliated students achieve their educational goals since 2011.
Arizona Rep. Lorena Austin read a proclamation to gathered university deans, staff, government officials, veterans, business leaders and guests, establishing Aug. 16 as “ASU Pat Tillman Veterans Center Day” across Arizona. The proclamation was endorsed by the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Ben Toma, Legislative District 27; Rep. Cesar Aguilar, Legislative District 26; Rep. Austin, Legislative District 9; and Rep. Stacey Travers, Legislative District 12. PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5/AP) -- After a very early morning session from the Arizona Senate on Wednesday, the House passed Arizona’s $18 billion budget with both sides claiming victories. Just after midnight, senators started passing the bills with bipartisan support. After completion, the House took the bills and started voting just after 1:30 p.m. The measures passed and are headed to Gov. Katie Hobbs’ desk for her signature. She plans to sign it. “Not everybody got what they wanted, but I’m thankful legislative leaders were able to set aside their differences, compromise, and support a bipartisan deal that makes historic investments in affordable housing, builds roads, bridges, and public transit, expands access to health insurance for Arizona’s children and creates critical new ESA accountability measures,” Hobbs said in a statement.
Both political parties have touted wins in the budget compromise. For the Democrats, Hobbs highlighted $650 million in infrastructure, $300 million one-time payment for K-12 schools, $342 million for school facilities and $88.6 million in new ongoing K-12 funding. Rep. Andres Cano, the Democratic leader in the House, praised items in the budget like an ESA House Oversight Committee, $60 million in new cash for homeless shelters and $5 million for expanding KidsCare.  (The Center Square) — The Arizona State Legislature failed to override a veto from Gov. Katie Hobbs on a bill that would have legalized more cottage food sales, including for food like tamales.
The bill passed both chambers with a supermajority, but the Senate and House Democratic caucuses largely decided not to go along with the override, saying they would prefer to consider the issue in another bill and not defy Hobbs. Lawmakers could muster only 35 votes in favor of the override, short of the 40 needed to do so. A few Democrats, like Rep. Alma Hernandez, D-Tempe, have been vocal proponents of the bill and went against their party’s wishes.  PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- As the Phoenix Suns gear up for a playoff run for the third straight season, fans and even legislators are Rallying the Valley! On Thursday, Suns team members, executives and state representatives gathered at the House for a ceremonial proclamation, declaring April 16 as Phoenix Suns Day, just in time for the playoffs.
Democratic Rep. Cesar Aguilar, who represents District 26, was the leader of the declaration, celebrating the partnership between the Suns and Legislative leaders. Alongside Rep. Aguilar, Gov. Katie Hobbs, Phoenix Suns president and general manager James Jones, CEO Josh Bartelstein, the team’s mascot, the Gorilla, and Suns organization members filled the House chamber to celebrate the signing. Democratic Rep. Lupe Contreras even sported a throwback ‘Los Suns’ Steve Nash jersey, and Gov. Hobbs had her own Suns hat. Round One tip-off against the Los Angeles Clippers is Sunday at 5 p.m. at Footprint Center. Last year, the team defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round but lost to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of the Conference Semifinals. However, with the acquisition of star Kevin Durant, many are expecting the team to make a Finals run like in 2021.  As mobile homes continue to be displaced by development, a bipartisan bill aims to increase funding to a program to provide relief to those impacted.
Mobile homes have been vanishing across the Valley most often being replaced by luxury apartments or similar developments. The Phoenix City Council earlier this year approved $300,000 for legal services for three mobile home parks facing similar issues but advocates have said it hasn’t been enough. PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - You can run for city council or school board in Arizona when you turn 18. But to run for the House of Representatives or Senate, you have to be 25. Now, some lawmakers are pushing to lower that age to 18. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” Representative Matt Gress (R-LD4) said.
For Gress (an Oklahoma native), lowering the age limit to run for the Senate or House from 25 to 18 is personal. “When I ran for office when I was 18, and I’m now 34, one constant has remained,” he said. “Someone’s heart for their community and using their ears to listen are the qualities that I think make the best representative.” Through his proposed Arizona Civic Participation Act, Gress is pushing to allow Arizona’s Generation Z the same opportunity he had decades ago. And he’s received support from both Republicans and Democrats. PHOENIX – Student loan forgiveness could eliminate college debt for thousands of Black and Latino borrowers in Arizona.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 800,000 Arizonans have federal student loan debt. By canceling it, advocates say, Black and Latino incomes could increase and help reduce the racial wealth gap. The forgiveness plan, which President Joe Biden announced in August and now is stalled in federal court, is targeted toward students like Terriana Dennis of Phoenix, a Black alumna of the University of Arizona. Dennis, who works as a fraud, waste and abuse agent for the medical transportation company Veyo, said she has $15,000 in student loans. “The student loan program will benefit people of color and low-income families in a significant way,” Dennis said. Arizona’s three universities are all seeking an increase for in-state tuition after two straight years of no changes to the cost to attend.
All three public universities are looking to increase rates by between 2.5% and 3.5% for in-state undergraduate students beginning next year. Last year, the Arizona Students Association launched a ballot initiative called the As Nearly Free as Possible Act, which would mandate the state pay 50% of the real costs of public college. Cesar Aguilar is the group's executive director. The Show spoke with him to discuss the proposed changes from universities and the status of the initiative which is still collecting signatures. Arizona makes up for $29.5 billion in total student loan debt. According to EducationData.org, about 12% of all Arizonans owe student debt. The Arizona Students' Association is asking the Biden administration to reduce student loan debt significantly.
Before President Biden was sworn in, the Arizona Students' Association had already put their proposals on his desk. One of the main priorities of the association is doubling the Pell Grant and reducing student debt by up to $50,000 per person. Cesar Aguilar is the executive director of the Arizona Students' Association. "The thing about Parent Plus Loans or student loans in general is that they don’t go away. There’s no way of filing bankruptcy on these loans. You still have to pay for them. It is very very hard to try to get them canceled," Aguilar said. According to EducationData.org, average student loan debt in Arizona is $34,000. |
