A dark day at the AZ legislature
As an advocate for the environment, I would prefer to be non-partisan since having clean air and water benefits us all. It shouldn't be political. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. I have watched the Republicans dismantle hundreds of environmental protections. I understand why many people think that both parties are equally corrupt. But having followed what is happening at the Arizona Legislature, I've seen that isn't the case in Arizona. I've watched how the Republicans (with a slight majority) govern and the terrible bills they band together to push through.
You might think that the job of politicians is to work together to benefit their constituents. But for the AZ GOP, it's a winner take all game. GOP leaders aren't even allowing bills by Dems to get a hearing in the committees the majority members lead. (Being approved in committees is the first step towards a bill becoming a law).
Under Republican leadership, our legislators have gotten absolutely nothing done to help the people of Arizona. Well, unless you are a wealthy donor. They increased our deficit by 1.6 billion dollars by creating a 2.5% flat tax that mostly benefits rich donors and expanding the school voucher program. When fraud was uncovered (homeschooling parents using funds for resort vacations, pianos, diamond rings, etc.), they did nothing to reel it in.
Tired of losing teachers, the good people of Arizona voted for raises for teachers. Republican legislators took it to court, so they wouldn't have to pay - retaining our shameful place as 50th in the nation for school funding.
Under Republican leadership, our legislators have gotten absolutely nothing done to help the people of Arizona. Well, unless you are a wealthy donor. They increased our deficit by 1.6 billion dollars by creating a 2.5% flat tax that mostly benefits rich donors and expanding the school voucher program. When fraud was uncovered (homeschooling parents using funds for resort vacations, pianos, diamond rings, etc.), they did nothing to reel it in.
Tired of losing teachers, the good people of Arizona voted for raises for teachers. Republican legislators took it to court, so they wouldn't have to pay - retaining our shameful place as 50th in the nation for school funding.
Through Desktop Activist Tucson, I urged people to push back on bad bills using the Request to Speak system. I mostly concentrated on bills related to the environment, voting or governance. Last year there were over 200 bills that made it more difficult to vote or to conduct citizens initiatives (our constitutional right as Arizonans). They really had it out for early voting - even though 75% of Arizonans signed up for early voting this year. I wonder why that is?
I witnessed committee chairs push through bills that prop up fossil fuels (while penalizing solar), bills that attack alternate transportation (like bike paths in Tucson) and numerous bills that weaken our already lax water laws.
You would think that the chair of the Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee, Rep. Gail Griffin would sponsor bills that protect Arizona's threatened water supply as cutbacks to our Colorado River allotments (our main source of water in Tucson) loom. But I have followed this real-estate broker as she sponsored bill after bill weakening Active Management Areas (AMAs) to the benefit of developers and big water users.
These are only a few examples. But you don't have to believe me. Do your own research. And vote. Your children's future depends on it.
If you care about the environment, you can find a link to the Sierra Club's 2026 Environmental Report Card for AZ Legislature & Governor here. And here is their General Election Voter Guide 2026.
