Supporting Heroic Actions by Arizona's Top Leaders

While the media amplifies their differences, I would like to highlight some heroic contributions of our Governor and Attorney General. Last week, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed several bad bills (see below.) As of late February 2026, she has blocked measures related to Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), and unemployment benefits. Last week, AG Kris Mayes went after property managers involved in a rent fixing conspiracy. In the past year she has also filed or joined at least 30 lawsuits focusing on halting the withholding of federal funds, protecting environmental regulations, and challenging new immigration rules. AG Mayes is challenging TEP's 14% rate case at ACC.

Thanks to these strong women for standing up for Arizonans and to Progress Arizona for sharing the following update.   

Since she was elected, Governor Hobbs has been the last bastion in defeating Republican-led legislation that harms working-class Arizonans. Most recently, she vetoed 8 incredibly harmful bills this legislative session:

SB1051 would have forced hospitals to work with ICE and HSI to turn over patients seeking emergency care based on their citizenship status.

SB1002, SB1331, SB1334, HB2206, and HB2396 would have significantly increased restrictions on SNAP eligibility and [the types of] food recipients could buy.

SB1036 would have made unemployment harder for workers to receive, putting unnecessary strain on those in need of support; this bill has been vetoed by Gov. Hobbs in previous years as well.

HB2796 would have duplicated the extremely rigid Medicaid eligibility requirements recently set by the Trump administration; versions of this bill have also been vetoed by Gov. Hobbs in previous years.

With more harmful legislation to rapidly reach Governor Hobbs’ desk as it continues to advance in the Republican-controlled legislature, it is a perfect time to let Gov. Hobbs know that we expect her to continue to work in the interests of Arizona’s working families. Let Gov. Hobbs know that we appreciate her work to stop harmful legislation and deliver on her promises!

AZ GOP killed millions in education funding. Republicans at the Arizona legislature killed a bill to extend Prop. 123 funding, which was set to expire this year. Since its passing, Prop. 123 has delivered over $270mil every year to public education. We continue to see educators leave the profession due to a lack of resources in Arizona’s public schools. The GOP is not fixing the school funding crisis they caused. Arizona’s working families deserve better — it’s time to invest in our public schools.

Some good news, as a treat. On Wednesday, AG Kris Mayes announced a settlement with one property management company involved in the RealPage-led rent-fixing conspiracy with Arizona landlords. Weidner Property Management LLC has terminated its revenue management contracts with RealPage. Under the agreement, Weidner will pay $1 million to current and former tenants, refrain from using algorithm-driven rent recommendation services, and renounce data-sharing with competitors. Weidner is also required to provide annual certifications and reports to the AG’s office to verify compliance with these demands. “Arizona renters deserve a fair and competitive housing market—not one manipulated by secret algorithms and backroom deals,” said Attorney General Mayes. “My office will continue to hold companies accountable and restore transparency and fairness to the rental market.” According to a statement from her office, AG Mayes will continue pursuing claims against other defendants in the case to ensure accountability and protect Arizona consumers.

NO on HB2175. The Arizona House of Representatives is debating your First Amendment right to have and express political beliefs. HB2175 would give prosecutors broad discretion to pick and choose who gets charged with a hate crime based on their political affiliations. We’ve already seen protestors targeted for prosecution for speaking up about ICE abuses. If passed, HB2175 could lead to increased and unfair criminal penalties for all sorts of actions like demonstrating opposition to elected officials. This is a direct violation of our First Amendment rights. Tell our legislators: NO on HB2175.

Thanks to Tyler for sharing this update on Last Week, This Morning for Progress Arizona.

Pres. Trump ramping up to stop rallies

Donald Trump is ramping up his attack on free speech and the First Amendment.

At a recent rally in Montana he praised a Republican member of Congress who body-slammed a reporter last year, and said it helped him win the election.¹

But that's just part of Trump's widening war on free speech. His Interior Department is considering proposals to ban protests on the sidewalk in front of the White House and also charge organizers "event-management" fees for rallies on the National Mall that could run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.²

We know what this is about: Trump wants to shut down the next Women's March, March for Our Lives, or Battle for the Net rally.  Publicly addressing our grievances with our government is a fundamental right, and the Constitution prohibits the restriction of that right by any law or policy.³

But Trump's interior secretary, Ryan Zinke, says that protests impose a "heavy cost" on government that protesters need to cover—and his proposal will force protesters to pay for everything from barriers to law-enforcement salaries to repairing grass that is stepped on. These costs would make protesting prohibitive for most people—which is exactly what Trump wants.⁴

And this new policy would cover nearly every public space in Washington, D.C.—including the National Mall and the space in front of the White House—as well as other public spaces managed by the National Park Service, like the sidewalk in front of Trump Tower.⁴

If Trump's policy stands, it could be only a matter of time until states and municipalities follow suit, taking away our most public and effective means of protesting unfair and inhumane government practices. Demand Progress would have our legs cut out from under us—we could no longer stage game-changing actions like our Verizon Wireless protest last year.

It's clear that Trump is determined to silence free speech, whether from the media or from protesters. Trump consistently belittles the White House press corps and repeatedly threatens the media with violence. 

Robert Cruickshank, , Demand Progress

Sources:

1. CNN, "Trump jokes about congressman assaulting reporter: 'Any guy who can do a body slam ... he's my guy'," October 19, 2018
2. Department of the Interior, "Special Regulations, Areas of the National Park System, National Capital Region, Special Events and Demonstrations," August 7, 2018
3. Legal Information Institute, "First Amendment," accessed October 19, 2018
4. Department of the Interior, "Special Regulations, Areas of the National Park System, National Capital Region, Special Events and Demonstrations," August 7, 2018
5. The Washington Post, "The Trump administration wants to tax protests. What happened to free speech?" September 11, 2018

Don’t let Trump’s Justice Department silence dissent

One year ago, on January 20, police arrested more than 200 individuals protesting the inauguration of Donald Trump. Last month, the first six defendants were acquitted on all charges.

But now, federal prosecutors are refusing to drop the charges against 187 remaining defendants, even though the vast majority were peacefully protesting the election of President Trump, and there is no way they could have been involved in any property damage.

This attempt by police and prosecutors to jail individuals who were merely present at these protests, exercising their free expression rights, is a direct assault on free speech.

The aggressive prosecution of these remaining protesters smacks of politics, not the law. The Justice Department is sending a clear message that dissent against the policies of the Trump administration will be dealt with severely.

Sign the petition calling on federal prosecutors to drop the charges against the remaining protesters unless they have direct evidence that particular individuals engaged in property damage. 

Join us in calling on the D.C. City Council to launch a truly independent investigation into how police were allowed to use a controversial tactic called “kettling” to indiscriminately round up and arrest over 200 protesters—in violation of D.C. laws meant to protect First Amendment activity.

Peaceful protest and dissent are protected legal rights. And the appetite for patriotic dissent against the Trump administration is likely only to grow.

With Washington, D.C., being the epicenter of much of that protest, it is critical that the D.C. City Council strengthen free speech protections to prevent another unlawful mass arrest of peaceful protesters.

One recently acquitted protester said that the verdict “shows the country that the jury was unwilling to do what the government wanted them to do, which was criminalize dissent.”

Sign the petition to protect the First Amendment free speech rights of all protesters.

- Suzanne Nossel

Executive Director. PEN America