Last Week This Morning: Goodbye Sinema

Sinema won’t seek re-election. In a three-minute-long video, she blamed Arizonans for her failures, refusing to acknowledge the harm her arrogance cost our state. The announcement comes weeks after Republicans refused to vote for an extremely conservative immigration package that Sinema negotiated, disproving her theories about “compromising” with extremists who have no interest in acting in good faith. Sinema sabotaged our voting rights, abortion access, climate action, and so much more, all in service of her ego, https://act.progressarizona.org/go/80619?t=5&akid=17093%2E80119%2EUPGlqO(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Sen.,taxes%20would%20have%20increased%20under”>wealthy corporate donors, and friendships with far-right extremists. This is her legacy as a (soon-to-be former) Arizona Senator.

 

AZ Republicans block the right to contraception. In absolutely disgusting comments, Arizona State Senator Sonny Borrelli shames people for wanting birth control as he and other Republican lawmakers block a bill to guarantee Arizonans access to contraceptive care. Borrelli says women (and people who can become pregnant) should “close their legs” and “put aspirin between their knees” to prevent pregnancy. Arizonans deserve lawmakers who are working to provide real solutions, not ones who disrespect and degrade us. Sadly, this is the Republican agenda: attacking IVF, birth control, and abortion access until they’ve completely taken away our freedom to make personal family-planning decisions ourselves.

 

Bill targeting immigrant families is vetoed! SB1231 was part of the racist SB1070 2.0 bill package. It would have allowed cops to investigate and detain individuals they suspect to be undocumented while making Arizona taxpayers financially liable for constitutional rights violations. Hobbs’ veto is a sharp contrast to 2010, when Republican Governor Jan Brewer signed SB1070 into law, making millions of Arizonans fearful for their safety based on the color of their skin or the language they spoke. Thanks to community advocates who showed up to stop this hateful legislation, Republicans failed, even after they broke their own rules to limit public testimony and push it through.

Gov. Hobbs cancels medical debt for Arizonans. Using funds from the American Rescue Plan, Hobbs announced that she plans to erase $2 billion in medical debt for up to one million Arizonans. Those who receive this monumental debt relief will also have their credit scores automatically adjusted, giving Arizonans more financial freedom to pursue opportunities that will improve their lives. This is how government should work and proves that your vote makes a difference in our lives.

 

 

Arizona anti-abortion groups celebrate the Alabama IVF ruling. State Senator Shawnna Bolick also promises to introduce legislation that says life begins at the moment of conception, enshrining fetal personhood just like the Alabama ruling does. Here’s what you need to know. 

 

 

Return your mail-in ballot by March 12th for the Presidential Preference Election. Or find an early vote drop box here. 

Tell your Senator to vote NO on HB2759. HB2759 singles out Palestinian-Americans and pro-Palestinian student groups, as part of an effort to restrict the free speech of those who are calling for a peaceful ceasefire and an end to the ongoing atrocities committed toward innocent civilians and children in Gaza by the Israeli government.