Last Week This Morning: AZ Deserves a Better AG
By TJ Hernandez
Attacks on reproductive rights. As the Supreme Court weighs the reversal or weakening of Roe v Wade, Republicans at the AZ Legislature are wasting no time attacking reproductive rights in full force. Some of the proposed legislation includes a copycat of Texas’s SB8 and a bill to completely abolish all sex education. A ban on abortion after 15 weeks also advanced out of committee on Thursday. Arizona already has a law on the books that would completely outlaw abortion if Roe is overturned, making the need for federal legislation to protect the right to a safe abortion even more urgent.
Plagued with scandals. It’s time for Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel to resign and for the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to hold her accountable. Her office has been plagued with nothing but scandals and corruption during her term in office. Last week, her chief spokeswoman resigned, citing “mutual loss of trust and confidence”, and concerns have grown even louder over her office’s ability to “perform its functions”. Last year, the MCAO was under harsh scrutiny for its decision to charge a group of protestors as a criminal street gang.
Win for the trans community. SB1183, an anti-trans bill that would have banned gender-affirming treatments for minors, failed in committee. This is an important win, however there is still a lot on the line for the LGBTQ+ community. Learn more about what these attacks in the AZ Legislature would mean.
State of Education. Don’t miss Superintendent Kathy Hoffman’s speech, where she details how unacceptable it is that the AZ Legislature is playing political games instead of acting with urgency to lift an outdated funding cap, before AZ schools face funding cuts.
Drop Adel. Join Mass Liberation in demanding the Maricopa Board of Supervisors call for Allister Adel’s resignation! Learn how to write to them.
Democracy I Love Democracy Day of Action. Join Faith Leaders, Activists, and Partners for the I Love Democracy Day of Action Rally and Press Conference in Glendale, Arizona as we demand the NFL move Super Bowl LVII from Arizona due to the state’s history of voter suppression.
Cut the Crap. The #AZLEG has until March 1st to lift the spending cap that has limited Arizona education funds since the 1980’s. Failure to do so this year can result in school closures across the state, and educator layoffs. This will disproportionately impact BIPOC communities, especially those in rural Arizona. Contact your lawmaker and demand they lift the funding cap!