Last Week This Morning: A week at the leg

By TJ Hernandez

At the AZ Leg. What a week. Republicans passed two bills that would expand vouchers, draining public schools even further of needed funding. AZ GOP state legislators are attacking reproductive rights–a 15-week abortion ban passed the Arizona House, and a complete ban on the abortion pill was heard in committee. 100+ bills attacking democracy have been introduced this session, and HB2492, which would limit efforts to register new voters, passed out of the Government and Elections committee. 

Mesa Starbucks union count delayed. The union vote count at a Mesa Starbucks has been put on hold, following a request from Starbucks intended to delay the result. The Mesa location would be the first standalone Starbucks to unionize in Arizona and the third in the country, amid a union drive that is occurring at Starbucks locations across the country. In response, the corporation has engaged in various union-busting tactics differing by store. Read more about what this unionization push means for service industry workers and workplace standards, and why it’s so significant. 

Ward and Finchem subpoenaed. The committee to investigate the events of January 6th have called on AZ GOP chair Kelli Ward, and state Rep. Mark Finchem to testify and provide documents related to their involvement in attempting to overturn the 2020 election. Ward was part of a group of fake electors that attempted to subvert Arizona’s votes in the electoral college, and Finchem helped to organize a “Stop the Steal” rally in Arizona and was also at the U.S. capitol on the day of the attack.

Catch our latest TikTok. We discuss Rep. John Fillmore’s recent comments about going back to “1958 style” voting, his bill to allow the state legislature to overturn election results, and how this relates to Sen. Sinema’s failure to do what it takes to pass national voting rights legislation.

No on repro attacks. The Arizona Capitol is seeing an enormous wave of reproductive rights attacks at the Arizona Capitol. All of these bills threaten the existence of Roe v. Wade, and any possibility of safe abortion care in Arizona. This could be one of the last chances to fight for safe reproductive healthcare in Arizona–tell your legislators to vote no.

Speak up and fight back. Call your state legislators now and ask them to vote no on HB2492 and all other bills attacking our democracy and our right to vote.