#azleg

Bye, bye, Arizona Legislature. It was a wild ride and the honor of a lifetime. Here are the final remnants from my office, plus the license plate. The chocolate is from Fillmore. I already ate the KitKat for old times' sake. #azleg #retirement https://www.instagram.com/p/Co0kYXFP62yuRHfKZ7GXwxpuKkOba-DcV6EMd80/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It was exciting to join LD18 Dems as we celebrate as new day in Arizona. We saw the inauguration of Governor Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes on Thursday, Jan. 5. On Monday, Jan. 9, Priya Sundareshan, Nancy Gutierez and many other new Ds and Rs will be sworn in as Arizona Legislators. Former State Senator and Congressional Candidate Kirsten Engel and I were elected to the Arizona Legislature in 2016. So many Dems won that year, it was a game-changer. Nancy, Priya and others have many opportunities in the #azleg because the #azgop continues to be fractured. What we are seeing now in the Congress, we saw in the 55th Arizona Legislature. @azhousedems @engelforarizona @nancyforaz @priya4az @priya4az @ld18dems (at Tucson, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnItyLmpday7ZbIvko6w4eICjidTyIP2G-DzOo0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Five Democrats are running for the two Arizona House seats held by Dr. Randy Friese and me. I voted for Nancy Gutierrez and Nathan Davis. (See a separate post about him.) I first met Nancy when she was president of the local chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), and I was promoting ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Besides being a strong supporter for women's rights, reproductive choice and equal pay for equal work, Nancy has been a public school teacher and a union member for many years including during the Red for Ed uprising in 2018. Republicans are systematically dismantling public education with lies and stingy budgets. Arizona students and teachers deserve better. Nancy has worked hard for this seat. She has the grit and focus of a teacher and the patience of a Mom. Nancy is smart and honest and not afraid to speak up for your rights. Please consider voting for Nancy for LD18 (formerly LD9) House on or before August 2. @nancyforaz @ld18dems #azleg (at Tucson, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf9FITALVzYFCTTImjnpfFiOt8jJQ73vjrPFCM0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

There are five Democrats running in the primary for the two Arizona House seats that Dr. Randy Friese and I held. I voted for Nathan Davis and Nancy Gutierrez. (See a separate post about her.) I have known Nathan since 2016. He was one of my original campaign volunteers. I was the outsider candidate running against a party regular in the primary six years ago. I didn't have a big team in 2016, but they were dedicated, and they showed up. Nathan was one of them. The first picture here was on one of my cards. The third picture was taken at Nathan and Taylor's wedding. Nathan is a smart and upstanding young man who is not afraid to speak up for what's right. He's a former teacher and current small business owner (who is married to a teacher). Please consider voting for Nathan for LD18 (formerly LD9) House. @davisforaz @ld18dems #azleg (at Tucson, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf9C2N5Lq7u9C-UpA1mC3FCZGwLge9U0joKjDk0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I wonder what the Arizona Legislature is afraid of? When you takeaway rights that people have had for 50 years,they tend to get pissed off. Barricades outside the Capitol. DPS officers inside. If the water shortages don't scare newcomers away from Arizona, repressive laws will. There will be unintended consequences to the #SCOTUS decision to strip away reproductive rights. #roevwade #abortionrights #abortionisawomansright #azleg @azhousedems @ld18dems (at Phoenix, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfMjkRpJG33_rMvQeQ7VZpy6-RIZzwFSYNQsy00/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This week we celebrated (or should I say mourned the passing of?) Day 150 in the Arizona Legislature. You'll remember that the Legislature has a goal of ending the session in 100 days. That ship sailed in April. That is an obviously unrealistic goal. I have been working on a podcast about the budget process ... since it is still dragging on with little apparent movement. A leaked budget spreadsheet was slammed in the media as a non-starter this week. Here I am in my Phoenix apartment recording the episode and segment intros for the podcast. I am putting on the finishing touches now and plan to post it today. Stay tuned. @azhousedems @ld18dems #podcast #azleg (at Tucson, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CelyNpILm7J1dq5IYg2T_uizRJjFYliXLM7q-I0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Due to random Legislative schedules, I have been doing a lot of driving lately. Thank goodness we solved the tire mystery. We *wrongly* assumed that when we bought new tires the mechanic would ensure that they were properly. Assume nothing! When Jim checked my tires on Monday before I drove to the capital, he found that all four brand new tires were over-inflated by 6-10 pounds! In Arizona, you don't have to have a college degree to be an engineer. You can just "identify as an engineer". Yes, we passed that bill. Do we also have car mechanics that "identify as car mechanics" but have no experience? How far has this state dumbed down professions? @azhousedems #azleg (at Phoenix, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CehGGpUhm78db7WzyfNpF8viT7NUXr_f-QTL-M0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Another surprise respite in Tucson, but for the record, driving 5 hours in 1 day for ~2 hours if work is bad planning at best. That said. Thanks, Rusty and Travis for the adjournment until Wednesday. When Jim opened the driveway gate today, he thanked the Republicans because I was home. He said, "If the Republicans were actually working with the Democrats, you wouldn't be here." I said, "If the Republicans were actually working with the Democrats and dropped the horrific bills, we would have been done in 100 days." @azhousedems @ld18dems #azleg (at Tucson, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CczEtUHrWBY7LfT8mGUajwMk_jSZCs_AkR6ow80/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=