The Arizona state Senate passed a motion Wednesday to introduce a bill repealing the pre-statehood abortion ban with some help from Republican members, although neither chamber voted on a repeal bill.  The chamber did not have their own clean legislation to revoke the law, so the pressure was on the House to act. That was until Sen. Anna Hernandez, D-Phoenix, made a motion for the late introduction of a bill.   Sen. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, made a countermotion to table her proposal. Kern’s bid was shot down by a 13-17 vote. Republican Sens. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, Shawnna Bol ..read more

The head of a key anti-abortion group is warning lawmakers not to repeal the territorial-era law that outlaws all abortions except to save the life of the mother. The message from Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, is aimed at legislators who got elected in 2022 after stating that they were against abortions except to save the life of the mother. That was simply an academic question at the time. While the U.S. Supreme Court had overturned the 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade and its constitutional right of women to terminate a pregnancy, Arizona was governed by a state law, pass ..read more

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors filled the last remaining vacancy in the state House of Representatives Tuesday, bringing the House one step closer to full membership before a critical day for lawmakers who want to repeal the territorial-era abortion ban. Junelle Cavero will fill the vacant House seat in Legislative District 11, replacing former Rep. Marcelino Quiñonez, who resigned on April 4. “As I step into the role of representing Legislative District 11, I am deeply honored to accept this responsibility,” Cavero said in a House Democrats news release. “In a time that calls for u ..read more

State lawmakers convene Wednesday to weigh changes in an 1864 abortion law. But members of the first legislature, adopting the laws for the newly formed territory after it was separated from New Mexico, also were busy deciding what other kinds of things were legal and which were not. And while some have withstood the test of time, like statutes on homicide, others have become anachronisms or simply become unacceptable. The bottom line is that the 441-page document finally adopted on Nov. 10, 1864 – 491 with various additions – and signed by territorial Gov. John Goodwin, included a few other ..read more

Democrat leaders in the Senate are filing an ethics complaint against two GOP leaders in the chamber for what they call a violation of rules during an attempt April 10 to repeal the pre-statehood ban on abortion.   The complaint alleges that Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, violated a Senate rule relating to proper procedures in the chamber. Sen. Mitzy Epstein, D-Tempe, said Shope violated practice that is outlined in Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure by refusing to acknowledge the multiple substitute motions made by Democrats after Borrelli made a motion to adjourn. Because the m ..read more

I am a US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) Vietnam combat veteran with civilian service in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2009, my peers in the Arizona veterans community nominated and inducted me into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. I’ve dedicated my life to serving and protecting our nation’s interests, values, and well-being. This commitment compels me to scrutinize our foreign policies and domestic decisions that reflect our nation’s true priorities—especially when allocating our collective resources through taxation. Reflecting on this Tax Day, it’s impossible to ignore the stark differenc ..read more

Attorneys for Planned Parenthood and its allies are rushing to see if there is a viable legal theory to keep the state from once again enforcing its territorial-era abortion law. And the clock is running. The research comes on the heels of the state Supreme Court ruling Tuesday that a 2022 law allowing abortion up to 15 weeks does not supersede the 1864 statute that bans the procedures except to save the life of the mother. That was the only issue before the justices. But the original case, dating back to 1972, included a series of legal theories by Planned Parenthood about why the old statut ..read more

As a veterinarian, I have dedicated my career to ensuring the health and welfare of animals and the protection of public health. Protecting the availability of safe, proven therapies is important to meeting this mission. Game-changing innovations in vaccines over the past few years have undoubtedly saved animal and human lives, yet here in Arizona, access to these therapies is being threatened by inaccurate, unnecessary legislation that is currently on its way to the governor’s office.   The Arizona legislature recently passed SB1146, a bill that disparages life-saving vaccine techn ..read more

When I was in eighth grade, my family moved from a small town with a historic main street to a community dotted with new residential developments. This new neighborhood offered more amenities but lacked the connectedness that made our hometown feel comfortable. I realize now that it was not our previous town’s cozy size or its main street that provided its warmth. Rather, it was the “civil society” that matured there — the places of worship where neighbors gathered, the Boy Scout troop I had joined, the nonprofits that planted flowers each spring, and the town newspaper that was still printed ..read more

Thirty-nine states have legalized cannabis for medical or adult use after referenda or other signs of popular demand. Yet the federal government classes cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, its most dangerous category, sharing that category with substances such as heroin and LSD. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended on August 29, 2023, that marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule 3 controlled substance rather than a Schedule 1 drug. The proposal was the federal government’s first admission that marijuana has medicinal value. The decision now rests with the Drug Enforcement ..read more