The Club’s 2022 legislative scorecard (View House of Representatives Scorecard and Senate Scorecard) included a thorough review of 22 bills in the House and 30 bills in the Senate, legislative actions and votes taken by lawmakers this session with an emphasis on the Club’s supported or opposed bills. The methodology included other issues important to our grassroots activists such as good governance reforms, school choice and parental rights, fighting Green New Deal policies, and rejecting corporate welfare.
Issues weighed heavily in the scorecard included bills relating to income tax policy and election integrity, both of which were prime issues for the Club’s agenda for 2022.
Not all legislation was weighted equally but ranked by Club priority. Highly prioritized were bad policies such as the “Build Back Broke” agenda which included bills such as the Maricopa County sales tax increase referral to fund transit projects and other Green New Deal infrastructure projects, the Hollywood tax credit program and other refundable tax credit programs such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the R&D Tax Credit, and the statewide sales tax increase referral for fire districts.
Club President Scot Mussi expounded, “Our organization was founded to fight for the taxpayer of Arizona. The ability of ‘woke’ corporations to secure major tax carveouts, in some instances zeroing out all tax liability, is a serious threat to a broad-based, low-tax environment for every Arizona family and small business. Our lawmakers shouldn’t be picking winners and losers but representing all Arizona taxpayers.”
Ultimately, several bills became the focus of these efforts and were included in the overall methodology. Here is a sampling of some of the bad bills that were weighed in the 2022 legislative scorecard:
SB1708: (motion picture production; tax credit) establishes a refundable tax credit program for businesses and individuals to produce films in Arizona.
SB1356: (transportation tax; election; Maricopa County) Referred to voters a half cent sales tax for 25 years to fund predominantly transit and other Green New Deal infrastructure projects in Maricopa County.
HB2862: (general appropriations act; 2022-2023) The “feed bill” which is the main appropriation bill for the budget. This year the Club scored this budget bill negatively as the budget turned into a Democrat spending spree with a 40% increase in spending from last year’s budget and was a part of a deal that included many of the “Build Back Broke” bills.
SB1018: (earned income; tax credit): Creates a state level refundable earned income tax credit.
Also included in the Club’s legislative priorities were several bills dealing with election integrity. Despite dozens of bills being introduced. these bills were top Club issues the entire session:
HB2492: (voter registration; verification; citizenship): bolster safeguards to ensure only legal citizens may register and vote in our elections.
HB2617: (voter registration; cancellations; causes): Creates a set of database check requirements for regular voter role maintenance.
SB1362: (early ballot on-site tabulation): Sets up a process for counties to allow voters to tabulate their mail-in ballots on election day.
SCR1012: (voter identification; voting): A referral to voters to requirement voter ID on mail-in ballots.
Given the rigorous criteria in the Club’s 2022 scorecard, the top performing legislators distinguished themselves as faithful conservatives in the caucus. These members consistently fight for limited government, free market principles, low, smart and fair taxes, and individual liberties. The Club Top performers in the Legislature who have earned an ‘A’ in 2022 included:
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Last week, the Biden Administration officially filed a lawsuit against Arizona over HB2492, which bolsters safeguards to our voter registration process to require proof of citizenship ensuring only U.S. citizens are voting in our elections.
To many, it sounds absurd. Not HB2492, but the revelation that in Arizona, and in every state in the country, people are registering to vote and voting without ever providing proof of citizenship.
You can find out how this happened and how we went from rejecting all voter registration applications without (Documentary Proof of Citizenship) DPOC in 2005 to registering all individuals, whether they used our own state form or the federal form, as “Federal Only Voters” here.
Thankfully, back in March HB2492, sponsored by Representative Jake Hoffman, was signed into law. It was the first election integrity bill to pass out of the legislature, and the first signed. In short, HB2492 cracks down on state voter registration forms submitted without DPOC, requires counties to attempt to ascertain the citizenship status for those who utilize the federal form, and, importantly, makes proof of citizenship a requirement to vote by mail and to vote for President. A full breakdown of the bill can be found here.
This was one of the most critical and impactful election integrity reforms of the legislative session. And that can be seen from the two lawsuits filed within hours of it being signed, one coming from Democrat Russiagate hoax lawyer Marc Elias, and both on behalf of liberal nonprofit organizations. It becomes clearer from the third lawsuit filed last month from another leftist group, and now with this case, officially USA v. Arizona, coming from Biden.
These lawsuits all make nearly identical claims and arguments, all of which are flawed, because HB2492 is well crafted and stands on strong constitutional reasoning.
HB2492 requires counties to reject state voter registration forms that are submitted without proof of citizenship, which the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed our authority to do in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.: “States retain the flexibility to design and use their own registration forms.”
HB2492 requires counties to reject federal voter registration forms if, after checking the various databases HB2492 requires them to review, they find that the person is not a U.S. citizen. Justice Scalia wrote that the NVRA “does not preclude States from ‘deny[ing] registration based on information in their possession establishing the applicant’s ineligibility.” So yet again, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed our power to do this.
HB2492 makes proof of citizenship a requirement to vote for President and by mail in any election. The Electors Clause of the U.S. Constitution grants plenary authority to state legislatures over the manner of appointing presidential electors. While this argument has not been made to the courts, once again the plain text of the U.S. Constitution is consistent with the requirements of HB2492.
The misguided lawsuits also attack HB2492’s requirement to include place of birth on the registration form, oblivious to the fact that it is currently on the Arizona voter registration form, which was created by Democrat Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. Also ignoring that it was actually the Election Assistance Commission who recommended obtaining place of birth to help verify citizenship status.
The reality is that these are flawed lawsuits against a commonsense bill. Instead of wasting time and taxpayer dollars in court, the Biden administration should actually be securing our border, protecting states like ours from an invasion of illegal immigrants. Instead, they are trying to stop necessary election reforms that make it easy to vote and hard to cheat and protect our elections from the hundreds of thousands of people illegally crossing into our country each day under their watch.
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Arizona needs to have a unified voice promoting economic freedom and prosperity, and the Free Enterprise Club is committed to making that happen. But we can’t do it alone. We need YOU!
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Phoenix, AZ – Today the Arizona Free Enterprise Club announced their third slate of endorsements for the 2022 election.
The endorsed candidates represent individuals who align with the organization’s principles and key policy goals. Club President Scot Mussi stated, “It is critical Arizona has leaders and policy makers who are able to articulate and stand up for individual liberties, free market principles, and conservatie values. This slate of candidates has proven they can and will.”
Arizona State Legislature
LD 4
LD 10
LD 23
House: Vera Gebran
Senate: David Farnsworth
Senate: Gary Snyder
House: Maria Syms
House: Michele Pena (Write-in)
LD 9
LD 13
House: Kathy Pearce
House: Julie Willoughby
House: Mary Ann Mendoza
Local City and Town Council
Chandler
Payson
Fountain Hills
Darla Gonzalez
Tom Morrissey (Mayor)
Brenda Kalivianakis
Farhana Shifa
Allen Skillicorn
Hannah Toth
Peoria
Gilbert
Queen Creek
Jason Beck (Mayor)
Jim Torgeson
Travis Padilla
Mario Chicas
Bobbi Buchli
Help Protect Freedom in Arizona by Joining Our Grassroots Network
Arizona needs to have a unified voice promoting economic freedom and prosperity, and the Free Enterprise Club is committed to making that happen. But we can’t do it alone. We need YOU!
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Every American should be free to peacefully support causes they believe in without being harassed or intimidated.
Someone should tell that to Terry Goddard. For years, the former Attorney General of Arizona has been leading a campaign to “Stop Dark Money” in our state. Although the name sounds nefarious, it’s nothing more than clever messaging aimed to scare the average person.
But now Goddard’s new donor harassment initiative is set to file signatures in the coming days. And if it makes it onto the ballot and becomes law, it would be a devastating blow to donor privacy and free speech.
Known as the Voters’ Right to Know Act, the proposed ballot measure attempts to require any group or entity that spends over $50,000 in a statewide race (or $25,000 in any other race) to not only disclose their donors, but also the “original source” of any funds received. That applies to both candidate expenditures and ballot measures. While on the surface, that may not concern someone who doesn’t give to election races, this is just the start.
To say that this is a poorly drafted measure would be a severe understatement. Just take a look for yourself at the ballot language right here. There isn’t a nonprofit, PAC, or any other entity that spends funds supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot measure that could ever comply with this absurd initiative. But that’s just one of the many issues.
The Voters’ Right to Know Act is another attempt to silence free speech—and to target, harass, and dox private citizens. If you don’t think it will do just that, think again. You can ask former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich about his experience. Back in 2010, California’s then-Attorney General Kamala Harris began ordering nonprofits that fundraised in the state to disclose the information of their major donors. And Eich was forced to step down from his position amid a flurry of backlash when it was made public that he donated money in support of California’s Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that aimed to define marriage as between one man and one woman. But the harassment didn’t stop with Eich.
Organizations like Thomas More Law Center and Americans for Prosperity Foundation faced similar intimidation. And some Thomas More Law Center donors, employees, and clients even faced death threats, hate mail, and an assassination plot from those who opposed them.
The Voters’ Right to Know Act in Arizona will only make it worse. But just to be sure you know exactly who this initiative is targeting, consider this. Corporate media, big tech, and other liberal institutions are exempt from the measure. And the way it is drafted would also exempt most labor unions. That means the disclosure requirements of this measure would disproportionately impact conservatives. They’re not even trying to hide it! They want to dox conservatives, intimidate them, and harass anyone who doesn’t believe what the Left wants them to believe or say what the Left wants them to say.
And if the ballot language isn’t proof enough, take a look and see if the Voters’ Right to Know Committee is even willing to follow its own advice. Here’s the group’s campaign finance report from Quarter 2 of 2021, and here’s their campaign finance report from Quarter 1 of 2022. Do you see the hypocrisy? They have received money from corporations and out-of-state PACs and have not disclosed the “original source” of the funds!
This isn’t about “stopping dark money.” It’s about scaring people—especially conservatives—into complete submission to the liberal agenda.
But before Goddard and his group go any further with this measure, they may want to review the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Americans for Prosperity v. Bonta from last year. The high court struck down the California law we mentioned earlier because the First Amendment protects the freedom to support organizations and nonprofits anonymously. That means this initiative is likely unconstitutional and would probably get struck down as well. And if it gets that far, it should. Because donors deserve privacy, and not protecting that right is dangerous.
Help Protect Freedom in Arizona by Joining Our Grassroots Network
Arizona needs to have a unified voice promoting economic freedom and prosperity, and the Free Enterprise Club is committed to making that happen. But we can’t do it alone. We need YOU!
Join our FREE Grassroots Action List to stay up to date on the latest battles against big government and how YOU can help influence crucial bills at the Arizona State Legislature.
Voted for taxpayer subsidized in-state tuition for illegals (2021, SCR1044.). David Cook was only 1 of 4 Republicans in the House that voted for this bill.
Sponsored a bill supported by Democrats to protect sanctuary cities and incentivize illegals to stay in Arizona by forcing governments to accept foreign IDs. (2021, HB2458). A Democrat in the House introduced the same bill as HB2685.
Increasing Taxes
Voted for a statewide sales tax increase. SCR1049, 2022
Sponsored a bill to increase taxes on small businesses’ employee wages in the middle of a pandemic. (2021, HB2805)
Voted with Democrats to impose a new tax on small businesses (2021, HB2161)
Infringing on the 2nd Amendment
Opposed a bill that would allow students and faculty members at universities to carry a firearm to protect themselves and others on campus. (2022, HB2447).
View David Cook’s comments in House Republican caucus. Cook argues that because foreign students attend our universities and are not familiar with our 2nd Amendment rights, that is a reason not to allow CCW holders carry weapons on campus.
Pay Raises for Politicians & Bureaucrats
Voted to give salary increases to Maricopa County politicians, the same people opposing the Maricopa County election audit. (2021, HB2700)
Voted to give himself and fellow lawmakers a pay raise. (2021, HB2053)
Sponsored a bill to protect career politicians by allowing them to pay a fee to be on the ballot to avoid collecting signatures from voters. (2022, HB2581)
Subsidies for the Swamp
Sponsored a bill to give hundreds of millions in taxpayer subsidies to Hollywood liberals to make woke movies and relocate thousands of California Democrats to Arizona. (2022, SB1708)
Paid for by The Arizona Free Enterprise Club. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate campaign committee. 602-385-0757
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