Has the measles outbreak hit AZ yet? No. Has the stupidity outbreak hit AZ yet? Yes.

 And that "Yes" is an unequivocal one.

First, the good news - measles has yet to hit AZ.

From the CDC -

As of this writing, there have no cases of measles reported in AZ, but nationally, there have been more cases so far this year than in any other year since 2000 (the CDC didn't publish figures for years prior to that).  The only year with more measles cases for the entire year was 2019, and we're not even halfway through 2025 yet.

Also from the CDC -

Now the bad news - the "no cases in AZ" thing  seems poised to change in short order.

From KJZZ, written by Fatima Gabir of Cronkite News -

As measles spread in the U.S., anti-vaccine sentiment continues to grow in Arizona

Health professionals say mixed messaging from top officials along with widespread misinformation is contributing to declining vaccination rates, particularly in rural counties where health care access is already limited.

“For a person who’s not trained in medicine, science, or public health, it’s a confusing mix of messages they receive, and they don’t have any good way to sort it out,” said Dr. Doug Campos-Outcalt, a physician and public health expert at the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine.

[snip]

A CDC report shows that 8.5% of Arizona’s kindergartners skipped required vaccinations through exemptions last school year. In Arizona, parents need to submit a “personal beliefs” form to their child’s school to opt out of vaccination. The data included homeschooled children to a limited extent.

[snip]

“It’s scary to think that we could potentially have that again, with diseases that could be prevented because of vaccines. We’re putting ourselves in a situation where we’re going to overrun our hospitals again. We’re going to overwork our already overworked health care workers. Our infrastructure can’t handle it again,” {RN Brandi} Giles said.

Get vaccinated.

Even when the lege is on vacation, their efforts against the public interest continue

Corporate profits must be protected at all costs...especially when those costs are borne by others.

From Arizona Capitol Times, written by Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services, dated 5/14/2025 -

State Republicans want to block Biden national monument

Key Points:

• Arizona Republicans are pushing to void a newly designated national monument

• Opponents of the monument argue the designation harms Arizona’s economy

• The monument sits on large uranium and water reserves

Rebuffed by a federal judge, Republican state legislative leaders want an appellate court to give them a chance to void the decision by former President Biden to designate nearly a million acres in northern Arizona as a national monument.

In new filings on May 14, attorney Justin Smith is arguing that U.S. District Court Judge Stephen McNamee got it wrong in January when he concluded that House Speaker Steve Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen have no legal standing to challenge creation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

Guessing that AZ taxpayers are picking up the tab for Montenegro's and Petersen's litigation and the continuation of it.

Legislative schedule - week starting 5/18/2025

There's nada scheduled for the week as the elected denizens of the state legislative buildings are on vacation.

An open letter to Sen. Ruben Gallego

Rolling Stone broke some news about one of AZ's own this weekend.

From Rolling Stone -

Dem Crypto Ally Defends Fundraiser With Trump Crypto Donor

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) traveled to Pennsylvania for a town hall on Saturday to offer 

Democrats advice on how to build a bigger tent — and perhaps to drum up support for a 

potential 2028 presidential bid. 

 

When an attendee asked Gallego about a fundraiser he held 

with Marc Andreessen, a billionaire crypto investor and close ally of Donald Trump...

The rest is behind a paywall, but readers get the gist.

Dear Sen. Gallego,

Maybe you thought that people back in AZ would be distracted by Hamas' financiers offering Cheeto a $400 million bribe, and Cheeto trying to rationalize accepting it.

Maybe you thought that because it took place across the country, no one would back in AZ would notice.

We weren't distracted, and we did notice it.

You shouldn't behave like Cheeto -he's a complete skell.

You shouldn't behave like you're R-lite - they're depraved, on a good day.

You shouldn't behave like you're Sinema-lite - she defines "ethically challenged."

Before she changed her registration, and *couldn't* be part of the Democratic primary, I had already decided that if she was the Democratic nominee, I would skip the race.

That may happen when you're up for re-election, and i expect that I won't be the only person to make such a decision.

You didn't win in 2024 by much and you can't afford to lose too many voters...nor can you count on the Rs nominating someone as personally unpopular as Kari Lake.

Me

Legislative schedule - week starting 5/11/2025

I would say that "'Hurry up and wait' time continues at the state Capitol...until a budget drops"...but they're going on vacation going back to their district to meet with constituents until after Memorial Day.

Nobody will be surprised when industry lobbyists list this period on their expense reports as "legislator outreach" or some such innocuous-sounding garbage.

Schedules can, and frequently do, change at any moment when the legislature is in session.  So pay attention.

Note: HHR refers to a hearing room in the House building; SHR refers to one in the Senate building.

Note2: Generally, I'll only specify bills that look to spread propaganda.  Other bills may be more conventionally bad (think: corrupt or other misuses of public monies and/or authority).  My recommendation is that if an agenda covers an area of interest to you, read the entire agenda.

Note3: Each chamber's respective Rules Committee meets on Monday, the House's in HHR4, generally at 1 p.m. and the Senate's in Senate Caucus Room 1, generally also at 1 p.m.  Both committees serve as rubber stamps for bills leadership wants to be advanced and gatekeepers for measures that leadership wants stopped.

Note4: Meeting start times may be listed, but are flexible.  Before journeying to the Capitol or viewing the meeting online, verify the start time.

Note5: Watch for strikers, or strike everything amendments.  Those involve inserting language that replaces the entirety of a bill.  Those can be introduced at any time and can make a previously harmless bill become a very bad one. 

On Monday, 5/12 

-

There's one meeting on the schedule for the week, and it's both early in the week and early in the day (Monday meetings are usually in the afternoon).

Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Family Court Orders meets at 9 a.m. in SHR1.  On the agenda: no bills; two presentations on...wait for the surprise...*family court orders*.

After that, nada.

Legislative schedule - week starting 5/4/2025 UPDATE

There's been an addition to this week's schedule of committee meetings at the state legislature.

On Thursday, 5/1 -

Senate Director Nominations meets at 9:30 a.m. in SHR109.  On the agenda: no bills, one executive nomination - Robyn Sahid, Commissioner, State Land Department.

Hey! I occasionally disagree with professional journalists

Admittedly, it's not a huge disagreement; more of a quibble over some details.

Last week, I published a post on the coming Lieutenant Governor sweepstake in AZ.

Now the actual pros (ya know, *real* journalists) are getting into the act.

From the Arizona Agenda, written by Hank Stephenson and Nicole Ludden -

The VP of AZ

Political prognosticators are already labeling Arizona’s 2026 governor’s race a “toss-up” and debating the strengths and weaknesses of Gov. Katie Hobbs and her two potential challengers, Republicans Karrin Taylor Robson and Andy Biggs.

But the 2026 gubernatorial election will be played by a whole different set of rules than Arizona politicos are used to.

That’s because, for the first time in Arizona’s history, when voters weigh their options for their next governor, they’ll also be hiring a lieutenant governor.

It's a good story, and I recommend reading the entire thing, but I *do* disagree with it one thing.

The article goes on to discuss various possibilities/candidates in a "pro/con" format, and the "con" for a Democratic possible may not be much of a bad thing, IMO. (emphasis added by me)

• Lt. Gov. Anna Tovar

  Pros: Tovar is a former lawmaker, corporation commissioner and mayor of Tolleson who knows her way around government. Like Romero, she’s a Latina (former) mayor. And she’s also an old Hobbs ally who the governor appointed to the State Board of Education (although that tenure was cut short when the Senate refused to confirm her).

  Cons: She comes with some political baggage, including an ethics censure during her time on the Corporation Commission and an episode in 2013 when she led a coup against Senate Democratic Leader Leah Landrum Taylor, who is black, and Landrum Taylor accused her of racism.

Ummm...in 2014, Taylor endorsed Michele Reagan, the R candidate for AZ Secretary of State.

I don't know if Tovar is a bigot (if she is, that's an automatic disqualifier for any position, except maybe for one in the Cheeto administration), but a personality conflict with a known quisling?

Most assuredly, *not* a disqualifier.

And that "censure" from the Corporation Commission?

Partisan hackery at ugliest.

From the Arizona Capitol Times, written by Reagan Priest, dated 12/17/2024 -

Corp Comm Republicans censure outgoing Democrat 

for alleged statutory, ethics violations

Republicans on the Arizona Corporation Commission voted Tuesday to censure outgoing Democratic Commissioner Anna Tovar and refer a complaint to the Maricopa County Attorney’s office, saying she violated open meeting laws and the commission’s code of ethics.

At an open staff meeting, three Republicans on the commission said an investigation into Tovar’s office found a letter sent by Tovar on Nov. 6 disclosed information discussed in executive session and constituted harassment of a commission staff member. The commissioners also voted to refer violations of Arizona open meeting law to the Maricopa County Attorney’s office.

I don't know if Tovar (or anyone else) is interested in the Lieutenant Governor (LG) gig, and I don't who Hobbs (or any other candidate) is looking at, but I truly expect the speculation to continue until the LG candidates are named.

2 of Arizona's top health officials resign during a measles outbreak. Betcha Sen. Jake Hoffman is happy.

Don't take the bet; I already know he is happy.

A few days ago, I wrote a post updating my legislative schedule post about how the Senate committee on Director Nominations was going to meet to consider the nomination of Carmen Heredia to be the director of AHCCCS.

That was rendered moot by subsequent events.

From AZ Mirror, written by Gloria Rebecca Gomez -

Two top Arizona health officials resign amid ‘unprecedented politicization’ of process

Two of Arizona’s top public health officials have resigned rather than face an acrimonious confirmation process at the legislature, where Republicans have used agency director hearings to play hardball politics with Gov. Katie Hobbs and stymie her government. 

On Wednesday, Hobbs announced that Jennie Cunico, the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, and Carmen Heredia, who heads Arizona’s Health Care Cost Containment System, the state’s Medicaid program, have stepped down from their positions. Heredia was scheduled to go before the state Senate’s Committee on Director Nominations for consideration on Thursday. 

[snip]

Republicans celebrated the resignations. Sen. Jake Hoffman, a Republican from Queen Creek who chairs the Director Nominations Committee and who also heads the legislature’s far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus, said they are a “testament” to the work done by lawmakers to ensure candidates are the best choice for Arizonans. 

Hoffman denounced Heredia for what he said was “mismanagement” of the state’s Medicaid program and blamed her for the sober home living fraud that targeted Arizona’s indigenous community and cost taxpayers $2.5 billion. 

Note1: Governor Hobbs' press release on the resignations is here.

Note2: Hoffman's Snoopy Dance press release celebrating the resignations is here.

Note3: The sober home living fraud that killed people took place during the administration of Doug Ducey, one of his fellow Republicans.  Hoffman can try to blame the folks who found it and put a stop to it, but his blame-shifting doesn't change the reality of the fraud.

Hoffman has an "interesting" sense of timing.  The U.S. is experiencing a massive measles outbreak and Hoffman thinks that Arizona losing two of its top public health officials now is a good thing.

Caveat: As of this writing, there are no reported measles infections in Arizona. 

From the CDC -

While there are no reported cases in AZ, it may just be a matter of time.

From Axios, written by Jeremy Duda and Jaden Amos, dated March 5 -

Low vaccination rates a warning sign for measles in Arizona

Arizona hasn't had a reported measles case so far this year, but red flags are leading some experts to worry we could see an outbreak like the one in Texas.

Why it matters: Some Arizona counties have lower measles vaccination rates than in west Texas, where the outbreak has infected at least 159 people since it was first reported in early February and has killed one child.

What they're saying: There are "places here where it could spin out of control, just like it has in Texas. The conditions are right here for that to happen in some parts of the state," Arizona Public Health Association executive director Will Humble told Axios.

As kids are the ones who have died from measles in 2025 the kindergarten vaccination rates in the 2022-2023 school year, from the Arizona Department of Health Services - 

Wonder if the kingmaker-wannabe (in Republican politics, anyway) is aware that dead people don't vote, even in R primaries?

Legislative schedule - week starting 5/4/2025

"Hurry up and wait" time continues at the state Capitol...until a budget drops.

Schedules can, and frequently do, change at any moment when the legislature is in session.  So pay attention.

Note: HHR refers to a hearing room in the House building; SHR refers to one in the Senate building.

Note2: Generally, I'll only specify bills that look to spread propaganda.  Other bills may be more conventionally bad (think: corrupt or other misuses of public monies and/or authority).  My recommendation is that if an agenda covers an area of interest to you, read the entire agenda.

Note3: Each chamber's respective Rules Committee meets on Monday, the House's in HHR4, generally at 1 p.m. and the Senate's in Senate Caucus Room 1, generally also at 1 p.m.  Both committees serve as rubber stamps for bills leadership wants to be advanced and gatekeepers for measures that leadership wants stopped.

Note4: Meeting start times may be listed, but are flexible.  Before journeying to the Capitol or viewing the meeting online, verify the start time.

Note5: Watch for strikers, or strike everything amendments.  Those involve inserting language that replaces the entirety of a bill.  Those can be introduced at any time and can make a previously harmless bill become a very bad one. 

Almost nothing is officially scheduled for this week...almost nothing.

On Monday, 5/5 and Tuesday, 5/6 - nada.

On Wednesday, 5/7 

-

Senate Education and Transportation meets at 1:30 p.m. in SHR1.  On the agenda: no bills; consideration of two nominations to state boards - Binky Jones, State Board for Charter Schools and Lee Stein, Arizona Board of Regents.

On Thursday, 5/8 - nada.

Candidate update time

Note: forming a committee and/or filing a Statement of Interest (SOI) with the AZSOS does NOT mean that will appear on a ballot going before voters.

Q: What do former politicos do when they lose a race?

A: Run for office again.

In 2022, legislator John Fillmore (R-Whackjob) lost his primary race for state house.  Now he's filed an SOI for a run at Democratic Congressman Greg Stanton. As of this writing, he has not formed a committee with the FEC.

In 2024, soon-to-be ex-legislator Anthony Kern (R-Another Whackjob) came in fifth in a seven-way primary race for Congress (actually, one was a write in candidate, so he was fifth of six ballot candidates).  Now he's looking to return to the legislature.

He hasn't formed a new committee with the AZSOS, but he may by using an old committee for this run.

It's not just former politicos, though.

Former placekicker (NFL and Arena Football League) Jay Feely (R-very Wide Right) has declared his candidacy to replace Andy Biggs in Congress.

His SOI, from the AZSOS -

His committee with the FEC -

All you need to know about him can be summed up in one pic -

From Sports Illustrated

This pic may help him in his primary race, but I don't care.

Idle speculation time: Lieutenant Governor

In honor of Republican candidate for governor Karrin Taylor Robson already running TV spots...well more than a year before her primary.

In 2022, Arizona voters approved Proposition 131, which created a Lieutenant Governor (Lt. Governor) position in Arizona politics.

The language is now part of Article 5, Section 1, Paragraph C of the Arizona State Constitution.  The candidates for lt. governor will be named by the candidates for governor before the general election.

It's time for some speculation about who they might name. :)

Note: this is NOT a prediction; my prognostication abilities when it comes to internal R politics are less than optimal

My thinking is that the primary candidate for the will be current state treasurer Kimberly Yee.  She's termed out of the treasurer's slot, and while she may run for governor (again!), my guess is that the only way she gets through a primary with Robson and Andy Biggs is if they split the MAGA vote and she gets the rest.

Probably not gonna happen.

I *do* think that she'd help Biggs more in the general - if nothing else, she's seen as less crazy than him.

On the other hand, if/when he feels it necessary to boost his nutjob bonafides, Kari Lake is available.

On the Democratic side, I have no clue (not even for idle speculation).  Though, I bet that whoever is interested in the gig is busily jockeying both for position and for Governor Katie Hobbs' attention.

Legislative schedule - week starting 4/27/2025 UPDATE

There's been an addition to this week's schedule of committee meetings at the state legislature.

On Thursday, 5/1 -

Senate Director Nominations meets at 9:30 a.m. in SHR109.  On the agenda: no bills, one executive nomination -

Carmen Heredia as director of Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)

Q1 reports are in! Redux.

Last Saturday, I published a post about the campaign reports for federal candidates.

Today, it's the turn for state-level candidates.

Some caveats:

It's still very early, so this only includes candidates who formed committees with the AZSOS before the Q1 2025 deadline (3/31/2025).  Candidates who haven't yet formed a committee or formed one in Q2 aren't covered here.

This isn't meant to predict who will actually be on a ballot.

Nor is it meant to predict who will win any primary.

Listed dates of formation are from the AZSOS; some were formed for runs for another office.

Some definitions:

COH = Cash on Hand

SOI = Statement of Interest

A "0" in an amount cell means that was what was reported; a blank means no report was filed.

Legislative schedule - week starting 4/27/2025

Lots of iceberg action at the Capitol this week - not much going on visibly but a lot of activity beneath the surface.

Schedules can, and frequently do, change at any moment when the legislature is in session.  So pay attention.

Note: HHR refers to a hearing room in the House building; SHR refers to one in the Senate building.

Note2: Generally, I'll only specify bills that look to spread propaganda.  Other bills may be more conventionally bad (think: corrupt or other misuses of public monies and/or authority).  My recommendation is that if an agenda covers an area of interest to you, read the entire agenda.

Note3: Each chamber's respective Rules Committee meets on Monday, the House's in HHR4, generally at 1 p.m. and the Senate's in Senate Caucus Room 1, generally also at 1 p.m.  Both committees serve as rubber stamps for bills leadership wants to be advanced and gatekeepers for measures that leadership wants stopped.

Note4: Meeting start times may be listed, but are flexible.  Before journeying to the Capitol or viewing the meeting online, verify the start time.

Note5: Watch for strikers, or strike everything amendments.  Those involve inserting language that replaces the entirety of a bill.  Those can be introduced at any time and can make a previously harmless bill become a very bad one. 

At this point, no committees are scheduled to meet this week.

Well, the bill to let legislative Rs subpoena folks under penalty of arrest is dead*

* = Of course, the old adage at the legislature is that nothing is dead until sine die (aka - the legislature adjourns for the year).

A couple of days ago, I wrote a post about about HB2824.

While it was amended in the Senate and had to return to the House for them to approve the changes, the deadline for bills to be heard in conference committee for differences to be hashed out has passed.

From the AZSenate's 2025 timeline -