April 16th, 2024 

ARIZONA- It’s been one week since the Ducey-appointed Arizona Supreme Court took Arizona back to 1864 and Arizona Republicans used the week to lie, fundraise in Kentucky, and take a break from the legislative session. 

Here’s a recap of Republican “leadership” in the past week: 

• Donald Trump knows Arizonans are blaming him for this ban and has decided to buckle down on his role in overturning Roe and bringing Arizona back to 1864. When asked about his role in the decision he said that he was “proudly the person responsible.”

• Kari Lake has made her opposition to reproductive rights clear, including supporting the 1864 territorial ban on abortion, and said just a few months ago her dangerous positions on abortion “haven’t changed, actually.” Lake’s extreme views include support for banning abortions without exceptions for rape or incest for Arizonans, that “life begins at conception,” celebrating the fall of Roe, and “banning those types of abortion pills” in reference to medication abortions.

• Rep. David Schweikert has yet again said one thing on twitter and voted another way in Congress. Schweikert said he opposed the court’s decision yet he praised the Republican legislature for passing the 15 week ban, said he was “pleased” by the overturning of Roe, and has co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act 6 times. 

• Rep. Juan Ciscomani lied last week when he said he always supports a woman’s personal choice. When Juan isn’t running away from Arizonans who ask about his abortion stance he’s voting for legislation like co-sponsoring H.R. 7, legislation that prohibits using government subsidies, including tax credits, to purchase insurance plans that cover abortions, and voting against legislation that would protect women’s access to contraceptives. 

• Rep. Eli Crane had time to tweet against Arizonans getting their student loans forgiven, but has still said nothing about Arizonans abortion rights. Crane has called Roe a “mistake,’ and co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act which bans abortion nationwide and jeopardizes IVF. 

• Rep. Andy Biggs told reporters he hasn’t had time to read the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to bring Arizona back to 1864. Biggs introduced the “Abortion Is Not Health Care Act” which prohibits a tax deduction for medical expenses paid for an abortion and defines life starting at conception, called abortion “evil”, signed onto an amicus brief that urges the Supreme Court to ban mifepristone a safe abortion medication, and co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act which bans abortion nationwide and jeopardizes IVF. 

• Rep. Paul Gosar had the time to write insults in his tax payer funded newsletter but not enough time to say anything about the Supreme Court’s decision. Gosar has consistently gotten an A+ rating from the far right anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro Life American who celebrated the decision calling it a “major advancement in the fight for life in Arizona.” Gosar has called the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe “a blessing to America,” co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act which bans abortion nationwide and jeopardizes IVF, and signed onto an amicus brief that urges the Supreme Court to ban mifepristone, a safe abortion medication.

• Matt Gress voted with the Republican majority so that the House could enter recess and shut down discussion, then he tried to lie about it. When held accountable for his votes, Rep. Gress said, “I don’t remember voting aye ― my (GOP) colleagues would be surprised.” It’s also not surprising that Gress is one of the most pro-life members of the House, sponsoring House Bill 2427 that would have established fetal personhood in Arizona, opening the door for banning reproductive healthcare services such as IVF.

• Shawna Bolick called for the legislature to find common ground, but joined every Senate Republican in urging voters to refuse to sign the abortion access initiative in Arizona just a few months ago, vowing to introduce anti-abortion legislation including banning abortion at the “moment of conception.”

• TJ Shope called for an appeal yet joined his colleagues in adjourning last week. Shope also co-sponsored the bill to ban abortions at 15 weeks that would have prosecuted doctors who performed abortions after 15 weeks.

Ahead of tomorrow’s hearing repealing the 1864 abortion ban, AZ GOP legislators were caught red-handed, planning to pull votes away from the ballot initiative which has gained tremendous grassroots support and to sow confusion among voters so they ultimately vote to enact another ban. Fake elector Anthony Kern also promoted an anti-abortion rally on the Capitol. 

Arizona Democrats are prepared to fight for abortion rights up and down the ticket. To learn more about key initiatives, how to vote or how to support Democrats this election cycle, please visit azdem.org. 

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