Christy Kelly, Author at Arizona Globe

AZ DEMs Face ‘Civil War’ over Race, Overreach

April 21, 2025 7:19 amApril 28, 2025 12:37 pm

Newly elected Chair Robert Branscomb, who made history as the first black American to lead the state party, is calling out what he sees as an effort to pit black and brown communities against each other, along with political overreach,...

Montenegro, Lake Decry Hobbs’s ‘Blackmail’ over Missing $122M

April 18, 2025 5:44 pmApril 25, 2025 7:04 am

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has intensified a political standoff by announcing she will veto all new legislation not on her desk until the Republican-controlled Legislature agrees to a bipartisan funding solution for the state’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). The...

Bolick Striker Saves Stolen Valor Act

April 17, 2025 9:57 amApril 23, 2025 10:01 am

On April 15, 2025, the Arizona Legislature finally passed SB1424, the “Stolen Valor Act,” written to honor MSgt. Orlando Dona. The bill criminalizes false claims of military service or honors to obtain tangible benefits. Originally sponsored by Representative Walt Blackman...

Controversial ‘Axon Bill’ Creates Divisions, Unexpected Alliances

April 16, 2025 10:03 amApril 22, 2025 8:02 am

In a move stirring significant debate, the Arizona Legislature passed Senate Bill 1543, commonly called the “Axon Bill.” This legislation facilitates the development of Axon’s proposed headquarters in Scottsdale by overriding a scheduled public referendum on the project. Axon is...

WEEK in REVIEW: April 6 – April 12, 2025

April 13, 2025 6:38 pmApril 21, 2025 6:29 pm

Hobbs Shunned Gress-Chaired Ad Hoc Oversight Committee Just minutes before a legislative hearing on Arizona’s $122 million shortfall in developmental disabilities funding, Governor Katie Hobbs barred her agency heads from participating, calling the ad hoc oversight committee a “political circus.”...

Carbone Addresses Dem ‘Stop Bills for Billionaires’ Rally

April 12, 2025 1:48 pmApril 21, 2025 6:29 pm

Arizona Senate Democrats hosted a “Stop Bills for Billionaires” rally at the state Capitol in Phoenix, AZ earlier today. The event protests legislation perceived as favoring the wealthy over working-class Arizonans. Senators Mitzi Epstein (D-LD12) and Lauren Kuby (D-LD8) were...

Hobbs Quietly Signs Nguyen’s Child Protection Bill

April 11, 2025 8:38 amApril 17, 2025 2:32 pm

In a rare moment of bipartisan consensus, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed House Bill HB2114 into law—a child protection bill sponsored by Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Quang Nguyen (R-1). The legislation delivers a clear message: Arizona will...