¶ Controversial Legislation
¶ Sen. Borrelli Has Introduced Legislation To Punish Protestors With Racketeering Charges—The Potentially Unconstitutional Bill Was So Controversial It Was Scuttled By Arizona’s Republican Speaker And Governor.
¶ 2017: Sen. Borrelli’s Controversial And Possibly Unconstitutional Bill To Punish Protest Organizers With Racketeering Charges Was Declared Dead By Arizona’s Republican Speaker And Governor, Who Both Opposed The Bill; Borrelli Claimed The Bill Was Undermined By Liberal “Spin Jobs.”
February 2017: Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Declared Dead Sen. Borrelli’s Bill, SB 1142, To “Punish Organizers Of Public Protests That Turn Violent With Racketeering Charges,” Which Was “Widely Panned” As Unconstitutional. “Gov. Doug Ducey and the Republican leader of the Arizona House declared dead Monday a controversial bill that would punish organizers of public protests that turn violent with racketeering charges. Senate Bill 1142's demise came as it gained national attention and was widely panned as an unconstitutional attempt to silence liberal groups protesting the agenda of Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. [...] The bill's sponsor, Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu, defended the measure in an interview with The Republic.” [Arizona Republic, 02/27/17]
Sen. Borrelli Defended The Bill And “Dismissed Critics’ Claims That Protest Organizers Could Face RICO Investigations,” Complaining That The Legislation Was Undermined By Liberal “Spin Jobs.’” “The bill's sponsor, Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu, defended the measure in an interview with The Republic. His intent in proposing the legislation, he said, was to go after people who turn peaceful protests into riots by causing property damage. He dismissed critics’ claims that protest organizers could face RICO investigations if events turn violent. ‘How can they be held responsible for a crime they did not commit?’ he asked. Borrelli complained his bill had been widely misunderstood due to liberal ‘spin jobs.’” [Arizona Republic, 02/27/17]
Sen. Borrelli, Citing No Examples, Said, “They Pay These Thugs To Come In There And Bust Up A Picket Line,” Adding That “If Someone's Paying For That And Funding That, We Should Go After That.” “The bill's sponsor, Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, said the bill would target those who pay violent agitators, but he cited no examples of this occuring. ‘They pay these thugs to come in there and bust up a picket line,’ he said. ‘You know, if someone's paying for that and funding that, we should go after that. We should hold their feet to the fire.’” [The Arizona Republic, 02/23/17]
SB 1142 Would Have “Allowed Protest Organizers To Be Prosecuted If Someone Else Were Involved In Rioting — Even If That Individual Were Not Part Of The Organizing Group.” “Rioting is already illegal under Arizona law, but SB 1142 would have expanded racketeering laws to include rioting. It would have allowed protest organizers to be prosecuted if someone else were involved in rioting — even if that individual were not part of the organizing group.” [Arizona Republic, 02/27/17]
Arizona’s Republican Speaker J.D. Mesnard Decided To Kill Borrelli’s Bill After He Heard The Public’s “Belief That The Legislation Was Intended To Curb Free-Speech Rights Outweighed Any Merits Its Supporters Might Put Forward.” “Its fate was sealed over the weekend, as House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, a Chandler Republican, fielded phone calls from the public to complain about the bill. The House leader's personal cellphone number is listed on his personal website. As he listened to the callers, Mesnard realized their belief that the legislation was intended to curb free-speech rights outweighed any merits its supporters might put forward. He carefully read the legislation and by the time he returned Monday to his office, where there were more than 100 messages about the bill awaiting him, he decided he would kill the measure.” [Arizona Republic, 02/27/17]
Ducey Issued A Statement Saying He Was “Pleased” Borrelli’s Bill Was Dead, Despite Ducey’s “Self-Imposed Policy Of Not Commenting On Legislation Until It Reaches His Desk.” “Ducey, who was in Washington, D.C., Monday, departed from his self-imposed policy of not commenting on legislation until it reaches his desk to say, through a spokesman, that he ‘had been assured the bill is dead.’ His spokesman, Daniel Ruiz, said in a written statement that the governor was ‘pleased’ the bill would not advance.” [Arizona Republic, 02/27/17]
A Lobbyist From The American Civil Liberties Union Of Arizona Argued The Bill Was Not Constitutional And “Intended To Chill First Amendment Speech.” “The bill passed the Senate Rules Committee, with Senate staff attorneys saying they believe the bill is constitutional. The American Civil Liberties of Arizona disagrees. It is watching the bill closely. ‘People are concerned,’ said ACLU of Arizona lobbyist Will Gaona. ‘What we heard from legislators on the floor made it clear they are not just envisioning this as a means to punish those who engaged in a riot but those considering exercising their First Amendment rights. It's intended to chill First Amendment speech.’” [The Arizona Republic, 02/23/17]
¶ Sen. Borrelli Has Co-Sponsored Legislation To Prevent Social Media Companies From Banning Candidates’ Accounts, Even If Their Posts Were Dangerous, In Addition To Bills To Punish Charities That Help Refugees Resettle In Arizona And To Authorize Gold And Silver As Legal Tender.
¶ 2023: Sen. Borrelli Co-Sponsored A Bill To Prevent Social Media Companies From Revoking Public Candidates’ Ability To Post, “Pretty Much No Matter What They Say, Truthful Or Otherwise;” Gov. Katie Hobbs Vetoed The Bill, Saying It Did “Not Attempt To Solve Any Of The Real Problems Social Media Platforms Create.”
Sen. Sonny Borrelli Co-Sponsored Senate Bill 1106, A Bill Related To Social Media Platforms. [Bill Track 50, accessed 10/11/23]
SB 1106 “Would Have Put Into State Law That Once People Become Candidates For Any Public Office, They Could Not Have Their Posting Rights Taken Away -- Pretty Much No Matter What They Say, Truthful Or Otherwise.” “SB 1106 was an attempt to regulate how national and international social media platforms operate in Arizona. Specifically, SB 1106 would have put into state law that once people become candidates for any public office, they could not have their posting rights taken away -- pretty much no matter what they say, truthful or otherwise.” [KJZZ, 03/30/23]
Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs Vetoed SB 1106, Saying She Found No Merit In The Measure And That The Bill “Does Not Attempt To Solve Any Of The Real Problems Social Media Platforms Create.” “Here are all the proposed measures Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed in the 2023 session so far. [...] Hobbs said she found no merit in the measure. ‘This bill does not attempt to solve any of the real problems social media platforms create,’ the governor wrote on June 20.” [KJZZ, 03/30/23]
¶ 2017: Sen. Borrelli Co-Sponsored A Bill To Punish Charities That Help Refugees Resettle In Arizona, Fining Them $1,000 A Day For Each Refugee, And Requiring A State Agency To End Participation In A Federal Resettlement Program.
February 2017: Sen. Borrelli Was Among Sponsors Of A Bill To Penalize Charities That Help Refugees Resettle In Arizona, Fining Them $1,000 A Day For Each Refugee They Help, And Require The Arizona Department Of Economic Security To Suspend Its Participation In A Federal Resettlement Program. “Unable to block the federal government from sending refugees to Arizona, six Republican lawmakers want to penalize the charities that help them resettle here. Sen. Judy Burges, R-Sun City West, who is leading the effort, told Capitol Media Services she wants to ‘have a discussion’ about how refugees wind up in Arizona and what costs are incurred by the state. It specifically requires the Arizona Department of Economic Security to suspend its participation in the federally funded refugee resettlement program. But as other states that have taken similar steps have found, approval of SB1468 would not stop the refugees. All it would mean is the federal government would continue sending people to the state, only without cooperation and coordination with Arizona officials. And there is nothing that stops refugees from moving to Arizona once they’re in the country legally. The potentially more far-reaching part of the legislation would impose a fine on charities of $1,000 a day for each refugee it helps place in the state. And if a refugee is arrested, the charity would be financially liable for the cost of arrest, prosecution and incarceration of that person.” [Arizona Capitol Times, 02/03/17]
- Sen. Borrelli Was Among The Sponsors Of SB 1468. “Other sponsors of the legislation include Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, and Reps. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, Vince Leach, R-Tucson, Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, and Don Shooter, R-Yuma.” [Arizona Capitol Times, 02/03/17]
A Representative Of Catholic Charities, Which Was Involved In Refugee Resettlement In Arizona, Said “To Punish The Good Samaritans That Are Trying To Help Them Is A Bit Misplaced,” Adding “These People Are Already Here.” “The measure concerns Ron Johnson who lobbies for Catholic Charities, one of the groups involved in helping refugees resettle in the state. ‘Obviously we’re all concerned with proper vetting and national security,’ he said. ‘But that’s not something we do with Catholic Charities. Once they’re here, we help them: find a job, find a place to live, learn the language, all kind of good things that help them be a part of society so they’re not dependent on the government.’ More to the point, he said Burges and other sponsors of SB1468 are focusing on the wrong end of the problem. ‘To punish the Good Samaritans that are trying to help them is a bit misplaced,’ Johnson said. ‘These people are already here.’” [Arizona Capitol Times, 02/03/17]
¶ 2013: Then-Rep. Sonny Borrelli Co-Sponsored A Bill To Authorize Gold And Silver As Legal Tender—Arizona’s Republican Governor Vetoed The Bill As “Vague,” Economists Saw It As “Unnecessary,” And One State Senator Criticized The Practicality Of Recognizing Gold And Silver Tender.
2013: Then-Rep. Sonny Borrelli Co-Sponsored Arizona Senate Bill 1439, Which Would Have Authorized The Use Of Gold And Silver As Legal Tender In The State. [Vote Smart, accessed 10/11/23]
Then-Governor Jan Brewer Vetoed SB 1439, Stating That The Bill’s Provisions “Need To Be More Carefully Examined” And That The “Administrative And Fiscal Burdens” Created By The Bill Were “Vague.” “Today, I vetoed Senate Bill 1439. [...] I believe the provisions in this legislation need to be more carefully examined and there should be prior coordination with those government agencies tasked with the oversight of these transactions. It is important to note that the administrative and fiscal burdens for both the taxpayers and the Department of Revenue remain vague.” [Arizona Legislature, 05/02/13]
The Effort To Recognize Gold And Silver As Legal Tender Was “Part Of A Conservative Movement Arising Out Of A Lack Of Confidence In The Federal Reserve” And A Fear That The U.S. Debt Would Devalue The Dollar. “Arizona is on track to become the second state in the nation to recognize gold and silver coins as legal tender. It would join Utah as part of a conservative movement arising out of a lack of confidence in the Federal Reserve and a fear that paper money could become virtually worthless as U.S. debt deflates the value of the dollar.” [USA Today, 04/20/13]
- Conservative And “Tea Party” Groups Advocated For Using Gold And Silver As Legal Tender. “Several conservative and ‘tea party’ groups have also begun to advocate for gold and silver as legal tender, including the Washington, D.C.-based American Principles Project.” [USA Today, 04/20/13]
Opponents Called The Effort “Crazy, A Wasted Of Legislative Time And Nearly Impossible To Implement.” “Opponents call the movement crazy, a waste of legislative time and nearly impossible to implement. Utah has had the law on its books for two years and still has no organized system for spending and accepting gold and silver.” [USA Today, 04/20/13]
“Arizona Economists Dismissed The Proposal As Unnecessary” And Disputed Claims That Gold And Silver Were More Stable Than The Dollar, Noting That The Value Of Gold Had “Plummeted Recently.” “Arizona economists dismissed the proposal as unnecessary and questioned supporters' statements that gold and silver are more stable than the dollar, particularly as the value of gold has plummeted recently.” [USA Today, 04/20/13]
An Arizona State University Economics Professor Said Of Gold And Silver Tender, “Merchants Don't Have To Accept It, So What's The Point?” “But no person would be required to use or accept gold or silver as legal tender. [...] ‘Merchants don't have to accept it, so what's the point?’ asked Dennis Hoffman, an economics professor at Arizona State University.” [USA Today, 04/20/13]
Democratic State Sen. Steve Farley Criticized The Bill, Noting “Stores May Need A System Of Scales And Professionals On Hand To Value Gold Or Silver” And Offered A “Satirical” Amendment Adding “Livestock, Cotton, Citrus And Sunbeams, As Well As Copper Bullion” To The Bill’s List Of New Legal Tender. “SB 1439, sponsored by Sen. Chester Crandell, R-Heber, was approved by the Senate Committee of the Whole, but not without a satirical objection by Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson. He offered an amendment that would have added livestock, cotton, citrus and sunbeams, as well as copper bullion, to the list of legal tender recognized in Arizona. [...] He also offered more serious objections: If the bill is approved, stores may need a system of scales and professionals on hand to value gold or silver, and sales taxes would also have to be paid with gold if that’s what’s used to make a purchase, Farley said.” [Arizona Capitol Times, 02/27/13]
¶ Sen. Borrelli Has Voted To Keep Arizona’s Discriminatory “No Promo Homo” Law On The Books, Restrict Families’ Ability To Make Reproductive Health Decisions, Protect The “Gun Show Loophole,” Allow Concealed Carry Weapons On College Campuses, And Allow Predatory High-Interest Loans In Arizona.
¶ 2022: Sen. Borrelli Voted For A Bill To Allow Concealed Carry Weapons On College Campuses, Which Arizona State University’s Police Chief Called “Dangerous,” Warning It Would Add Guns To “An Already High-Risk Environment Of Alcohol, Drugs, Overreaction, Lack Of Life Experience And Immaturity.”
2022: The Arizona Senate Judiciary Voted To Allow Anyone With A Concealed Carry Weapon Permit To Bring A Weapon On To College Campuses, Including Into Classrooms And Dormitories. “Insisting it will make students safer, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to let anyone with a permit to carry a concealed weapon bring it on to university and college campuses, including classrooms and dorms.” [Daily Independent, 01/20/22]
The Police Chief For Arizona State University Warned Against The Legislation, SB 1123, Saying, ‘Adding Guns To An Already High-Risk Environment Of Alcohol, Drugs, Overreaction, Lack Of Life Experience And Immaturity Is A Very Dangerous Combination.’” “The move came as Republican lawmakers on the panel rejected arguments by Michael Thompson, the chief of police of Arizona State University, who told them that SB 1123 is a bad idea. ‘I’m here to tell you from first-hand experience that university students make very poor decisions on a daily basis, sometimes hourly basis,’ he said. ‘Adding guns to an already high-risk environment of alcohol, drugs, overreaction, lack of life experience and immaturity is a very dangerous combination.’” [Daily Independent, 01/20/22]
- The Police Chief Also Warned About Mental Health And Suicide Risks Related To Firearms. “And Thompson, who has been ASU police chief since 2014, said doesn't even take into account mental health issues and students who are considering suicide.” [Daily Independent, 01/20/22]
Borrelli, Who Voted For SB 1123 In The Judiciary Committee, Defended The Bill’s Application To Only Those With Concealed Carry Permits—A League Of Women Voters Representative Noted That “A Person Can Obtain One Without Training In Firearms, Weapons Or Showing Proficiency.” “Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, said the legislation is limited to those with a concealed-carry permit. That is available only to those 21 and older — 19 for veterans. But Jody Liggett who lobbies for the League of Women Voters, pointed out that the requirements to get a CCW permit have been loosened over the years. ‘A person can obtain one without training in firearms, weapons or showing proficiency,’ she said. ‘Therefore, to assume that holding such a permit mitigates the danger of guns on campus is wrong.’” [Daily Independent, 01/20/22]
- Sen. Borrelli Voted For SB 1123 In The Senate Judiciary Committee. [LegisScan, accessed 10/16/23]
- SB 1123 Died In The Arizona Legislature’s 2022 Session. [LegisScan, accessed 10/16/23]
¶ 2019: Sen. Borrelli Voted Against A Bill To Repeal Arizona’s Discriminatory “No Promo Homo” Law, Which Prohibited School Districts From Providing LGBTQ Instruction Until It Was Successfully Struck Down.
Sen. Borrelli Voted Against Arizona Senate Bill 1346, A Bill To Authorize HIV Prevention Education Which Was Signed Into Law On April 11, 2019. [Vote Smart, accessed 10/12/23]
SB 1346 Repealed An Arizona Law Known As The “No Promo Homo” Law Because It Prohibited School Districts From Providing Instruction That “Promotes The Homosexual Lifestyle.” “Today, the Arizona House of Representatives passed Senate Bill (SB) 1346, which repeals A.R.S.15-716C, known as the ‘No Promo Homo’ law because of its prohibition on school districts from providing instruction that ‘promotes the homosexual lifestyle.’” [Arizona Education Association, 04/10/19]
- An Amendment To Repeal The Law Was Added To SB 1346 After An LGBTQ Advocacy Group Equality Arizona And A Student Sued The State, Arguing That The “No Promo Homo” Law Violated The Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. “Equality Arizona, an LGBTQ advocacy group, and an unnamed LGBTQ seventh-grader from Tucson sued the state last month over the law, alleging that it violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment, and that it restricts the teaching of HIV prevention. Rep. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, introduced an amendment to SB1346 on Wednesday to repeal the disputed law.” [AZ Mirror, 04/11/19]
Arizona Education Association President Praised SB 1346’s Passage In The Arizona House, Saying The Repealed Law “Stigmatized And Harmed Both Our LGBTQ Students And Staff.” “‘Schools should be a welcoming and safe environment for our students,’ says AEA President Joe Thomas. ‘This law stigmatized and harmed both our LGBTQ students and staff. Arizona educators are glad to see this discriminatory law repealed.’” [Arizona Education Association, 04/10/19]
¶ 2017: Sen. Borrelli Voted For A “Controversial Abortion Bill” Forcing Doctors To “Perform Pointless Procedures During What Could Be An Infant's Final Few Minutes Of Life”—The Bill, Signed Into Law, Was Opposed By Obstetricians And Gynecologists.
Borrelli Voted For Arizona Senate Bill 1367, To Require Physicians To Attempt To Revive A “Viable Fetus After Abortion”—The Bill Was Signed Into Law On March 31, 2017. [Vote Smart, accessed 10/11/23]
March 2017: Republican Governor Doug Ducey Signed SB 1367, The “Controversial Abortion Bill” Into Law. “Gov. Doug Ducey has signed into law a bill regulating how doctors must care for a baby born alive during an abortion. His office announced the action on Senate Bill 1367 without any comment. It was folded into a list of 12 other bills the governor acted on.” [The Arizona Republic, 03/31/17]
- Headline: “Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Signs Controversial Abortion Bill.” [The Arizona Republic, 03/31/17]
Opponents, Including Obstetricians And Gynecologists, Argued SB 1367 Would “Force Doctors To Perform Pointless Procedures During What Could Be An Infant's Final Few Minutes Of Life.” “His office announced the action on Senate Bill 1367 without any comment. [...] Opponents, including most Democrats as well as obstetricians and gynecologists, said the bill would force doctors to perform pointless procedures during what could be an infant's final few minutes of life.” [The Arizona Republic, 03/31/17]
One Arizona State Representative Who Voted Against The Bill Argued SB 1367 Takes Decision Making Away From Families And Doctors, Adding “Government Does Not Belong There.” “His office announced the action on Senate Bill 1367 without any comment. [...] Rep. Mitzi Epstein, who voted against the bill, said it takes decisions away from families and doctors. ‘I believe that grieving families and doctors should make these decisions,’ she said in a statement. ‘Government does not belong there.’” [The Arizona Republic, 03/31/17]
Doctors Said SB 1367’s New Legal Definition Of “Delivered Alive” Would “Require Them To Perform Unnecessary Procedures On A Baby With No Chance Of Survival,” Instead Of Providing “Comfort Care” To Dying Babies And Grieving Parents. “SB 1367 defines ‘delivered alive’ as showing one or more of these signs of life: breathing, a heartbeat, umbilical cord pulsation or definite movement of voluntary muscles. [...] Physicians say the new definition will require them to perform unnecessary procedures on a baby with no chance of survival instead of the current practice of providing ‘comfort care’ to allow these babies to die in the arms of their parents.” [The Arizona Republic, 03/31/17]
¶ 2017: Sen. Borrelli Voted For A Law To Block Municipalities From Using Background Checks To Close The “Gun Show Loophole”—Opponents Criticized The Law As “Vague And Unclear” And Allowing More “Criminals Or Abusers” To Obtain Guns.
Sen. Borrelli Voted For Arizona Senate Bill 1122, To Authorize The Sale Of Firearms Without Background Checks, Which Was Signed Into Law On May 1, 2017. [Vote Smart, accessed 10/11/23]
Governor Doug Ducey Signed SB 1122, Which Blocked “Municipalities From Closing The So-Called ‘Gun Show Loophole’” Through Requiring Background Checks For Private Sales, Gifts, Or Donations Of Guns. “Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation that blocks state and local governments from requiring background checks on private gun sales. Ducey signed the measure barring municipalities from closing the so-called ‘gun show loophole’ Monday. Senate Bill 1122 prevents governments from requiring a third party or the use of background checks in the ‘private sale, gift, donation or other transfer of personal property.’” [Fox 10, 05/02/17]
Opponents Of SB 1122 Criticized It For Being “Vague And Unclear” And For Possibly Allowing “Criminals Or Abusers To Obtain Guns.” “Opponents think the legislation's lack of requirement to check federal or state databases could allow criminals or abusers to obtain guns. They also criticize the measure for being vague and unclear.” [Fox 10, 05/02/17]
¶ 2015: Then-Arizona House Member Sonny Borrelli Voted For A Bill To Prohibit The State From Creating Its Own Affordable Care Act Marketplace, Threatening Health Insurance Subsidies For Over 150,000 Arizonans.
April 2015: Then-Arizona Governor Doug Ducey Signed HB 2643, Which Then-State House Member Sonny Borrelli Voted For, To Prohibit Enforcement Of The Affordable Care Act. “Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill that could jeopardize health insurance for more than 150,000 Arizonans if the U.S. Supreme Court rejects subsidized coverage in Arizona and 33 other states. Ducey last week signed House Bill 2643, which forbids Arizona setting up its own Affordable Care Act health exchange. The bill has little immediate impact on the Arizona residents who get coverage through the federal marketplace, but it could have a big impact in a few months.” [Arizona Central, 04/15/15]
- March 2015: Then-Arizona State Representative Sonny Borrelly Voted For HB 2643, To Prohibit Enforcement Of The Affordable Care Act. [Vote Smart, accessed 10/10/23]
HB 2643 Would Have Blocked Arizona From Establishing Its Own Health Insurance Marketplace Under The Affordable Care Act If The Supreme Court Decided To Strike Down Subsidies Under The Law—The Court Ultimately Upheld The Subsidies In June 2015. “Arizona is one of 34 states on the federal health marketplace, healthcare.gov. If the high court strikes down subsidies through the marketplace, states could decide to establish their own marketplaces to ensure consumers continue to collect subsidies to help purchase health insurance. But HB 2643, sponsored by Arizona Rep. Justin Olson, R-Mesa, and Rep. Vince Leach, R-Oro Valley/Marana, takes that option off the table for Arizonans. The bill bars the state from funding or implementing a state-based health exchange or federal marketplace.” [Arizona Central, 04/15/15]
- June 2015: In King V. Burwell, The U.S. Supreme Court Upheld The Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Subsidies, Regardless Of Marketplace. “The Supreme Court has ruled to preserve Obamacare’s health insurance expansion. Here’s The Upshot's guide to the King v. Burwell case. [...] In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that subsidies could continue to be distributed to insurance customers in every state of the country, regardless of who ran its marketplace. ‘Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not destroy them,’ wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the court's majority opinion.” [The New York Times, 06/25/15]
Under HB 2643, Over 154,000 Arizonans Would Have Had To Pay Full Price For Their Health Insurance Premiums, If The U.S. Supreme Court Had Struck Down Subsidies. “If the Supreme Court strikes down the subsidies for federal exchange states, that means more than 154,000 Arizonans would have to pay the full price for their monthly health-insurance premiums. People qualify for subsidies based on their income, so lower-income earners get more generous subsidies under the federal health-care law.” [Arizona Central, 04/15/15]
- One Estimate Showed That The Over 150,000 Arizonans Would Have Paid 122% More In Health Insurance Premiums. “Washington, D.C., consultant Avalere Health estimated that more than 150,000 Arizona residents who get subsidized health insurance would see an average increase of 122 percent in their monthly bills. These people would have the option of shopping for a less-expensive plan, but many lower-income residents who don't qualify for Medicaid would likely find coverage unaffordable, experts say.” [Arizona Central, 04/15/15]
¶ 2016: Then-Rep. Borrelli Voted For A Bill Allowing Payday Industry “Flex Loans” With Interest Rates Of Up To 204% Over Two Years.
March 2016: After Taking $750 From Payday Industry Contributions, Then-Rep. Borrelli Voted For SB 1316, “Allowing The Payday Loan Industry To Come Into Arizona And Offer ‘Flex Loans’ With Interest Rates Of Up To 204 Percent.” “The Republican-controlled House on Monday approved Senate Bill 1316, allowing the payday loan industry to come into Arizona and offer ‘flex loans’ with interest rates of up to 204 percent. [...] Voting for the bill on Monday after taking payday contributions: Republicans Reps. Sonny Borrelli of Lake Havasu City ($750)” [AZ Central, 03/21/16]
The Bill Would Allow Loans Of Up To $2,500, Which Could Cost About $10,000 After Two Years. “The bill would allow payday operations to offer loans of up to $2,500 in unsecured credit for up to two years at a monthly interest rate of 17 percent. That’s $425 if you pay the loan off at the end of the month. But if it takes two years, that interest rate would balloon to 204 percent and the cost: $10,000.” [AZ Central, 03/21/16]
¶ Borrelli’s Other Controversial Actions Include Condemning A Grand Canyon National Monument Protecting Ancestral Tribal Lands, Calling Drag Shows “Sexual Perversion,” Arguing Against Civilian Oversight Of Police, Claiming The Gender Wage Gap Is Driven By “Choices,” And Complaining That A Republican Nominee Was “Not Dark Enough” For Democrats.
¶ 2022: Sen. Borrelli Complained About Cancel Culture Being Used Against A Republican Senator Who Tweeted “Fed Boy Summer Has Started In Buffalo” After The Racist Mass Shooting There—Borrelli Also Echoed Her Statement Blaming “#FakeNews” For The Controversy Over Her Tweet.
May 2022: The Arizona Senate Opened An Ethics Investigation Into “Firebrand” Republican Senator Wendy Rogers After She Tweeted “Fed Boy Summer Has Started In Buffalo,” Following The Racist Mass Shooting In A Buffalo Supermarket. “The Arizona Senate on Monday opened an ethics investigation into a firebrand Republican member who tweeted inflammatory comments about last weekend's racist attack at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket that left 10 people dead. The referral of GOP Sen. Wendy Rogers of Flagstaff to the Ethics Committee was in lieu of the immediate expulsion that Democratic lawmakers were planning, GOP Majority Leader Rick Gray said. Due process considerations require no less than an ethics investigation, he said. [...] On Saturday, as news of the mass shooting by a white suspect who had posted a racist screed on the internet and driven about 200 miles (322 kilometers) to a Black neighborhood in Buffalo, Rogers tweeted ‘Fed boy summer has started in Buffalo.’” [Associated Press, 05/16/22]
Many Democrats And Republicans Felt That Rogers Was “Blaming The Attack On The Federal Government,” Due To Her “History Of Embracing Conspiracy Theories And Posting Of Racist Tropes.” “Many in both parties took that tweet to mean that Rogers was blaming the attack on the federal government, especially in light of Rogers' history of embracing conspiracy theories and posting of racist tropes.” [Associated Press, 05/16/22]
Sen. Borrelli Called The Effort To Discipline Sen. Rogers An Example Of Cancel Culture. “The hours-long debate in the Senate over what to do about Rogers devolved into a fracas, with Republicans accusing Democrats of trying to make political hay and Democrats accusing GOP members of a pattern of dodging uncomfortable discussions about race relations by shutting down any debate on the issue. Republican Sen. Sonny Borrelli called it an example of cancel culture from Democrats who dislike Rogers and her brand of politics. Others agreed that Rogers' words were being used against her.” [Associated Press, 05/16/22]
Sen. Borrelli Claimed He Had “No Idea” What Sen. Rogers’ Tweet Meant And Read Her Subsequent Statement, Which Said She Condemned The Shooting But Also Condemned “The #FakeNews And The Government Promoting Violence And Then Blaming It On Regular Patriotic Americans.” “The other senators, however, said there should at least be an investigation, though their reasons varied. Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, said he has ‘no idea’ what Rogers' comment actually means. And he said he believes an investigation by the Ethics Committee will clear Rogers. As proof, he read a posting that Rogers made Monday morning. ‘Of course I condemn the violence in Buffalo, who doesn't,’ the posting said. ‘I also condemn the #FakeNews and the government promoting violence and then blaming it on regular patriotic Americans as if regular Americans share those despicable views,’ it continued. ‘Everything is not what it seems.’ ‘So, obviously, she does not condone the heinous acts by a deranged 18-year-old,’ Borrelli said of Rogers.” [The Arizona Daily Sun, 05/16/22]
March 2022: The Arizona State Senate Voted 24-3 To Censure Sen. Rogers After She Spoke At A Conference Organized By White Nationalist Nick Fuentes—Who Rogers Called “The Most Persecuted Man In America”—And “Used Antisemitic Tropes To Describe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.” “The Arizona State Senate, in a bipartisan vote, has censured a Republican lawmaker for calling for violence against her political opponents, saying state Sen. Wendy Rogers ‘has damaged the reputation of the Arizona State Senate by her actions.’ The move comes days after Rogers spoke at a conference organized by a well-known white nationalist in which she called for her political rivals to be hanged. She later used antisemitic tropes to describe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose nation is being invaded by Russian troops.” [NPR, 03/01/22]
- The Event, The America First Political Action Conference, Was Organized By “White Nationalist Nick Fuentes And Attended By Other Far-Right Officials, Including U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) And Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). “The event — the America First Political Action Conference — which was organized by Nick Fuentes, an online troll and outspoken white nationalist, was also attended by U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. Both lawmakers have drawn scrutiny for their past remarks; however, neither was officially reprimanded by party leadership for their presence at the event, though both face political isolation. [...] Rogers, in her remarks, praised Fuentes — an outspoken racist who has said he does not believe women should have the right to vote — as ‘the most persecuted man in America.’” [NPR, 03/01/22]
- Borrelli Voted To Censure Sen. Rogers. [3TV/CBS 5, 03/01/22]
¶ 2023: Senate Majority Leader Borrelli Condemned President Biden’s Greater Grand Canyon Monument Designation—Protecting “The Ancestral Homeland Of Multiple Tribal Nations”—As A “Dictator-Style Land Grab” And “Thinly Veiled Effort To Appease His Radical Environmental Base.”
August 2023: Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli Condemned President Biden’s New National Monument Designation For The Greater Grand Canyon A “Thinly Veiled Effort To Appease His Radical Environmental Base.” “‘This thinly veiled effort to appease his radical environmental base as he campaigns for re-election will have dire consequences for all Arizonans,’ Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli said in a press release.” [AZ Mirror, 09/08/23]
- Borrelli’s Statement Was Released On August 8, 2023. [Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus, 08/08/23]
- August 8, 2023: President Biden Announced A New 1,562 Square Mile National Monument Designation For The Greater Grand Canyon, “Turning The Decades-Long Visions Of Native American Tribes And Environmentalists Into Reality.” “Declaring it good ‘not only for Arizona but for the planet,’ President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon, turning the decades-long visions of Native American tribes and environmentalists into reality. Coming as Biden is on a three-state Western trip, the move will help preserve about 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers) just to the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park.” [Associated Press, 08/08/23]
Borrelli Called The Designation A “Dictator-Style Land Grab That Will Greatly Hurt Mohave County And Further Limit Private And State Land Resources.” “Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli said in a press release. ‘We strongly condemn this dictator-style land grab that will greatly hurt Mohave County and further limit private and state land resources needed for our economic viability.’” [AZ Mirror, 09/08/23]
Native American Tribal Leaders And Other Officials Advocated The Designation Because The Area Is “The Ancestral Homeland Of Multiple Tribal Nations Across The Southwest, And Tribes Still Rely On The Canyon For Natural And Cultural Resources That Are Significant And Sacred To Their Communities.” “The Grand Canyon is the ancestral homeland of multiple tribal nations across the Southwest, and tribes still rely on the canyon for natural and cultural resources that are significant and sacred to their communities. In April, tribal leaders, alongside state and federal officials, launched an effort to sustain the natural resources of the Grand Canyon by calling on Biden to designate land surrounding the Grand Canyon National Park as a national monument by using his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906. Their efforts succeeded when Biden designed the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in August.” [AZ Mirror, 09/08/23]
¶ 2022: Sen. Borrelli Joined A Statement Against Letting Children Attend Drag Shows, Calling Drag “Sexual Perversion” And Claiming Policies Of Gender And Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination “Set A Dangerous Precedent” For Children.
2022: Republican State Senators, Led By Sen. Vince Leach Intended To Move Legislation Making It A Crime For Parents To Let Children Attend Drag Shows, Claiming They Promote “Sexual Perversion.” “Republican state senators are crafting legislation to make it a crime for parents to let a minor attend drag shows, saying that promotes ‘sexual perversion.’ [...] Sen. Vince Leach, R-Tucson, who is leading the effort, also complained of a pride night at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, which was billed as a ‘family friendly’ event in which children were present. [...] Leach said details are still being worked out for his proposal. ‘I don’t know where that line is,’ he said. ‘But I’m sure as hell going to try to find it.’” [Tucson.com, 06/15/22]
Then-Senate Majority Whip Sen. Borelli Joined Leach’s Statement On The Issue, Which Said The Lawmakers Were Motivated By “Family Values” And That Policies Of Gender And Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination “Set A Dangerous Precedent” For Children. “It’s not just Leach pushing for the change in Arizona. ‘One of the reasons why we were elected as lawmakers by our constituents was to protect family values.’ said the joint statement attributed not only to Leach but also Senate President Karen Fann of Prescott, Majority Leader Rick Gray of Sun City, Majority Whip Sonny Borrelli of Lake Havasu City, and Sen. David Gowan of Sierra Vista. [...] ‘The news release announcing the plan said policies of nondiscrimination on gender expression and sexual orientation ‘are sending a message to society that we should disregard morals and values just to normalize these unscientific, broad, ill-defined and subjective terms, which set a dangerous precedent for our children that are too young to be exposed to such concepts.’” [Tucson.com, 06/15/22]
- The Statement’s Headline Was “Senate Republicans Fight Back Against the Sexual Perversion Children Are Being Exposed To.” [Arizona Senate Republicans, 06/14/22]
The Human Rights Campaign’s Director For The State Of Arizona Called The Legislation “Harmful Propaganda,” Adding “There Is No Place In Our Country For The Blatant Lies And False Accusations Being Pushed Today By Arizona Senate Leaders.” “Bridget Sharpe, state director of the Human Rights Campaign, called the legislation ‘harmful propaganda.’ ‘There is no place in our country for the blatant lies and false accusations being pushed today by Arizona Senate leaders,’ she said. ‘Their statement is not at all about keeping kids safe,’ Sharpe said. ‘It’s about riling up a small number of extremist base voters.’” [Tucson.com, 06/15/22]
¶ 2021: Sen. Borrelli Argued Against Civilian Oversight Of Police Officers, Claiming “To Question Their Integrity I Think Is Appalling.”
2021: Arizona Lawmakers Moved To “Limit The Role Of Civilians In Reviewing Police Misconduct,” Including Measures Requiring Officers To Control Two-Thirds Of Police Review Boards And Giving Police Opportunities To Stop Being Placed On The Brady List, A Database Of “Dishonest Law Enforcement Officers.” “Arizona lawmakers are moving to limit the role of civilians in reviewing police misconduct, approving Wednesday several measures backed by police unions in the wake of a national reckoning over racial injustice. Senate Republicans approved a bill requiring that sworn officers control at least two thirds of the seats on police review boards, prohibiting civilian-led panels that some cities have adopted. The Senate also backed a measure requiring 80 hours of law enforcement training for civilians on police review panels. [...] A third bill would give cops a chance to fight their placement on the Brady list, a database maintained by prosecutors of dishonest law enforcement officers. To comply with the 1963 Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland, prosecutors must tell defense attorneys when police involved in a case have a history of dishonest conduct.” [KNAU, 04/29/21]
Sen. Borrelli Was Among Republicans Who Argued That Police Officers Should Be Overseen By Their Peers, Saying “‘They’re In Situations Where They Have To Make Split-Second Decisions To Save Lives,’ [...] ‘To Question Their Integrity I Think Is Appalling.’” ‘“Republicans say officers should be evaluated by their peers who know the challenges of the job. ‘They’re in situations where they have to make split-second decisions to save lives,’ said Sen. Sonny Borrelli of Lake Havasu City. ‘To question their integrity I think is appalling.’” [KNAU, 04/29/21]
¶ 2017: Borrelli Was Among State Lawmakers Who Joined With “Right-Wing Think Tank” The Goldwater Institute In A Lawsuit Against Medicaid Expansion Under The Affordable Care Act—The State Supreme Court Rejected The Lawsuit.
November 2017: The Arizona Supreme Court Unanimously Rejected A Challenge From Then-Arizona House Member Sonny Borrelli And Other State Lawmakers Against Medicaid Expansion Under The Affordable Care Act. “The Arizona Supreme Court on Friday, in a unanimous decision, rejected a bid from a group of 36 current and former Republican lawmakers to overturn the state's Medicaid expansion. The lawmakers argued that a hospital assessment used to pay the state's portion of the Medicaid expansion is a tax that required a two-thirds legislative majority to enact. The 2013 Legislature narrowly approved the assessment. However, the state's high court rejected that claim, upholding a lower court's ruling.” [Arizona Central, 11/17/17]
- Sonny Borrelli Was Among The Republican Lawmakers Behind The Lawsuits Against Medicaid Expansion. “The current and former Republican lawmakers who challenged the state's Medicaid expansion are: [...] Sonny Borrelli” [Arizona Central, 11/17/17]
- The Arizona Supreme Court Held That Using A Hospital Assessment To Pay For Medicaid Expansion Was Not A Tax Requiring Approval From Two-Thirds Of The State Legislature. “In a unanimous opinion written by Chief Justice Scott Bales, the state's high court ruled that the hospital assessment used to pay for the expansion is not a tax that requires a two-thirds legislative majority to impose. The court ruled that the Medicaid assessment, imposed by Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Director Tom Betlach, is not a tax.” [Arizona Central, 11/17/17]
The Lawsuit “Could Have Jeopardized Health Care For About 400,000 Low-Income Arizonans” Who Benefited From Medicaid Expansion. “The GOP lawmakers' challenge could have jeopardized health care for about 400,000 low-income Arizonans who gained insurance coverage under the Medicaid expansion.” [Arizona Central, 11/17/17]
The Case Was One Of Several “Repeated Court Challenges” That Arizona Lawmakers And The Goldwater Institute Brought Against Medicaid Expansion, Which Republican Governor Jan Brewer Signed Into Law. “It's yet another defeat for the lawmakers and the Goldwater Institute, which have waged repeated court challenges of the Medicaid expansion since Brewer, a Republican, signed legislation in 2013 that enacted the expansion. The lawsuit was rejected by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge in 2015, and the Arizona Court of Appeals upheld that decision in March. [...] A Goldwater Institute attorney representing the lawmakers argued before the seven-member Arizona Supreme Court on Oct. 26.” [Arizona Central, 11/17/17]
The Goldwater Institute Is A “Right-Wing Think Tank” That Has Been Funded By Major Trump Donors The Mercer Family And “Dark-Money Funnel” DonorsTrust. “On the wall above his desk, attorney Timothy Sandefur keeps a copy of The Liberator, a 186-year-old abolitionist newspaper that features an etching of a slave auction on its masthead. Sandefur is the vice president for litigation at the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute, a nonprofit right-wing think tank with a donor roster that includes the Mercer family (Donald Trump’s biggest campaign contributors) and Donors Trust, a dark-money funnel for the Koch brothers, the DeVos family, and others. Goldwater is largely known for its efforts to limit regulation, promote tax cuts, expand school choice, and advance private-property rights.” [The Nation, 04/06/17]
A Goldwater Institute Lawyer Representing The Arizona Lawmakers “Blasted” The State Supreme Court Decision As “A Classic Case Of Taxation Without Authorization.” “Christina Sandefur, a Goldwater Institute attorney who argued for the lawmakers, blasted the high court's decision. ‘This is a classic case of taxation without authorization,’ Sandefur said in a statement. ‘This decision allows the legislature to call tax assessments and escape the two-thirds requirement.’” [Arizona Central, 11/17/17]
Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick Was Rescued From The Case Due To His Previous Role As A Director And Vice President For Litigation For The Goldwater Institute Until 2016. “The ruling included Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Christopher P. Staring, who substituted for Justice Clint Bolick. Bolick, a former Goldwater Institute director who was that group's vice president for litigation from 2007 to 2016, recused himself from this case. He previously provided some counsel to the lawmakers.” [Arizona Central, 11/17/17]
¶ 2014: At A Tea Party Meeting, Then-State Rep. Borrelli Claimed The Democratic Party Had “A Segregationist Mind” For “Pander[ing] To The Most Vulnerable,” Claimed “We Have An Armed Invasion Of Drug Smugglers And Human Traffickers Coming Across The Border With Impunity.”
November 2014: At A Tea Party Patriots Meeting, Then-State Rep. Borrelli Claimed That The Democratic Party Was Racist, Arguing, “I Tell Everybody Only A Racist With A Segregationist Mind Uses Race To Pander To The Most Vulnerable, Victimizing And Disenfranchising The Middle Class And Working Class For The Sole Purpose Of Consolidating Power.” “District 5 State Rep. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, dazzled ’em at Saturday’s Colorado River Tea Party Patriots meeting, with a combination of passion and humor. [...] Borrelli said he believes it’s the Democratic Party that’s racist. ‘I tell everybody only a racist with a segregationist mind uses race to pander to the most vulnerable, victimizing and disenfranchising the middle class and working class for the sole purpose of consolidating power,’ he said. ‘They shift the subject, ignore the facts and they name-call,’ Borrelli said of his political opponents.” [Mohave Valley Daily News, 11/24/14]
Borelli Also Claimed “We Have An Armed Invasion Of Drug Smugglers And Human Traffickers Coming Across The Border With Impunity.” “Borrelli questioned why Obama waited until now to tackle the immigration issue. ‘They had two years. They had the House and the Senate to take care of the issue. They did absolutely nothing,’ he said. [...] ‘This is not about immigration. This is a public safety-national security issue. We have an armed invasion of drug smugglers and human traffickers coming across the border with impunity,’ he said.” [Mohave Valley Daily News, 11/24/14]
When Discussing How Even Fellow Republicans Called Him “Too Combative,” Borrelli Said, “‘War Is Politics; Politics Is War.’” “Borrelli, who served more than two decades in the U.S. Marine Corps, said he gets criticized by fellow Republicans for being too combative. ‘(They say) ‘This is not the Marines. You can’t talk about warfare all the time. It’s politics.’ (I say) war is politics; politics is war.’” [Mohave Valley Daily News, 11/24/14]
¶ 2023: Sen. Borrelli Called A Nominee To Be Arizona’s Top Health Official A “Medical Tyrant” For Her Work As A County Official Fighting The Pandemic—Her Nomination Was Sunk By Senate Republicans, Who Gov. Katie Hobbs Said Focused On “Vicious Personal Attacks.”
February 2023: Arizona’s Senate Rejected The Nomination Of Theresa Cullen To Be The State’s Director Of The Department Of Health Services Amid Republican Criticism Of Actions She Took As Pima County Health Director During The Pandemic. “PHOENIX Pima County Health Director Theresa Cullen was rejected Tuesday in her bid to become the state's top health official. The voice vote in the Senate followed what had been a blistering three-hour confirmation hearing last week where Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, who chaired that panel, repeatedly berated both her and the actions she took as Pima's health chief during the height of the COVID outbreak. That panel voted 3-2, along party lines, to recommend that Cullen not be confirmed.” [Tucson.com, 02/15/23]
- Theresa Cullen Was Nominated To Be The Director Of The Department Of Health Services Of Arizona.“Today, Governor Katie Hobbs withdrew her nomination of Rear Admiral Theresa Cullen, M.D., M.S. to serve as the Director of the Department of Health Services.” [Office of the Governor of Arizona, 02/14/23]
Borrelli Called Cullen A “Medical Tyrant.” “But Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, in a statement put out by Senate Republicans, dubbed Cullen a ‘medical tyrant.’” [Tucson.com, 02/15/23]
Borrelli Called Cullen A “Radical Director Nominee.” “‘Don't try to push a radical director nominee while preaching to the media a call for 'bipartisanship' between lawmakers,’ said Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli.” [Arizona Senate Republican Caucus, 02/14/23]
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs Said State Senators Who Opposed Cullen “Decided That They Should Instead Participate In Vicious Personal Attacks And Criticism.” “Hobbs, in her statement, took notice. ‘Even with this mountain of expertise, and an immense track record of public health success, some lawmakers have decided that they should instead participate in vicious personal attacks and criticism,’ the governor said.” [Tucson.com, 02/15/23]
Gov. Hobbs Added, “With 27 Years Of Public Service, Dr. Cullen Is One Of The Most Knowledgeable And Experienced Public Health Professionals In The Country” And “Her Decisions Saved Countless Lives During The Covid-19 Pandemic.” “With 27 years of public service, Dr. Cullen is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced public health professionals in the country. [...] ‘Her actions and her decisions saved countless lives during the COVID-19 pandemic,’ Governor Hobbs said. ‘In December 2022, Arizona became the State with the single highest number of Covid deaths per capita across the Country. Dr. Cullen’s leadership during those tumultuous years directly resulted in more Arizonans being alive and with us today.” [Office of the Governor of Arizona, 02/14/23]
¶ 2019: Sen. Borrelli’s Comments Defending Republican Court Commission Appointments Were Called “Out Of Line” And “Uncalled For” After He Complained About Democrats’ Objections To One Nominee With, “She’s A Person Of Color, But Maybe Not Dark Enough?”
May 2019: Arizona’s Democratic State Senators Alleged That Five New Commission on Appellate Court Appointments Nominees Did Not Meet State Constitutional Requirements To Represent The Diversity Of Arizona’s Population—Four Of The Appointees Were White And None Were Democrats. “Does the state Commission on Appellate Court Appointments - the group that helps decide who draws political districts and settles high-profile cases - actually reflect the state's population? The answer depends on which political party you ask. Democratic senators allege five new commission appointees, submitted by Gov. Doug Ducey and confirmed by Republican senators Tuesday, represent an attempt to stack the board with people who ‘don't even come close’ to looking like much of the state. They argue his picks, four of whom are white and none of whom are Democrats, fly in the face of the constitutional requirement that demands officials ‘endeavor to see that the commission reflects the diversity of Arizona's population.’” [Arizona Republic, 05/02/19]
Borrelli Countered Democrats’ Arguments, Claiming They Were “Discriminating” Against Commission Appointees Offered By Republican Gov. Doug Ducey. “Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, contends Democrats are ‘discriminating’ against qualified Republicans when it comes to the commission, not the other way around.” [Arizona Republic, 05/02/19]
Borrelli Characterized Democrats’ Opposition To One Republican Appointee With, “‘This Woman Has A Very Impressive Resume,’ He Said. ‘I Find It Striking That She's A Person Of Color, But Maybe Not Dark Enough? ... I'm Trying To Figure Out What The Issue Is.’” “On the Senate floor, he told them he was ‘a little perplexed’ by their arguments, and by their opposition to Ciscomani's appointment in particular. ‘This woman has a very impressive resume,’ he said. ‘I find it striking that she's a person of color, but maybe not dark enough? ... I'm trying to figure out what the issue is.’” [Arizona Republic, 05/02/19]
Arizona Democrats Called Sen. Borrelli’s Comments “Out Of Line” And “Uncalled For.” “Democrats bristled at Borrelli's comments, calling them ‘out of line’ and ‘uncalled for.’” [Arizona Republic, 05/02/19]
The Arizona Senate Voted Along Party Lines To Confirm The Appointees Offered By Republican Gov. Doug Ducey. “The Senate ultimately voted along party lines to confirm the governor's five appointments. But Democrats say they won't be letting the issue go, particularly as the commission prepares to interview applicants for Ducey's next state Supreme Court pick. ‘The status quo is unacceptable,’ Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale, said. ‘This needs to change.’” [Arizona Republic, 05/02/19]
¶ 2019: As Arizona Senate Republicans Blocked The State’s Ratification Of The Equal Rights Amendment, Borrelli Claimed “The Wage Gap Is Driven By Choices Of Men And Women.”
2019: As Arizona Senate Republicans Blocked An Effort To Ratify The Equal Rights Amendment, Borrelli Claimed “The Wage Gap Is Driven By Choices Of Men And Women.” “But Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, said there already are federal and state laws to prevent employers from participating in pay discrimination based on gender. ‘The wage gap is driven by choices of men and women make,’ he said. ‘Women can work fewer hours than men,’ Borrelli said. He also said there is ‘almost no gap’ in wages when comparing single and childless women with what men earn.” [Tucson.com, 03/15/19]
- Arizona Senate Republicans Blocked An Effort To Force A Vote On Ratifying The Equal Rights Amendment To Advance Gender Equality. “A bid to force a vote on having Arizona ratify the Equal Rights Amendment faltered Wednesday when every Republican senator present refused to allow it. The 16-13 vote against suspending the rules to permit a vote came after even three Republicans who are co-sponsors of SCR 1009 refused to side with the Democrats who sought an immediate vote; a fourth was absent. Their support would have provided the margin of support to require a vote.” [Tucson.com, 03/15/19]
Democratic Sen. Victoria Steele, “Annoyed” By Borrelli, Said “The Wage Gap Cannot Be Explained Away By Choices.” “But Sen. Victoria Steele, D-Tucson, said opposition is based on myths. [...] That explanation annoyed Steele. ‘The wage gap cannot be explained away by choices,’ she said. And Steele said she was not content to rely on statutes to protect women. ‘Those rights are based on laws — laws that can and do disappear with every political election,’ she said, with constitutional amendments needed to cement protections into place.” [Tucson.com, 03/15/19]
¶ 2023: As The Arizona Legislature Widely Exempted Itself From Public Records Law, Sen. Borrelli Said His Personal Text Messages Should Not Be Considered Public Records.
January 2023: Over “Vigorous Opposition From Minority Democrats,” The Arizona Legislature Exempted Itself From Public Records Law And Decided To Destroy All Email Correspondence After 90 Days—The Arizona Senate Also “Completely Exempted Text Messages On Its Members’ Personal Phones.” “The Arizona Legislature will exempt itself from state public records law and destroy all email correspondence sent or received by lawmakers or staff after 90 days under new rules adopted by majority Republicans over vigorous opposition from minority Democrats. The Senate also completely exempted text messages on its members’ personal phones, which lawmakers frequently use for legislative business, from release at any time. The House policy is not as expansive.” [Tucson.com, 01/25/23]
If The Rules Had Been In Place After The 2020 Election, The Public Would Not Have Been Able To Learn About Efforts To Push State Legislators To Overturn President Biden’s Victory. “If in place after the 2020 presidential election, these rules would have prevented the public from learning about many of the efforts to persuade Arizona lawmakers to throw out President Joe Biden’s win.” [Tucson.com, 01/25/23]
Then-Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli “Said No One Should Be Able To Get The Contents Of His Personal Text Messages Without A Warrant,” Despite Courts Ruling That Text Messages Concerning Government Business Are Public Records, Even If Sent Or Received On Personal Devices. “Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, said no one should be able to get the contents of his personal text messages without a warrant. But courts have ruled that text messages on private devices concerning government business are public records.” [Tucson.com, 01/25/23]
¶ 2015: Then-Rep. Borrelli Argued That New State Regulations Were Unnecessary And Industry Should “Come Up With Their Set Of Standards” When Arizona’s Workplace Safety Agency Issued New Recommendations After A 9-Year-Old Girl Accidentally Killed A Man With An Uzi At A Gun Range.
February 2015: Arizona’s Workplace Safety Agency Issued New Recommendations For Gun Ranges After A Nine-Year-Old Girl Accidentally Killed A Man With A Fully Automatic Uzi. “The state's workplace safety agency has issued several recommendations that it says could help prevent accidental shootings like the one at a northwestern Arizona shooting range last year involving a 9-year-old girl using an Uzi. Charles Joseph Vacca died in August of a gunshot wound to the head after he stepped back to let the New Jersey girl hold the fully automatic machine gun by herself. The gun's recoil wrenched its barrel upward, and a bullet hit him in the head, killing him. An investigation by the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the outdoor shooting range in White Hills found no serious violations. But the agency recommended having a range-safety officer on site, limiting weapons selections for certain shooters and ensuring shooters are comfortable with weapons before they are placed on automatic.” [Fox News Channel, 02/24/15]
Then-Rep. Borrelli Argued That New State Regulations Were Not Needed, Saying, “I'd Like To See The Industry Come Together And Come Up With Their Set Of Standards Because They Actually Know The Industry Better Than A Lot Of These Legislators Around Here.” “Regulations at shooting ranges around Arizona vary. Some do not rent automatic weapons and have no age limits, while others leave it up to range instructors. Rep. Sonny Borrelli, a retired Marine who represents Lake Havasu City, said he doesn't believe state regulations are needed. ‘That person that was there that was accidentally killed was a qualified individual,’ Borrelli said. ‘I'd like to see the industry come together and come up with their set of standards because they actually know the industry better than a lot of these legislators around here.’” [Fox News Channel, 02/24/15]
¶ 2023: Sen. Borrelli Reposted A Claim That An LGBTQ Pride Flag Displayed At The Phoenix Veterans Affairs Medical Center Was “Heinous And Disgusting.”
June 2023: Sonny Borrelli Reposted Arizona Sen. Wendy Rogers’ X Post Saying “Heinous And Disgusting” In Response To An LGBTQ Pride Flag Being Displayed At The Phoenix Veterans Affairs Medical Center:
