David Coward

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Republicans put out press releases effectively taking credit for federally funded assistance that was opposed by all Republicans in Congress.

It was eight months ago when President Joe Biden signed the Democratic COVID-relief package into law, called the American Rescue Plan. Predictably, some Republican opponents of the $1.9 trillion measure started trying to take credit for the ARP almost immediately after it passed.

This hypocrisy was exposed again when reading a press release from Gov. Ducey, whose statement included a headline that read, “Governor Ducey invests $100 Million.”

Gov. Ducey is taking credit for a Democratic policy opposed by his own party — including every Republican member of Arizona’s congressional delegation — though his press release thanked GOP state officials, who had nothing to do with this bill, but not those who approved the investments in the first place. Democrats.

Now that President Biden has signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, it’s a safe say that plenty of Republican opponents of the package will soon try to benefit politically from its resources. The proudest among them, the recently censured Paul Gosar for one.

Gosar’s district, CD 4, really should not be receiving any federal funds or projects after voting against it. Maybe then the voters of his district who mindlessly elect this radical member to Congress will finally figure out that they are voting against their own self-interests. They should not continue to benefit from federal programs even after their obstructionist member of Congress votes against it. This is just rewarding bad behavior. There should be consequences at the ballot box.

To the voters in CD 4: Thank the Democrats. That goes double for Gov. Doug Ducey.

Editor’s note: David Coward is a resident of Gold Canyon.