Stanton: Don’t get distracted by the ‘culture battle’

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Don’t get distracted, Greg Stanton says.

Stanton, the Congressman whose district includes parts of Chandler, was referring to how his constituents should focus in the months ahead.

Stanton made that statement just after giving an interviewer at the “Meet the Elected Officials Breakfast” a long list of heavy and contentious votes and deadlines Congress faces in legislation in the months ahead.

“Don’t get baited into conversations about renaming the Gulf of Mexico, making Canada the 51st state or other cultural battle,” Stanton told the crowd. “Stick to the already-active fights over written proposals.”

Stanton was interviewed on-stage by Jennings Imel, the executive director of the Western Region in the Congressional and Public Affairs Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as part of the two-hour event. He told Imel there are a number of areas where the small Republican majority in both the House and Senate this year means bipartisan plans likely must be assembled.

“There are several authorizations that are about to expire, so we’ll have the opportunity to continue some progress made on some, or change course on others,” Stanton said.

One item Stanton mentioned is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Though President Biden signed it just three years ago, much of the $1.2 trillion was set to be spent over five years.

“That’s gotta be done again in a bipartisan way,” Stanton said of the reauthorization of that bill.

Stanton also said he’s working on what he calls “Chips 2.0,” or a new version of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 that would further the effort to onshore more tech manufacturing jobs.

He said water, child tax credits, sustainability efforts and tax reform that has the richest Americans paying a larger share are among the items that will likely come to a House or Senate floor vote within the next year or two.

Stanton also said he’s supporting a “YIMBY” or “Yes In My Backyard Act” that would require CDBG Block grantees to submit a plan to track discriminatory land use policies, among other provisions.

Imel also interviewed Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, who pined for more resources in both elections resources and in networking more online consumer resources together (in Arizona Business One Stop) from state government.

Imel also made a lengthy presentation focused heavily on the increasing inefficiencies in Congress and obstacles to passing any legislation. He added the Farm Bill and a few other expiring pieces of action legislation to an already long list of things Congress must address in 2025 or 2026.

Dozens of state and local leaders also took about one minute each to speak at the breakfast about things they or their governing body plans to address.

There were some reveals, at times. One example is Chandler City Council member O.D. Harris’ four areas of 2025 emphasis: HOAs (Harris didn’t provide many details), revitalizing Uptown Chandler, reducing the risk of evictions and foreclosures among seniors and a focus on “family values” that includes promoting activities families can do together.

State Sen. J.D. Mesnard and Rep. Jeff Weninger both reiterated priority plans and issues they’d voiced at other recent events, including tax reforms. Mesnard said he’s heard from many people who have been hit with “catch-up” tax bills due to new interpretations by state officials.

State Sen. Mitzi Epstein called for more specific oversight over how the state’s school voucher funds are spent by recipients and over schools that benefit from the voucher program. She cited flat-earth teaching as an example of what would be a bipartisan education concern in that area.

Rep. Sen. Patty Contreras (D-Ahwatukee), whose district includes southeastern Phoenix and western Chandler, speaks during the Jan. 10 Chandler Chamber of Commerce “Meet Your Officials” breakfast. Contreras reminded those in attendance of her committee assignments, which include the Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee.

Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks

Newly elected County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan said he wants to hire more deputies and to patrol rural desert areas along the county’s southern edge, close to I-8, where he believes much illegal immigration traffic takes place.

Several local and state officials simply introduced themselves at the breakfast and offered a sentence or two about the function or purview of their governing body.

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Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.