By Lisa Everett
I am the chair of Republican Legislative District 29. I have changed my mind on SB1543. This week I stopped only asking people who I knew would agree with me and I asked others their opinion about the bill. I listened to understand. I knew the bill was going to pass both the House and Senate and I needed to understand why.
First the organization that got the signatures in Scottsdale is Worker Power PAC, based in California, and supported by Katie Hobbs, Kris Mayes, Adrian Fontes, Mark Kelley and Rafael Warnock.
Axon bought the land and received approval from the city council for the expansion of their business and to build housing for their employees. The housing would also be open to public safety workers. Worker Power came in after the fact and brought signatures to the new city council to overturn the original voice of the people.
Worker Power is also behind the issues with the Resort and Hotel Via and Amkor Technology, a semiconductor plant in Peoria. It is the same group that came in and caused the Coyotes to leave Arizona. Two very red states, Texas and Florida, have publicly said to Axon we want you and your employee housing to come to our state.
The housing on site will not impact traffic in Scottsdale. People must have a place to live. Living so close to where you work is great — so why are you mad? Seriously, why? Is it because you were told to be mad?
If I could change one thing about Republicans, it would be they would be willing to listen to hear each other instead of listening to argue with one another. Many Republicans never get out of their echo chamber and then they are shocked when votes do not go as they want.
God forbid someone have a different viewpoint — they are labeled RINO. By definition Republicans think for themselves. Why do we get mad when someone, a fellow Republican, has a different view than ourselves?
I know I will be attacked for saying this, as to some people it is radical. But friends, the bill passed with Republican support in a legislature that has a Republican majority. Maybe we should look at ourselves? Maybe we should start reading bills for ourselves and stop listening to others telling us what the bill says. A little research done on our own would probably go a long way.
Some of you will bring up the shocking words of Representative Chaplik. Did he name names? No. Have any charges been brought or investigations started? No. I am not calling Chaplik a liar, but he might have been caught up in the moment trying to make his points.
The Republicans that voted for SB1543 are in fact supporting the Constitution. They are listening to the voices of we the people. I refuse to believe good people like the legislators for Legislative District 29 want big business to succeed at the expense of we the people.
I know my legislators personally, and I know they voted from their heart.
