A House committee approved a plan to break up Maricopa County (AZ)

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.azmirror.com/2022/02/16/bowers-casts-doubt-on-plan-to-break-up-maricopa-county/

*snip*

Liguori and Sierra argued that the explanations about water policy were disingenuous. Liguori noted that Chandler, Gilbert and Tempe, for example, manage their own water policy at the municipal level. Sierra pointed out that Avondale banks water for Phoenix through a mutual agreement between the cities.

Despite Hoffman’s insistence to the contrary, Sierra alleged that the true motivation behind the bill is the false claim that the 2020 election was rigged against Donald Trump and the anger among many Republicans that Maricopa County upheld and defended those election results, rejecting the baseless and discredited claims that they were swayed by fraud.

“Complicity is the oxygen of tyranny. Patriots like Steve Gallardo, Bill Gates, Jack Sellers and Clint Hickman would not comply with the directive to decertify the Maricopa County election,” Sierra said, naming the five Maricopa County supervisors, four of whom are Republicans. “Folks, this is not about water. It’s not about representation. This is about putting more chips on the roulette table so that you win your bet. One of these three counties, I’m sure, would decertify the election in a heartbeat, and that’s what you’re going after.”

Hoffman noted that there have been numerous attempts in the past at the legislature to split up Maricopa County, and reiterated the arguments he’d made earlier in the hearing about why he’s running the bill.

“To say that this has anything to do with the election is laughable and nothing more than a conspiracy theory,” he said.

Nonetheless, proponents of the bogus election fraud claims have been vocal advocates for the past year of splitting up Maricopa County, whose officials they falsely believe are complicit in a rigged election. Hoffman has been a prominent supporter of those allegations, and urged that Arizona’s electoral votes, which were won by President Joe Biden, be awarded to Trump.

*snip*

[marybourg]

1. We're living in a dystopian novel.

[msongs]

2. can dems take over the house/senate in AZ mid terms this year?? nt

[former9thward]

4. Probably not.

The AZ Independent Redistricting Commission adopted the Republican proposal for their map.

[crickets]

3. Wow. There are sore losers talking smack, and then there's just plain crazy talk.

Did they ask the residents how they feel about it?

Link to tweet

Mark Tucker @marktuckerReplying to @jeremyduda and @speakerbowers
Maricopa County residents don't want this. I was never asked if I wanted to split up the county and affect my property taxes. A very small group of GOP legislators are pushing their own agenda. They don't care what residents have to say. STOP THIS 🛑🛑🛑🛑
#AZLeg @speakerbowers8:01 PM · Feb 16, 2022

Did they talk to county leaders?

The county as a whole has not taken a position on the bill. But county Assessor Eddie Cook, a Republican, testified against it. He noted that no one reached out to his office to discuss the proposal. He said he has “right-sized” his office to work efficiently to appraise the 1.8 million properties in Maricopa County. He said he spoke with other countywide elected officials about the proposal, as well.

“If you were to call them, they would actually say the same thing,” Cook said.

What are they really going for?

Some questioned whether there are partisan motivations behind the plan. Rep. Sarah Liguori, D-Phoenix, noted that three of the four new counties would be predominantly Republican.

Boom. There it is. Special guest spot late in the article by Turning Point USA.