AZ Republicans Move to Strip Sec. of State of Election Lawsuit Powers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As their farcical audit continues to hit road bumps, Republicans in the Arizona Legislature are looking to strip the Democratic secretary of state of her power to defend election lawsuits. Both the state House and Senate Appropriation Committees approved changes on Tuesday to the proposed state budget that would move these powers to the Arizona attorney general, currently a Republican. 

Democrats in the Legislature believe the proposal is a political move meant to punish Hobbs after she defended Arizona voters from the state Republican party’s lawsuits challenging the outcome of the election, using outside counsel to do so. She also refused to support a case brought by AG Mark Brnovich in federal court that would ban community ballot collection. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case this year. 

The full budget proposal that includes these provisions will be voted on next week.

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