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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 28, 2025 PHOENIX  – House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos released the following statement after the Trump Administration unilaterally and illegally halted billions in federal dollars for essential services in all 50 states and Indigenous Tribal nations before being halted by a federal judge today. “People could die as a result of Donald Trump’s illegal order to freeze federal aid. Even if the White House backs away from parts of this order, this was either an act of incredible cruelty or bumbling incompetence -- neither bodes well for our country. Trump's illegal order has shut down virtually all federal state aid, including Medicaid in Arizona. The billionaires clamoring for their tax cuts won’t feel the pain, but everyone else will. If allowed to stand, this illegal order will rip away healthcare coverage from two million Arizonans: Hospitals will close, people will suffer, and people could die. Meals for the elderly will go undelivered, veterans will go without benefits they have earned, and which sustain them day by day. Funding for law enforcement and child protective services will be stopped and our homes and neighborhoods will be less safe. A federal judge has already temporarily halted this blatantly illegal act, but it must be permanently reversed." --30--

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2025   PHOENIX  – Representative  Mariana Sandoval  and Senator  Analise Ortiz  released the following statement following Wednesday's announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal.   “ Today’s long-overdue ceasefire and hostage deal is wonderful news. This will help bring much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and reunite the hostages with their families. This came thanks to relentless advocacy, prayers, and action by countless people not just in the United States but around the world. I want to thank everyone everywhere who has done anything to try to end this horrific situation. I am united in the joy of Palestinian children who are jubilant that the violence may be coming to an end, and I also stand with Israeli families who have been praying for their captive loved ones to come home and hold them once again. Although this is welcomed news, let us never forget the lives lost in the October 7th attack and the thousands of innocent people killed in the war. I commit to continue advocating for lasting peace and security everywhere.”     -30-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  January 17, 2024    PHOENIX - Governor Katie Hobbs released her third-year budget plan that keeps Arizona’s economy on a growth track, protects public education and makes life more affordable for hard-working Arizona families. House and Senate Democratic Leaders Oscar De Los Santos and Priya Sundareshan released the following statements on the plan, which will be presented to joint Appropriations Committees on Tuesday.   House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos: “The Governor’s budget is tightly aligned with our Caucus priorities in several key ways —especially with its focus on affordability, affordability, and affordability. While greedy corporations try to fleece and price-gouge working families, we must do everything we can to slash costs. Thankfully, the Governor has put forward solid and workable plans to cut costs for childcare, housing, and more — which give us an excellent starting place for the bipartisan negotiations that it will take to pass a budget that works for every Arizonan. As the chaos and tariffs of the incoming Trump Administration threaten to drive up prices on basic necessities like food and healthcare, it’s more important than ever that here in Arizona we make much-needed investments to protect hard-working families and make life more affordable."  Senate Democratic Leader Priya Sundareshan: "I applaud the Governor and her team for their work and dedication to putting forward a fiscally responsible budget proposal. This proposal has a desperately needed focus on ensuring Arizona is an affordable place to live, raise a family, and build a business. It is my hope that Republicans choose to partner with the Governor to adopt the outlined common-sense constraints on the out-of-control universal ESA voucher scheme. The strain of this program paired with years of irresponsible Republican budgeting have left our state in critical need of the investments this proposal seeks to make in Tribal communities, working families, affordable housing, and responsible groundwater management.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2024   PHOENIX  – Legislative Democrats closely involved in Arizona's ongoing groundwater management negotiations spoke out in support of today's designation of an Active Management Area in the Willcox Basin to address severe and worsening groundwater depletion. Senator  Priya Sundareshan  and Representative  Christopher Mathis  released the following statements after Governor Hobbs announced today that the Arizona Department of Water Resources designated an AMA to address over-pumping and increasing land subsidence and fissures that threaten safety and property throughout the region. Sundareshan and Mathis, both of Tucson, are the current ranking Democratic members of the Senate and House Natural Resources Energy and Water committees.   Sen. Sundareshan: “ Democrats are committed to continuing our work to provide policy options best suited to protect rural Arizona’s long-term water future, but this AMA designation will provide much-needed protections under existing state law.  Designating this AMA brings water conservation and groundwater well protection measures to the Willcox basin. I am confident this is a strong step in the right direction as we negotiate to provide the entire state with sound bipartisan water policy in the new year.” Rep.  Mathis:  "The impacts of severe groundwater depletion in rural Arizona can no longer be ignored. For the sake of the residents, farmers and other stakeholders in the Willcox Basin pleading for our help, we must step up. I applaud Governor Hobbs and ADWR for their continued strong leadership with this historic AMA designation to protect our state's water security. At the same time, we must continue to work toward bipartisan groundwater management reform legislation to provide rural areas additional, locally driven tools to preserve and protect our precious water resources for future generations."   -30-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                   December 16, 2024 PHOENIX  –Assistant Democratic Leader  Nancy Gutierrez  and other Democratic Members of the House Education Committee said today it is "our moral responsibility" to pass common-sense gun safety measures in the wake of another deadly mass shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. Fearful of the powerful gun lobby, Republicans have for years refused to hear bills outlining basic reforms supported by overwhelming majorities like safe storage requirements, universal background checks and severe threat orders of protections.   "N o school is immune to the terror of a school shooting," said Gutierrez, a longtime public-school teacher and ranking Democratic member on the Education Committee. "My heart breaks for the families of the three people who have been killed, the six wounded and everyone that attends school or teaches at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. This shooting has taken place days after the anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting that took the lives of twenty children and six adults.  This is something that no school community should have to endure, and yet it is commonplace in our country. It is our absolute moral responsibility to pass legislation that ensures that minor children do not have access to firearms. We cannot continue to pretend that this problem will resolve itself with thoughts and prayers."   Representative-elect  Brian Garcia , a Democrat from Tempe who will serve on the House Education Committee, added, "Students and families expect our schools to be safe from gun violence. News out of Madison, Wisconsin, is absolutely heartbreaking. As we head into what should have been a peaceful and joyous holiday break, impacted families and an entire community have been torn apart. Too many lives have been lost to inaction - we need common-sense gun safety measures to help save lives now."   Also echoing the calls for common-sense gun violence reform were incoming Representatives Stephanie Simacek , a Deer Valley Unified School District Governing Board member and former classroom teacher, and Anna Abeytia , current President of the Cartwright School District.     -30-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                   December 11, 2024   PHOENIX  –Representative Patty Contreras has reintroduced her measure to abolish Arizona's death penalty, citing it as an unfairly administered and ineffective deterrent to crime with increasing cases of Death Row inmates being exonerated through new investigative technologies. Contreras, who also sponsored a repeal in the past two sessions, filed HCR 2001 on Tuesday. If passed by the House and Senate, the measure would require approval by Arizona voters on the 2026 ballot.   "People who commit heinous crimes should be locked away, and victims of crime and their families deserve justice. But the death penalty is not the answer," Contreras said. "That's why it has been abolished in more than 70 percent of the world's countries. It's disheartening to see that Arizona is re-starting executions when there is no evidence that the death penalty deters crime, and it is disproportionately applied to defendants who are people of color, people who are economically disadvantaged and especially those with intellectual disabilities."   Contreras added, "Increasingly, death row inmates have had their cases overturned – nearly 200 since 1973 – because of improved investigative technology like DNA analysis. Still, other states have executed people despite serious doubts about their guilt. Arizona should not go back down that road."   Contreras said she is disappointed that a former federal magistrate's stud y on Arizona's death penalty was not allowed to be completed. His preliminary draft concluded there is no humane way to kill a person via lethal injection. Although the report was never finished, and the Arizona Department of Corrections disputed several aspects, Contreras said it still made strong and clear arguments that Arizona should leave the death penalty in the past.   -30-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     November 26, 2024   PHOENIX  – Incoming House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos, D-Phoenix, today named the Democratic ranking members and assignments for committees in the 57th Legislature.   "Our caucus is skilled, smart, experienced and ready to serve the people of Arizona," said House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos. "We bring voices from all across the state, from multiple professional backgrounds, generations and perspectives, but we are united in our commitment to fight for your schools, your freedoms and your rights."   Health and Human Services: Patty Contreras (Ranking Member) Alma Hernandez Sarah Liguori Christopher Mathis Elda Luna-Nájera   Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Mariana Sandoval (Ranking Member) Mae Peshlakai Stephanie Stahl Hamilton   Public Safety & Law Enforcement: Whip Quantá Crews (Ranking Member) Anna Abeytia Lorena Austin Aaron Márquez Stephanie Simacek Myron Tsosie Kevin Volk   Rules: Leader Oscar De Los Santos (Ranking Member) Lupe Contreras Christopher Mathis   Commerce: Cesar Aguilar (Ranking Member) Junelle Cavero Janeen Connolly Betty Villegas   Education: Asst. Leader Nancy Gutierrez (Ranking Member) Anna Abeytia Brian Garcia Lydia Hernandez Stephanie Simacek   Natural Resources, Energy & Water: Christopher Mathis (Ranking Member) Patty Contreras Sarah Liguori Mae Peshlakai   Government: Betty Villegas (Ranking Member) Aaron Márquez Stephanie Stahl Hamilton   International Trade: Lorena Austin (Ranking Member) Junelle Cavero Consuelo Hernandez Whip Stacey Travers   Judiciary: Alma Hernandez (Ranking Member) Lupe Contreras Brian Garcia   Ways & Means: Seth Blattman (Ranking Member) Whip Quantá Crews Elda Luna-Nájera Mariana Sandoval   Appropriations: Stephanie Stahl Hamilton (Ranking Member) Lorena Austin Seth Blattman Mariana Sandoval Asst. Leader Nancy Gutierrez Whip Stacey Travers Kevin Volk   Transportation & Infrastructure: Myron Tsosie (Ranking Member) Patty Contreras Consuelo Hernandez   Science & Technology: Sarah Liguori (Ranking Member) Cesar Aguilar Junelle Cavero Janeen Connolly   Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections: Lydia Hernandez (Ranking Member) Brian Garcia Aaron Márquez   Ethics Christopher Mathis (Ranking Member) Junelle Cavero Patty Contreras   Joint Legislative Audit Committee: Stephanie Stahl Hamilton Betty Villegas   Legislative Council: Leader Oscar De Los Santos Brian Garcia Asst. Leader Nancy Gutierrez   Joint Legislative Budget Committee: Lorena Austin Seth Blattman Stephanie Stahl Hamilton   Joint Committee on Capital Review: Stephanie Stahl Hamilton Whip Stacey Travers Kevin Volk   -30-

PHOENIX – Last week, Roosevelt School District Superintendent Dr. Dani Portillo recommended closing five schools in the district because it is facing a nearly $5 million deficit and cannot meet annual costs. Portillo said the deficit is partly because of declining enrollment and more than 30 charter and private schools saturating the district.  “As a former school board member and school administrator, I am confident that Roosevelt’s plan to address their financial situation is sound,” said Senator Catherine Miranda (LD11). “The decision to close a school is never an easy one. However, under the current circumstances that have been made dire by statewide cuts to public education under Republican direction and out-of-control universal school vouchers, this is the harsh reality we find ourselves in. I recognize the positive and lasting impact these community schools had and look forward to the plans that the board has for revitalizing them in the future. This move will allow the district to adequately serve their students, address their budget needs, and create a more stable environment for the families they serve.”  “Our South Phoenix public schools are the heart and soul of our community. It’s a shame that they have been systematically underfunded for decades under Republican policies that prioritize tax cuts for wealthy corporations instead of investing in our students and our future,” said Representative Oscar De Los Santos (LD11) . “Under these unfortunate circumstances, I support the Roosevelt District’s conscientious efforts to address its budget deficit while focusing on the success of its students.”   Representative Junelle Cavero (LD11) added, “The Roosevelt School District has experienced a 40 percent decline in enrollment over the past 15 years, largely due to the proliferation of 21 charter and private schools within its boundaries. These privately owned institutions often employ uncertified teachers and operate with minimal public accountability. Republican-led policies have exacerbated the situation by underfunding our public schools, undervaluing our students, and disrespecting our parents. We are committed to supporting legislation that limits the voucher system, increases funding for public education, and holds charter schools accountable. Closing schools is heartbreaking and our goal is to ensure that every student in our community receives the quality education they deserve, regardless of their circumstances.”  ###

For Immediate Release November 12, 2024  PHOENIX  – House Democrats today elected Representative Oscar De Los Santos  of Phoenix to lead the 27-member Democratic Caucus in the 57th Legislature. The Caucus also elected Representative Nancy Gutierrez  of Tucson as Assistant Leader, and Representatives Quantá Crews and Stacey Travers were elected as Whips.   "It's an honor to be chosen to lead this outstanding caucus," De Los Santos said. "This is a strong, smart and experienced team who will fight for you, for your public schools, for your rights, for our state's precious resources, for your bottom line and for your neighborhood. We have tremendous challenges ahead as state, and as a country, but we will not back down from extremism, and we will face them together."   Leader Oscar De Los Santos, a non-profit leader and former public-school teacher in South Phoenix, was first elected to serve District 11 in 2022. Born to working-class immigrant parents, he went on to be a Rhodes Scholar. He holds a master's degree in Christian Ethics from Union Theological Seminary and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford. A tireless protector of Arizona’s constitution and democracy, he has served on the Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee, as well as Natural Resources, Energy & Water and Appropriations.     Assistant Leader Nancy Gutierrez  was elected in 2022 to serve District 18 in Tucson. She is a lifelong teacher who started her career in Phoenix in 1994 and moved to Tucson in 2007 where she has raised two girls with her husband, Andy. Gutierrez has since taught preschool, elementary, high school, community college mathematics, and is currently a yoga teacher at Tucson High. She is a determined public-school advocate and has served as Ranking Member of Regulatory Affairs and on the Education and Appropriations Committees.   Whip Quantá Crews was appointed in 2023 to serve in District 26 in Phoenix. A proud daughter of a union mom from Detroit, Michigan, she is a real and personal property appraiser and mother of three sons who attend public schools. She graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and is also an ordained associate minister for the Historic Tanner Chapel A.M.E. Church. Crews chairs the Arizona Legislative Black Caucus and has served as Ranking Member on the Regulatory Affairs Committee and on the Ways & Means Committee.   Whip Stacey Travers was born in Athens, Greece, to a U.S. military father and Greek mother. She continued her family’s legacy of serving in the military and did so proudly as a Russian Intelligence Interceptor in the U.S. Army. After leaving the military, Travers came to Arizona to study at the University of Arizona in Tucson where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Geosciences. As a scientist and veteran, Travers has led the way on veterans' issues and creating strong water policy as a member of the Governor's Water Policy Council working towards securing Arizona’s water future. Stacey has two school-age children and will always fight for an equitable and fully funded education system. She has served as Ranking Member of the Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee and on the Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee.     --30--

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                            October 23, 2024    PHOENIX  – Senator Priya Sundareshan and Representative Christopher Mathis released the following statements in response to Governor Hobbs’ announcement today that the Arizona Department of Water Resources is taking steps toward declaring an Active Management Area in the Willcox Basin to address severe and worsening groundwater depletion in the region. Sundareshan and Mathis are the ranking Democratic members of the Senate and House Natural Resources Energy and Water committees.   Rep. Mathis: "This is a critically important and well-considered step by ADWR to protect the Willcox Basin and help ensure rural Arizona’s water future. I applaud Governor Hobbs’ ongoing commitment to our state’s water security and look forward to continuing to work toward groundwater management reform legislation that will provide rural areas with additional statutory tools to preserve Arizona’s precious water resources."    Sen. Sundareshan: “Arizonans are suffering under years of Republican refusal to bring our water laws into the 21st century. The Willcox Basin is one of three most dangerously jeopardized in Arizona. I celebrate ADWR’s action here and believe rural Arizonans deserve sound water management and protective actions based on data. I am confident that this is a step in the right direction given the tools for groundwater management currently available in Arizona. The Republican-led legislature has dragged their feet for far too long, and I remain hopeful that that we can enact rural groundwater reform legislation next session.”    -30-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                   September 18, 2024 PHOENIX  –   Representatives Nancy Gutierrez and Judy Schwiebert expressed disappointment that Joint Legislative Audit Committee Chairman Matt Gress and Republicans let the Department of Education off the hook today for  botching the distribution  of millions in federal education dollars for Arizona public schools. In August, Gutierrez, Schwiebert and other House Democrats called for an audit of the Department after the  mistakes were revealed . Superintendent Tom Horne testified before JLAC today, deflecting blame that led to budget chaos for nearly 200 schools. The committee voted on party lines against an audit.   "Superintendent Horne did nothing today to allay the serious questions raised about his department's demonstrated inability to responsibly oversee the state's federal education funding distribution," Gutierrez said. "He instead confused the issue, misstated facts provided by his own staff, passed the buck and threw his employees under the proverbial bus, which only underscores the need for an audit. Superintendent Horne and his enablers on the committee should have no fear of a review to ensure attention to detail, basic transparency and better communication with schools – and with legislators providing oversight."   "I'm worried that communication and transparency issues are becoming a pattern for your department," Schwiebert told Horne during the hearing. "I feel that Department leadership is not taking accountability for the role they played and that makes me concerned that these recurring issues won't actually get addressed. The Legislature doesn't hear about what's going on until after the fact, and there have been two major incidents so far this year. Public schools rely on the Department for funding distribution and guidance, and with this school improvement incident alone, the Department kneecapped the budgeting ability of nearly 200 schools. These schools are already in a tight financial situation, and this sets them up for more problems down the line. In the end, it's not the state or even the districts that suffer, it's the children."   -30-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     August 12, 2024 PHOENIX  – The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has appointed former House Democratic Leader Dr. Eric Meyer of Paradise Valley to fill the vacant seat in Legislative District 4, which will bring the House Democratic Caucus back to its full strength at 29 members. Meyer served as House Democratic Leader from 2014-2016, leaving only after reaching his term limit in 2017. He was first elected to represent the then Legislative District 11 in the north-Central Phoenix and Paradise Valley area in 2008. He continued to serve in the redrawn LD 28, and now will serve LD 4 which encompasses much of the same area.   Born in Syracuse, New York, Meyer grew up and attended public schools in Scottsdale. He obtained his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Southern California before returning to Arizona to get is medical degree at the University of Arizona. He and his wife, Sarah Snell (also a medical doctor), have two children. Today also happens to be his birthday.   "I am so excited and honored to be serving the constituents of Legislative District 4," Dr. Meyer said. "I enjoyed my years of prior service in the House and look forward to responding to the needs of my constituents and to the issues facing all Arizonans. I am humbled to have this opportunity and understand the importance and magnitude of my appointed position."   "I've served with Dr. Meyer, seen his commitment to public service in action, and am thrilled to welcome him back to our caucus," said House Democratic Leader Lupe Contreras . "He was an effective and forward-looking leader, and a staunch voice for Arizona’s public schools, our healthcare safety net and our environment. All three of the candidates put forward for consideration – including Kelli Butler and Karen Gresham – were stellar choices. Even if it's temporary, our caucus and our constituents will benefit with Dr. Meyer back in the fold."   Details of Meyer swearing in will be forthcoming.     -30-