Arizona lawmakers are embroiled in a controversy surrounding a bill designed to criminalize the impersonation of armed forces veterans.
According to AZ Capitol Times, a pivotal Arizona legislation aimed at creating criminal liabilities for impersonating veterans is currently stalled in the Senate.
The bill, known as the "Master Sergeant Orlando Dona Valor Act" (HB2030), was passed unanimously by the Arizona House of Representatives on February 11, with a decisive vote of 58-0, showcasing bipartisan support for the measure.
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Bill in Limbo
Shortly after its passage in the House, HB2030 was assigned to the Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee. Nearly a month has passed since its referral on February 27, yet the committee, led by Senator Wendy Rogers of Flagstaff, has not scheduled a hearing for the bill.
Senator Rogers is facing criticism from fellow lawmakers, who accuse her of obstructing the bill's progress for personal reasons. These allegations connect to the 2024 Legislative District 7 election, where her supported candidate, Steve Slaton, was accused of falsely representing his military service.
Representative Walt Blackman, a U.S. Army veteran and the bill's primary sponsor, has loudly voiced his concerns. He stated, "Silence in this is compliance in this," emphasizing the urgency of addressing veteran impersonation, which affects every district in Arizona.
Efforts to Circumvent Committee Roadblocks
In response to the stagnation, Rep. Blackman has taken proactive steps by introducing a striker amendment to another bill, SB1424, which shares the same language as HB2030. This maneuver aims to bypass the committee controlled by Rogers.
Senator Shawnna Bolick, the sponsor of SB1424, reinforced the need to prioritize policy over personal conflicts, saying, “We should not be putting personalities over good policy.”
This echoes the sentiment among some senators who believe in advancing the bill irrespective of interpersonal disagreements within the Senate.
Despite these efforts, Senate President Warren Petersen has expressed his resolve to uphold traditional Senate protocols, which empower committee chairs to hold or kill bills. “As President, I have empowered my chairmen. If they hold a bill, it is dead, even if I like the bill,” Petersen remarked, highlighting the institutional respect afforded to the roles of committee chairs.
Community Impact and Legislative Challenges
The issue of impersonating military veterans strikes a chord across Arizona, not just among politicians but also within the communities they serve. Rep. Blackman further stressed, “Those members who have not spoken up and said that this is wrong, you have veterans in your communities; in every single district in this state.”
This situation brings to light a broader discussion on the balance between committee autonomy and legislative action in the context of pressing social issues.
With veterans and their integrity at stake, the obstruction of such a "no-brainer bill" raises questions about the dynamics of power and responsibility among Arizona's lawmakers.
As this story continues to unfold, all eyes remain on the Senate’s next moves, with many hoping for a swift resolution that aligns with the act’s foundational goals of protecting veterans’ honor and prohibiting false representations of military service.
