An Arizona Republican Senator is calling out Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs for her recent “publicity stunt aimed at appealing to her radical environmental base” in joining the far-Left group, U.S. Climate Alliance.
Last month Hobbs announced that Arizona joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of 25 governors all committed to “to securing America’s net-zero future by advancing state-led, high-impact climate action.”
Hobbs claimed that by joining the alliance it would create green jobs and businesses, ensure clean air and water for Arizonans, lower energy costs, and prepare more effectively for a changing climate.
In a letter State Senator Frank Carroll (R-Surprise) sent to Hobbs on Friday, he clarifies that since the U.S. Climate Alliance is a voluntary coalition of governors, Hobbs herself is the participant of this organization and not the State of Arizona.
“The Alliance is a completely voluntary coalition of governors with aspirational and non-binding goals to combat global warming. To be clear, the Alliance is a coalition of governors, not States. The Legislature is the branch of government constitutionally charged with setting public policy for the State of Arizona and nothing in the laws of the State authorizes you to join this coalition—as ineffectual as it is—on behalf of the State,” Carroll said.
Carroll proceeded by stating that Hobbs’ recent publicity stunt of joining this alliance, which she intended to appeal to her radical environmental base on behalf of Arizona, had no bearing on state affairs.
“This organization was set up by three Leftist governors as a protest to President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the job-destroying Paris Agreement, which imposes unrealistic and unworkable goals for reducing carbon emissions and punishes energy producers in the U.S,” Carroll said.
According to Carroll, Hobbs’ action is completely ineffective in shaping public policy within the state and she needs to work alongside the Legislature to formulate public policy.
“I suggest that, instead of unilaterally creating task forces and joining do-nothing coalitions, you work with and through the Legislature to formulate public policy. Attempting to evade this process through edict misleads the public on the proper role of the executive and diverts attention from the real work that needs to be done,” Carroll said.
Carroll said that the Republican-controlled Legislature will stop any abuse of power displayed by Hobbs through her joining of this coalition.
“Executive overreach threatens the separation of powers provisions in Article III of the Arizona Constitution. Because separation of powers is “essential to the preservation of liberty,” James Madison, Federalist No. 51, Senate Republicans are committed to serving as a check on any abuse of executive power,” Carroll said.
Carroll pressed Hobbs to have more “open and direct communication” between her administration and the Legislature on pressing environmental issues facing the state.
State Senators Sine Kerr (R-Buckeye), David Gowan (R-Sierra Vista), and T.J. Shope (R-Florance) all co-signed the letter.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Gov. Katie Hobbs” by Gov. Katie Hobbs and “State Sen. Frank Carroll” by State Sen. Frank Carroll.
