Gallego Proposal to Ban Airline Family Seating Junk Fees Included in New DOT Rule

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
PHOENIX – Today, the Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed a new rule to ban airlines from charging junk fees for family seating. The rule comes after Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) introduced the Junk Fees Prevention Act in April 2023 to eliminate burdensome hidden fees, including charging airline passengers for seating assignments when an adult needs to sit next to an accompanying child. “As a dad, I know first-hand that flying with kids is enough of a challenge without having to worry that you’ll be charged extra just to sit with your family,” said Rep. Gallego. “I strongly support this new rule – based on my legislation – to ban airlines from charging extra for family seating, and I’ll continue fighting for more policies like this one that cut costs for hardworking Arizonans.” In April 2023, Rep. Gallego visited Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix to tout his Junk Fees Prevention Act , emphasizing its family seating provision. Earlier this year, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed two provisions from Rep. Gallego’s Junk Fee Prevention Act to crack down on hidden fees charged by ticket sellers and hotels .

Ciscomani Introduces New Effort to Fast Track Construction of Affordable Housing

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
WASHINGTON – Amid Arizona’s affordable housing shortage, U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development,  introduced a new bipartisan effort to fast-track construction of affordable housing by cutting red tape for developers and encouraging more public-private partnerships in the industry. Congressman Wiley Nickel (D-NC-13) joined Ciscomani in introducing the effort.    Ciscomani’s bill, the Speeding Up Production of Essential Residences (SUPER) Demonstration Act ( H.R.  9195 ), would utilize unused COVID-19 funds to create a new pilot program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) focused on  reducing construction time and costs of affordable housing. The pilot program aims to do so by  streamlining or eliminating unnecessary regulatory requirements facing developments, which in turn would encourage more private companies’ investment into the affordable housing sector.    “There is a critical need for additional affordable housing in southern Arizona,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “The current shortage in supply is driving rental costs and home prices higher, making it more difficult to find a home. This legislation addresses the worsening affordability crisis and increases the supply of homes by streamlining  the construction of affordable housing units.”   “It’s clear that the housing crisis impacting the entire country demands a quick and effective response,” said Congressman Nickel. “I’m proud to join with my colleague from Arizona, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, to co-lead this effort, which will provide grants to areas with a high need for housing and high projected growth, like the communities I represent in North  Carolina. I remain committed to removing local regulatory barriers to housing construction, which will increase the supply and lower the cost of housing. This is a win-win for North Carolina and for communities across the country.”  “BPC Action applauds Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Wiley Nickel (D-NC) for their leadership in introducing the SUPER Demonstration Act which would authorize a deficit-neutral demonstration program across ten geographically diverse communities designed to  increase the production of workforce housing and housing affordable to lower-income households,” said Michele Stockwell, President, BPC Action. “Over the past 15 years, the U.S. has underbuilt housing by millions of homes. This mismatch between supply and demand has driven both rents and home sale prices steadily higher, making it more and  more difficult for vital workers throughout the country to live in the communities where they are employed. More housing must be built quickly to accommodate the urgent need. BPC Action looks forward to working with Congress to enact this legislation.” The legislation is also supported by Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Action. In FY25, Ciscomani provisionally  secured over $20 million for community developments projects in the House Appropriations Committee’s package for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. He is the only member of Arizona’s Congressional delegation on the House Appropriations Committee. 

Southbound SR 87 reopens south of Payson

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
PHOENIX – Southbound State Route 87 has reopened south of Payson, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Though southbound lanes have reopened, the Sand Stone Fire remains active near the highway and crews continue to address the fire. Motorists should pay attention and obey any signage or instructions when driving through this area. Depending on fire activity and weather conditions, highway restrictions may again need to be implemented. R eal-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov , the AZ511 app (download for Apple or Android devices) or by calling 511.   Southbound lanes of SR 87 had been closed at State Route 188 since Sunday afternoon because of the fire west of the highway. Information on the Sand Stone Fire is available at inciweb.wildfire.gov (search for Sand Stone ) and the Tonto National Forest Facebook page at facebook.com/TontoNationalForest/ .

LUCHA Congratulates Endorsed Candidates on Campaign Efforts & Victories

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
With Primary election results still rolling in, we wanted to take a moment to congratulate all of our LUCHA Blue-endorsed candidates for their tireless efforts and hard-fought victories. We faced off against a billion-dollar special interests MAGA led opposition campaign but our grassroots, people-powered movement didn’t just show up; they invested over $1.5 million to fuel progressive, people-centered campaigns across the state. The LUCHA Blue campaign unleashed a powerful force of canvassers, volunteers, and community members, who knocked on nearly 100,000 doors, made countless phone calls, and mobilized voters for decisive victories. This isn’t just a testament to grassroots organizing; it’s proof of the undeniable power LUCHA has built over a decade and the unwavering resolve of our communities. We’re not backing down—we’re just getting started. Though ballots are still being counted, a number of our LUCHA Blue candidates that faced a contested primary are on the road to victory: Pima County Board of Supervisors (District 3) victory for LUCHA-endorsed Jen Allen. LD 5 wins for LUCHA-endorsed candidates Sarah Liguori and Aaron Marquez in the House; An LD 8 race that will have one LUCHA-endorsed candidate in the State House, but was too close to call;  LD 11 wins for LUCHA-endorsed Oscar de Los Santos and Junelle Cavero; LD 23 wins for LUCHA-endorsed Mariana Sandoval and Matias Rosales; LD 24 win for LUCHA-endorsed candidate Anna Abeytia in the House; and an LD 24 win for LUCHA-endorsed Analise Ortiz in the State Senate. Our non-contested primary LUCHA Blue Candidates are also heading straight to the general election in November. They include: U.S. Senate primary win for Ruben Gallego; Congressional District 6 – Kirsten Engel LD 12 Senate – Mitzi Epstein LD 18 Senate – Priya Sundareshan LD 9 House – Lorena Austin LD 9 House – Seth Blattman LD 13 House – Nicholas Gonzales LD 18 House – Nancy Gutierrez LD 20 House – Betty Villegas LD 26 House – Cesar Aguilar LD 26 House – Quanta Crews It’s absolutely critical that we wait for every single vote to be counted in the remaining close contests to ensure every voice is heard. Many races are still too close to call, including races for Congressional District 3, where Raquel Terán is within a few hundred votes of winning. No matter the outcome, one thing is for certain – we are fired up and ready to go! We will double our efforts to defeat Donald Trump and the MAGA extremists up and down the ballot in November and we are working tirelessly toward victories for Kamala Harris and Ruben Gallego, and wins for democracy at large.

Gallego, Malliotakis Call on Biden Administration to Condemn Socialist Maduro Regime, Impose Sanctions

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
PHOENIX – Reps. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) sent a bipartisan letter to President Biden condemning the actions of the Socialist Maduro regime in the recent Venezuelan elections and urging the Administration to impose sanctions. “As you know, Venezuelans bravely went to the polls over the weekend to have their voices heard, despite threats of violence from the brutal, Socialist Maduro regime,” the Members wrote . “The election that resulted, however, was neither free nor fair. The Maduro regime relied on its well-worn tactics of intimidation and manipulation; failing to tally all votes, blocking access to voting locations, opening certain polling places late, and using street checkpoints to limit travel.” “Taken together, it is past time that we do not naively take Maduro at his word – this election was neither free nor fair and violates the ‘Barbados Agreement’ that was facilitated by your Administration, providing sanctions relief to Venezuela’s oil industry in exchange for free elections. The Maduro regime singlehandedly broke this agreement,” the Members continued. “We, therefore, call on you to impose new sanctions and to take additional steps with the international community to support the Venezuelan people. We remain heartened by the courage they show in their quest for democracy.” Full text can be found HERE. The letter comes after, earlier this week, Rep. Gallego joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues in a statement condemning the Maduro regime’s sham presidential elections.

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover Wins Second Term

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
TUCSON, ARIZ. — Pima County Attorney Laura Conover is looking forward to another four years as Pima County’s top prosecutor. Conover released the following statement as she prepares to continue her work at The People’s Office along with her wonderful staff to help make Pima County a better and safer place to live. A video statement from Laura is attached below.

Maricopa County Posts Another Round of Unofficial Results from the 2024 Primary Election

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff

July 31, 2024 (Phoenix, Arizona) – Maricopa County Elections has posted additional unofficial results from early ballots received through Monday, July 29 that were tabulated today.

641,625 ballots are now being reported, which represents 26.52 percent of eligible voters. Over 95,000 early ballots received on Election Day must be signature verified and processed before they are counted, and results updates can be expected daily until every legal ballot is counted. There are also approximately 3,100 ballots that require curing. Election workers continue to process provisional and other ballots that require additional verification before they can be counted. The last day voters can cure a signature issue or provide identification for a conditional provisional ballot is Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 5 p.m. Find Maricopa County’s election results at Results.Maricopa.Vote .

Loop 202 Santan Freeway widening project scheduled to start Aug. 9

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
PHOENIX – The latest freeway widening project in the Phoenix area is scheduled to start Friday night, Aug. 9, in the southeast Valley, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. The Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) Improvement Project will add new lanes and make interchange improvements along 8 miles of Loop 202 between Loop 101 (Price Freeway) and Val Vista Drive in Chandler and Gilbert. ADOT’s $200 million project will add two travel lanes in each direction along the Santan Freeway between Loop 101 and Gilbert Road. Crews also will add one lane in each direction between Gilbert Road and Val Vista Drive, widen bridges and reconstruct on- and off-ramps over the next two-and-a-half years.  Eastbound Loop 202 is scheduled to be closed between Loop 101 and Arizona Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12. Initial work within the project’s boundaries will include removing the worn top layer of asphalt pavement. Crews later will use the diamond grinding process to smooth the remaining concrete pavement along the freeway. Individual on- and off-ramps will be closed for approximately 60 days each time while they are rebuilt to fit into the freeway’s wider configuration. ADOT’s Loop 202 widening project is funded in part by Proposition 400, a dedicated half-cent sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004. The project is scheduled under the Regional Transportation Plan managed by the Maricopa Association of Governments, which serves as the metropolitan planning organization for the Greater Phoenix region. More information about the Loop 202 project is available at azdot.gov/L202-L101-to-ValVista .

Kelly, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Consumer Literacy and Confidence in AI

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
This week, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced the Consumer Literacy and Empowerment to Advance Responsible Navigation of Artificial Intelligence (Consumers LEARN AI) Act , bipartisan legislation to enhance consumer awareness and confidence in the use of Artificial Intelligence products and services. Artificial Intelligence is increasingly integrated into everyday products and services, from virtual assistants to personalized healthcare solutions, but despite its growing presence, many consumers lack a comprehensive understanding of AI and its implications. The Consumers LEARN AI Act seeks to bridge this gap by creating a national literacy strategy, providing specific AI use case guidance, and conducting a national media campaign to help consumers to make informed decisions.  “AI technologies have the potential to significantly improve our daily lives, and we must empower Americans to be well-informed about AI’s capabilities and limitations,” said Kelly. “This legislation is a critical step toward ensuring that individuals have the knowledge and tools needed to navigate cutting edge AI technology responsibly. This bipartisan effort underscores our commitment to protecting consumers while fostering innovation.”  “Artificial intelligence has a real ability to benefit the lives of Americans across numerous industries – health care, banking and business, just to name a few,” said Rounds. “Consumer literacy is a critical piece of keeping the United States ahead of the curve on artificial intelligence development and adoption. The Consumers LEARN AI Act will help consumers learn the opportunities and potential risks of the latest advancements in AI, and how they can use it to enhance their daily lives.”  See what industry, consumer advocacy, education, and policy experts are saying about the Consumers LEARN AI Act : “AARP, which advocates for the more than 100 million older Americans age 50 and older, is pleased to endorse the Consumers LEARN AI Act. This legislation will create the first-ever national strategy and literacy campaign to ensure that consumers have the requisite AI knowledge and literacy to engage with this new technology safely. AARP applauds this bipartisan effort to ensure that more consumers understand how AI works and how it is already being used in the marketplace. Empowering older Americans with this information will not only help protect against fraud and abuse but will also help unlock the positive potential for AI to transform our economy,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP.   “Senators Kelly and Rounds have demonstrated exceptional leadership in introducing the Consumers LEARN AI Act,” said Patrick Gaul, Executive Director of the National Technology Security Coalition. “This critical legislation will develop a comprehensive national strategy for AI consumer literacy and launch a nationwide campaign to educate consumers on artificial intelligence. The National Technology Security Coalition commends the Senators for their forward-thinking approach in ensuring that all Americans are well-informed and prepared to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI.”    “The increased prevalence of AI makes it critical for consumers and businesses to understand what AI is and isn’t, what it should and shouldn’t be used for, and what best-practices are for utilizing AI. A bedrock of IBM’s long-standing trust and transparency principles is AI must augment – not replace – human intelligence. A key part of this is informing people when they’re interacting with AI and explaining the capabilities and limitations of the technology. We applaud Senators Kelly and Rounds for introducing the Consumers LEARN AI Act, which helps ensure consumers learn more about AI, so they have the awareness and confidence to utilize AI to its fullest potential,” said Daniela Combe, Vice President of Emerging Technology Advocacy at IBM.  “While AI is not a new phenomenon, it is becoming increasingly more mainstream and integrated into products and services that are used by everyday citizens. The Consumers LEARN AI Act is a necessary step to build consumer AI confidence by developing awareness and literacy campaigns. It is encouraging to see this bill go beyond schools and classrooms—where digital literacy campaigns are traditionally focused—to develop guidance for the safe and beneficial use of AI for all American consumers,” said Ali Crawford, Research Analyst at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology.  “A tidal wave of opportunity and risk is coming with AI, and we are unprepared. AI literacy is the most valuable tool for people to overcome fear of AI and to prepare for these changes,” said Susan Gonzales, CEO of AIandYou. “This legislation is a significant step forward and is required to avoid creating a greater digital divide in the days ahead. Senators Kelly and Rounds are to be commended for their leadership in AI literacy for consumers.”  “BSA welcomes the introduction of the Consumers LEARN AI Act and its focus on improving US national AI literacy. Legislation that helps build consumer trust and AI literacy helps to both spur the adoption of responsibly developed artificial intelligence and spread its benefits more widely across the economy,” said BSA, The Software Alliance.  In addition to these experts, the Consumers LEARN AI Act is also supported by Consumer Action, GoDaddy, and the Hispanic Tech & Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP).

Kansas temporarily stops enforcing impersonating election official law

Posted on by Bryan Richardson

Kansas has agreed to temporarily stop enforcing its impersonating an election official law, clearing the air for groups that said they feared accidentally committing a crime when helping people register to vote.

Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson granted the temporary injunction this week after the parties reached an agreement, which calls for a status conference to take place after the election in November.

“This will allow the parties to focus on preparing for the coming election and to confer regarding a joint proposal to the court for resolving any remaining issues in this litigation,” the agreement said.

The League of Women Voters of Kansas, Loud Light, Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, and the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center filed a lawsuit in 2021 against Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Attorney General Kris Kobach.

In 2021, the Legislature passed a bill that made it a felony for people to represent themselves as an election official. The contested portion of the law says it’s illegal to engage in conduct that “gives the appearance” or “would cause another person to believe” someone is an election official.

On May 31, the Kansas Supreme Court reversed the Shawnee County court’s decision not to grant an injunction, ordering the lower court to reconsider the request. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled the plaintiffs had a “substantial likelihood” of prevailing.

Representatives mentioned after the May ruling that volunteers limited their assistance because of the law’s vagueness.

Loud Light on X celebrated the temporary injunction that ended “1,125 days of unconstitutional voter suppression.”

“We are fired up and ready to register thousands of young Kansans to vote again,” Loud Light President Davis Hammet said Wednesday in a statement. “For 1,125 days, Kansas’ democracy suffered irreparable harm under the Legislature’s most recent voter registration suppression scheme.”

The ruling came after an effort by the Legislature to clarify the rule fell short of a veto override.

House Bill 2618, which would’ve stopped state agencies from accepting certain federal election funds, also would have added intent as an element of the crime of impersonating an election official.
“It clarifies that you have to intend to deceive in order to be guilty of the crime of impersonating an election officer,” Rep. Pat Proctor, R-Leavenworth, said on the House floor in April. “It’s not just based on the perception of the person who thinks you are an election officer.”

Bryan Richardson is the managing editor at State Affairs Pro Kansas/Hawver’s Capitol Report. Reach him at [email protected] or on X @RichInNews.

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