 |
| Free Enterprise Club Wants Voting Drop Boxes In Arizona Banned |
| "A group that backs additional restrictions on voting in Arizona wants a judge to outlaw the use of "drop boxes'' that can make it easier for some people to return their early ballots." |
| Oct. 24, 2023 |
|
 |
|
| Arizona Lawmakers Move To Block "Dark Money" Law |
| "In a new court filing, Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma contend that Proposition 211 infringes on the constitutional right of the Legislature to make laws. Now they want Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Frank Moskowitz to override what voters approved just last year. The new litigation comes less than two months after a different Maricopa judge tossed out a challenge filed by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and the Center for Arizona Policy. Scott McCoy rejected their claims that the requirements of the law to disclose the true identity of those who spend money to affect candidate races and ballot measures violates the rights of donors." |
| Aug.7, 2023 |
|
|
|
| Two Organizations Trying To Influence State Politics Attempting To Get Exemptions For Prop 211 Disclosures |
| "Rebuffed in their bid to totally quash a voter-approved ban on “dark money,” two organizations involved in trying to influence Arizona politics are now trying to at least get themselves and their donors exempted from its provisions. In new legal filings, Attorney Scott Freeman again argues that Proposition 211 and its requirement for disclosure of the true source of campaign dollars violates state constitutional provisions guaranteeing free speech and privacy. Those claims, first filed last year, got him nowhere as they were rejected by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott McCoy. The judge, however, gave Freeman a do-over of sorts. He agreed to let the attorney for the Goldwater Institute adjust his claims, this time seeking not to void the law entirely but instead argue that the provisions of the initiative cannot legally be applied to the Free Enterprise Club and the Center for Arizona Policy, the two groups who filed the initial challenge." |
| Jul. 25, 2023 |
|
|
|
| Conservative Groups Sue To Block Voter-Approved ‘Dark Money’ Law |
| "The Center for Arizona Policy and the Arizona Free Enterprise Club are asking a judge to find Prop. 211 unconstitutional, saying that being forced to disclose the source of their contributions violates the rights of their donors and restricts their willingness to engage in political activities." |
| Dec. 21, 2022 |
|
|
|
| Arizona Free Enterprise Club Backs New Voting Requirements |
| "An organization that is trying to block a public vote on the tax cuts approved by Republican lawmakers now is funding an initiative to impose new restrictions on voters before they can cast a ballot. The proposal by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club would add a requirement that anyone dropping a ballot in the mail also provide a date of birth and other identification like a driver's license number or the last four digits of a social security number." |
| Aug. 18, 2021 |
|
|
|
| Koch Brothers Connections To Phoenix Anti-Transit Initiative Revealed |
| "Scot Mussi, president of the Koch-funded Arizona Free Enterprise Club, has, in the past, denied connections to the anti-transit campaigns. Now, however, Hsieh is claiming that Musi, "appears to have helped draft the language for Proposition 105, arranged meetings regarding the signature-gathering process, and has regularly spoken with leaders of the movement, according to interviews and records." |
| Aug. 7, 2019 |
|
|
|
| Dark Money Group Leads Last-Minute Effort To Speed Up Campaign Finance Changes |
| "Arizona is already poised to relax rules regarding so-called “dark money” groups starting next year, but a last-minute amendment proposed on the Senate floor could make the changes go into effect in less than a month. The proposal to accelerate the dark money regulation changes came late May 5, as an amendment to HB 2296, and originated with the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, a dark money group that spent about $1.7 million during the 2014 election cycle." |
| May 28, 2016 |
|
|
|
| Activists Oppose Bill They Say Will Promote Predatory Lending |
| "Consumer advocates and state representatives on Friday vowed to fight against any measure that would legalize “flex loans” in the state. About a dozen people gathered outside two title loan stores in Phoenix to oppose the efforts behind HB 2611, which would have allowed consumers to open a line of credit up to $3,000 and pay the money back in installments." [ . . . ] "Several groups supported the bill, including Arizona Financial Choice Association, Arizona Free Enterprise Club and the Goldwater Institute." |
| Mar. 20, 2015 |
|
|
|
| Election Officials: Reasonable Cause That Arizona Free Enterprise Club Broke Law |
| "Elections officials concluded Friday there is reasonable cause to believe the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, which has spent more than $1 million primarily to influence voters in statewide races, has violated elections laws. The club was one of five outside groups the Arizona Secretary of State's Office has been probing to determine if they were operating illegally. Earlier this month, State Election Director Christina Estes-Werther sent letters to the political groups requesting information on how they are spending money and seeking proof that their primary purpose is social welfare. Attorneys representing some of the groups have argued state officials aren't authorized to ask questions about their activities; state officials disagree." |
| Aug. 16, 2014 |
|
|
|
| Arizona Free Enterprise Club Doles Out Big Money In Election Races |
| "Seemingly overnight, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club has morphed from a low-profile, low-tax advocacy group into the biggest-spending organization of this year's election season. With three months to go until Election Day, its spending on state races this year has ballooned to $1.1 million, from $185,000 in all of 2012." |
| Aug. 5, 2014 |
|
|
|
| Don't Be Fooled: This Is NOT The Real Voters Guide |
| "Do they really think voters are so stupid that they can push off a hit piece as an official voters guide? Particularly when the Clean Elections Commission voters guide -- which supports no candidates and actually has helpful voter information -- arrived in the mail with it? I don't get these guys. Sure, maybe the Arizona Free Enterprise Club is getting attention for its chosen candidates. But by the end of this election, the non-profit will have exactly zero credibility." |
| Aug. 1, 2014 |
|
|
|
