Frequently Democrats in the state are passing liberal legislation that is disguised under the names of cooperative Republican members. Republicans who understand how the partisan systems run at the Capitol know what the Democratic lawmakers are doing but supporting these bills keeps the Republicans from being labeled RINOs – Republicans in name only. /DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM
By Camryn Sanchez | Arizona Capitol Times
Democrats in Arizona are passing liberal legislation disguised under the names of cooperative Republican members in a hyper-partisan political climate.
Sen. Martín Quezada, D-Glendale, told the chamber on the last day of session that Republicans supported him more than they knew.
“I do want to give a shoutout to Senator Shope because you may have not noticed, but there were a whole bunch of bills that passed under Senator Shope’s name that were actually my bills,” Quezada said. “And I’m sitting back there laughing like, ‘Man if only these people knew this was a Quezada bill.’”
Republicans laughed and jokingly protested.
Quezada is not alone in using this strategy, and he’s been doing it for years.
“I know literally everybody has at one point or another has used that approach,” he stated.
It’s often necessary.
In the Senate Government Committee, for example, the topic of election reform was a recurring theme and conservative audience members distrustful of the election process were enthusiastic about the idea of having Election Day as a holiday dedicated to voting.
That idea was voiced and supported by Quezada, but the crowd only became enthusiastic for it when it was suggested by Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Apache Junction.
Legislators on both sides of the aisle often comment that they vote based on the policy of controversial bills, but it’s apparent that Republicans want to avoid a vote that paints them as a Democrat supporter.
