Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, chairman of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, surrounded by members of the caucus, says Monday the group will sue to overturn Katie Hobbs’ executive order extending the scope of anti-discrimination protections that govern state employees and contractors. ||Capitol Media Services photo by Howard Fischer
By Kiera Riley || Arizona Capitol Times January 9, 2023
The Arizona Freedom Caucus announced it would be filing a lawsuit challenging Gov. Katie Hobbs’ first executive order barring discrimination in hiring practices.
Caucus leaders claim Hobbs is illegally legislating to, “advance her woke agenda,” by issuing executive orders.
Republican lawmakers gathered outside the Senate building today to announce the impending litigation. Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, chairman of the caucus, said the lawsuit will target Hobbs’ use of executive orders, claiming it is “unconstitutional.”
He also affirmed the caucus’s commitment to a combative approach to Hobbs’ administration.
“We will stand in her way at every step of the process as she continues to enact constitutional illegal executive orders to try and rule over the state,” Hoffman said. “The Arizona Freedom Caucus will oppose Katie Hobbs’ woke agenda; you can bet your ass that will happen.”
The lawsuit will center on an order issued by Hobbs on Jan 2., which directs the Department of Administration to establish procedures to ensure hiring practices within state agencies are “on the basis of merit and qualifications.”
Arizona’s employment discrimination law already bars employers from excluding or expelling a person based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion or creed, age, physical or mental disabilities or pregnancy.
