“My efforts today are inadequate to stop what they're trying to do. But we, the people, are powerful. We are strong. We have changed history. We have bent the arc of the moral universe. And now is that moral moment again, it's the moral moment again. God bless America. We need you now. God bless America. If you love her, if you love your neighbor, if you love this country, show your love. Stop them from doing what they're trying to do.”

- Senate Cory Booker on hour 19 of his marathon 25 hour floor speech.

THIS WEEK AT THE LEGISLATURE

This week brought inspiration through powerful oration in many different ways. Outside of the final House appropriations committee, minimal voting transpired. Instead, it brought heavy discussion of bills as they came through the chamber with amendments. Amidst regular floor debates, Democrats in the House and Senate each attempted to bring solutions to the floor on Prop 123 and Disability Funding as the clock winds down on both those very fundamental and financially critical issues.

I was incredibly proud to watch my democratic colleagues speak up for the most vulnerable in our community and voice dissension on bills that infringe on our rights and create government overreach. There were press conferences on housing rights, worker rights, and disability funding in which we all participated.

I ended the week discussing the financial turmoil triggered by Trump’s new tariff tax — a sweeping 10% to 50% tariff on every country except Russia. Tariffs, for penguins, no tariffs for Putin. The opposite of fiscal conservatism, it is being called the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history, projected to cost the average household an extra $2,100 this year alone.

According to the New York Times, the announcement sparked one of the biggest market crashes in American history, wiping out $5 trillion in value from the S&P 500 in just two days. Retirees watched their portfolios tank. Families braced for higher prices.

Trump, meanwhile, was unbothered — hosting fundraisers and golfing in a Saudi-backed tournament he profits from at Mar-a-Lago. And taxpayers? The price tag keeps rising for us as we are now up to $26 million for his golf outings in just his first three months back in office.

Rep Liguori’s Liberation Day remarks on Trumps Tariff Tax

On Saturday, I was proud to welcome the Phoenix 100 Rotary Club High School Speech Contest. It was the 94th Anniversary of the contest that highlights the achievements of speech and debate students as they showcase their speaking skills in front of judges, with the potential to win college scholarships and awards. Meeting the students and listening to them articulate topics on education and current issues filled me with pride and hope. Congrats to those that participated and won!

A few of the high school freshman debaters at the Capitol.

Peak oration this week came from Senator Cory Booker, whose record-breaking 25-hour speech stood in bold opposition to President Trump. Through the day and night, colleagues stepped up with long, thoughtful questions to give Senator Bookers voice a rest. I was especially touched by Senator Warnock’s words, which I pass on to you below.

“We are beset by the politics of fear. The scripture tells us that perfect love casts out all fear. We are witnessing, again, this ugly game, the politics of us and them. And there are a lot of folk who, because so much of what has been going on in our nation across Republican and Democratic administrations, let's be honest, has not been working for ordinary people. And the gap between the haves and the have-nots has gotten larger and larger. And when people are vulnerable, sometimes they give in to the politics of fear, somebody telling them that they've got all the answers. And so we saw this in this last cycle. We're seeing it in this moment in our country, the politics of us and them. And sadly, hardworking working class people are waking up this morning and they're discovering that they thought they were in the us and they're discovering that they're in the them. That the “them” is larger than they thought.

And so we've got to hold vigil for each other, for workers, for women, for immigrants, for immigrant families, for our sisters and our brothers, red, yellow, brown, Black and white, for the aging who need social security, for the working poor who need Medicaid, for those who are seeking asylum and they just need a dignified path, for those who've been working here for years and they need a dignified path to citizenship. We've got to hold vigil for each other.

And so thank you for this work. This is not the end but the beginning, the struggle continues. Dr. King said that the true measure of a person is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in moments of challenge and controversy.”

The upcoming legislative week is rife with rumors. Will we break for a hiatus? Will we marathon vote? Will RFK Jr. be at the Capitol? Stay tuned and stay engaged.

With Kindness,

Sarah

Hands Off Our Democracy

On Saturday, Americans across the country took to the streets for the Hands Off! protests, a massive, nationwide response to Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the dangerous dismantling of our democracy. From all 50 state capitals to city halls and public gathering spaces, over 1,300 events were held, with total participation estimated between 500,000 and several million. In cities like Washington, D.C., and New York, crowds surged past 100,000. And here in Arizona, nearly 30 events were held — with over 11,000 people showing up across the state.

I was proud to stand with Arizonans at the State Capitol in Phoenix. People of all ages and abilities came together peacefully to make it clear: we will not be silent as our rights are stripped away and our laws are trampled by this administration’s cruel and chaotic agenda.

When I spoke to the crowd, I reminded them: cracks are forming, and dissent is spreading. The people are rising up, refusing to go quietly while our institutions are under attack. We will not give up. We will not back down. Not while the stakes are this high. Not while our democracy still belongs to us.

Huge thanks to the organizers who kept everyone safe and to the Arizonans who showed up with courage and conviction. See you at the next one.

Americans across the country taking a stand for democracy.

My favorite signs from the Phoenix event - with Ed Hermes and Clarissa.

Town Hall Save The Date

Community Corner

Arizona has one of the highest housing loss rates in the country, and Maricopa County leads the nation in evictions, with a rate of nearly twice the national average. On Saturday, the Take Back Our Homes campaign made a strong appearance at the City of Phoenix budget public hearing. Over 15 volunteers voiced comment in support of permanently funding a program to provide tenant legal defense free of charge to tenants facing eviction. Phoenicians at the hearing explained that reducing unjust and illegal evictions can lower public expenses by reducing homelessness. It was a great show of solidarity and community as many volunteers shared stories of their experiences with housing insecurity and lack of legal representation.

Join me in signing the Take Back Our Homes petition to help keep people housed.

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