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Blacklisting companies for their gun policies will backfire on Arizona

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Blacklisting companies for their gun policies will backfire on Arizona



Opinion: Arizona will pay more – in cash and reputation – if it begins cutting off businesses to make a political point about firearms.

The Arizona Legislature is considering a bill that could make our regulatory environment more cumbersome, complicated and expensive, tying up private businesses in red tape and sticking taxpayers with the bill.

If it passes, Arizona’s reputation as a business-friendly state will be at risk.

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The proponents of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1007 argue that private companies are discriminating against potential customers based on gun politics and thus shouldn’t be allowed to do business with the state and local governments.

They also believe that the best way to prevent such discrimination is to prohibit private entities from entering into certain contractual agreements, unless the entity’s contract includes written assurances that there will be no discrimination against any firearm entity or firearm trade association.

Blacklist policies have hurt other states

Private businesses of all sizes make tough decisions every day to manage risk, meet client needs and deliver returns for shareholders. All that’s hard enough to do without inserting a political agenda into the mix. 

However, the proposed remedy is far worse than the perceived problem.  

This bill is a bad deal for Arizona, replacing a market defined by supply and demand with one where politicians decide who can do business with whom.  

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Other states have adopted similar blacklist policies and paid a stiff price.  

In Texas, taxpayers have been forced to shoulder hundreds of millions of dollars in additional municipal borrowing costs after lawmakers there pushed out a handful of bond underwriters.

Local officials in Stillwater, Okla., had to put a series of infrastructure projects on hold after borrowing costs spiked because the lender found itself on that state’s blacklist.  

Fewer choices mean higher costs

It’s a predictable consequence.

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After all, fewer businesses eligible to contract with state and local governments leads to fewer choices from which the government can select for projects, which leads to higher costs for taxpayers. 

State and local governments can’t print money. When costs go up in one area, it means there are fewer resources to invest in things like public safety, sanitation and other core government responsibilities.

GOP bill lets you sue: Over imagined Marxist policies

It’s no wonder the Arizona Association of Counties has expressed concern that bringing a blacklist law to our state would cause small, rural communities to suffer due to reduced banking services and higher costs, which will ultimately affect local taxpayers.  

Arizona’s pro-business reputation has been cultivated in part by assuring job creators that our policymaking environment is predictable and stable, and that our laws and regulations are intended to encourage job growth, not stifle it.   

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Don’t put Arizona’s reputation at risk

But SCR 1007 signals that Arizona’s business environment can shift at any moment.

What was once an acceptable business practice could suddenly fall out of favor with whoever’s in power, jeopardizing a company’s ability to operate here.

Arizona has worked hard to cultivate a business environment where businesses can succeed or fail in a free market.

The policies proposed in SCR 1007 would make government the arbiter of who wins and who loses. Lawmakers should reject it.

Danny Seiden is president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry. On X, formerly Twitter: @dbseiden.

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Arizona

Arizona Cardinals, fans deserve NFL primetime game in 2024 NFL schedule

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Arizona Cardinals, fans deserve NFL primetime game in 2024 NFL schedule


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The Arizona Cardinals did not play any primetime games in the 2023 season, being relegated to playing in the Sunday early window and late window of games every week.

Could that change in 2024?

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Might Arizona play on Thursday Night Football or Sunday Night Football in the upcoming season or in a different non-traditional Sunday slot?

Fans of Arizona’s NFL team are eagerly awaiting the release of the 2024 NFL regular season schedule (or an early leak) to find out.

After all, it would provide a welcome change from the Cardinals schedule last year and give a wider audience a chance to see Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride and company and the rest of a team that is potentially on the rise.

NFL schedule release 2024 tracker: Leaks, rumors, live updates, what we know for games

Arizona Cardinals among NFL teams that deserve more primetime games in 2024 NFL schedule

Interestingly, SB Nation recently published a story about three NFL teams who deserve more primetime games on the 2024 NFL schedule and the Cardinals were included among the three.

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Joseph Acosta wrote: “Fighting for some shine in a loaded NFC West, the Cardinals spent the first quarter of 2023 looking like one of the worst teams of the NFL. However, after QB Kyler Murray returned, the Cardinals began to look like one of the more intriguing teams for the future. Again, it’s the offense that takes most of the shine here. Murray, TE Trey McBride, and rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. give fans something to look for when the Cardinals play. Murray plays really exciting football, and if Harrison Jr. can be the outside receiver we all think he can be, then the Cardinals should be extremely exciting. Defensively, the team is still slowly coming along, but safety Budda Baker is still a very fun player to watch. With Murray running around throwing passes to Harrison Jr., this will be one of the most fun teams to watch this year.”

We won’t argue with that.

More: Kyler Murray height joke backfires as social media comes to Arizona Cardinals QB’s defense

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Who could the Arizona Cardinals play in prime time in 2024?

The Cardinals have some intriguing opponents on the 2024 schedule, with the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots among the teams they will face at home and the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings among Arizona’s opponents on the road.

Cardinals at Bills or Dolphins on Sunday Night Football? Bears or Lions vs. Cardinals on Thursday Night Football?

Is it really too much for Arizona fans to ask to have a primetime game on the 2024 NFL schedule this season?

NFL power rankings: Arizona Cardinals on the rise after 2024 NFL Draft

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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Arizona Baseball beats rival ASU in Tuesday Night Tussle

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Arizona Baseball beats rival ASU in Tuesday Night Tussle


TEMPE, AZ – Taking on rival ASU (26-24, 14-13) in a midweek showdown, No. 17 Arizona Basketball (30-17, 17-7) came away with the 5-3 win over the Sun Devils!

Fresh off of a sweep of Stanford from this past weekend, No. 17 Arizona Baseball was back in action on Tuesday night, taking on rival Arizona State for a non-conference showdown.

Getting the start on the bump for the Cats, Arizona turned to Bradon Zastrow in this one; however, it was truly a team effort in this one as the Wildcats used nine pitchers on the evening.

Luckily for us, it worked out for the best as Arizona surrendered just three earned runs despite giving up 11 hits. More impressively, the Wildcats struck out 10 Sun Devil batters and stranded eight ASU runners.

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Offensively, the Wildcats did just enough to win this one as they plated five runs on 10 hits including three home runs. Led behind a solid offensive effort from Mason White, Brendan Summerhill, Andrew Cain, and TJ Adams, together the four went a combined 9-15 from the dish with five RBIs. 

This one took a little bit to get going, but boy did it provide some great moments. Tied 0-0 heading into the third inning, the Wildcats broke the scoreless drought as they exploded for three runs in the inning.

The inning started with TJ Adams homering to center when he turned on a 1-1 pitch to make it 1-0. After Brendan Summerhill drew a walk, Mason White would capitalize, turning on a 1-0 pitch that he sailed to right field to make it 3-0, Arizona. 

Leading comfortably, Arizona would get things going early in the next inning when Andrew Cain would lead off with a homer to right field to make it 4-0 Cats!

ASU would get one back in the fourth to cut Arizona’s lead to 4-1, but luckily, the Wildcats’ offensive barrage wouldn’t cease. Still leading heading into the sixth, the Wildcats would use a few timely hits that would ultimately set up Summerhill who would fly out to right field as he scored Cain from third to make it 5-1.

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Unfortunately, ASU would score two more times, once in the eighth inning and again in the ninth, before Anthony “Tonko” Susac shut the door on the Devils for good as he picked up his second save of the season. Sophomore right-hander Casey Hintz would pick up the win in this one, pitching one-and-two-thirds innings as he improved to 3-1 on the season. 

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 30-17 (17-7) on the year and look to turn their focus towards Utah when they travel to Salt Lake City this weekend!

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Don’t forget to follow us at @ZonaZealots on Twitter and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of Arizona news, opinions, and recruiting updates!





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New York Yankees Viewed as Suitor for Arizona Diamondbacks’ Slugger

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New York Yankees Viewed as Suitor for Arizona Diamondbacks’ Slugger


Entering the season, the expectation was for the New York Yankees to have one of the best offenses in baseball. While their 23-13 start has been impressive, most of that hasn’t been due to their offense.

The Yankees have struggled at times to put together runs in multiple scenarios, a concerning sign nearly 40 games into the season. With the trade deadline approaching, not only will they need to add pitching, as every contending team does, but they’ll need to also address some of their offensive issues.

Looking ahead to potential options, Ryan Garcia of Empire Sports Media listed three early trade candidates ahead of the deadline. His list included Christian Walker, a right-handed slugger on the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Walker has played first base for his entire career, appearing in left field one time during 2018.

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Despite Anthony Rizzo playing better in recent weeks, getting two hits including a home run in the team’s most recent win, Walker would provide them with a monster bat. Plugging him into the middle of the order could help this offense find its stride.

33-year-old Walker is a two-time Gold Glove winner at first base, too, winning those awards in 2022 and 2023.

Last season was arguably the best of his career, slashing .258/.333/.497 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs. His 123 OPS+ was the second-best of his career since becoming a full-time player.

In the early stages of 2024, the Pennsylvania native is slashing .280/.391/.490 with an OPS+ of 151.

He’s currently playing on a one-year, $10.9 million contract, so this would likely be a rental for New York who could provide major benefits for them as they look to go all in to win a World Series this season without having to give up a big haul for an impact bat.

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