In Arizona, legislation intended to bolster repercussions for those falsely claiming military accolades, commonly known as "stolen valor," has hit a stumbling block due to internal conflicts within the Republican Party. KJZZ reports that Representative Walt Blackman's proposed "stolen valor" bill, which would criminalize the act of impersonating a military veteran or lying about military distinctions, has been stymied by State Senator Wendy Rogers, who chairs the Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee.
Despite winning unanimous bipartisan support in the Arizona House earlier in February, Blackman's House Bill 2030 has experienced delays in the Senate. Rogers, an Air Force veteran herself, has refused to advance the bill, throwing it into controversy. According to FOX 10, some Arizona veterans are expressing frustration with their reaction saying it feels like a slap in the face.
Blackman's bill is now tangled in political animosities, particularly surrounding a former political rival, Steve Slaton, who lost the primary election to Blackman and faced accusations of stolen valor. Slaton was endorsed by Rogers despite these allegations. Having now blocked the bill on the grounds of wanting it to align with federal law, Rogers explained, "I asked if he would amend the bill to comport with federal law, but was informed there was no interest in doing that." Rogers' actions have raised suspicions among critics such as Blackman, who purportedly believes the block is personal and not procedural, as reported by KJZZ.
At a recent committee meeting, dozens of veterans appeared to support HB 2030, only to witness the bill being removed from the agenda shortly after the meeting began. Rogers asserted that the removal was due to Blackman's disinterest in amending the legislation, a claim Blackman disputes. He told KJZZ that the bill's intention is to "hold accountable those who engage in this type of fraud," rejecting the idea that it is politically motivated. Furthermore, Blackman has questioned Rogers' legislative capabilities, stating, "So my question to the senator is either you don't know how to do your job or you're lying."
Efforts to bypass Rogers' committee blockade via a striker amendment supported by Senator Shawnna Bolick have shown initial promise in the House but face significant hurdles with Senate President Warren Petersen declaring his preference for a compromise between Rogers and Blackman. "I'm optimistic Senator Rogers and Representative Blackman will be able to reach a compromise on HB 2030," Petersen said in a statement obtained by KJZZ. Meanwhile, outspoken veterans like retired Army Master Sergeant Jack Dona have encouraged community action, telling FOX 10, "You should get on the horn, and you should burn up the phone lines; email them, be vocal, because that's the only thing that they understand."
