IN FOCUS - Feb. 7, 2025

Mayes vs. Musk? Maybe.

This week, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a statement announcing she is among a dozen Democratic AGs who plan to file suit against the Trump administration to block Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing what Mayes called “personal private information, state bank account data and other information that is some of our country’s most sensitive data.” The DOGE’rs have set a goal to cut $2 trillion from federal spending, and just completed a thorough sacking of the USAID program.

Attorney General Mayes argues Musk and DOGE lack authority to access sensitive federal databases or nix spending already approved by Congress. The issue is just the latest flashpoint between AG Mayes and the Trump administration.

The Musk venture has inspired copycat efforts locally at the Arizona State Capitol, where Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) and House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-Goodyear) say they are working jointly to slash state spending and regulations. One proposal would even cap any individual legislator from introducing more than 10 bills per session. That’s the brainchild of Rep. Alex Kolodin (R-Scottsdale), the prime or co-sponsor of 100 bills this session.