19-02-2025
New bill aims to get rid of DEI hires. That's rich coming from Arizona lawmakers.
There is a Republican-sponsored bill in the Arizona Legislature that is meant, more than anything, to kiss the derriere of President Donald Trump – again – but that inadvertently proves an undeniable fact about the people we elect for state government.
Which is: Every single one of them, without exception, is a DEI hire.
Ironically, Senate Bill 1584, is one of many aimed at following the example of Dear Leader by attacking anything remotely tied to the notion of diversity, equity and inclusion.
As described in the fact sheet accompanying SB 1584, the bill:
'Prohibits the State of Arizona or a political subdivision of Arizona from establishing any policies or practices requiring employees to be hired based on anything other than the merit of the employee.'
Interesting, isn't it, that individuals who are required to demonstrate absolutely no ability to adequately do the jobs they are elected to believe it's a good idea that nothing other than 'merit' should get a person a job working for the state.
What about the lawmakers themselves?
Most are in the Legislature because the only 'merit' they demonstrated is the letter of the party behind their names on the ballot.
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Think about it.
How many of us believe we have ever had the opportunity to vote for an individual with a deep understanding of the intricate processes of government, a person with a thorough knowledge of the legal, structural and financial workings of the state, a person with the proven professional background, education and life experience required to make life and death decisions about millions of others?
Anyone?
I thought so.
One of the problems with passing a law that says only 'merit' can be used to hire people is that 'merit' can (and would) be subjectively defined to both give preferred individuals jobs and, as has happened with minorities and women before, exclude others.
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Another, even bigger problem, is that the people proposing such a law were under no requirement to prove that they were qualified for – that they actually merited -- their positions.
Luckily for them.
Reach Montini at
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: GOP-sponsored bill shows how every AZ lawmaker is a DEI hire | Opinion
