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American Military News
3 days ago
- Business
- American Military News
Democrat governor vetoes bill limiting Chinese land near US bases
Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) is facing backlash after vetoing a bill on Monday that was intended to prevent China from purchasing land located near military bases and other strategic assets. In a Monday letter to Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, a Republican, Hobbs wrote, 'Today, I vetoed Senate Bill 1109. Improvements to systems that protect our infrastructure are important. However, this legislation is ineffective at counter-espionage and does not directly protect our military assets. Additionally, it lacks clear implementation and opens the door to arbitrary enforcement.' The legislation vetoed by the Democrat governor, S.B 1109, would have prevented China from obtaining a 30% stake in the Arizona property. Fox News reported that the Arizona state legislature could still implement the bill if it votes to override the governor's veto. In a statement obtained by Arizona Daily Independent, Arizona Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp, a Republican, slammed Hobbs for blocking the bill with a 'politically motivated veto,' which she said was 'utterly insane.' Shamp added that Hobbs was acting as 'an obstructionist against safeguarding our citizens from threats.' READ MORE: Red state orders Chinese company to sell US farmland According to Fox News, Shamp previously warned that China had attempted to lease buildings located near Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. State Armor Action CEO Michael Lucci also criticized the Democrat governor, saying, 'Governor Hobbs's veto of SB 1109 hangs an 'Open for the CCP' sign on Arizona's front door, allowing Communist China to buy up American land near critical assets like Luke Air Force Base, Palo Verde nuclear power plant, and Taiwan Semiconductor's growing fabrication footprint.' Lucci argued that Hobbs was 'substantively and completely wrong' for suggesting that S.B. 1109 was not effective at 'counter-espionage' and would not directly protect U.S. military assets in Arizona. The State Armor Action CEO added that letting China purchase land near 'critical assets' in Arizona presents a 'national security risk.' According to Committee of 100, a nonprofit organization of Chinese Americans, 27 states were considering 84 bills to place restrictions on foreign property ownership as of March 17. The nonprofit organization's website shows that 22 states have already approved bills that place restrictions on foreign property ownership, with 17 of the bills being passed into law in 2024.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hobbs vetoes bill banning China from owning land in Arizona
Image via Getty Images Arizona's Democratic governor has vetoed legislation that would have barred the Chinese government from owning land in the state. The GOP-backed measure banned the People's Republic of China — including enterprises that are totally owned by the Chinese government and subdivisions of the Chinese government — from having a substantial interest in Arizona property. The bill defines a substantial interest as a stake of 30% or more. Sen. Janae Shamp, the Republican sponsor of Senate Bill 1109, said during a debate of the bill on Feb. 26 that it was aimed at protecting U.S. military bases from spying, and she alleged that has already happened in Arizona. 'The actual Chinese government, our enemy, was trying to lease buildings near the (Luke Air Force) base,' Shamp said. '(N)ot making sure that we are protecting our national security or our men and women on the ground here in Arizona is ludicrous to me.' Reports about the Chinese government purchasing land near military bases in the U.S. has, in many cases, been misleading. Democrats in the state House of Representatives and Senate shared concerns that the original version of Shamp's proposal was unconstitutional and that it would lead to discrimination in land sales. A substantial amendment to the bill, passed through the House on May 6, allayed some of those concerns. The initial version of the bill banned certain people and businesses from countries designated as enemies of the United States by the director of national intelligence from owning land in Arizona. There were exceptions for small plots of residential land more than 50 miles away from a U.S. military installation. The amended version narrowed the ban to only the Chinese government and its subsidiaries. The Arizona House of Representatives approved the amended bill on May 7 by a vote of 41-17, with eight Democrats voting in favor alongside Republicans. The Arizona Senate gave its final approval of the bill by a vote of 17-11 along party lines on May 28. In her veto letter on June 2, Gov. Katie Hobbs wrote that protecting infrastructure was important. 'However, this legislation is ineffective at counter-espionage and does not directly protect our military assets,' she said in the letter. 'Additionally, it lacks clear implementation criteria and opens the door to arbitrary enforcement.' In the language of the bill, Shamp claimed that its 'protection of this state's military, commercial and agricultural assets from foreign espionage and sabotage will place this state in a significantly stronger position to withstand national security threats.' Far-right Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers, of Flagstaff, on May 28 said that she had sponsored a similar bill a few years ago and was perplexed when it was voted down on the Senate floor. (Rogers sponsored her legislation in 2022 and 2023. Neither bill received a vote by the full Senate.) 'I hope it's not too late,' Rogers said, before voting for Senate Bill 1109. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
