Arizona’s Republican Gov. Doug Ducey did not mention border security, or the border wall, in his Inaugural address yesterday.
That’s fascinating considering President Trump, and his administration, is calling the situation on the border — including in Arizona — a “national crisis.”
If that were truly the case, you’d expect a Republican border governor to be talking about it.
Instead, Ducey in his speech called Mexico “a friend of Arizona.”
Arizona is a key border state that shares a nearly 400 mile border with Mexico.
“Nowhere is that more evident than with our number one trading partner, times four, Mexico,” said Ducey. “I’m proud to say we’re more than just neighbors with Sonora, we’re partners.”
Sonoran Governor Claudia Artemiza Pavlovich Arellano was in the audience applauding Ducey.
Pavlovich criticized Trump’s emphasis on a wall, which already exists in key places along the border, and instead concentrated on economic development.
“Despite what happens in Washington, D.C., we’re going to work on the things we have in common,” said Pavlovich.
Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott welcomed back the Texas Senate with a five-minute speech today, and mentioned his priorities of cutting taxes, overhauling public school funding and mental health.
He made no mention of border security or immigration.
Talk of the “crisis” is also notably faint in the Texas Legislature.
Nine congressional representatives serving the districts that line the 2,000-mile southern border have also come out against the wall.