Arizona Republicans playing a double game

Arizona’s Speaker of the House co-issued a statement downplaying the importance of the party’s hand-picked court taking the territorial ban on abortion out of the mothballs, but as always look at what they do, not what they say (unless it’s the craziest faciton of the party):

Despite the pressure from Democrats and some Republicans to undo the law, it was uncertain whether Republican leaders, who narrowly control both chambers of the legislature, would allow any immediate action on proposals to repeal the ban.

The president of the State Senate and speaker of the State House, both Republicans, issued a joint statement emphasizing that the court’s ruling had not yet taken effect and probably would not for weeks, as the legal fight over the 1864 law heads back to a lower court for additional arguments over its constitutionality. They said they were reviewing the ruling and would listen to their voters to determine what the legislature should do.

Axios reported that Ben Toma, the Republican speaker, opposed a repeal and said he would not allow a vote on it.

Hopefully this will underscore to Arizona voters the importance not only of the reproductive rights initiative and the judicial retention elections, but on ending Republican control of the legislature. When Republicans are in control, potential legislative majorities to override partisan courts are no match for the Hastert rule.