Rep. David Livingston’s record: Conservative or extreme?

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OPINION — David Livingston entered the Arizona Legislature as a conservative voice. Fourteen years later, his record has moved beyond traditional conservatism toward extremism. His positions on disability services and reproductive rights — and his use of a term-limit loophole — show why Legislative District 28 needs a change.

As House Appropriations chairman, Livingston rejected an early proposal to fill a $122 million shortfall in Arizona’s developmental-disabilities program. He proposed cutting paid caregiving by parents by 25% to 50%, acknowledging it was “going to hurt.”

Parents launched a recall effort against him. The eventual agreement preserved the program without the reduction in paid hours he sought.

When Arizona’s 1864 near-total abortion ban resurfaced, Livingston moved to recess the House as legislators sought repeal. His campaign accepted political-action committee contributions from BNSF Railway, whose proposed West Valley logistics development concerns nearby communities, and GEO Group, a private-prison and immigration-detention contractor. Contributions do not prove wrongdoing, but voters deserve to know.

Livingston sponsored resolutions supporting Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and condemned the United Kingdom over proposed sanctions related to Israeli settlements. Whatever one’s views on Israel, why is an Arizona state representative using his office to intervene in a foreign-policy dispute instead of focusing on the needs of LD 28?

Arizona limits legislators to four consecutive two-year terms in each chamber. Livingston served three House terms, switched to the Senate for two, then returned to the House. Switching chambers reset his House term-limit clock, allowing him to serve continuously since 2013. It is legal, but it exploits a loophole.

LD 28 has alternatives. Barbara Fike, a longtime Arizona educator, and Marc Graham, a retired Air Force master sergeant, are running for the two House seats. Voters should ask whether Livingston still reflects the district they want represented.

This writer is using a pen name. Legislative District 28 includes parts of Peoria, Phoenix, Sun City, Sun City West and Surprise. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.