Who is State Representative Matt Gress really working for?
OPINION — It was recently discovered that Matt Gress is both a State Representative and a paid lobbyist. Gress is employed as vice president of Government Affairs for Americans for Fair Treatment, a national organization working to weaken public schools and dismantle public sector unions, including for teachers, police officers and firefighters.
Gress’ job to destroy public sector unions is taking aim at the very organizations that ensure our first responders have reasonable job protections including fair wages, benefits and safety equipment.
As a paid lobbyist, Gress and his organization assist legislators in other states to run bills that weaken job protections for first responders and teachers. For example, Utah recently passed a bill to strip collective bargaining rights from their firefighters, police and teachers. Utah’s bill was substantially similar to the bill Gress pushed in Arizona, HCR2040, and would have applied those same anti-union policies here. Both measures were dangerous and unpopular; the Utah bill was repealed, Arizona’s version was thrown off the ballot by the courts.
Gress has a long history of working against teachers and public education in Arizona, which is also a major focus of his employer. This year, he sponsored HCR2007, now Prop 320, which pro-public education organizations vehemently oppose because it will result in destructive funding cuts to public schools. For both of these bills, I believe Gress unethically used his position as chair of the House Education Committee to advance his employer’s goals.
I am a former State Representative from our community. We should all be concerned that Matt Gress is not working to improve Arizona, but instead works to benefit his employer and the special interests that pay his salary as a lobbyist.
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