Thread by @StephH_AZ

Last week, Rep Jay Lawrence complained about having to👂to testimony about "pads & tampons & the problems of periods" for incarcerated women. This week, Rep TJ Shope refuses to give #HB2222 a hearing. Now what? Now, we make our voices heard. #LetItFlow THREAD

So, what's HB2222 all about? Currently, incarcerated women in AZ get 12 free pads each month. They must ask an officer if they need more. If they want tampons, they must buy them. To afford to purchase a box of tampons, a woman has to work up to 27 hours at $.15 per hour. /2

However, if blood stains a prisoner's pants, she is given a ticket for being out of dress code, which could result in her losing the ability to purchase store items, such as tampons and pads. /3

's bill seeks to fix this problem. Rep. Salman's #HB2222 would allocate funds annually to the Arizona Department of Corrections from the state general fund so that all women in state prisons have access to free, unlimited, feminine hygiene products. /4

Rep. Salman's bill was heard last week in the all-male Committee on Military, Veterans & Regulatory Affairs, chaired by Rep. Jay Lawrence (LD23). Rep. Lawrence said he was "almost sorry [he] heard the bill" & voted no on passage. It ultimately passed by 1 vote. /5

Rep. Lawrence further noted that he believes most of the people in prison are liars and questioned experts on whether lack of menstrual products in prison is really a problem or if this is all made-up. (Who is running against this guy?) /6

Now, here we are. The bill must now get through another committee chaired by another man. This man, Rep. TJ Shope, has not put the bill on his docket to be heard and the legislative session is almost over. What is Rep. Shope waiting for? /7

How about we find out by tweeting at Rep Shope, calling him, emailing him, dropping by his office? He needs to put the needs of people ahead of his own squeamishness on the topic and help these women from having to continue to endure this humiliation. /8

For more details on the bill, check out these articles:
kjzz.org/content/602963…
azcentral.com/story/news/pol… /9

P.S. Rep. Lawrence is the same representative who publicly stated "Trump's reference to certain places in the world was accurate" when Trump described countries as sh*itholes. /10

P.P.S. Rep. Lawrence is the same rep who gleefully took pics with Trump supporters who had been yelling at brown people at the Capitol all day, asking them if they were in the country legally, including one state representative who is Native American. END azcapitoltimes.com/news/2018/01/2…

Update: Rep. Shope is holding the bill, claiming the Dept of Corrections assured him they'll fix the problem. What's to keep DOC from changing its policy back in the future w/o legislation? Nothing. Bottom line: Keep calling Rep Shope & demand he give #HB2222 a hearing TODAY!

Here's more information from the bill's sponsor, @AthenaSalman. #LetItFlow

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