AFP Arizona

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) recruits and unites concerned citizens in 35 states to advance policies that will help people improve their lives.

[Eric Bott @EricJBott]

🚢💡It's time to turn the lights out on the Jones Act.

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 — better known as the Jones Act — mandates that goods shipped between U.S. ports must travel on vessels that are U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, and U.S.-flagged.

Sold as a national security measure, it has instead become a textbook case of protectionism producing the opposite of its intended effects.

✴️Higher Costs for Consumers and Businesses

✅Shipping a container from the U.S. mainland to Puerto Rico costs roughly twice what it costs to ship the same container to a nearby foreign island — a direct Jones Act tax on American consumers.

✅Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico — all heavily dependent on maritime imports — face systematically elevated prices for food, fuel, construction materials, and consumer goods.

✅American manufacturers pay inflated freight costs that make U.S. exports less competitive globally, undermining the very industries the law claims to protect.

✅During natural disasters the Act delays emergency relief shipments, forcing costly waivers just to get aid to Americans in crisis.

✴️A Shipbuilding Industry in Irreversible Decline

✅Shielded from foreign competition, U.S. shipyards have had little incentive to innovate, invest, or become cost-efficient — a Jones Act-built ship costs 4–5x more than a comparable foreign-built vessel.

✅The U.S. commercial shipbuilding industry has collapsed from over 70 active shipyards in the mid-20th century to a handful today, despite — or because of — protectionist insulation.

✅Monopoly protection breeds stagnation, not strength. The Act has produced atrophied, high-cost weakness.

✴️A Weakened Navy and Merchant Fleet

✅The U.S. merchant fleet — the very asset Jones Act proponents claim to be preserving — has shrunk dramatically; fewer than 100 Jones Act vessels operate today.

✅A truly competitive, dynamic maritime industry would produce more vessels, more trained mariners, and more surge capacity for national emergencies — the opposite of what the Act delivers.

✅Allied navies and commercial partners increasingly outpace U.S. maritime capability, precisely because their industries face competitive pressure that drives improvement.

✴️The Bottom Line

The Jones Act is corporate welfare masquerading as patriotism.

It enriches a small cluster of protected shipowners while taxing every American who lives on an island, ships goods domestically, or pays at the pump.

💪🇺🇸🚢Repeal would lower prices, revitalize shipbuilding through genuine competition, and produce a merchant fleet worth defending.

@AFPhq @kentstrang @HeartlandPostWI @abundanceinst @ckoopman @senatorshoshana @AFPGovAffairs @scottlincicome @BasedMikeLee @GroverNorquist @jackprandelli

[Americans for Prosperity @AFPhq]

We sat down with students at @PatrickHenryCol and asked, how can we preserve liberty?

[Americans for Prosperity @AFPhq]

What would you do with your dying breath? For Michael Yakubovich, the answer was clear: “I knew I had two choices, retreat or use my time to help others." This week, we lost our friend Michael Yakubovich. This is his story.

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Customer service representative jobs in the metro Phoenix area have dropped 26 percent in the past four years, according to the Labor Department.

Customer service representative jobs nationwide will decline by 5 percent… by 2034.

So I wonder what it is about Arizona… 🤔

[Katie Hobbs @katiehobbs]

Small businesses are the backbone of Arizona’s economy.

As Washington’s reckless tariffs drive up costs and hurt Arizona businesses, I’m fighting to lower costs and put money back in your pocket.

[Americans for Prosperity @AFPhq]

Today, we honor the brave Americans who gave their lives in service to our country.

Their sacrifice reminds us that freedom is not guaranteed. It is defended by men and women willing to give everything for the people and principles they loved.

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Also is this video working on anyone?

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Imagine thinking that being opposed to our Governor’s dumpster fire administration makes you an EXTREMIST.

If being opposed to stagnant job growth,
skyrocketing costs of living, and a worsening housing crisis is extreme, then BY ALL MEANS CALL ME AN EXTREMIST.

GoodNIGHT. 😒

[Katie Hobbs @katiehobbs]

Chip in 😎

➡️ https://t.co/OCpQv4K6bf

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

@Ciara2A @AFPhq To know her is to love her 🥰

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

WORK HARD.
PLAY HARD.
BEAT THE HEAT.

#permitreform
@AFPhq

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

@DavesPolicy

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Lowered which costs, exactly?

No seriously, I NEED to know. Most of us are treading water over here, but surely the union boss can point out some of those lower costs! Go ahead, Mike. We’re all ears.

[Katie Hobbs @katiehobbs]

Arizonans know who’s in their corner.

Honored to have earned the endorsement of @uawregion6!

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Shout out to @handersonfour for the trivia and absolutely killer moon walk. 😎

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Such a great event!

Thank you to everyone who joined us to BEAT THE HEAT!

https://t.co/L2oNKUckb3

[Libre Arizona @LIBREArizona]

Huge thanks to everyone who chilled out with us last night! 🧊 There’s no better way to beat the heat than coming together to show our elected officials that smart energy policy is a top priority.

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Thanks for coming out to BEAT THE HEAT, Tucson!

We had an amazing night talking about permit reform, and how it directly impacts YOUR energy bills.

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Well deserved!

[Shawnna LM Bolick @ShawnnaLMBolick]

Yesterday, I was honored to receive the Arizona Housing Coalition's "Champion of Affordability" award.

I also participated in a panel discussion with fellow legislators on navigating tradeoffs, tools, and outcomes to achieve our goals.

Arizona families continue to face a housing affordability crisis driven by limited units, bureaucratic red tape, and rising labor and supply costs.

I will continue to support solutions to break down these barriers for hardworking Arizonans. First-time homebuyers want to build equity. Many couples want to start a family, and Arizonans want to grow their community.

Thank you to Nicole Newhouse and all of the participants of this week's annual conference.

#thereisnoplacelikehome2026

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Quite literally bringing out the big guns…

SEE YOU TONIGHT, TUCSON!

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Can’t wait to see you all in Tucson!

There’s still time to register!

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Are your energy bills too d*mn high?
Do you want a chance to win 100 bucks towards yours?

We’ll be paying 100 bucks towards 100 Tucson area families’ electric bill, and all you have to do to have a chance to win is party with us.

Yes, really. Register below!

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

Are your energy bills too d*mn high?
Do you want a chance to win 100 bucks towards yours?

We’ll be paying 100 bucks towards 100 Tucson area families’ electric bill, and all you have to do to have a chance to win is party with us.

Yes, really. Register below!

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

@DavesPolicy Yes that seems to be the definition she’s working under.

[AFP Arizona @ArizonaAFP]

I’m sorry, this would be hilarious if it weren’t so infuriating.

Put politics aside? Really?

By that, do you mean veto any good bill that would improve Arizonans’ lives if it would be considered a “win” for Republicans? Or something else? I’m all ears.

[Katie Hobbs @katiehobbs]

I’m always willing to put politics aside and work with anyone to deliver for working Arizonans.

We’re going to do it again to pass a budget that puts Arizona families first.