Sen. Jeff Flake ‘confident’ Doug Ducey can shed some of Arizona’s negative image

PHOENIX — During Jan Brewer’s tenure as governor, Arizona developed a rough reputation thanks to some controversial legislation that made international news.

SB 1070, a bill that made being an undocumented immigrant in the United States a crime under Arizona law, and SB 1062, a bill allowing businesses to refuse service to people based on religious beliefs — painted as anti-gay by some — drew worldwide attention. Brewer signed 1070 into law but vetoed 1062.

Critics claimed both bills would lead to a drop in tourism and conferences in addition to costing the state the 2015 Super Bowl. It seemed Arizona was becoming known for negative publicity.

However, U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) feels the incoming Gov. Doug Ducey will flip the state’s current reputation on its head.

“Images matter,” he told Bruce St. James and Pamela Hughes on Monday. “I hope we’ve moved beyond some of those controversies of the past.”

Flake said Ducey taking the reins of Arizona will help the state rid itself of some negativity.

“I’m confident that we’re moving beyond that,” he said. “Some of the personalities from the past are no longer in office. I think it’s going to be easier.”

Flake wasted no time in praising Ducey’s approach to business. The former Cold Stone CEO wants to make Arizona more friendly for all business, not just a select few.

“Not picking losers and winners here and there and trying an incentive package, but just a general atmosphere that’s good for business,” he said.

Flake also said the past two years have been “horribly frustrating” in Washington, D.C., while the Democrats had control of the Senate and very little legislation moved to the floor.

“This will be a completely new experience in the Senate where we’ve been in the minority for two years,” he said.

Flake said Americans should expect some conservative legislation to start hitting the floor in the nation’s capital.

“I would expect Keystone pipeline and some other things related to Obamacare,” he said.

He’s hopeful that something can finally be done with immigration reform.

“We passed it out of the Senate but the House really needs to act first. The president made it more difficult work with him if he’s going to go it alone, but on the other hand, he kind of removed the most contentious item from the docket by saying it’s fine to go piecemeal, which is what the House wanted to do all along. So in some sense it makes it easier.”

While some Republicans threatened a government shutdown after a White House exectuve order spared millions of young illegal immigrants from deportation, Flake said it’s important his party works to pass legislation rather than make threats.

KTAR’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.