Protesters filled the office of Maricopa County Treasurer Charles "Hos" Hoskins yesterday, demanding the firing of Russell Pearce.
Pearce, the recalled ex-state Senate President, recently landed an $85,000-a-year gig with the treasurer's office -- a job that calls for Pearce to promote a program that provides assistance to low-income seniors.
Meanwhile, Pearce has bashed government programs that help the poor on his radio show, and just this weekend resigned from his post as the first vice chair of the Arizona Republican Party for his draconian proposal for reforming welfare programs.
See also: -Pearce Disses Government Programs for the Poor, While Helping to Run One -Pearce Resigns as AZ GOP's First Vice Chair Because of Sterilization Remarks
"You put me in charge of Medicaid, the first thing I'd do is get [female recipients] Norplant, birth-control implants, or tubal ligations," Pearce suggested. Then, we'll test recipients for drugs and alcohol, and if you want to [reproduce] or use drugs or alcohol, then get a job."
Not long after Stephen Lemons reported Pearce's comments last week, Republicans lined up to call for his resignation, which Pearce did Sunday night.
Now some of the focus has turned to Pearce's new job at the county treasurer's office.
Activists from Citizens for a Better Arizona -- the group that was instrumental in recalling Pearce in 2011 -- filled Hoskins' office and demanded Pearce's firing.
Hoskins was conveniently unavailable to address the crowd.
"Tomorrow we're gonna come back," organizer Ramiro Luna said. "The day after tomorrow we're gonna come back -- until Russell Pearce is no longer in this office."
Democratic State Senator Steve Gallardo, who's running for a spot on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, said it's not the first time protesters have showed up to Hoskins' office since Pearce's hiring.
"They were down here when he first [was hired], and exactly as we anticipated, he did something that offended people," Gallardo told New Times. "It's obvious he's not qualified."
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