Brophy McGee mulling ethics complaint against Smith

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A veteran state lawmaker could face an ethics probe following comments he made last week in an unsuccessful bid to get colleagues to vote for a controversial bill.

Sen. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix, one of the targets, said Monday she believes Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, improperly questioned her motives for opposing SB 1279. That measure would have imposed certain minimum prison terms on criminals if they already were in the country illegally.

It went down to defeat as Brophy McGee and two other Republicans sided with the Democrats.

But that final vote did not occur until after Smith, in a sometimes passionate speech, questioned the reason for what foes were doing. And Smith, who had invited police officers and family members of those killed by people here illegally to witness the debate, suggested those voting against the measure should explain their reason to them.

That tactic and the rhetoric bothered Brophy McGee.

“When I talk about it, I still get angry,” she said.

She reads the Senate rules to bar questioning someone’s motives. And Brophy McGee said she is researching what it takes to file a complaint and the process for the Ethics Committee to meet to see whether Smith’s conduct crossed the line.

Smith, for his part, insisted he broke no rules.