Grand Canyon Times

Phoenix grassroots activist and former mayoral candidate Merissa Hamilton criticized Rep. David Cook’s (R-7) statement in support of a federal grant for Flagstaff’s “Mountain Line,” which started utilizing electric buses earlier this year.

“Electric buses are likely sourced from child slave labor since the government has no significant traceability process,” tweeted Hamilton. “Very abhorrent use of our tax dollars.” 

Her statement was in response to Cook’s tweet praising a $16.3 million Federal Transit Administration grant for the Mountain Line to build a new maintenance facility. 

In April 2023, the Mountain Line announced that the line’s “first battery-electric bus” was going into service. That is one of two buses, funded by federal grants, that will be in the “Mountain Line fleet,” according to a press release.

“Mountain Line’s decision to invest in electric buses is guided by the agency’s Zero Emission Bus Transition Plan, which provides an analysis of various zero emission technology options and maps out the logistics, budget, and infrastructure needed to achieve this milestone,” said the release. 

Lithium-ion is the “current battery technology of choice,” reported the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, of which cobalt is a major component.  

“More than half of the world’s cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” said a 2017 report by Amnesty International. 

U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) in 2022 added language to the annual defense authorization bill that would, “prohibit electric vehicle (EV) component sourcing from any entity that uses child or slave labor.”

“The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that 42% of U.S. companies involved in critical mineral mining and procurement had risks of forced labor within their supply chains,” said a press release from Ernst’s office.

Hamilton has worked as chairwoman of Strong Communities Action since April 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile. She worked as the national grassroots director for FreedomWorks from 2022 to 2023 was defeated in the the 2020 election for Phoenix Mayor by current Mayor Kate Gallego. Hamilton previously worked as the director of constituent services and strategic projects for the City of Phoenix. 

A native of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Cook was first elected to the Arizona House in 2016. The 7th legislative district includes portions of Coconio, Pinal, and Gila counties. He previously worked for the Arizona Department of Corrections and founded the DC Cattle Company in 2000.

In 2018, the Arizona House took disciplinary action against Cook after Cook's arrest for driving under the influence (DUI).

"The initial incident report released by DPS shows Cook was uncooperative with the responding trooper on several occasions after being pulled over near the Loop 202 and McDowell Road," reported ABC17.com. "According to the report, Cook refused to exit his vehicle several times when asked to do so. Cook also allegedly told the trooper that he had been swerving because he dropped his phone while driving and was trying to pick it up."

Cook "allegedly had a Breath Alcohol Content of .159 after he was stopped by DPS troopers," said the news report.