PHOENIX, Arizona – In a move mirroring the Texas House Democrats last week, the Arizona House Democrats walked out of the budget hearing on Tuesday. House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding (D-Laveen) and House Minority Whip Domingo DeGrazia (D-Tucson) reportedly committed to Republican House leadership that they wouldn’t stage a walkout.
In an interview with The Arizona Sun Times, State Representative Jake Hoffman (R-Gilbert) asserted that the Republican side of the House showed up willing to listen to and discuss the Democrats’ amendments. He said that this latest stunt was an indicator of who had the people’s best interest at heart.
“Look, we need to make sure that everybody knows it’s the Democrats who are thwarting the people’s business and trying to edge our state closer to a government shutdown,” said Hoffman. “Republicans were there ready to do business, ready to hear their amendments and give them an opportunity to make their case and pass whatever the majority of the body felt is in the best interest of the people.”
Hoffman lamented that this show of dissatisfaction over the budget was only putting off the relief that Arizonians need following the COVID shutdowns.
“This is the second time they’ve done it this session. They were here, ready to do business, until they decided to leave to prevent [the budget] from getting done,” said Hoffman. “This budget was allowing people on the heels of COVID – one of the worst cases of economic destruction in the last 120 years – where small businesses got crushed, and nearly 8 percent [of people] are still on unemployment. We were ready to let [the people] get back to keeping their hard-earned money in the fastest and most prosperous way possible.”
State Representative Daniel Hernandez, Jr. (D-Tucson) tweeted about the walkout shortly after it occurred.
“I just joined my fellow Arizona Democrats and walked off the floor of the Arizona State House to prevent a vote on the Republicans’ irresponsible $1.7 billion tax cut for the wealthy,” wrote Hernandez. “Proud of my brave colleagues. Stay tuned, this is happening right now.”
I just joined my fellow Arizona Democrats and walked off the floor of the Arizona State House to prevent a vote on the Republicans’ irresponsible $1.7 billion tax cut for the wealthy.
Proud of my brave colleagues. Stay tuned, this is happening right now.
— Daniel Hernandez Jr (@danielforaz) June 22, 2021
The Times inquired with Hernandez what had caused the Democrats to not honor their promise to Republican leadership. He didn’t respond by press time.
The Arizona Senate continued its business – but without the House Democrats in play, the budget proceedings can’t continue.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Arizona Capitol” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.
They are Democrats. Truth and Integrity mean noting to them.
They lie and do whatever is in touch with their twisted agenda!