Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs shared Tuesday that she is committing $500k to a fund aimed at securing a Democrat legislative majority when 2024 comes and alleged this was because Republicans are not cooperating in getting necessary policy changes enacted in the state.
“The current GOP legislative majority can play their political games – AZ Democrats are ready to get to work moving our state forward,” Hobbs tweeted. “Help us build on this exciting momentum by pitching in a couple bucks to our Flip the Leg Fund!”
Today I’m committing $500k to flipping the Arizona House and Senate in ‘24 to secure a governing majority and deliver results like lowering costs, addressing our water crisis, and fully funding education.
The current GOP legislative majority can play their political games – AZ… https://t.co/Mm8zhbg0OJ
— Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) February 21, 2023
The Arizona Sun Times contacted the Katie Hobbs campaign for additional information but did not hear back before publishing time.
Additionally, Hobbs’s chief political strategist, Nicole DeMont, said this fund would hold Republican legislators “accountable” for being obstructionists during this session.
However, in response to Hobbs’s commitment and allegation, Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Mesa) said Republicans are the ones putting in the work for Arizonans.
“Senate Republicans are focused on providing relief to struggling Arizonans in the face of historic inflation, keeping Arizonans safe, passing a responsible budget that prevents the government from shutting down, addressing the fentanyl crisis, protecting our water supply, providing law enforcement with the tools they need to combat our open border, as well as other pressing issues our citizens are facing. It’s unfortunate Democrats are voting against our efforts and are instead, voting in support of issues that protect big government, drag queens and sex offenders,” Petersen said in a statement emailed to The Sun Times.
Additionally, Arizona House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci (R-Lake Havasu) said that Hobbs is the one playing politics by refusing to sign the Republican’s continuation budget.
It was never about doing what's best for Arizona. If it was, she would've signed the budget to keep Arizona open. Instead, she's playing party politics & threatening to shut down our schools, shut down our law enforcement, & shut down all essential services. Sad day for Arizona. https://t.co/zLJcSvMm9G
— Rep. Leo Biasiucci (@Leo4AzHouse) February 21, 2023
Leading up to the 2023 legislative session, both Hobbs and the GOP legislature stated they would attempt to work with each other but understood they would not agree on everything. However, as the session progressed, there were few signs of unity between the branches of government.
So far, the only issue some GOP legislators and Hobbs have appeared to agree upon is lifting the aggregate expenditure limit, which meant schools avoided making budget cuts later this year. Even then, a group of legislators in the Arizona Freedom Caucus were not on board with this decision, stating the money going to school needed more accountability.
Moreover, the Senate Committee on Director Nominations (CDN) held a second meeting Monday after previously disapproving of Hobbs’s nomination for director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, Dr. Theresa Cullen. While committee members did unanimously pass Jennifer Toth as Director of the Department of Transportation director with approval for a vote on the Senate floor, the same was not the case for Elizabeth Alvarado-Thorson, Hobbs’s pick for the Department of Administration. CDN chairman, State Senator Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek), stated she did not give direct answers to the committee’s questions and decided to hold off on voting for her until she is questioned again at a later date.
Furthermore, Hobbs is still making changes in some Arizona leadership. As reported by the Arizona Agenda, Hobbs most recently removed all the board members of the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC) by sending out letters Friday. A spokesperson from the Governor’s Office told The Sun Times that Hobbs is looking to make changes to the current membership, but these members can reapply for the position. She said the positions should be refilled within a month. The AMC works to connect Arizonan and Mexican businesses for binational prosperity.
NEW: @GovernorHobbs removed the board of directors for the Arizona-Mexico Commission and told them they could reapply. Here’s a copy of the letter the governor sent on Friday. #azfamily pic.twitter.com/R3DL0CnYpm
— Dennis Welch (@dennis_welch) February 21, 2023
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Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Katie Hobbs” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Photo “Warren Petersen” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Photo “Leo Biasiucci” by Representative Leo Biasiucci State of Arizona District 30. Background Photo “Arizona Capitol” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.
Democrats seek to totally control government rather than reaching compromise with Republicans. Typical methods of a Communist Party!