Arizona House Republicans Introduce Independent Budget Proposal Amidst Ongoing Negotiations
In a move that has stirred political waters, Arizona House Republicans have introduced their own budget proposal, sidestepping the ongoing negotiations between Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs and Senate Republicans. Despite the absence of House Republicans from recent discussions, Rep. Matt Gress (R-Phoenix), who played a key role in crafting the proposal, announced plans for a vote on the package this Friday.
With a majority in the House, Republicans have the ability to push their budget forward. Nevertheless, critics argue the proposal is unlikely to make it to Governor Hobbs’ office. “This so-called Republican budget in the House is a sham, a joke and a farce,” stated Rep. Oscar De Los Santos (D-Laveen), the House Democratic leader. He criticized House Republicans for their lack of participation in negotiations.
Both Hobbs and Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) have confirmed the absence of House Republicans from talks involving Senate Republicans, Democratic lawmakers, and the governor’s office. “It’s the first time in 20 years the House is not aligned with the Senate, and then proceeded to negotiate as a team with the governor,” noted Kavanagh, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Governor Hobbs’ office has expressed discontent with the House Republicans’ decision to present a separate budget. “This is DDD all over again,” said Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater, referring to a previous conflict over funding for disability care.
Despite previous contentious exchanges, Gress remains hopeful that the House Republican budget may gain some traction. “There are a lot of things to like about the budget and I think it includes a number of priorities that have been conveyed in public and in private,” he said.
The Republican proposal addresses several of the governor’s priorities, such as a 5% pay raise for Department of Public Safety officers and funding for caregivers of children with disabilities. It also includes funding for school lunches, highway improvements, and reductions in state university tuition costs for in-state students. Gress emphasized that their proposal would leave the state with a $400 million cash balance, a significant improvement from the $11 million balance two years ago.
However, the proposal also suggests cuts, including $50 million from AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid program, with stricter eligibility verification measures. “This is about ensuring the vitality of the safety net for those who meet the eligibility criteria,” explained Gress.
De Los Santos criticized these cuts, arguing that they would remove essential healthcare access for many Arizonans. The budget also proposes reforms to food assistance programs, introducing monthly income verifications and mandatory work requirements for certain adults.
While congressional Republicans consider federal funding cuts for Medicaid and food assistance, Gress noted that the current budget does not account for potential shifts in costs to the state. The House Appropriations Committee is set to review the budget bills on Thursday.
