Arizona Senate and House Republicans passed a 2023-2024 budget proposal in record time this week. Just as quickly, Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, who had pledged to work with Republicans, condemned the proposal.
“My door is open to any legislator who wants to take seriously the very real issues Arizona is facing,” Hobbs said in a tweet. “But this do-nothing budget does nothing but kick the can down the road.”
Rep. David Livingston shot down her open-door claim just as quickly.
“It’s one thing to talk a big talk & use social media to say you have an open-door policy, but I can tell you from personal experience, her door is locked from the inside,” said Livingston.
🔥🔥🔥"It's one thing to talk a big talk & use social media to say you have an open-door policy, but I can tell you from personal experience, her door is locked from the inside."
WATCH📺@Livingston4AZ expose @GovernorHobbs' refusal to work w/@AZHouseGOP @AZSenateGOP on budget. pic.twitter.com/DwOsfgYMgM
— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) February 1, 2023
Republicans say their proposal is anything but an effort to “kick the can down the road.” Instead, it is designed to prevent the almost inevitable economic hardships families will face as the national economy sputters toward recession.
“It’s important to tighten our belts and save some money. We don’t know how long this recession will last or how severe it’s going to be,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman John Kavanagh.
The total spending in the Senate’s Republican approved budget is $15.8 billion, which is $2.3 billion less than the state budget that was approved last year and $1.3 billion less than the Governor’s proposed budget. Most of the difference between this year’s budget and last year’s budget is due to one-time spending items that were possible thanks to high tax revenues and federal largesse, including leftover Covid-related funds.
“During the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009, the State General Fund lost one-third of its revenues. Senate Republicans want to make sure Arizona will be set up for success with essential services having a guarantee that they can keep the lights on and can continue to function,” said Senate President Warren Petersen.
To absorb any revenue loss, the new budget leaves $1.8 billion in cash available by the end of fiscal year 2024, in addition to the $1.4 billion available in the state’s Rainy-Day Fund.
“This budget will prevent the government from shutting down and is the responsible approach,” said Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli. “If the Governor unwisely chooses to veto it, then she will ultimately be responsible for a shutdown.”
“Our Senate Republican budget proposal is in line with a majority of the priorities that the Governor outlined in her budget proposal,” said Majority Whip Sine Kerr. “We’re hopeful she will work with us and sign this fiscally balanced spending plan that benefits all Arizonans.”
“Unfortunately, our colleagues across the aisle are criticizing our budget, which has the same framework as last year’s budget, ” said President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope. “Not only did Senate Democrats call last year’s budget ‘historic’ and ‘bipartisan,’ but then Secretary of State Hobbs also publicly praised the budget as being ‘bipartisan.’ To change their tune now just proves the political games being played by Democrats who are only interested in creating division.”
“As a Legislature, we have one specifically spelled out constitutional obligation to the people of Arizona,” said Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Jake Hoffman. “And that is to pass a responsible budget which funds our government, so that we can continue to carry out our everyday responsibilities like building roads, providing health services, education services, public safety and the like. The Governor should realize that a majority of the Legislature has done exactly what voters elected us to do.”