Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs on Thursday vowed to veto all payments not already on her desk amid a standoff with the Republican-controlled Legislature over funding for a state company that gives providers for a few of Arizona‘s most weak residents.
Hobbs is demanding that lawmakers discover a bipartisan compromise that will assure funding by the top of the fiscal 12 months for the state’s Division of Developmental Disabilities, which helps near 60,000 individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Down syndrome and different cognitive and mental disabilities.
Earlier than signing off on a funding bundle, Republicans need to set up guardrails for this system, reminiscent of lowering the variety of paid hours that oldsters who care for his or her kids with disabilities can obtain per week. Democrats need to approve funding first and talk about reforms later.
The technique of holding again on signing payments is not new. Hobbs’ Republican predecessors additionally withheld their signatures over price range disputes.
Republicans grew to become annoyed after studying that Hobbs was requesting about $13 million extra in supplemental funding for the Division of Developmental Disabilities, regardless of having already launched her government price range proposal.
Republicans contend that Hobbs has mismanaged the funds — going as far as to convene an advert hoc committee earlier this month to debate “government price range mismanagement.” Rep. David Livingston, chair of the Home Appropriations Committee, mentioned throughout a listening to earlier this week that it was unacceptable for applications throughout the division to be shut down in early Might due to an absence of funding.
Home Speaker Steve Montenegro in a press release referred to as the governor’s veto menace “political blackmail.”
Hobbs, who’s up for reelection in 2026, claims that Republicans are leveraging the disaster for “political warfare.” The governor is prepared to even veto laws she helps as long as a bipartisan compromise will not be reached, mentioned her spokesperson Christian Slater.
“We have now been ready for a lot too lengthy,” Slater mentioned in an interview. “Households are on the brink.”
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Govindarao covers Arizona authorities and politics for The Related Press, with a deal with girls in state authorities. She relies in Phoenix.
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