Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs Again Declares a Moratorium on Bill Signings Until Republicans Get Serious About the State Budget

For the second time in two years, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has declared a moratorium on bill signings until Legislative Republicans grow up and get serious about budget negotiations.

It was a strategy that many say worked to the Governor’s advantage during last years budget talks.

In a press release issued earlier today, Governor Hobbs called out Republican obstructionism, especially on refusing to renew Proposition 123 for public school funding and secrecy, writing:

“I began this year calling for the legislative majority to work with me to cut taxes for the middle class, deliver over $1 billion to our public school teachers and students without raising taxes, and bring down costs for working families. Eighty-seven days ago, I showed the people of Arizona my balanced budget that does just that. Unfortunately, the legislative majority has done nothing but say ‘no’ and hide their budget from the people of this state. They’re focused on the wrong things. Instead of coming to the table ready to support middle-class Arizonans, they’ve spent months pushing tax breaks for billionaires and special interests, fighting to let out-of-state corporations pump water out from under Arizona families and farmers, and working to strip health care and food assistance from vulnerable children.

“Arizonans deserve more than these political games. They deserve a budget that cuts taxes for the middle class, funds our public schools and lowers costs for everyday Arizonans. I’m ready to negotiate. My door is open. The legislative majority needs to put forward their budget proposal and then join me at the negotiating table so we can pass a bipartisan, balanced budget just like we’ve done the past three years. But until the legislative majority shows us their plans for a balanced budget that works for middle-class Arizonans, their bills will be dead on arrival. I know we can get big things done when we work together, but that isn’t possible when one side refuses to show us their plans.”

“I understand that public safety can’t wait for obstructionist politicians in the legislature to get their act together. I am ready to sign SB 1503 first responders; state death benefit and a bill with $4.75 million to DPS from the Highway Patrol Fund as soon as they reach my desk to support our State Troopers and first responders.”

In reporting by KTAR, Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro accused Hobbs of leaving negotiations in bad faith, saying:

“Governor Hobbs quit the budget talks more than three weeks ago after it became clear her numbers did not add up, and now she is trying to distract from that failure with a bill-signing freeze. That is political theater. Arizona needs a balanced budget built on honest numbers, not press stunts and invented revenue. House Republicans are at the Capitol, doing the work and ready to govern. The Governor can end her sideshow anytime by coming back to the table, doing her job, and dealing with reality.”

It would be easier to deal with reality if the public could see what is in the Arizona Legislative Republicans’ caucus budget proposal.

Showing support for the Governor’s position, Senate Democratic Leader Priya Sundareshan commented to Blog for Arizona:

“Senate Democrats support Governor Hobbs’ decision to impose a bill moratorium and demand transparency from the legislative majority. For weeks, Republicans have refused to present a budget to the people of Arizona while pushing partisan bills that do nothing to lower costs or support working families.

Let’s be clear: you cannot negotiate in good faith while hiding the numbers.

Senate Democrats are ready, right now, to come to the table, work in good faith, and deliver a bipartisan budget that helps Arizonans move forward. We support investments in public education, meaningful relief for the middle class, and policies that make our state more affordable and sustainable for the long term.

Republicans must release their proposal and engage in serious negotiations. Until then, this stalemate is on them. It’s time to stop the obstruction, drop the politics, and get to work delivering for the people of Arizona.”

House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos also commented to Blog for Arizona, stating:

“Republicans have failed at every turn to address the pressing needs of Arizonans struggling in Trump’s economy, and they have failed to work in good faith on a negotiated bipartisan budget. Governor Hobbs put forward a balanced common-sense budget plan nearly three months ago. No one should be surprised that she is leading by enforcing a moratorium on bills until Republicans get serious, grow up and return to the negotiating table. Democrats remain committed to renewing Prop. 123 for our public schools and negotiating a bipartisan budget that helps make life more affordable for as many Arizonans as possible. It’s time for Republicans to put the priorities of the people we serve ahead of politics and get to work.”

Governor Hobbs is right when she says Arizonans deserve more from Republicans than “political games.”

This is about peoples lives and the services that can impact them.

It is time for Republicans to get brave, stop, as Senator Sundareshan said, “hiding the numbers,” and, as Leader De Los Santos said, “grow up and return to the negotiating table.”