Arizona Legislative Democratic Leaders Praise Bipartisan Budget Deal That Advances Their Affordability Agenda

Arizona Democratic Senate and House Leaders rejoiced at the State Capitol this evening after negotiating a bipartisan budget agreement with Legislative Republicans and Governor Katie Hobbs.

They, along with the Governor, were able to achieve funding for several items on their affordability agenda.

Among the provisions Democrats secured in the budget agreement are:

• In a national first, a three-year moratorium on tax giveaways for data centers.
• Fully funding AHCCCS and protecting health care coverage for 40,000 Arizonans.
• Funding for free public school meals, Meals on Wheels, and food assistance for people on SNAP.
• Appropriating $48 million for childcare assistance.
• $66 million for investments in public schools textbooks, technology and transportation.
• Legal assistance for people and families facing eviction.
• Protecting the Housing Trust Fund.
• Governor Hobbs’s proposed tax cuts including no tax on tips, overtime, and a $6,000 deduction for seniors.
• Emergency financial assistance for people in Gila and Mohave Counties after Trump did not provide flood aid for those areas.
• Expansion of healthcare and other assistance to tribal communities.
• Blocking Mr. Trump’s federal voucher program and cutting $25 million from Arizona’s corporate STO program.

Commenting on the bipartisan budget deal, Senate Democratic Leader Priya Sundareshan said in a caucus press release:

“This budget is better because Democrats fought for it. Republicans came to this budget process focused on billion-dollar corporations and special interests. We came to the table focused on Arizona families and their wallets. We fought until the very end to protect the programs people rely on and make Arizona more affordable. “The difference is clear. Republicans fought for corporate tax breaks. Democrats fought for working families. We protected healthcare, defended affordable housing, invested in our students, expanded childcare assistance, and secured the nation’s largest pause on new data center tax giveaways.  This budget is not perfect, but it is undeniably stronger because Democrats refused to accept a partisan proposal that put corporations ahead of working families. Republicans introduced a partisan budget that favored corporations, Democrats rejected it, forced negotiations, and delivered major wins for working families.”

House Democratic Leaders Oscar De Los Santos, Nancy Guiterrez, and Stephanie Stahl Hamilton all offered their perspectives in their press release.

House Democratic Leader De Los Santos wrote:

“While Arizona families are struggling with the affordability crisis, billionaire-owned data centers should not be getting special tax treatment. That’s why Democrats forced a historic freeze on data center giveaways and redirected this budget toward healthcare, food, public schools, and tax relief at a time when working families and those struggling to stay afloat need it the most.”

Assistant House Democratic Leader Guiterrez relayed:

“Republicans tried to pass a budget that protected corporate giveaways and left working families behind. House Democrats stuck together and forced a better deal: one that feeds kids, supports public schools, lowers childcare costs, and protects health care.”

Ranking Appropriations Committee Member Stahl Hamilton conveyed:

“No budget is perfect, but because House Democrats fought hard, and this budget delivers relief for working families instead of writing another blank check to corporations. The amount of damage that the Republican-only budget passed in May would have done to our economy is hard to calculate, but saving Rio Nuevo and programs that help our most vulnerable is huge for building an Arizona we can afford.”