Hobbs threatens vetoes until Republicans show budget plan
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Gov. Katie Hobbs vowed to veto nearly all bills that come to her desk until GOP lawmakers show her a budget proposal.
Why it matters: Hobbs' threat could jump-start budget negotiations that she walked away from last month over how to spend more than $17 billion in state money next fiscal year.
Catch up quick: Hobbs ended budget talks, citing Republicans' refusal to negotiate with her on renewal of Proposition 123, a voter-approved education funding plan that expired last year.
- She said she'd suspend discussions until GOP leadership produced a budget plan.
- Hobbs spokesperson Christian Slater acknowledged that Republicans provided a budget proposal during negotiations in February, but told Axios the governor believes they should release their plan publicly.
What she's saying: "Arizonans deserve more than these political games," Hobbs said of Republican priorities. "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."
The other side: Senate President Warren Petersen, in a statement to Axios, called the blanket veto threat an "unserious approach to governing."
- House Speaker Steve Montenegro said in a press statement that Hobbs quit budget negotiations "after it became clear her numbers did not add up," and called the moratorium "political theater" meant to distract from that.
- Legislative Republicans will release a new budget proposal in a few weeks, Senate GOP spokesperson Kim Quintero told Axios.
- Senate Appropriations Committee Chair John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) told Axios the new proposal will be "very different" and "less flexible" than the plan shared with Hobbs in February.
The latest: Hobbs signed and vetoed a slew of bills that were already on her desk Monday.
- She said her veto threat doesn't extend to two bills pertaining to death benefits for first responders and funding for the Department of Public Safety.
The intrigue: Hobbs' new demand doesn't include Prop. 123, the issue she said led her to stop budget talks in the first place.
- House Education Committee Chair Matt Gress (R-Phoenix) thinks the likelihood of a Prop. 123 deal this year with Hobbs is "almost zero," the Arizona Capitol Times reported last week.
- Slater told us Hobbs still hopes to negotiate the education funding renewal with Republicans.
The bottom line: Hobbs is likely to oppose any Republican plan, so if lawmakers meet her demand it'll just be a starting point for what could be two or more months of fighting over the budget.