House Republicans Unveil Rival Budget Amid Senate’s Progress on Hobbs Deal

Arizona’s Republican lawmakers face significant discord as they attempt to finalize the state budget. Tensions have arisen between the House of Representatives and the Senate, with differing priorities complicating the process.

Budgeting is a critical responsibility of the legislature, dictating how funds are allocated across various departments and initiatives. The entirety of Arizona’s budget must ultimately gain approval from both chambers and receive the signature of Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs.

Historically, budget negotiations have taken place discreetly, often involving just the governor and selected legislative leaders. This year differs significantly, with Hobbs on the cusp of a deal with Senate leaders while House Republicans draft their own budget proposal, introduced late Wednesday.

House Speaker Steve Montenegro described his party’s budget as “sound” and focused on enhancing community safety, updating infrastructure, and ensuring financial accountability while providing for law enforcement and educational initiatives. He believes this budget aims to reflect responsible governance.

However, many view the House GOP’s proposal as unlikely to pass, intended more as a strategic position to encourage compromise with the Senate and the governor. Political consultant Barrett Marson noted that House leaders aim to assert their influence in negotiations.

A crucial point of disagreement involves the state’s budget surplus. The Senate and Hobbs have favored a previous model where lawmakers allocate surplus funds individually, while House Republicans prefer maintaining legislative control over these resources.

During a recent House Rules Committee meeting, House Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos voiced concerns regarding the lack of bipartisan negotiation. He criticized the exclusive focus on a House Republican budget, suggesting it would not gain traction in the Senate or receive the governor’s approval.

Republican Rep. Neal Carter emphasized the need for transparency in governance. He argued for a budgeting process that includes public input rather than backroom negotiations.

The House GOP’s budget proposes significant changes in how unrestricted federal funds are managed, advocating for legislative oversight. Furthermore, it introduces restrictions on entitlement programs, such as Arizona’s Medicaid program and food assistance initiatives, aimed at enforcing eligibility checks and monitoring of recipients.

The budget also suggests increasing funds directed to K-12 education while introducing restrictions on university scholarships for students without legal immigration status. Meanwhile, Governor Hobbs’ budget proposal, unveiled in January, highlights distinctly different priorities, emphasizing projected cost increases for essential services.

A spokesman for Governor Hobbs criticized House leadership for lacking collaboration, referencing past budgeting tumult. He remarked that current efforts reflect an absence of genuine governance, pointing to stark political maneuvering by House leaders.

The House Appropriations Committee is slated to discuss the contentious proposal soon, while Senate Republicans have yet to unveil their own budget plan.