Arizona Senate Budget Vote Delayed as GOP Coalition Takes Shape

The Arizona Senate has postponed its vote on the state budget proposal amidst ongoing negotiations with House Republicans. This delay aims to avert a potential government shutdown, which looms in less than two weeks.

Scheduled discussions and amendments to the Senate’s budget plan will take place Thursday morning, with a tentative vote planned for later that same day. Senate President Warren Petersen indicated that the drafting of amendments, incorporating requests from both House Democrats and Republicans, contributed to the delay.

Notably, some House Republicans are re-engaging in negotiations after distancing themselves from collaborative efforts weeks ago to propose their own budget. While Senate lawmakers, House Democrats, and Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs worked on a bipartisan budget, House Republicans created a separate plan filled with provisions deemed unacceptable by Hobbs.

House Democrats previously boycotted the House GOP budget vote, labeling it a sham. Even John Kavanagh, the Republican chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, criticized the House’s approach, emphasizing that Hobbs would not endorse the House Republicans’ proposal.

The House GOP’s budget plan has also placed considerable stress on legislative staff, who faced long hours last week and will likely continue to do so if the House takes up the Senate plan.

All legislative parties, including the governor, must reach a consensus on a budget by June 30 to prevent a state government shutdown. Although the GOP architects of both budget proposals claim that their plans are relatively similar, significant differences remain.

The House’s $17.3 billion budget, passed with a unanimous 31-0 vote last Friday, includes stricter oversight and eligibility requirements for the Medicaid program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Additionally, it allocates approximately $100 million less for K-12 education and around $260 million less for Medicaid than the Senate’s $17.6 billion proposal.

If the Senate proceeds to approve its budget on Thursday, it will still require approval from the House before being sent to Governor Hobbs for her signature.