House Appropriations Chair Lauds Yee, Slams Hobbs for Fiscal Failures

By Matthew Holloway |

Arizona House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. David Livingston has publicly criticized Governor Katie Hobbs following Treasurer Kimberly Yee’s letter detailing alleged “missing money” linked to potential financial mismanagement by the administration. Yee described the situation as unfortunate and marked by gross financial mismanagement.

Livingston responded to Yee’s findings, stating, “I appreciate Treasurer Yee’s clarity in addressing the financial mess Governor Hobbs has created. The issue isn’t ‘missing money’—it’s blatant mismanagement.” He underscored concerns over the lack of legislative oversight in significant spending decisions made by state agencies, attributing rising costs directly to the Governor’s leadership. “This kind of incompetence cannot stand,” he asserted.

Concerns are growing regarding the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Program (DDD), which faces insolvency within months due to decisions made under Hobbs’ administration. “This Governor is running Arizona’s budget into the ground,” Livingston declared, emphasizing the refusal to control spending and the consequences for families relying on state programs.

Critics, including Matt Beienburg from the Goldwater Institute, have condemned the budget proposed by Hobbs, labeling it as “mismanagement at its worst.” The proposal seeks to dismantle the successful Empowerment Scholarship Account program while neglecting over $800 million in mandatory Medicaid spending.

In an earlier communication, Livingston urged the Governor to take responsibility for what he described as “fiscal mismanagement.” He highlighted the rapid increase in supplemental funding needs for DDD, noting how costs surged from $109 million to $122 million within weeks. Furthermore, costs for the DDD program have doubled under Hobbs’ leadership, escalating from $750 million to $1.5 billion, leaving legislators blindsided by these developments.

“The Legislature was blindsided by these numbers, and we need immediate answers on how the administration plans to rein in spending before Arizona families are left with nothing,” Livingston stated. Expressing urgency, he concluded, “We can’t afford more of the governor’s last-minute budget negotiations while programs Arizonans depend on collapse.”

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.