Political Turmoil Ignites: Arizona Senate Unilaterally Passes Budget and Shuts Down Session

The Arizona Senate concluded its legislative session late Thursday night after passing crucial budget bills, despite a breakdown in negotiations with House Republicans. The contentious session wrapped just before 2 a.m. Friday when a bipartisan vote formally ended proceedings, termed sine die, even as the House still awaits action on the Senate’s budget proposals.

Long speeches and sharp disputes dominated the day. Senate President Warren Petersen faced backlash from several Senate Republicans who criticized his decision to end the session without waiting for House approval. Senator J.D. Mesnard argued that it was unconstitutional to adjourn before the House had voted, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect between chambers.

Petersen countered that the refusal of House Republicans to engage in collaborative budget discussions was the greater disrespect. He suggested that the House was stalling despite having the votes necessary to pass the Senate’s budget.

The Senate approved a total of 16 budget bills through a day filled with votes, achieving bipartisan support in many cases. The final budget reflects an expenditure of $17.6 billion, which includes significant increases in Medicaid and K-12 education funding compared to the House’s proposal. Notably, some Democrats dissented, citing critical issues like the lack of discussion on a flat income tax that has significantly impacted state revenue.

Democratic Senate leaders, such as Priya Sundareshan, expressed their dissent rooted in concerns regarding unaddressed issues like private school vouchers and changes to tax policies that affect lower-income citizens. Concerns over immigration enforcement funding and affordable housing initiatives also prompted dissent, with some lawmakers feeling the budget neglected crucial areas.

House Republicans left negotiations weeks ago to pursue their own $17.3 billion budget proposal, independently of Senate Democrats and Governor Hobbs, which sparked controversy due to its perceived lack of viability. Their plan faced significant pushback, leading to a Democratic boycott of the vote.

As the Senate’s proposals were sent to the House, the deadline looms for a June 30 approval to prevent a government shutdown. Despite being labeled insufficiently conservative by some House Republicans, the Senate’s budget included a mix of last-minute amendments and new programs aimed at improving legal representation in juvenile court proceedings.

Tensions heightened with amendments introduced by Senator Jake Hoffman, which were largely voted down, highlighting divisions within Republican ranks. Hoffman criticized Petersen and other colleagues over their support for Hobbs’ budget priorities, stating that the legislature should assert its control over appropriations.

Discussions surrounding election integrity measures also characterized the later hours of the session. With feelings running high, lawmakers were left contemplating the fate of their proposals as well as the implications of Peterson’s leadership moving forward.

As lawmakers prepared for an impending adjournment, the outcome of the Senate’s budget remained uncertain, with lawmakers expressing concerns about the House’s ability to reach an agreement before the crucial deadline approaches.